WHO ARE WE: THE IMAGE OF GOD (3 OF 48)
Scripture: Genesis 1:26-28
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Who Are We: The Image of God (3 of 48)
Series: Kingdom Foundations - Genesis
Patrick Edwards
Genesis 1:26-28
Introduction
The great Protestant Reformer John Calvin writes at the beginning of the Institutes of the Christian Religion, ''Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.'' (I.I.1) Calvin's point is that we need to survey both God and ourselves to rightly perceive the other. First, it's by looking at ourselves in our present sinful and broken estate that enables us to see our need for God. However, it's only in looking at the nature and character of God that we can see what we were meant to be. We must have a right view of God if we are to have a right understanding of ourselves. Simply put, you cannot have a proper view of your own life and the purpose of your life until you have a proper view of God.
Genesis 1:26-28 is the quintessential example of this truth. How can we possibly understand humanity, who is the image of God, unless we understand God Himself? And so this morning we're going to focus specifically on just this one topic. Who are human beings? What does it mean to be human? What distinguishes humanity from the rest of creation? What are the responsibilities of human beings? Simply put, who are we? What Genesis 1:26-28 teach us is that as the image of God humanity exists as servant kings and queens over creation and sons and daughters to God in covenantal relationship with Him.
Recap: Who is God?
Before we answer this question, however, I want to begin by very briefly recapping what we've learned in Genesis concerning the nature of God, for we are not independent creatures; we are not free creatures. We exist in and for God Himself. As we noted two weeks ago in Genesis 1:1, the Bible is about God; He is its subject. I mean talk about a truth that flies in the face of modern opinion, for as human beings there is nothing we enjoy more tha ...
Series: Kingdom Foundations - Genesis
Patrick Edwards
Genesis 1:26-28
Introduction
The great Protestant Reformer John Calvin writes at the beginning of the Institutes of the Christian Religion, ''Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.'' (I.I.1) Calvin's point is that we need to survey both God and ourselves to rightly perceive the other. First, it's by looking at ourselves in our present sinful and broken estate that enables us to see our need for God. However, it's only in looking at the nature and character of God that we can see what we were meant to be. We must have a right view of God if we are to have a right understanding of ourselves. Simply put, you cannot have a proper view of your own life and the purpose of your life until you have a proper view of God.
Genesis 1:26-28 is the quintessential example of this truth. How can we possibly understand humanity, who is the image of God, unless we understand God Himself? And so this morning we're going to focus specifically on just this one topic. Who are human beings? What does it mean to be human? What distinguishes humanity from the rest of creation? What are the responsibilities of human beings? Simply put, who are we? What Genesis 1:26-28 teach us is that as the image of God humanity exists as servant kings and queens over creation and sons and daughters to God in covenantal relationship with Him.
Recap: Who is God?
Before we answer this question, however, I want to begin by very briefly recapping what we've learned in Genesis concerning the nature of God, for we are not independent creatures; we are not free creatures. We exist in and for God Himself. As we noted two weeks ago in Genesis 1:1, the Bible is about God; He is its subject. I mean talk about a truth that flies in the face of modern opinion, for as human beings there is nothing we enjoy more tha ...
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