Lesson 2. Man. A school on the foundations of the Christian faith that every Christian should know. The school consists of twelve lessons. The founder of the school is the Christian Bible Institute.
Man Was Created in the Image and Likeness of God
1. Man is the only one who was created “in the image and likeness of God”
Genesis 1:26: “And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, 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.”
2. Man was created as a person capable of having a unique relationship with God
Unlike the rest of creation, man was created with the ability to fellowship with God.
- Intellect is the ability to think rationally.
- Will – the ability to be aware and make decisions.
- Emotions – the ability to derive satisfaction from what is happening around us.
- Ethical abilities – the ability to understand goodness and beauty.
- The ability to exercise authority.
The qualities described above enabled people to be stewards and exercise dominion over part of God’s creation.
3. The original expression of the image of God in humanity.
Unlike all the rest of creation, human beings held a special status before God because they were created in the image and likeness of God.
- Human beings originally had the Spirit of God within them.
Gen. 2:7: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
- Human beings were originally members of God’s family: Luke 3:23, 38
Luke 3:23: “Jesus, when He began His ministry, was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,… the son of Adam, the son of God.”
- Human beings originally had the right to exercise dominion over the earth.
Gen. 1:27: “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; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”
These three qualities were lost by humanity at the moment of the Fall (for more details, see the section “Sin”).
The Role of Humanity in God’s Absolute Plan
1. Man has never been the ultimate purpose of the universe’s existence; he has always been a creation, not the Creator.
In this area, people often hold a mistaken view: while acknowledging God to some extent as the Creator, they nevertheless believe that God should act according to their standards.
Gen. 1:27 “So God created man…”
Job 38:1–4 “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 2 Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me: 4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.”
Job 40:1–4 “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 2 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. 3 Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified? 4 Have you an arm like God’s? And can you thunder with a voice like His?”
2. In Eden, man was a conscious participant in God’s perfect work.
- The term “Lord” includes an element of personal relationship between man and God.
The second chapter of Genesis presents man as a conscious and willing partner in the creative work of his Creator, God.
Gen. 2:4–9 “4 This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the time when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 before every plant of the field was in the earth and every herb of the field had grown, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground; 6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. 7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He placed the man whom He had formed.”
- Voluntary physical and intellectual labor in the Garden of Eden
By working in the Garden of Eden, man was a fellow participant in the creation of a single project—the universe, which belongs to God. His life and harmonious interaction with God demonstrated God’s greatness and glory.
Gen. 2:15 “15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.”
Gen. 2:19–20 “19 The Lord God formed from the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 And the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air, and all the animals of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper comparable to him.”
3. The highest purpose of the universe is to demonstrate the glory and greatness of God. The highest purpose of man is to glorify God by knowing Him and rejoicing in fellowship with Him.
The Bible clearly says that God alone and the triumph of His glory are at the center of everything that exists and are the ultimate purpose and meaning of history.
Rom. 11:36 “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”
- The glory of God is the triumph of the greatness and perfection of His person.
The glory of God is the manifestation of the splendor of His perfect and absolute Person. It is expressed in His existence, His works, and His relationship with man.
- The ultimate purpose of human salvation and moral goodness is the glory of God.
Isa. 43:7 “everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made.”
Eph. 1:4 “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
- The highest purpose of a Christian holy life is to glorify God.
When a person comes to God, they become able to demonstrate God’s greatness and His glory in their life.
John 15:8 “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples.”
1 Pet. 4:11 “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the words of God; if anyone ministers, let him do it with the strength God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Matt. 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
1 Pet. 2:11 “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, seeing your good works, they may glorify God in the day of visitation.”
- Glorifying God is the Christian’s sacred duty.
1 Cor. 6:20 “For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
1 Cor. 10:31 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
- Glorifying God is the highest good for a person.
2 Thess. 1:12 “that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Without God, human glory is impossible.
The greater the glory of God, the more precious and radiant a person’s glory is in Him.
- A person suffers calamities and hardships because they do not want to live for the glory of God.
Rom. 1:21 “Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened; 22 professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and the glory of the incorruptible God was changed into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, so that they dishonored their own bodies. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
God is absolute perfection. That is why God does everything for His glory—He cannot be satisfied with anything that is not perfect. Therefore, God’s highest satisfaction can be found only in the nature and actions of His own Person.
The highest purpose of the universe is the demonstration of God’s glory and greatness.
The highest purpose of humanity is to glorify God by knowing Him and rejoicing in fellowship with Him.
Homework: Memorize Rom. 1:21–25
Source: Christian Bible Institute
