EVE – Creation of humans
Why are we starting a Christmas study with
creation? When our sovereign God created the world and placed people in it, He
knew they would sin. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were all present as man
was formed from dust and woman from man’s rib. And before the creation of the
world, the God-head had the plan for mankind’s redemption – the baby Boy who would
be born to die as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation
13:8).
Genesis 1:26-28 - Version (KJV) 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...”. Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit were all present when man was created. It was a collaborative
process. The God-head, the Trinity, fashioned man in
their own image. What exactly does that mean?
People were given the ability to reason, to
communicate through speech, to make choices, and to be
creative. People are also relational beings. God is a
relationship within Himself -the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Humans need meaningful relationships among themselves and with
God. Before they sinned, the man and the woman were in perfect unity
with one another and with the Father. They were what we, as Christians, shall
be on the New Earth when Christ returns. However, as we will see, our relationship with
God and each other was tarnished by the sin of the very first man. Animals are instinctual and often act on impulses related to
their physical needs, their appetites. People were
given dominion, rule, over all other earthly beings (animals, fish, birds,
reptiles, bugs, etc.) because of our ability to reason, because we are created
in the image of God. And because we are created in the image of God, humans
have a relationship of equality and willing submission to one another.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the
image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
God did not just create a brotherhood to
satisfy the need for relationships. Nor did He create only a sisterhood. He
created both male and female or they would not have been able to obey the
command in the next verse!
Genesis 1:28 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.
Once God had created both the man and the
woman, then He blessed them and told them to have a
family. He encouraged them to enjoy their marriage relationship and all
that implies. Man was supposed to protect and direct the earth in an orderly
manner to bring glory to the Creator. The animals were created for the
benefit of mankind, and people were to rule over them. In the Garden of Eden God gave man and woman equal authority
over all of creation. God did not intend them to exercise this authority over
one another. We are to rule over the animals, but we are to submit to one
another as unto Christ.
How does this apply to me?
People were created in the image of God. We
have attributes and qualities the animals cannot possess. We were intended to
be a reflection of our Maker, but sin has tarnished our ability to reflect. The
only cleaning agent that can wash away the grime of sin is the blood of Jesus
Christ shed on the cross to pay the debt of our sin. We cannot be “good enough”
to purchase the cleanser. The only way to appropriate that which will make us
clean and restore our ability to reflect our Creator is by trusting Jesus,
believing He was God incarnate (Son of God), died to pay our sin debt, and was
raised to life and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. As Jesus said,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life; No man cometh unto the Father but by
Me.” (John 14:6 KJV)
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