In His Image
Text: Genesis 2:15-25
Basic Proposition:
Since we are created unique and in the image of God, we have a great responsibility to know and obey His commands. Being righteous means obeying the commands of God.
Image –
The created image of man separates him from all other creation. God intended for mankind to rule over all creation by creating man in His image, an image of Himself as the picture of authority upon the earth.
- The Derivative of Mankind – Man was made in the image of God, a shadow and visual expression of the divine on earth. Mankind is the reflection of God established by the very breathe of God Himself.
- The Distinction of Mankind - God made man in his own image specifically separate from the other creatures of the earth. Mankind has attributes that can only be derived from God and will always separate man from beast.
- The Direction of Mankind – Mankind by this distinct genesis is given a great obligation, though at the first it would not be a chore. The direction of mankind was to rule creation as God’s delegated authority.
Intention -
The original state man was in, was a condition of innocence. Man was without sin and therefore there was no shame. Innocence is only possible if a person has not been subject to the experience of something. This is what God wanted for all mankind; it was His idea of perfection that it was possible to not sin.
- The Proving Ground – The tree of knowledge of good and evil was the only tree placed in the garden with a strict rule, “thou shalt not eat!” Why? Like every good soldier, mankind had to be battle tested. God made man with a responsibility and an independent will to make decisions. God wanted man to prove himself obedient and gave him an easy opportunity.
- The Potential – A life without sin and shame. Imagine the potential had mankind been successful in the obedience of God’s first test. God wanted His little “shadows” on earth to be without sin and shame that they might be able to rule the creation with joy even as He delighted in His care over the creation. The power and delight mankind would have had over creation is unimaginable.
- The Proof – The proof of this intention is clearly seen in verse 25. Before the fall there was no shame, but innocence.
Instruction –
Since creation was perfect and God originally intended for man to be innocent, there is a key to unveiling a false philosophy today. Here God as a loving father gives all of mankind a lesson in parenting. The identity is Holiness through obedience.
- A Misconception – There is a great misconception in the world today that contradicts God’s examples for mankind. It is the idea that young people sometimes just need to experience something for themselves to learn from it. This is totally false as we can see because if God had this in mind, He would have had Adam and Eve to know what was sin.
- A Method - It is never right to study sin in order to prevent it, but rather it is right to study that which is good. There is a reason why God did not tell Adam and Eve about sin and disobedience, but rather He told them about righteousness and His commands that they were to obey.
- A Mandate – As the image of God on earth with great responsibility over the creation it is important for mankind to know the righteousness and laws of God in order to keep them. God has given mankind a second chance to prove himself every day, but we cannot be proven battle tested until we know what pleases God.
Personal Application
Do I spend time studying the commands of God that I might obey them or do I spend the time looking at sin? What we set our eyes on, that is what we set our heart to do. A person does not inject poison into his body for the experience; neither should we participate in sin that we might gain some personal experience. We have a great obligation as representatives of God here upon the earth to care for His creation, let us do so with great diligence in accordance to His Word.