genesis the implications of creation. genesis 26 then god said, “let us make man in our image,...

GenesisGenesis

The Implications of The Implications of CreationCreation

GenesisGenesis26 Then God said, “Let Us make man 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man

in Our image, according to Our in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” thing that creeps on the earth.”

GenesisGenesis27 And God created man in His 27 And God created man in His

own image, own image, in the image of Godin the image of God He created him; male and female He created him; male and female He created them.He created them.- One of the most important

concepts in the Bible- Flatly contradicts naturalistic theories

Romans 1:19 “…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.”-When we look inside

ourselves, we see evidence there that we were created by an infinite, personal God

Beliefs should match actions.Beliefs should match actions.– Our actions may demonstrate our true beliefs Our actions may demonstrate our true beliefs

better than our wordsbetter than our words– When our actions When our actions contradictcontradict our claimed beliefs, it our claimed beliefs, it

suggests we are either suggests we are either confusedconfused or or dishonestdishonest

Internal Consistency Internal Consistency (Presuppositions)(Presuppositions)

Example #1: Your friend says he’s Example #1: Your friend says he’s such a good driver, it is such a good driver, it is impossible he will ever get in a impossible he will ever get in a car accident…car accident…

Example #2: A friend says he is Example #2: A friend says he is concerned about the concerned about the environment, but you catch him environment, but you catch him emptying car oil into the stream emptying car oil into the stream behind his housebehind his house

Argument from Design

If these rocks were arranged like this, the arranger must be a thinking, planning, creative, willful being -- i.e. a personal being

Beliefs should match actions.Beliefs should match actions.DesignDesign means a Personal means a Personal DesignerDesigner..


Argument from PresuppositionArgument from Presupposition::You cannot argue that this You cannot argue that this

happened by accidenthappened by accident and yet claim and yet claim it is meaningful!it is meaningful!

Beliefs should match actions.Beliefs should match actions.DesignDesign means a Personal means a Personal DesignerDesigner..Accident cannot produce Accident cannot produce MeaningMeaning..

– Does your life have meaning or value?Does your life have meaning or value?– Only ifOnly if your were the product of creation! your were the product of creation!– If humans just “happened” our existence must be If humans just “happened” our existence must be

meaningless.meaningless.


Beliefs should match actions.Beliefs should match actions.DesignDesign means a Personal means a Personal DesignerDesigner..Accident cannot produce Accident cannot produce MeaningMeaning..Naturalism cannot produce Naturalism cannot produce MoralityMorality..

– Everyone Knows there is right and wrong.Everyone Knows there is right and wrong.– Derived from Society?Derived from Society?– Derived from Natural Law?Derived from Natural Law?

Matter reacting to physical laws cannot be turned into Matter reacting to physical laws cannot be turned into moralitymoralitySee a paper falling…is it right or wrong?See a paper falling…is it right or wrong?

– Under naturalism, Under naturalism, what is, is rightwhat is, is right


Those who believe in an infinite, personal Those who believe in an infinite, personal creator God believe in morality because God, creator God believe in morality because God, as a moral being, made us moral beingsas a moral being, made us moral beings

“If you want to get the plain truth,be not concerned with right and wrong. The conflict between right and wrong is the sickness of the mind.” Yun-Men, Buddhist master (Oz Guiness, "The East: No Exit", p.221)

Beliefs should match actions.Beliefs should match actions.DesignDesign means a Personal means a Personal DesignerDesigner..Accident cannot produce Accident cannot produce MeaningMeaning..Naturalism cannot produce Naturalism cannot produce MoralityMorality..Human Dignity:Human Dignity: by Special Creation. by Special Creation.

– Who is unwilling to swat a mosquito?Who is unwilling to swat a mosquito?– Why kill these but not humans? Why kill these but not humans? – Why are all people equal?Why are all people equal?– Without a personal, spiritual dimension, “human Without a personal, spiritual dimension, “human

dignity” is nonsense!dignity” is nonsense!


Humans are significant because we Humans are significant because we were created in the image of God. . .were created in the image of God. . .

Eastern Religions: humans have no special place of dignity.

Beliefs should match actions.Beliefs should match actions.DesignDesign means a Personal Designer. means a Personal Designer.Accident cannot produce Accident cannot produce MeaningMeaning..Naturalism cannot produce Naturalism cannot produce MoralityMorality..Human Dignity:Human Dignity: by by Special CreationSpecial Creation..FreedomFreedom means we are means we are not predeterminednot predetermined..

– Vinegar and soda: a Vinegar and soda: a predeterminedpredetermined outcome. outcome.– If the universe arose strictly from natural law, If the universe arose strictly from natural law,

you are a you are a machinemachine (no matter how complex). (no matter how complex).Including your thoughts, urges, personality, etc.Including your thoughts, urges, personality, etc.

– If everything is predetermined, If everything is predetermined, nothing mattersnothing matters


When we protest a rapist or a racist, we are When we protest a rapist or a racist, we are showing that we believe they are showing that we believe they are notnot determined to do what they do, but are freedetermined to do what they do, but are free

As thinking Christians we argue that As thinking Christians we argue that humans were created with the capacity humans were created with the capacity to make free choicesto make free choices

Eastern Religions also have Eastern Religions also have a problem with freedom: a problem with freedom: Karmic LawKarmic Law

When we believe people are When we believe people are meaningfulmeaningful, , significantsignificant, , freefree, , moralmoral beings, we HAVE to beings, we HAVE to believe that a purposeful God believe that a purposeful God created them that waycreated them that way

ConclusionsConclusions

All of these are All of these are incompatibleincompatible with a with a chance originchance origin

All of these are All of these are incompatibleincompatible with a with a pantheistic originpantheistic origin

And yet we all know And yet we all know these are true of these are true of humans!humans!


Romans 1:19 “…that which is Romans 1:19 “…that which is known about God is evident known about God is evident within them; for God made it within them; for God made it evident to them.”evident to them.”

ConclusionsConclusionsWho is God? What is He like?Who is God? What is He like?How can you get to know him How can you get to know him personally?personally?–Start Start tonighttonight by taking your search by taking your search

directly to Him…directly to Him…

Christian Considerations:Christian Considerations:

Beliefs should match actions.Beliefs should match actions.DesignDesign means a Personal Designer. means a Personal Designer.Accident cannot produce Accident cannot produce MeaningMeaning..Naturalism cannot produce Naturalism cannot produce MoralityMorality..Human Dignity:Human Dignity: by by Special CreationSpecial Creation..FreedomFreedom means we are means we are not not predeterminedpredetermined..

What it MeansWhat it Means

These people faced These people faced significant choice:significant choice:– Tree of knowledge of good and evil:Tree of knowledge of good and evil:

Satan:“your eyes will be opened, and you will be Satan:“your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 3:5like God, knowing good and evil.” 3:5

3:22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now 3:22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.”become like one of us, knowing good and evil.”

Now, like God, people needed to look no further Now, like God, people needed to look no further than themselves to define right and wrong than themselves to define right and wrong

This tree stood for autonomy, self-rule and This tree stood for autonomy, self-rule and unqualified independence.unqualified independence.

What it MeansWhat it Means

These people faced These people faced significant choice:significant choice:– Tree of knowledge of good and evilTree of knowledge of good and evil– The tree of lifeThe tree of life

Life is Life is union with God.union with God.

Death is Death is separation fromseparation from God. God.

Matters of good & evil settled Matters of good & evil settled relationallyrelationally..

Includes the notion of Includes the notion of authority:authority: – Depends on Depends on trusttrust..

Regained in Christ!Regained in Christ!



All of these are All of these are incompatibleincompatible with a with a chance originchance origin



All of these are All of these are incompatibleincompatible with a with a pantheistic originpantheistic origin



And yet we all know And yet we all know these are true of these are true of humans!humans!

ConclusionsConclusionsHow you view the How you view the originorigin of of humans controls how you view humans controls how you view the the naturenature of humans of humansOur own actions show that at Our own actions show that at some deep level, some deep level, we know a we know a personal God made uspersonal God made us

ConclusionsConclusionsHow you view the How you view the originorigin of humans of humans controls how you view the controls how you view the naturenature of of humanshumansOur own actions show that at some Our own actions show that at some deep level, deep level, we know a personal God we know a personal God made usmade usGod has “made himself evident God has “made himself evident within us” Rom 1:19within us” Rom 1:19

Who is this God and What is he like?Who is this God and What is he like?How can you get to know him How can you get to know him personally and be with him forever?personally and be with him forever?


Who is this God and What is he like?Who is this God and What is he like?How can you get to know him How can you get to know him personally and be with him forever?personally and be with him forever?Start tonight by taking your search Start tonight by taking your search directly to him directly to him Learn the answers to these questions Learn the answers to these questions in Genesisin Genesis


Next Time:Next Time:

Gen. 2: A detailed look at Gen. 2: A detailed look at what it means to be what it means to be created “in the image of created “in the image of God”God”

Comments?Comments?

Questions?Questions?

Experiences?Experiences?

GenesisGenesis

genesis the implications of creation. genesis 26 then god said, “let us make man in our image,...

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