God’s Imprint on Our LivesFearfully & Wonderfully

Made

Fearfully & Wonderfully

Made

…we were made for God’s glory, pleasure & purpose

“For you created my inmost being;    you knit me together in my

mother’s womb.I praise you because I am fearfully

and wonderfully made;    your works are wonderful,

    I know that full well.”Psalm 139:13-14He’s the Creator,

&we are His creation

God the Creator

“In the beginning God…created the heavens and the earth.” Gen 1:1

His creation of the universe is a mystery…will always be! It came forth through a “supernatural” event and series of “supernatural” events by the One who precedes all.

God the Creator

He created “out of nothing” by His command!

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.: Hebrews 11:3

“Then God said, ‘Let there be light’…air (sky)…dry land (earth)…seas…plants…lights in the skies (sun and moon)…living things (birds, sea life)…life on dry land (animals)…and human beings…and it happened…and it was good! Gen. 1:3-31

“Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:8-9

…and it was VERY GOOD!

“Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image and likeness.’”…“So God created human beings in His image. In the image of God He created them. He created them male and female.”… “God looked at everything He had made, and it was very good. Evening passed, and morning came. This was the sixth day.” Gen 1:26, 30, 31

Who made us? How were we created?

What does it mean to be “made in His image”?

Made in God’s Image?

On the last day of creation, God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). Thus, He finished His work with a “personal touch.”

God formed man from the dust and gave him life by sharing His own breath (Genesis 2:7). Accordingly, man is unique among all God’s creations, having both a material body and an immaterial soul/spirit. Having the “image” or “likeness” of God means, in the simplest terms, that we were made to “resemble” God. Adam did not resemble God in the sense of God’s having flesh and blood. Scripture says that “God is spirit” (John 4:24) and therefore exists without a body. However, Adam’s body did mirror the life of God insofar as it was created in perfect health and was not subject to death. And Adam was created with a spirit and a soul that did reflect the spiritual essence of immortality, or endless conscious existence.

Difference between Spirit & Soul?

The word “SOUL” can refer to both the immaterial and material aspects of humanity. Human beings are souls. In its most basic sense, the word “soul” means “life.” However, beyond this essential meaning, the Bible speaks of the soul in many contexts: One of these is humanity’s eagerness to sin (Luke

12:26). Humanity is naturally evil, and our souls are tainted as a result. The life principle of the soul is removed at the time of physical death (Genesis 35:18; Jeremiah 15:2).

The soul, as with the spirit, is the center of many spiritual and emotional experiences (Job 30:25; Psalm 43:5; Jeremiah 13:17). Whenever the word “soul” is used, it can refer to the whole person, whether alive or in the afterlife.

The soul and the spirit are the two primary immaterial aspects that Scripture ascribes to humanity.

Difference between Spirit & Soul?

The word “SPIRIT” refers only to the immaterial facet of humanity. Apart from having a soul, human beings have a spirit, but we are not spirits. However, in Scripture, only believers are said to be spiritually alive (1 Corinthians 2:11; Hebrews 4:12; James 2:26), while unbelievers are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13). The spirit is the element in humanity which gives us the ability to have an intimate relationship with God. Whenever the word “spirit” is used, it refers to the immaterial part of humanity that “connects” with God, who Himself is spirit (John 4:24).The soul and the spirit are connected, but separable

(Hebrews 4:12). The soul is the essence of humanity’s being; it is who we

are. The spirit is the aspect of humanity that connects with

God.

Difference between Spirit & Soul?

Spirit

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Eye

Mouth

Touch

EarNose

Faith Worship

Prayer

Hope

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ReverenceReasonConscience

Imagination Affection

Memory

Spirit

Body

Soul

Made in God’s Image?

The image of God refers to the immaterial part of man. It sets man apart from the animal world, fits him for the dominion God intended him to have over the earth (Genesis 1:28), and enables him to commune with his Maker. It is a likeness mentally, morally, and socially.MENTALLY, man was created as a:

In other words, man can reason and man can choose. This is a reflection of God’s intellect and freedom.

Rational being - endowed with the faculty of reason. Reason pertains to the mental powers concerned with forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences.

Anytime someone invents a machine, writes a book, paints a landscape, or enjoys a symphony, he or she is proclaiming the fact that we are made in God’s image.

Volitional agent - the act of willing, choosing, or resolving; a choice or decision made by free will.

Made in God’s Image?

MORALLY, man was created in righteousness and perfect innocence, a reflection of God’s holiness.

God saw all He had made (mankind included) and called it “very good” (Genesis 1:31).

Our conscience or “moral compass” is a vestige of that original state. Whenever someone writes a law, recoils from evil, praises good behavior, or feels guilty, he is confirming the fact that we are made in God’s own image.

Made in God’s Image?

SOCIALLY, man was created for fellowship and relationships.

This reflects God's triune nature and His love. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are one and yet commune and exist in an eternal relationship!In Eden, man’s primary relationship was with God (Genesis 3:8 implies fellowship with God), and God made the first woman because “it is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Every time someone marries, makes a friend, hugs a child, or attends church, he is demonstrating the fact that we are made in the likeness of God.

FREE CHOICES

Part of being made in God’s image is that Adam had the capacity to make free choices.

Although he was given a righteous nature, Adam made an evil choice to rebel against his Creator.

In so doing, Adam marred the image of God within himself, and he passed that damaged likeness on to all his descendants (Romans 5:12). Today, we still bear the image of God (James 3:9), but we also bear the scars of sin. Mentally, morally, socially, and physically, we show the effects of sin.

Focus on His love!

“But he was wounded for the wrong we did; he was crushed for the evil we did. The punishment, which made us well, was given to him, and we are healed because of his wounds.” Isaiah 53:5

FREE WILL…a two-sided coin!

Why did God give us the free will to choose? HINT: love

Any parents here?

Do you desire that your children obey you? Why?

Do you love your children?

Do you desire that your children love you?If you could “command & dictate” their love, would you do it?Why not? Ping-Pong Playing Robot

A human being & her “identical” robot. Can she have a loving relationship with IT?

The Good News!

The GOOD NEWS is that when God redeems an individual, He begins to restore the original image of God, creating a “new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). That redemption is only available by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior from the sin that separates us from God (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Through Christ, we are made new creations in the likeness of God (2 Corinthians 5:17).

What does God want of us?

Our Creator, Our God, Our Father, Our Life…

“The God who made the whole world and everything in it is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples built by human hands. This God is the One who gives life, breath, and everything else to people. He does not need any help from them; He has everything He needs. God began by making one person, and from Him came all the different people who live everywhere in the world. God decided exactly when and where they must live. God wanted them to look for Him and perhaps search all around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any of us: ‘By his power we live and move and exist.’” Acts 17:24 - 28

Job reflects on God & his faith sustains him

“You have clothed me with skin and flesh and have knit me together with bones and sinews.You have granted me life and favor, and Your providence has preserved my spirit.” Job 10:11-12

“In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10

“Did not He Who made me in the womb make [my servant]? And did not One fashion us both in the womb?” Job 31:15

“Your hands have formed me and made me. Would You turn around and destroy me? Remember [earnestly], I beseech You, that You have fashioned me as clay [out of the same earth material, exquisitely and elaborately]. And will You bring me into dust again?.” Job 10:8-9

Job reflects on God & his faith sustains him

“[God] is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of His hands.” Job 34:19

“Who has put wisdom in the inward parts [or in the dark clouds]? Or who has given understanding to the mind [or to the meteor]?” Job 38:36

“[It is] the Spirit of God that made me [which has stirred me up], and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life [which inspires me].” Job 33:5

Who made you? Does the One who made you, love you?

How do you know He loves you? Does God waste time and make mistakes?

Will you trust Him regardless of what befalls you?