Battle For The Truth (Part 10)
Notes
Transcript
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and 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 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Introduction
Last week we talked about the chicken vs. the egg controversy and which came first. It was clearly and firmly established from the text that the chicken came first. Now that that is settled, we have arrived at another major crossroad in biblical Creation account—man is created.
Again, as we stated before, whether you are aware of it or not, your worldview is on display. However, before we take a deep dive into this issue, let us take the time to observe where we are and how we got here. First, we have a world that came into being through the self-existent and eternal Being who is God. God spoke and it was so. So, God is the cause, and the world is the effect.
Thus far, we are up to Day 6, in which we have a great expanse of space in the sky called heaven consisting of light-bearing objects called stars and other light-reflecting objects called planets and moons. There is a greater light (the sun) that rules the day and a lesser light (the moon) that rules the night. Furthermore, these lights help us measure time, determine seasons, and serve as signs from the Creator.
In addition, we observe that there is a canopy of water above the earth shielding the harmful rays of the sun creating the perfect atmosphere and weather conditions to sustain and promote life. There are various bodies of water called seas, rivers, lakes, and streams. Also, we have dry land called earth consisting of mountains, valleys, plains, and prairies. The land is covered with all kinds of vegetation—grass, trees, flowers, bushes, ferns, and fungi.
Added to this scene are animals. First, all manner of creatures swarming in the waters, then all manner of fowls flying through the air, and then all manner of beasts and creeping things upon the land. You name the plant or the animal, it is there and producing after its kind. Not evolving but reproducing after its kind. Everything pristine and in perfect harmony. What a wonderful world. Amen somebody.
When it comes to the Battle For The Truth, there are two things from this historical narrative that I know to be absolutely and unequivocally true. In fact, I know them to be true beyond a shadow of doubt or exception. “Well, what are they,” you may ask. I am so glad you asked. Here they are:
You were not there; and had nothing to do with it,
The same is true of me.
Amen somebody.
Everything was already here and functioning before there was a man. The earth was spinning on its axis at 10, 000 mile an hour around the sun and the moon was spinning on its axis around the earth. Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the innumerable galaxies were already in place in all their glory. The sun was shining, the fish were swimming, the birds were flying, the cows were mooing, and the monkey was swinging from the trees before there was a man. This is either true or false.
The Bible says in Hebrews 11:3, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” In other words, things did not come into being on their own through some natural evolutionary process. On the contrary, God through the word of His power brought all things into existence.
As Colossians 1:16-17 declares, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” It was all Made by God and now we are about to discover the purpose for which things were made. Not for angels, but for man to enjoy. Amen somebody.
God Makes Man in His Image, After His Likeness
Vv. 26-27, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
“God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Just as God did not create a frog from a fish or a snake from a snail, He did not create a man from a monkey. Amen somebody. Heretofore, God’s method of creating has consisted of Him speaking things into existence. However, when it comes to man, we observe that God is doing some new.
Instead of speaking man, His crowning achievement into existence, He takes a more personal and inclusive approach. The text unambiguously declares that “God said, Let us make man.” Make him how? “In our image, after our likeness.” This emphatically declares is that man did not evolve from another creature as the false evolutionary theory claims, but rather that the Godhead formed man or Adam in their image, after their likeness.
Here we find the first illusion to the doctrine of the Trinity and the significance of the plural word used for God, which is Elohim. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Man being made in God’s image means he is a rational and morally responsible being, and ‘likeness’ means he has a spiritual accord with the will of God. Having a spiritual relationship with God distinguishes man from all other creatures.
Regarding man, Psalm 8:5-8, declares, “For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, And hast crowned him with glory and honour. (6) Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet: (7) All sheep and oxen, Yea, and the beasts of the field; (8) The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, And whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.”
V.27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Stop right there. What does this tell us and what does it mean? I am so glad you asked.
As before, there are two things from this historical narrative that I know to be absolutely and unequivocally true. In fact, I know them to be true beyond a shadow of doubt or exception. “Well, what are they,” you may ask. I am so glad you asked. Here they are:
You did not create yourself nor had anything to do with it; and,
The same is true of me.
Amen somebody.
Therefore, your life was given to you by God as a gift. Without any involvement from you, God put breath in you nostrils and gave a beat to your heart. Have you told Him thank you?
Furthermore, we are informed that God specifically created male and female. Is this true or not true? It cannot be both nor are you allowed to straddle the fence. You must decide. And, when it comes to matters of faith, I have painfully learned not to take anything for granted; therefore, the question is to you.
Is it true or not true that God created mankind—male and female as the Bible declares? If you have a problem with this and answer not true, then you are really going to struggle as we continue. Nevertheless, do not give up now, it only gets better.
God Gives First Command and Instructions
Vv. 28 “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
The blessing was the ability to reproduce themselves.
Side note: Life is the result of God’s blessing. Life does not come into being without God’s blessing. His first command to man was to procreate. I find it ironic that one of the major issues within our culture today is in direct conflict with the first blessing and command that God gave to mankind—heterosexual relationships and reproduction. In opposition to this gracious blessing and divine command, man pushes for homosexual relationships and the avoidance of reproduction or the aborting of life after God has given it. Lord help us. O, how I wish I had to time to plumb the depths of these two issues, but I must move on. But let me say this in passing: I you believe it to be true that life is a blessing from God and that He alone is able to cause life to exist, then how can a Believer be in favor of homosexuality and abortion? Something is wrong with that position. I move on.
I love watching nature shows. I find the animals (sea, air, and land) and nature itself fascinating. I like learning about their characteristics, habitats, and habits. Although I do not go often, I have always enjoyed visiting the zoo. All the variety of creatures that God created are on display.
They are on display because man has dominion over them. The zoo is a testimony to the truth of God’s word. I am not in favor of any kind of animal abuse, but I do not see anything wrong with the zoo. Some people feel that capturing and containing animals against their will is tantamount to abuse.
Although I respect your right to that opinion, I believe that zoos serve a more noble and educational purpose. What a wonderful world, full of life without strife and fear. Up to Day 6, this is what the earth was like. Can you just take the time and think on that? And it was all good.
V.29-30, “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. (30) And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.”
Here God give the second and very important instruction to man—what he should eat. God gave to man and beasts alike every herb bearing seed, fruit trees, grains, and nuts. They were all vegetarians.
Side note: People today are quick to point out that man was a vegetarian yet deny the God who made him.
V. 31, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”
The Sixth Day concludes with the creation of Adam. Everything God made was good, and as He looks upon the sum of all His works, He declares it to be very good. This is the documented account of Creation. It is either true or not true. What say you? I submit to you that the Creation account as recorded in the book of Genesis is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Amen somebody.
Conclusion
I realize that most people do not agree with the biblical account of Creation. Again, that is why this Battle for the Truth rages on. If you happen to be one of those who disagree, please understand that I am not against you. You are not my enemy.
The truth is I love you and pray to God that He would be gracious to you and give you the faith required to comprehend these truths and come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Next, we will see what God did to conclude His Creation and what significance that has for us today. And, until next time, may God richly bless you my beloved. Amen.