God made man in his own image

God made us in his image

Genesis 2 verse 4 to 20

Man is the crown of God’s creation. If God is the giver of life and we are the reflectors of then this has consequences:
a) No slavery
b) No racism
c) No murder
d) No euthanasia
e) No abortion

God made man in his own image, therefore life is to be protected and preserved

a) Therefore assisted suicide is wrong
This is a social ethic focused on our own rights and what we think is good not what God says.

b) Therefore infanticide is wrong
60 million females are missing in China, 5 million baby girls are murdered in India every year. The social consequences are that there are 60 million surplus men in China. There will be a gender imbalance in China and India, they will become male dominated societies because man has tried to play God.
In Greek and Roman culture they had many unwanted little girls and they were often put to death when older.
This is the effect of sin in the hearts of men, when people forget all human beings are made in the image of God and are reflectors of him. In Western society men try to deny responsibility by claiming they are a product of genes or a combination of the environment and experiences, they ‘can’t help what they do’ – individuals are not responsible for what they do, they are victims of their environment. This is in conflict with God’s word – we are morally responsible towards God.

Consequences and responsibilities

Chapter 2 fills in Chapter 1, it gives details.

a) God made us in his image to fill the earth.
We have the ability to reproduce ourselves with others made in God’s image. We have offspring. To us alone God told us to fill the Earth. What about today? Then, it was empty, man had to spread out and fill the Earth. Today there is a danger of overcrowding, we have to spread out.
It does not mean we all have to marry and have children. Many single people live useful and good lives, some are unable to have children. But we must beware of declining to have children so you can live a selfish and materialistic life. Children are a great blessing and joy to us. Our role in the World is to multiply more images of God. We are to fill the World with representatives of him, we are to lead them to becoming redeemed images of God – restored to a relationship with God. We must seek to have a World where people walk with Him.

b) God has made us to be stewards of creation

(i) Adam was to rule the World
Man alone rules over the World. Conservation should not overrule development. We should harness and develop to the glory of God. New technology such as radio, the Internet, Satellite TV etc should be used to spread the Gospel.
Animals are given for us but not to misuse them. Human life is of greater value than animal life. Animal rights is wrong, man is on a higher plane. We are permitted to, within limits, experiment on animals and genetically modify plants.
God blesses work, we are to use what is in the World. It is good for us to be busy. One who is lazy but claims to be religious is sinning. We must us precious time well and honour God.
(ii) Adam was to cultivate the Garden
He had to honour God in the Garden. We should, today, tend the gardens and land God has given us. We should make it show all of God’s glory and beauty. Work has always been dignified – God made it so. Adam was busy under God’s guidance, in Paradise we will have an occupation and be busy in Heaven – it will be paradise, we will have an occupation.
(iii) Adam was to name the animals
Chapter 2 verse 19 – Adam named the animals, this was very practical. As master of God’s world he had to classify the animals. He had to name them wisely, he was the first biologist and botanist, it was God’s work for Adam. Before the fall God gave man physical and mental work. Since the fall work has been exhausting. While Adam’s hands were about the trees, his heart was with God.

c) God made us to enjoy the food he gave us.
God has made us to enjoy the food he gave us in verse 29. Everything that grew – it was just fruit and vegetables, nothing died in the World. We had a sense of taste and smell to enjoy it.

d) Conclusion
It was a perfect World. Now it is an untamed world. It was a wonderful, perfect world. It is now not the perfect world that God made – it has dangerous animals and plants, diseases etc. there are many problems.
Hebrews 2 verse 7 – Jesus is the solution of men’s problems. He came in the flesh as the second Adam and took on the dominion mandate. He came into a world full of heartache, stress and disaster. There is hope, it is in God’s son. He died and rose again. He has the power to put things right, but not yet, he will come a second time. Paradise will be restored, Eden regained – we can see this in Revelations 21 verse 4, the old order will pass away. The World will be restored – see Isaiah 11 verse 6, this is a picture of Paradise, there will be no harm or destruction, the Earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the water covers the sea. It will be a world of harmony and order where man walks with God. We will be at one with our maker.

Is this your destiny, your expectation? By Christ’s grace will you be there? It can be if you put your faith in Christ as your saviour.