Scripture: Psalm 139:13-16

C.I.: God's Grace in Our Creation

“Grace in the O.T.(<10x)? – Jn. 1:17 , “The law was given through Moses, but grace & truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”

I. The Creation of Man

A. “Let us created man in Our own image, according to Our likeness,” ( Gen. 1:26a ).

1. What does it mean to be created in God's “image” ?

a. Consider the angels - upon hearing “man” would be created in God's “ image ”
1) They have seen the creation of light, the universe, the earth and all it contains. – Now as the
crowning achievement of God's creation – they will see the creation of “man.”
2) “How will he talk? And how will he act?” they may have wondered.
3) Well, because of who God Himself is – they knew this would mean a couple of things…

b. By God's grace man would be given authority to rule.
1) ( Gen. 1:26b ), “…let them rule over the fish of the sea & the birds of the sky … and over all the earth.”
2) God is sovereign over all of His creation. – In this sovereignty He gave man the right to rule.

c. By God's grace man would also be given the power to create.
1) God is creative. – So since we are in His “image” we too are given the power to create.
2 ( Gen. 1:28 ), “And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it.”

2. We are also created in “His likeness.” By His grace, being created in “God's likeness” means two things:

a. By His grace - we are morally created in His image.
1) ( Gen. 1:31 ), “God saw all that He had made, & behold, it was very good.” We were to be “good.”
2) But because of sin (not just in Eden but in our own lives) we lost our moral goodness.
3) ( Mk. 10:18; Rom. 3:12 ), “No one is good except God alone.” – “There is none who does good, not…

b. By His grace - we are spiritually created in “God's likeness” – i.e., we are “spiritual” beings.
1) Of all God's creation – only man can understand concepts like; mercy, peace, love…!
2) Not only can we understand these things – we were also created to be dispensers of them…
3) ( Matt. 5:7, 9; Jn. 13:34 ), “Blessed are the merciful … peacemakers…,” – “A new commandment….”
4) But because of sin – we also lost out spiritual likeness to being in His image, ( Eph. 2:1-2 ).

B. Now by God's grace (though we are fallen due to sin) – He “ re-creates ” us according to His original design!

1. By His grace He “re-creates” us according to His “likeness”…

a. Grace & moral goodness:
1) ( II Cor. 5:17 ), “If any man is in Christ Jesus he is a new creation, old things have passed away,….”
a) ( Rom. 15:14 ), “I myself am convinced that you are full of goodness.”
b) He's not saying we “do” good (external – many “do good”), but that we “are” good!!!
c) ( I Tim. 4:4 ), “For everything (re-) created by God is good.”
2) Thus , salvation (i.e., being “in Christ” ) is nothing more than a removal of all our
imperfections (“sins”) – and returning us to our original design specifications… “create man
in our image.”

b. Grace & spiritual likeness:
1) We just saw that it was our sins – the spoiled God's original design, ( cf. Eph. 2:1 ).
2) Yet in the “re-creation” – God returns us to our original specifications
3) ( Eph. 2:4-5 ), “But God….when you were dead in your transgressions & sins, He made you alive
together with Christ (for by grace you have been saved).”


2. By His grace He “re-creates” us according to His “image”…

a. Authority to Rule:
1) But How do we rule ? – Jesus shows us.
2) ( Matt. 20:25-28 ), “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their great men
exercise authority over them. – It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you
shall be you servant, and whoever wishes to be first shall be your slave; - just as the Son of Man did….”
3) We lead/serve as: wife ( Eph. 5:22 ), husband ( v. 25 ), child ( 6:1 ), parent ( 6:4 ), in the world ( 6:7 ).

b. Power to Create:
1) But How do we create ? – Again Jesus tell us.
2) ( Matt. 28:19-20 ), “Go therefore & make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them ....”
3) We may not be able to “create a whole new world” – but we can create a better place in the
world in which we live! – (i.e., serving those who are around us, - teaching them about Jesus)!!

CONCLUSIONS :

1. To the family at Golden: Re-created in “God's image” –

a. Authority to Rule (by serving others): Family, friends, others!
b. Power to Create ( “making disciples” ): Family, friends – ( Acts 10:24 )

2. To the family at Golden: Re-created according to “His likeness” –

a. Morally = to be good!
b. Spiritually = mercy, peace, love, etc.

3. For our guests – God so desires to re-create you too!

a. If you desire to be created anew ( Eph. 2:8 ), “For by grace you have been saved through faith.”
b. ( Gal. 3:26-27 ), “For you are all sons of God…!”