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Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
GOD RETAINS FIRST PLACE
Now let’s consider the importance of GEN 1:26 and 27. "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
Notice the difference between this part of the creation and the previous events. In the previous creations, God said, "Let there be..." and there it was. Now God says, "Let us make man in our image..." This is different. God made man out of the dust; He didn’t just speak the Word, and it was so. He took dust and made man. Do we have any idea of the magnitude of the making of man in the image of God? When you look in a mirror, you see a reflection of yourself. If you go to the original Hebrew dictionary, this word "image" means "a reflection of." In other words, God made man in such a fashion that when anyone sees a person, they see a reflection of God. We are to be a reflection of the person and character of God. We were made to be representatives of who God is. That means man was made in the same character as God. Man had the same disposition, personality, and character as that of God. Man was a reflection of who God is.
What was special about how God made man? Man was not like the animals, fish, and birds. With those He said, "Let there be..." and they were. With man however, God said, "Let us make man..." To whom was He speaking? Here we are introduced to the Trinity--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are communing among themselves. The Trinity of God said, "Let us make man after our image." We are to reflect the Spirit of God. How? Our attitudes are to reflect the Spirit of Christ who is God. We are to have a loving spirit, a loving attitude, and a desire to do what is good for our neighbor and glorifies God. We reflect the Spirit of God by seeing the character of the Lord Jesus Christ and walking according to His Spirit.
Was man created out of nothing? No. Let’s look at 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." This explains the great difference between man and animals. Man was made from the very lowest and the very highest substance. Man was made from dust or the very lowest substance, which has no beauty in it, and the very highest substance--the breath of God. That is how we became a living soul; God breathed into man the breath of life, i.e., the Holy Spirit, or spiritual life. Man also is set apart from the animals because he has a reasonable understanding. Man is capable not only of seeing, but also of thinking and talking. Animals do not have a reasonable mind. Man was made in the image of God, with the Spirit of God, and given a soul that never dies. Animals do not have that.
Man was not only created in the very image of God, but God set him in a very kingly station. Go back to GEN 1:28. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." God made man to be the ruler or the king of the whole earth. God placed man in a glorious place.
God placed man in the same place where King Pharaoh put Joseph. This principle is so important to understanding the entire gospel. God placed Adam in second place, over all the earth, but He did not place him equal with God. Adam had to be under God’s authority. When God made Adam and gave him a place of great honour and magnitude, He still wanted Adam to reverence the authority of God. He wanted Adam to have a holy reverence for the Word of God, so God put Adam in second place. God is still in first place.
This same principle is taught in GEN 41:40-41. Joseph was placed in second place, "Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt." It was the same situation Adam was place in--with all power except that he must still respect the authority of the One above him. That is the significance of the difference between man and the rest of creation. God wanted to be glorified. God created man for His own glory. How is God glorified in the creation of man? Man, even though he was exalted to such honour and glory, would bow to the authority of God and honour Him.
"And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; and he made him to ride in the second chariot [Pharaoh reserved the first chariot for himself.] which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt." God reserved the first chariot, which is the place of authority, for Himself.
Why is this principle so important? When we understand this, we understand what happened when man fell. Then we will understand that the gospel is to bring man back under the authority of the Word of God. When man rebelled, he fell from this place of honour wherein God had placed him. Amen.
Our sermons and devotions are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a daily devotion and sermon notes on-line. We pray this devotion has been a blessing to those who read it. Thank you.