Lesson 1 for July 2, 2016

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27) Man was not created equal to God but “in His image.” Man reflected the Creator in every aspect. IMAGE SpiritualIntellectualPhysical Deuteronomy 6:5 HeartSoulStrength 1 Thessalonians 5:23 SpiritSoulBody God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit (three persons in one). Man was created ‘Ish (male) and ‘Ishsah (female), and they were only one: Adam (Genesis 5:2; 2:23-24).

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6) The act of disobedience in Genesis 3 had immediate consequences. Which were they? V. 7. V. 7. They saw they were naked and tried to fix their problem without asking God for help. V V They hid because they were afraid of meeting their Creator. V V They blamed each other and they indirectly blamed God. V. 16. V. 16. Women would give birth with pain. There were changes in relationships between men and women. V V Nature changed. Men would work with effort and pain. People would die.

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15) “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17) Sin put enmity between God and man. Nevertheless, God deflected that enmity towards Satan and He created a way to salvation for man, atonement. Jesus atoned—payed for—the sin of every human being. That was God’s plan to restore what sin had destroyed. Jesus suffered the punishment our sins demand. The requirements of the Law were satisfied. Our sins are forgiven through confession and repentance. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” (Colossians 1:15) “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

“Ever before Him, Christ saw the result of His mission. His earthly life, so full of toil and self-sacrifice, was cheered by the thought that He would not have all this travail for nought. By giving His life for the life of men, He would restore in humanity the image of God. He would lift us up from the dust, reshape the character after the pattern of His own character, and make it beautiful with His own glory.” E.G.W. (The Ministry of Healing, cp. 43, pg. 504)

“elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:2) Which is our responsibility to that privilege God offers? Like the friends of the paralytic who was brought down from the ceiling (Mark 2:1-12), the church is called to partner with Christ in moving people toward being restored in God’s image— physically, mentally, and spiritually. God already knew His plan; He chose us to be forgiven and restored. That way we can receive “life more abundantly” from Jesus. (John 10:10).

“In the plan of restoring in men the divine image, it was provided that the Holy Spirit should move upon human minds, and be as the presence of Christ, a molding agency upon human character. Receiving the truth, men become also recipients of the grace of Christ, and devote their sanctified human ability to the work in which Christ was engaged—men become laborers together with God. It is to make men agents for God, that divine truth is brought home to their understanding. But I would inquire of the church, Have you answered this purpose? Have you fulfilled the design of God in diffusing the light of divine truth, in scattering abroad the precious jewels of truth?” E.G.W. (This Day With God, February 12)