Lesson Three
The Origin Of The Universe
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. - Genesis 1:26
Objectives
The Course of God's Creation
The order of God's creation
Men's Noble Characteristics
Why are we so special?
The Purpose Of God's Creation
Glory. Dwelling. Living.
Introduction
Romans 1:19 says, “since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” God’s eternal power and divine nature can be understood by the things that are made. God’s creation does not only testify God’s existence and His might, it allows man to know God and His plan. In this lesson, we want to see God’s heart desire through His creation.
The Course of God's Creation
Day 1
Light
Day 5
Sea Creatures, Birds
Day 2
Firmament, Heaven
Day 6
Cattle, Beasts of the earth, Man
Day 3
Earth, Seas, Grass, Vegetation, Plants, Trees
Day 7
God ended the work that He had done, and He rested.
Day 4
Sun, Moon, Stars
Man's Special Characteristics
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Man has God’s image and likeness (Gen. 1:26-27)
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Man was made according to God’s plan (Gen. 1:26)
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Man was made by God’s own hands (Gen. 2:7)
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Man is able to communicate with God (Gen. 2:16-17)
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Man has the authority to have dominion over the earth (Gen. 1:26b, 1:28a)
The Purpose Of God's Creation
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To Express God’s glory (Psalm 8:1, 19:1, 104:24, Isaiah 45:6-8)
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The heavens and earth declare God’s might, glory and faithfulness. We do not need to see God physically to know that He exists. Contrarily, through the things that are made, we can come to know that God exists and what He is like.
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To Provide a Dwelling Place for Man (Psalm 115:16)
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God used five days to create other things, and on the sixth day He created man. It is like parents making the preparations before a baby is about to be born. The earth that we are in is the most suitable place for man to live in.
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To Gain Man for a Living Expression (Isaiah 43:7,21)
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Our God is a God with a will and a plan. The purpose of His creation is not merely for His own admiration, but to have His will fulfilled through man, and to have His nature and character expressed. So that everything in the heavenly places and spiritual realms would come to know His heart desire.
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Summary
After God created man, and placed him in the garden of Eden, He saw that everything was very good and He rested and was satisfied. Man was created according to God’s image and after His own likeness and man is much more honorable than all other created things and thus can satisfy God completely. Even though later man sinned and fell, and forsook God’s heart desire, we the redeemed ones, should fulfill all of God’s plan on man in this age, thus allowing God to be manifested in our body.