1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.”
THE DOCTRINE OF MAN
“the doctrine of humanity (man) sees the human person as made in God’s image, either man or woman by God’s making, fallen through Adam’s historical sin, formed for vocation (work) unto God, and redeemable in and through the God-man, Jesus Christ.“- Owen Strachan
“Humanity is the race made for God; humanity is the race fallen from God; humanity is the race made whole by God in Christ. In God’s plan, everything bends towards Christ.“-Wayne Grudem
“the only way we can ever really find out who we are is from God. The best place to find out begins in Genesis.“-David Guzik
“Then God said, ’Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.26 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them.27” Genesis 1:26-27
“…In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.1 He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created.2" Genesis 5:1-2
“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.7” Genesis 2:7
“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.21 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.22" Genesis 2:21-22#1 Who are we? We are image bearers
“Hitherto God has been introduced simply as commanding (“let there be light, and there was light” Genesis 1:3). Now, when he approaches the most excellent of all his works, he enters into consultation… for the purpose of commending to our attention the dignity of our nature. He, in taking counsel concerning creation of man, testifies that he is about to undertake something great and wonderful.“-John Calvin
The Hebrew word for image is Tselem (t-sell-em) and is derived from the words “to carve” or “to cut”.
The Hebrew word for likeness is demuth (d-ma-th)
“When scripture reports that God said ‘Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness’ it simply would have meant to the original Hebrew readers, ‘let Us make man to be like Us and to represent Us’“-Wayne Grudem
“….Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth6- Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.7” Isaiah 43:6-7
2. We represent God’s likeness in our authority/dominion
“Then God said, ’Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.26. Genesis 1:26
“that man was made last of all the creatures, that it might not be suspected that he had been, anyway a helper to God in the creation of the world: that question must be forever humbling and mortifying to him, ‘where wast thou, or any of thy kind, when I laid the foundations of the earth?’ Job 38:4”-Matthew Henry
“Man created in God’s image was placed in sovereignty over the earth, crowned with glory and honor, yet subject to God his creator.“- Scofield study Bible
3. We bear God’s image in morality
“you shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Leviticus 19:2So, who are we? First, we are image bearers because we are triune beings with dominion and a moral character#2 Who are we? We are fallen“1Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hide myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” 12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?“” Genesis 3:1-13
“There is none righteous, no not one” Romans 3:10
“For there is no difference. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:22-23
1. Their sin gave a different answer to the “who am I?” question
“Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘you will not surely die. For God knows in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5
2. Their sin gave a different answer to the “whose authority?” question
“So when the woman saw that tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6
“Let Us make man in our own image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26
“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.13 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?14 And how shall they preach unless they are sent….15”. Romans 10:13-15
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.13 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.14 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.15 Let your light so shine before men, they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.16" Matthew 5:13-16
3. Their sin gave a different answer to the “what is true/right?” question?
“It is precisely because people have abandoned the truth of Genesis that society is in such disarray.“- David Guzik
“The first couples’ sin is our sin, furthermore: we do not trust and obey God’s word, worshipping him through obedient following, but rather trust and obey ourselves obediently worshipping as we do.“- Wayne GrudemSo who are we? Secondly, we are image bearers who now bear a fallen image
#3 Who are we? We are a restored ima...
