August 4, 2019
Who we are, as God intended
Aug. 4, 2019
Introduction
As I speak on this topic, please hear me well, I am not saying that God looks like us nor that we look like God, but we do look just like God intended us to look and of that He is not ashamed.
Let’s follow God’s account of “who we are”. And I am trying very hard to stay with my own motto “What does it say?” Even though it is counter to what I’ve been taught most of my life. I have been taught body shame to protect me from spiritual failure, “lust of the heart”, this I believe is the conformity to the world’s thinking that God warns against. In this way of thinking there is no victory, only continual struggle and bondage. New Testament scriptures clearly state that in Christ we are set free from “the sin that so easily entangles”, “but now having been freed from sin we became slaves of righteousness.” “We are overcomers in Christ.”, “But I say walk by the Spirit and not walk in the flesh.” Etc... Let’s stop making excuses for our wrong thinking!
Let’s get God’s perspective on who we are.
Gen. 1:26-27 God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (Is. 6:1; Ez. 1:26-28)
:27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. What was man’s role to be in creation? How many genders did God create? Is gender biological or philosophical?
Gen 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
:20 And the man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.
Gen 2:21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh at that place.
Gen 2:22 And the LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
Gen 2:23 And the man said, "This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." (Charlie Hornick puts it this way, “WOW! Man what a sight!)
Gen 2:24 For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
Gen 2:25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. NASB
What is the difference between how God created mankind and all other creation? He personally laid hands to the purpose of creating both man and woman.
(The body, as well as the soul and spirit is God’s good creation and deserves to be honored as much as any other part of His creation. Gnosticism is a religious philosophy that says all matter is bad or evil, but anything non-physical or spiritual is holy.) God says, we are holy, body and all. 1 Cor. 3:16-17, 6:19-20; 1Thes. 5:23
Is the human body less holy than our soul and spirit? Not by God’s evaluation.
To use our body in an unholy way is to violate God’s creation intention! What part of the our person makes the choice to sin against God’s intention? Body or soul/spirit Matt. 12:34-35; James 1:13-17, 3:14, 4:1-2
Conclusion
What was man’s role to be in creation? Dominion/stewardship
Since God created two genders, but man says there’s more, who’s lying? MAN!
How should we view ourselves and others? With honor as those created in His image.
Is God’s creation worthy of honor? Yes, in every part, though it has been affected by sin He still has His plan.
What part of the our person makes the choice to sin against God’s intention? Body or soul/spirit Matt. 12:34-35; James 1:13-17, 3:14, 4:1-2