THE TRUTH AND EXPERIENCE OF GODS SALVATION

Lesson One

GODS CREATION - MAN

The facts we should know from the Bible (Reading: Genesis 1:26, 2:7; Zech. 12:1; Romans 9:2023) 1. The last item that God created in Genesis Chapter One was man. After this God rested. The fact that God created man last tells us two things: a) all things created before man were created for man; and b) man satisfied Gods heart and purpose completely, therefore God rested. (He did not rest because He was tired, but because His work in creation was finished.) 2. Man is unique. All other creatures were created according to their kind. But, man was made in Gods image and according to Gods likeness. This means that man closely resembles God and even appears like God. Gods image is expressed in our soul, our personality, through our mind (by our thinking), our emotions (by our feelings), and our will (by our choices). 3. Of all the thousands and thousands of insects, fish, birds, animals, only man has Gods wonderful image! Man is therefore able to understand Gods purpose, love Gods desire and choose Gods will. 4. Man is also unique because man was created with a spirit. When God breathed the breath of life into man, He formed the human spirit within him (Gen. 2:7; Zech. 12:1). Only man has a spirit. According to Zechariah 12:1 the creation of mans spirit is as great a matter as the creation of the heavens and the earth. This is because the whole purpose of the heavens and the earth is wrapped up with mans spirit. The heavens were created to contain the earth. The earth was created for man. And man was created with a spirit to contain God Himself. How marvelous! 5. What is man? Man is altogether a vessel, a container (Romans 9:20-23; 2 Cor. 4:7). Man is a very special three-part vessel. His body was made to receive and contain food, his soul was made to receive and contain knowledge and his spirit was made to receive and contain God (2 Cor. 6:16; John 4:24; 1 Cor. 6:17).

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Hymn 1324 1. Our God is a God of purpose, What He plans, He will fulfill! Genesis to Revelation Shows His full and glorious will. What Hes after is a building. In Creation He began With a simple garden planted -This, the setting for His plan.

2. Man was made, the first step God took To achieve His final goal, As a vessel, a container, Three parts body, spirit, soul. God, of dust, a body formed him, Breath of life into breathed -This part is mans human spirit By which God may be received.

Questions for Lesson One: 1. What is the climax of Gods creation of the universe and the creatures on the earth? 2. How is man unique in Gods creation? a. Man was created according to his kind. b. Man was created with a spirit. c. Man was created in Gods image and according to Gods likeness. d. While some other creatures can understand Gods purpose, they cannot love Gods desire and choose Gods will like man can. e. All of the above. f. (a), (b), (c). g. (b), (c). 3. How is Gods image expressed in the three parts of mans soul?

4. What are the significance and function of mans spirit? Answer with clear and concise explanation.

Verses: 1. Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion overall the earth.... (Genesis 1:26) 2. Jehovah God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7) 3. Thus declares Jehovah, Who stretches forth the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him. (Zechariah 12:1) 4. God is Spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and reality. (John 4:24) 5. And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23) 6. In order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He had before prepared unto glory. (Romans 9: 23)

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