Saturday, October 23, 2021

Life Shape Prayer and Discipleship Block Three – Man

Gtcotr/fs102421 

Genesis 1

26  Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

27  So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

28  Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Genesis 2

7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

18  And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."

21  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.

22  Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

Commentary

        God made man on the sixth day of creation. Man’s first day was God’s seventh day, the day God rested. From this we conclude that man was first invited to rest in God’s finished work. God purposed man to have dominion over all creation upon the earth. Dominion is understood to be both the right and the power to govern and control. Man is God’s steward. Furthermore man was created in the likeness and the image of God.

Man, like God, is a three-part being. God formed man’s body from the dust of the ground; breathed into man’s nostrils the Spirit of Life; and man became a living soul. The scriptures rightly identify God as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – God in three persons, the Holy Trinity. Man was purposefully created a triune being like God – Spirit, Soul and Body.

Once created, God did not find it best for man to be alone. God further divided man into two genders, male and female. He gave to each gender the qualities and capacities of life which are necessary to fulfill their ordained roles and responsibilities according to His plan. God does not intend for His relationship with man to take the place of man’s relationship with man … both relationships are important to God and to man.

Whether man or woman, male or female, biologically and anatomically, you are a unique individual created in God’s image, a three-part being, invited to rest with God in His finished work, given dominion over all God’s creation upon the earth, charged with stewardship responsibilities, and destined to live forever. Man’s connection with God is through the Spirit.

One day your earthly body will perish but your soul will continue to exist far beyond the grave, even throughout eternity – the only question is where.

Important Points

1.   Every individual is like God – 1 person, 3 parts.

2.   Every individual is designed to have dominion over God’s other creations.

3.   Every individual is invited to rest with God in His finished work.

4.   You are a unique individual with special value to God and others.

5.   You will live forever – the question is, where?