In the Beginning God Created Man in His

In the Beginning: God Created Man in His Image Genesis 1: 26 -31

22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15: 22)

In the Beginning: God Created Man in His Image * Image of God in man's person.

The image of God is a physical manifestation of dependent divine essence that bears the function of that which it represents, giving the image-bearer the capacity to reflect the attributes of the one represented on his behalf.

- Live as though the image of God is your purpose. - Love others because the image of God makes all valuable.

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5: 1 -2)

6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. (Genesis 9: 6)

In the Beginning: God Created Man in His Image * Image of God in man's person. * Image of God in man's gender.

26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. (Acts 17: 26 -27)

Complementarian interpretation of Scripture holds that God’s creation purpose for man and woman entails equality of individual value but also distinct roles. God established this intrinsic reality and order at creation as part of his blueprint for the man’s and woman’s mission on earth to be lived out together for his glory.

- Remember that God designed gender. - Remember that both genders are the image of God. - Remember that gender issues are spiritual and source authority issues. - Remember that our mission is the gospel, not merely morality.

In the Beginning: God Created Man in His Image * Image of God in man's person. * Image of God in man's gender. * Image of God in man's marriages.

18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. ” (Genesis 2: 18)

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2: 24)

- Remember that marriage is ordained by God and not man. - Remember that your or no less or more in the image of God based upon your marital status. - Remember that the marriage issues are spiritual and source authority issues. - Remember that our mission is the gospel, not merely morality.

In the Beginning: God Created Man in His Image * Image of God in man's person. * Image of God in man's gender. * Image of God in man's marriages. * Image of God in man's posterity.

Snopes - Tried to disprove abortion as a leading cause of death in an article "Was Abortion the ‘Leading Cause of Death’ in 2018? " - However, the most recent figure on abortions from WHO we could locate dated from 2014 and was slightly higher than Worldometers’ tally. WHO estimated that between 2010 and 2014, an average of 56 million induced abortions occurred worldwide each year. - If WHO’s estimate of 56 million abortions annually held steady through 2016, when they released their survey on the top ten leading causes of death globally, it would be true that the number of abortions worldwide outnumbered overall deaths from heart disease and stroke, the top two causes of death that year.

Snopes - Stating that abortion is the “leading cause of death” worldwide (as opposed to a medical procedure) is a problematic pronouncement, because that stance takes a political position, one which is at odds with the scientific/medical world. The medical community does not confer personhood upon fetuses that are not viable outside the womb, so counting abortion as a “cause of death” does not align with the practices of health organizations such as WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

- Look at children as a blessing, not a burden.

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127: 3 -5)

- Look at children as a blessing, not a burden. - Remember that being in the image of God is more that your ability to procreate. - This is an issue on which we are called to make a stand.

8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31: 8 -9)

- Look at children as a blessing, not a burden. - Remember that being in the image of God is more that your ability to procreate. - This is an issue on which we are called to make a stand. - Remember that the abortion issue is a spiritual and source authority issue. - Remember that our mission is the gospel, not merely morality.

In the Beginning: God Created Man in His Image * Image of God in man's person. * Image of God in man's gender. * Image of God in man's marriages. * Image of God in man's posterity. * Image of God in man’s dominion.

- We are to bring God's Kingdom wherever we go.

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6: 9 -13)

15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. (2 Corinthians 2: 15 -16)

- We are to bring God's Kingdom wherever we go. - We are to be good stewards rather than owners.

42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. (Luke 12: 42 -46)

45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming, ’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. (Luke 12: 42 -46)

In the Beginning: God Created Man in His Image * Image of God in man's person. * Image of God in man's gender. * Image of God in man's marriages. * Image of God in man's posterity. * Image of God in man’s dominion. * Image of God in man's provision.

- Share God’s provision to you with others.

16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13: 16)

28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (Ephesians 4: 28)

- Share God’s provision to you with others. - Remember that being vegetarian does not make one more or less the image of God.

10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person. ” (Matthew 15: 10 -11)

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4: 1 -5)

- Share God’s provision to you with others. - Remember that being vegetarian does not make one more or less the image of God. - Remember that the world is not what it was. - Long for the restoration of creation and the image of God.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8: 18 -23)

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8: 18 -23)

In the Beginning: God Created Man in His Image * Image of God in man's person. * Image of God in man's gender. * Image of God in man's marriages. * Image of God in man's posterity. * Image of God in man’s dominion. * Image of God in man's provision.

- Have your image of God restored in Christ. - Live as the image of God.