“Humanity: The Crown of God’s Creation”- Genesis 1:26-31
– (Eastside Baptist/Sun PM/11/3/13)
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the
moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are
mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a
little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made
them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:
all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and
the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. LORD, our Lord, ho...
“Humanity: The Crown of God’s Creation”- Genesis 1:26-31
– (Eastside Baptist/Sun PM/11/3/13)
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the
moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are
mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a
little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made
them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:
all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and
the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. LORD, our Lord, how
majestic is your name in all the earth!
(Ps. 8:5–9, NIV)
Main Idea: Human beings are the crown
of all of God’s creative activity because they are made in the image of God.
Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in
our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in
the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the
creatures that move along the ground." So God created mankind in his own
image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
(Gen. 1:27, NIV)
1. Human Beings
have dignity because they are created in the image of God.
"Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood
be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind. (Gen. 9:6, NIV)
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are
being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the
tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise
our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in
God's likeness. (Jas. 3:7–9, NIV)
2. Human beings
are intended to resemble their Creator because they are made in his image.
This is the written account of Adam's family line. When God
created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and
female and blessed them. And he named them "Mankind" when they were
created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in
his own image; and he named him Seth. (Gen. 5:1–3, NIV)
the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son
of God. (Lk. 3:38, NIV)
'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of
your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' (Acts 17:28, NIV)
The god of this age has
blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the
gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Co. 4:4, NIV)
The Son is the image of
the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (Col. 1:15, NIV)
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as
these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not
lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image
of its Creator. (Col. 3:8–10, NIV)
and to put on the new self, created to
be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph. 4:24, NIV)
3. Human Beings have been given responsibility to rule
because they are made in the image of God.
Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in
our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in
the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the
creatures that move along the ground." (Gen. 1:26, NIV)
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God
he created them; male and female he created them. (Gen. 1:27, NIV)
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and
increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea
and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the
ground." (Gen. 1:28, NIV)
Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on
the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They
will be yours for food. (Gen. 1:29, NIV)
And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the
sky and all the creatures that move along the ground--everything that has the
breath of life in it--I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
(Gen. 1:30, NIV)
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And
there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day. (Gen. 1:31, NIV)
Main Idea: As the crown of God’s
creation, every human being is made in the image of God:
·
With dignity
·
Bearing God’s resemblance
·
Ruling creation for God.
