God and Humans Us The culmination of Gods

God and Humans (Us!) The culmination of God’s work week is the creation of humans. On day six, after God made everything else, He made humans. Not as an afterthought, but as the pinnacle of His creation.

Humans (We!) made in God’s image. • Being made in God’s image means that we possess the following attributes: • Morality, creativity, compassion, love, intelligence, etc. • Gen. 1: 27 – “And God created man (mankind) in His image, in the image of God, He created them, male and female, He created them. • Notice the contrast between the Genesis creation story and the Babylonian creation story: • Enuma Elish – human beings are an afterthought to the gods. Marduk creates humans as slaves for the gods. • Genesis – God is willing to give up some control, to share with humanity, the responsibility of caring for the world and achieving God’s purpose.

Humans made in God’s image (cont. ) • Psalm 8: 3 -6 (Read) • A high view of human life –“crowned with glory & honor” All of human life is valuable. Any action in taking a human life must be seen as an exception. Meaning of being made in the image of God: should be understood in the terms of the (our) ability to enter freely into fellowship with one another as well as with God. Also mankind is given the responsibility to care for (be a good steward) of all the created earth.

Humans made in the image of God (cont. ) • 2. Human Beings – Sinful and disobedient. Throughout the Bible – examples of greed, pride, lust, disobedience, envy, power hungry individuals are recorded in its pages. Example. Cain killed Abel out of jealousy. In Genesis 1 – 2, God provided for Adam and Eve everything they could ever want or need in the Garden of Eden, yet they disobeyed God. The tempter (serpent) is evil, a parasite, a liar. Sin – not simply what we do, but is a kind of power or force that exists in the world. It is more than the sum of human failure, ignorance and disobedience. Sin is the result of human action, of seeking it own way without any regards to or reverence for God.

Humans Made in the Image of God (cont. ) • The serpent only tempts, never forces Adam and Eve. • What leads the first couple to sin? Most theologians believe it is pride. To be like God. A pride which is mixed with independence and a lack of trust. • Serpent to Eve – “Did God really say? ” • Adam and Eve tried to handle the situation by themselves in trying to be like God, to decide what is right and wrong according to their ways and not as according to God’s ways. They wished to be God or at least what they thought God ought to be.

Humans (cont. ) • • • Results of Adam and Eve’s disobedience Shame (they clothe themselves) Deceit (they hid themselves from God) Blame (they point their finger at each other) Punishment Adam and Eve put of the garden. Man = rule over woman Man is to work the ground for food. All three punishments represent a disruption of the original relationship between God and humanity.

Humans (cont. ) • Conclusion: Creation and Covenant • A major unifying theme in the Bible is covenant. • Covenant an agreement between two or more persons or parties Suzerain covenant – covenant between unequals. Like a king and his subjects. Covenant relationship with creation. Creation is the stage on which God’s purposes are worked out. God’s purpose is one of a life based on covenant between Himself and humanity and a covenant between one another.

Humans (cont. ) • Sin – a refusal to rightly worship God or a refusal to live in harmony (peace) with others. • Sin is a rejection of what it means to be human. • Sin is “death” (Apostle Paul’s words). A separation from self, God, and others. A spiritual death “wages of sin”. • God is the One who takes the initiative to heal or mend the brokenness as most fully expressed in Jesus Christ’s death which puts us in a right relationship with God; and Jesus’ life which also reveals what we are created to be. • Genesis 1 – 3 sets the stage for the rest of the history of God’s covenant with humanity.