“The Image of God”
SERMON Title: The Image of God
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 1:1-3 (ESV)
Introduction:
We dive into a new sermon series titled ‘The Image of God’. We will be starting in Genesis in hopes to re-alter and renew our perspective of developing a worldview anchored unto the unchanging truth of God. Our worldview can heavily impact how we live our lives. We’ll be using Pastor Darrell Johnson’s approach to dividing the Bible topically: Genesis 1 to 11 and then everything else. These 11 chapters in Genesis help set the stage for the rest of the biblical narrative: knowing God, purpose of this created world, human sin, judgment, and the redemptive grace of God.
To preface, the readers of Genesis were the Hebrew people who were wandering in the wilderness. They have been delivered out of Egypt by God but had yet to enter the Promised Land. During this period of wandering in the wilderness, they questioned: “Who is God?”; “Who are we?”; or “Why are we here in this world?”. When the Israelites were Egyptian slaves, they were heavily exposed into the Egyptian culture and worldview. Upon being led out of Egypt, they faced having to seek and adopt a new mindset and worldview. Genesis 1 to 11 offers five big overarching realities.
Overview:
Reality 1: God Himself
He is the One who is behind all other things. All things exist because He exists.
Knowing He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, all that we do depends on Him. This includes acknowledging who the Lord is and displaying reverence before Him (Prov 9:10).
We know more about God Himself by going to the Word. That is where our questions of Ultimacy, questions of purpose or meaning will be answered.
Reality 2: The World was created and has meaning and purpose
God is the One who created all things. He is the Creator who brings order out of chaos.
When we acknowledge God as the Creator, then we have a basis for our morality and understanding reality.
Reality 3: Human Sin
Ignorance is not the main problem with humanity for education is not the cure of human ignorance.
Sin’s ability to uproot problems continuously is because its nature is destructive:
Mankind’s rebellion against God (Gen 3)
Generational sin (Gen 4)
Rampant sin globally (Gen 6)
Attempt to overthrow God (Gen 11)
A perspective that does not account for sin is incomplete and is aware only of the symptoms and not the root cause.
Reality 4: God’s judgment
God’s justice is just as much a part of Him as His nature to be holy, righteous, loving, etc.
Yet in Genesis as we encounter humankind succumbing to sin and being separated from God, we see the judgment of God being passive (removing His blessing) and allowing sin to have destructive impacts on His creation (e.g., Adam & Eve; Cain & Abel; Noah and the flood).
The world having lost the order instilled by its Creator (God) will suffer. God is and does judge sin both actively and passively.
Reality 5: The redemptive grace of God
In the face of humankind’s tendency to sin and God’s ensuing judgment, yet He still pursues His people. He extends compassion (e.g., clothing Adam & Eve) and binding His people in a promise to protect and redeem them (e.g., covenant with Abraham).
God’s nature to show grace and favor is not because of anything humankind does but His desire to preserve and love us, His people.
Application:
To be able to enter into the redemptive grace of God, we need to ask ourselves:
Do I look to God first? Are my eyes fixed on Him?
If we are choosing to start elsewhere or look for answers in something or someone other than God, we will stay on the wrong path to discovering what we are seeking.
Is our hope in Jesus?
Because we are entangled in sin in this world, we are easily hindered to be ‘de-created’ or brought to destruction.
Instead, we need to look to Jesus to be born again and be restored; to be made new. In those areas we invite Jesus into, He becomes our faith and trust which recreates and restores those area that has been devastated and ruined by sin.
Sermon reflection questions:
What are some questions you are currently grappling with in life? About yourself or about others? Write these down.
Where do you go to try to have them answered or find assurance? If it is not God, why or how do you find security in going to something or someone else first?
Pray about what trait or essence of God you’d like revealed to you so your heart can desire to begin with God. For Him to be your strength and your refuge.
