Jul 30, 2017 - This morning we take another step in our summer preaching series we're .... and crowned them with glory a
Sermon Series: Anchored: Twelve Truths for Your Soul
August 6th, 2017 Genesis 1:26-31; Psalm 8:3-9 “What 1 is man?”
Pastor Doug McNett: July 30, 2017 Big Idea: “Humankind created in the image of God and for the purposes of God"
This morning we take another step in our summer preaching series we’re calling Anchored: Truths to steady your soul. We turn our attention to the Biblical perspective and understandings of the human person.
For fun and to peak your curiosity, I want to start with some True/False questions which I have listed in your sermon note section. Take a moment and complete the True/False quiz…
Read through each question and have them circle their answer. True or False
1. God created humankind just like he did all other parts of creation. (F)
2. Being created in the “image of God” makes humankind unique. (T)
3. The “image of God” in man has been erased by the sin of man. (F)
4. Human beings can experience full humanity even though they are not properly related to God. (F)
5. Understanding the implications of being “made in the image of God” directly impacts how we think about and relate to others and ourselves. (T)
Okay, now…as I work through my message today I’ll point out the correct responses for each of these.
The title of my message today is taken from the Psalms. The writer of Psalm 8 asks God this question, “What is man that you are mindful of him?”
Today I want to address that question: What is man? What are his origins, his make up, and his purpose?
Here’s why it’s worth it to talk about these questions. What you believe about these things significantly influences what you think and how you feel about yourself. It impacts how you live out your life, and how you prepare for your future. How you answer these questions matters because what you think and feel about others, which translates into how you treat others. What is man and why is man are significant questions. Now, as you might imagine, there are a number of philosophical, psychological, and sociological viewpoints on the nature of human beings.
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For example: Some believe a human person is just a material machine, nothing special, no unique value, each of us is a cog in the wheel of the universe. Others see man as mere instinctual animal. Others see man as simply a sexual being, primarily an economic being, or a social being.
While each of these addresses certain aspects of the human, only the Biblical view of the human person accounts for all the various dimensions of the human person. The Biblical understanding of humankind accounts for the full range of human phenomena more completely and with less distortion then does any other view. -Erickson, Vol. 2, p. 462-472
In order to properly understand the origins of man, we have to go back to the book of origins or beginnings—the book of Genesis. Turn with me to Genesis 1:26-31; Gen 2:7
I. The Biblical view of the origins of humankind.
One of the first things we gather from this Genesis account is that…
1. God purposefully created humankind.
The Godhead agreed together to create humankind…to create them in his own image…and to create them in the form of two separate sexes— male and female.
So, right out of the gate, the Biblical view of man is that he originated not through chance process of evolution, but through a conscious, purposeful act of God. As a result of this reality, there is a reason for man’s existence, a reason that lies in the intention of the Supreme Being.1
And when you take into consideration the extra detail we get from Genesis 2:7, we learn that man was formed by the “hands” of God while the other parts of creation were “spoken” into existence. This is significant and heightens the uniqueness and specialness of humankind above the other aspects of creation.
The other thing we see very clearly emphasized is that they are designed and called to be stewards, or managers who are to “rule over” the rest of creation. And the rest of creation was designed “for” them or to support them.
1 Erickson, V2, p. 470.
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Now, perhaps the most significant descriptor of human kind’s creation is that they were created in the image of God. The text emphasizes this. But, what does this really mean for us?
2. God created humankind in his image.
a) Fundamentally, the “image of God” refers to the qualities and attributes of God in man that constitutes personality, or personhood. These make us unique among all other aspects of creation. These separate us definitively from the other animals created on the sixth day. • We possess intellect (We can know our world, we can know other persons, we can know history, and we can know our God). We have the capacity for critical and abstract thinking. We have the capacity for moral awareness based on our knowledge.
• We possess feelings, emotions, conscience, and intuition and so have capacity for relational interactions with God and others.
• We possess a will that is free to choose according to our desires, our emotions, and our knowledge. This is sometimes called selfdetermination, that of course comes with the limits of our individual human capacities.
These elements in the human person enable us to fulfill our purpose and calling—things like, communication, creating, self-consciousness, and reflecting with self-awareness.
The image of God reflected in man, make worship, personal interaction with others ands with God. And it makes productive work possible and dominion over creation possible. We are able to manage, imagine, produce and a construct.
It’s important to understand the being created in the image of God does not mean that we are emanations from God’s being, but rather, creations of God’s free will. We are distinct from the being of God.2 This is important to remember in conversations with your Mormon friends. And humans are distinct, responsible personal beings, not different manifestations of one world soul. Nor, have our spirits always existed, because God alone is eternal and immortal (1 Tim. 6:16)
2 Lewis and Demarest, Integrative Theology, Vol. 2. P. 143.
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b) The image of God is universal within the human race, though each human is very different, and no two are exactly alike. All races, both sexes, people of all economic statuses, all ages, the unborn, and the unmarried, are all created in the image of God.
c) There is no indication that the image of God is present in one person to a greater degree than in another.
d) The image of God has not been erased as a result of sin or the fall. The image of God in man has been defaced but not erased by sin. = Gen 8:15-9:7; Ps 8:4-9; 1 Cor. 11:7; 15:49; James 3:9; Heb. 2:5-8 Now, with this broad understanding of what it means to be created “in the image” of God, let’s think about how this reality impacts our lives and how we live it out in everyday life. Let me suggest 7 implications for how the image of God in us impacts how we live.
II. “Made in the image of God” lived out in everyday life. 1. We belong to God.
Acts 17 makes this clear….
(Also Mark 12:13-17 notice story points out what is Caesar’s has his image on it, what is God’s has his image on it….)
2. We are unique with intrinsic worth that makes our lives and rights sacred. We possess a dignity that sets us apart from anything else in creation This value is because we are made in the image of God and valued by him. This means that our value is not diminished when for some reason and for some time we are not useful to society, family, church, or nation. Every living being is of intrinsic worth—poor or rich, female or male, educated or not, lighter or darker—because he or she is an endlessly existing active spiritual person like God.
As “image bearers” we possess certain inalienable rights given to us by our creator, not bestowed on us by any government or body. The rights of human beings to fair treatment by other humans come from the Lord of justice and so are nonnegotiable and superior to any policy.
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This dignity and value we are to hold for others, is also to be held in regards to our selves. In this regard, it is not unspiritual or sinful to develop a healthy self-image and an appropriate self-regard. Selfcare—mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically are all mandates due to the reality that we are made in God’s image.
3. We are designed for relationship. As Dillon emphasized a few weeks ago, because we are created in the image of the Trinitarian Godhead we are hardwired for relationship, love, and community. In fact, Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “The likeness between Creator and creature resides chiefly in the experience of being free for the other.”3
We not only have capacity for relationship, we are designed for it and find our meaning and fulfillment in it. Because we are made in the image of God we are free to know God and worship him, and we are free to relate to our fellow human beings.
In fact we experience the fullness and ultimate of what it means to be human only when we are properly related to God. No human being is experiencing the highest level of fulfillment, meaning, and significance unless they are in right relationship with their creator. 4. There is goodness and meaning in work. The exercise of dominion and stewardship is a consequence of the image of God radiating out. This refers to self-leadership as well. Each of us is endowed with a multiplicity of capacities for developing excellence and ruling the world.4 Each of us is to exercise dominion over our own personalities, and abilities. Because we are made in the image of God we have the ability to think, speak, and write with creativity and imagination.
We are “a little lower” than the angels, but given mastery over all creation.
Psalm 8 reinforces this reality…In Psalm 8:4 David asks, What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 3
Lewis and Demarest. Integrative Theology, Vol. 2, p128.
4 Lewis and Demarest, Vol. 2. P. 160.
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You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! 5. Prejudice has not place in our lives. The image of God is universal in humankind (Gen. 1:27; 5:1-2), each and every human is valuable and sacred—all races, both sexes, people of all economic statuses, all ages (infants and the elderly), the unborn, the disabled, our neighbors (even the annoying ones), and even our enemies.
We must respect all persons and not be disdainful towards any human being. There is no place for racial prejudice. And each of us is to cultivate a high regard and sensitivity for those in our culture who are unable to improve their situations, such as the hungry, orphans, widows, and prisoners. Their inherent value is not diminished by their circumstances.
Also, because all are created in the image of God, freedom must not be inhibited, or taken from anyone who has not forfeited this right by abusing it and committing a crime.
6. To experience our full potential we must pattern our lives after Jesus because he is the perfect example of the image of God lived out— Perfect fellowship with the Father, perfect obedience to the Father’s will, and constant, strong love displayed for others (Heb. 4:15).
Conclusion….
The Psalmist asks, “What is man?” The answers to that question are far more significant that you might initially think. It’s way more than a poetic or philosophical question. Understanding the design and nature of man has implications for a number of different aspects of your life. What you believe
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about the human person speaks into how you relate with God, with every person you lock eyes with, and it even impacts how you think about and treat yourself.
