The Image of God in the Man

[0:00] Well, I'll begin with actually, I was thinking this morning, and I was reminded of a poem as we begin to talk about, continue to talk about the image of God, and these next two weeks talking about the image of God in the man and the image of God in the woman.

[0:17] And I was reminded of a poem this morning, a poem by G.K. Chesterton called Comparisons. If I set the sun beside the moon, and if I set the land beside the sea, and if I set the town beside the country, and if I set the man beside the woman, I suppose some fool would talk about one being better.

[0:41] And that was Chesterton's surprising response, that we have a tendency to take things that are different, and to compare them, and to decide that one is better than the other.

[0:53] One is better than the other. And I especially see that happening with men and with women. Last week, I asked several of you to present this question to your friends, this question to people who are not Christians, who don't believe in God's word in the Bible, just so that we can get an understanding for how are people thinking, how do we communicate about this with them.

[1:17] And the question that I asked you, one part of the question that I asked you was, if all the men in the world were to disappear, if all the men in the world were to disappear and be replaced with women, what would be lost?

[1:33] Now, big thanks to Marty especially, because he emailed his entire camp staff this question, so good work, Marty. And some of the answers that I got from people were a little bit colorful. If the world were all women, it would be cleaner.

[1:54] Another man said, all women? Everyone would gossip the planet to death. Another one said, there would be no barbecue. Now, as far as serious answers go, several people said that if men were to completely disappear from the earth, a lot of people referenced sort of what they called a loss of balance.

[2:20] They used the word balance. Several different people did. That's a kind of a vague concept, this idea that there would be a loss of balance. But a couple of people did specifically identify things. Some people said, seem to think of men as more rational in decision making.

[2:36] Those were men, by the way. Another person said that strong discipline would go away. I kind of questioned that one.

[2:49] Most responses, though. So this is what I found interesting. Most responses didn't really have a lot to say about what would be lost if all the men of the world were to disappear. I know I asked you, asked a complimentary question as well, which we'll get to next week.

[3:02] What if all the women were to disappear? And people had plenty to say about that. But not a lot of people seem to be sure what would be lost if all of the men of the world would disappear.

[3:13] In fact, several people suggested this might bring some good. In all honesty, if all men were to disappear, I think there would be no more war. Another person said, if the men were replaced, there might be more empathy in the world and perhaps a better chance of resolving conflicts without violence.

[3:35] And then one response put it simply, I think they would be just fine. Now maybe you agree with that. Maybe you think the world would get along just fine if there were no more men.

[3:46] Or maybe you're a man and let's be honest, you'd prefer to stick around, okay? You don't really want to disappear. But you aren't sure what it means to be a man. You aren't sure what it means when we use the word masculine.

[4:00] Or maybe you're a woman and maybe, you know, you want to know how you can encourage, how you can support the men in your life. Or maybe you just have no clue what drives them or what men are even for.

[4:13] Or maybe you've been hurt by men and you're thinking, I just don't see the point of them. They cause more harm than good. Well, if that's you, if you're one of those people, then God's word, the Bible, it's going to give you and me wisdom.

[4:28] It's going to give us wisdom to understand what it means to be a man made in the image of God. What it means to be a man made in the image of God. Now, we've set aside the five Sundays in July to talk about this subject, this doctrine, the image of God.

[4:44] In Latin, it's called the imago dei, the imago dei. And we've seen what it means for all human beings to be created in the image of God in Genesis chapter one, where we read right at the beginning, God created man in his own image.

[5:01] In the image of God, he created him. Male and female, he created them. And this tells us that all human beings, men and women, are created in the image of God.

[5:15] And we've learned what that meant over the last, what that means over the last couple weeks. We've learned this means that all human beings, every human being on earth, is the handiwork of God, created to represent God, created to resemble God.

[5:33] And we've seen how this gives you and me incredible value, incredible responsibility as human beings. We've seen how it affects the way that we look at ourselves.

[5:46] We've seen how it affects the way that we look at our neighbor. And so for the next two weeks, we're going to see how this doctrine, the image of God, shows us how to look at the man, how to look at the woman.

[5:59] This week, we'll look at what it means to be a man, to be masculine. Next week, we'll look at what it means to be a woman, to be feminine. And what I love about God's word is that it stands astride all cultures.

[6:12] It corrects all the wrong ideas and exaggerations and stereotypes about male and female that are present in our own culture and that are present in every culture. God the Holy Spirit, he doesn't bow to the popular thinking of our day.

[6:26] He doesn't bow to the popular thinking of 1950s America. He doesn't bow to the popular thinking of the ancient Near East. The image of God is something that is true throughout all time, throughout all space.

[6:40] The image of God is present in every man, in every woman, in every boy, in every girl. If you are a male human being, if you are a female human being, the way your body is structured, that tells you how specifically you are to express the image of God.

[7:01] It tells you how to express the image of God. You're given a specific assignment in how to represent God, how to resemble God. And this week we're going to look at the assignment that God has given the man.

[7:13] Then next week we'll look at the assignment that God has given the woman. And so first of all, we'll see that it takes men and women together, men and women together, to carry out God's mission for the human race.

[7:27] We need each other. We need each other. Human beings are his image bearers. And one obvious problem is that if there's only one or two of us, we can't represent God, we can't resemble God throughout the whole world.

[7:44] God wants to fill the world with his image. He wants his image to be everywhere so that his representation, his resemblance, is present everywhere in the world. And so together, men and women, first of all, they're able to produce more image bearers.

[7:57] That's an obvious point. One of the most common responses to this question, what would be lost if we didn't have men or women, was babies. We would lose those, right? Men and women can produce more image bearers.

[8:10] Immediately after God designates human beings as male and female in Genesis chapter 1, he gives them this mandate. Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.

[8:22] Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. One man and one woman, two people, just aren't enough to carry out God's mission. But together they can produce children who can demonstrate the character and the authority of God in the world.

[8:36] The image of God can be multiplied. Parents, that's the whole reason you have kids. That should be the whole reason you have kids, to raise them up, to properly represent God, to properly resemble God.

[8:47] So is that the only reason that God made human beings male and female? Just so they can make babies? Well, no. Because if you turn to the next chapter, if you turn to Genesis chapter 2, we see that God made the man and the woman for different reasons.

[9:06] God made the man and the woman for different reasons, and God gave them different assignments. And so we see that men and women, they find their glory. Men and women flourish the most when they are carrying out their God-given assignments.

[9:22] There's a special glory to men and a special glory to women. So first of all, what is the assignment that God gave to the man? That's the question that we're looking at this week.

[9:34] And to find out, we look at Genesis chapter 2, verse 15. And before this verse, we read that God created the man. God hasn't yet created the woman.

[9:45] That's yet to come. But before the woman is made, God gives the man an assignment. God has planted a garden paradise, a garden temple in a land called Eden.

[9:57] And so in verse 15, here's what we read. The Lord took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. To work it and keep it.

[10:10] An even more literal translation would be that God put the man in the garden of Eden to serve it and protect it. To serve it and protect it.

[10:20] God has entrusted the man, Adam, with the care of his garden temple. And in fact, those same words that are translated here as work and keep, they're paired together again in the book of Numbers.

[10:32] They're used to describe the duties of the priests, the Levites, who protect and serve in the house of God. In the tent where the Lord is present among his people. And so Adam is given this duty in this garden temple as well.

[10:47] Now if you're wanting a shorthand, just a really quick way to remember what is this duty? What is this assignment? There is that famous motto of the Los Angeles Police Department, to protect and to serve. To protect and to serve.

[11:00] That was Adam's motto too. To protect and to serve. To keep and to work. If you want to learn more about this twin assignment. If you're wanting kind of, hey, I want to follow up on this sermon.

[11:12] I want to learn more about what specifically that means in the life of a man. I'd recommend a book by Richard Phillips. It's called The Masculine Mandate, God's Calling to Men. The Masculine Mandate, God's Calling to Men.

[11:26] And so we're going to use this assignment to Adam. We're going to use that as a paradigm for every man. And we'll see how this assignment plays out in a couple of other passages in scripture as well.

[11:37] We're going to see that this isn't just something that was given only to Adam. Something unique to Adam. That's given to every one of Adam's sons. That's given as an assignment to all of you men as well. Here is your assignment.

[11:48] Here is what it means to be a man. Here is what it means to be masculine. The assignment and glory of every man is to cultivate and to protect every person and resource that God has entrusted to him.

[12:03] And that's actually in your bulletin in your sermon notes, so don't worry about writing that all down. The assignment and glory of every man is to cultivate and to protect every person and resource that God has entrusted to him.

[12:18] Think about Adam. He's been placed in a garden to serve and to keep it. How do you serve a garden? Well, you cultivate it. How do you keep a garden?

[12:30] You protect it. So the assignment and glory of every man is to cultivate and to protect every person and resource that God has entrusted to him.

[12:41] Now, before we leave Genesis, I want to show that this assignment extends. It doesn't just extend to, you know, the plants and the soil and the water and the garden itself. This assignment actually extends first to the animals that God has entrusted to Adam.

[12:56] In verse 19, we read, Now, in the culture of the ancient Near East, this is something that is still true in our own culture.

[13:20] The naming rights. Naming rights, they are reserved for those who have been entrusted with an assignment to cultivate and protect a child or an animal. A person in authority.

[13:31] That's who gives a name to an animal or even a name to another human being. Adam not only names the animals, he names his wife as well. In chapter 3, verse 20, we read, The man called his wife's name Eve because she was the mother of all living.

[13:48] So Adam gives his wife a name as well. God has entrusted the first woman to him as his wife. He is to cultivate her. He is to protect her. And so it's no surprise that in Genesis chapter 3, when they are first guilty of sin, when they are first guilty of rebelling against God, God doesn't go to the woman for answers.

[14:10] He goes to the man. In chapter 3, verse 9, we read, The Lord God called to the man and said to him, Where are you? And the word you there is not plural, it's singular.

[14:23] The Lord God is looking for the man specifically. He is looking for the one who is supposed to be the servant leader. He is looking for the one who is responsible for cultivating and protecting the garden and the animals and even his own wife, all of whom God entrusted to him.

[14:39] And so, men, God is giving you a similar challenge today. Where are you? Where are you? Are you stepping up to the assignment that God has given you?

[14:54] Your assignment, and not just your assignment, but your glory. Where you shine is when you cultivate and protect every person and resource that God has entrusted to you.

[15:09] But for this assignment, you need to become a certain kind of man. You need to be a certain kind of man. You need to develop what we might call masculine virtues. To develop the muscle memory of right thinking, right actions that are fitting for your assignment.

[15:24] You need the virtues that are going to help you cultivate and protect what God has entrusted to you. And so, that's what the apostle Paul urges men to do in 1 Corinthians chapter 16.

[15:35] Paul writes there, Be watchful. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men. Be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

[15:47] That phrase, act like men, that is actually the translation of a single word. And it's an accurate translation. It means exactly that. It means man up. It tells us that men today are also meant to work and keep.

[16:01] Just like their father Adam. Notice what actions this is associated with. Be watchful. Stand firm in the faith. Be strong.

[16:13] The first two actions, they are actions of a man who keeps or protects. A man who protects his family. A man who protects his church. That's a man who stands watch.

[16:24] Who stands firm in the faith. The final action is that of a man who works or serves. He is strong. He puts his strength into tending, into cultivating what God has entrusted to him.

[16:38] Verse 14 tells us the manner in which he uses his strength. He does it in love. He does it out of love. It is strength that is employed out of love. The man is cultivating.

[16:51] He is not exploiting. He is cultivating what God has entrusted to him. He is not exploiting what God has entrusted to him. The assignments and glory of every man is to cultivate and to protect every person and resource that God has entrusted to him.

[17:07] Maybe you have a father. Maybe you have a father who you look to as a role model.

[17:21] You know that you can pattern your life on him as a man. Even if you don't. Even if you don't. Even if you don't have a father like that. You have a better model than any earthly father can be.

[17:34] Remember. Remember. All virtue. All right living. It's a reflection of the character of God. And that means that God the son.

[17:45] That means the man Jesus Christ. He is perfect. In the way that he demonstrates these masculine virtues. He is perfect. In the way that he carries out the assignment of every man.

[17:57] In John chapter 17. Jesus is praying to God the father. Jesus is telling him. He's speaking about the assignment that God gave him. And notice how Jesus says that the father has entrusted his disciples to Jesus.

[18:13] In John chapter 17. He says. Glorify your son. That the son may glorify you. Since you have given him authority over all flesh. To give eternal life.

[18:23] To all whom you have given him. Whom you have given him. I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me. Out of the world. Yours they were.

[18:34] And you gave them to me. And they have kept your word. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world. But for those whom you have given me. For they are yours.

[18:45] All mine are yours. And yours are mine. And I am glorified in them. So the father has entrusted these disciples to him. These people to him. And notice too how Jesus has worked and served and cultivated the disciples.

[19:01] That the father has entrusted to him. He says. I glorified you on earth. Having accomplished the work. That you gave me to do. I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world.

[19:14] I have given them the words. That you gave me. And if you look at the life of Jesus Christ. Read about the way that he lived. And how he spoke and acted and thought.

[19:26] You know that's true. Jesus didn't exploit people. He cultivated them. He cultivated everyone that God entrusted to him. And finally. See how Jesus has kept and protected his disciples.

[19:40] From turning away from the truth. Yours they were. Yours they were. And you gave them to me. And they have kept your word. While I was with them.

[19:50] I kept them in your name. Which you have given me. I have guarded them. And not one of them has been lost. Except the son of destruction. That the scripture might be fulfilled.

[20:02] The only disciple that Jesus lost is the one that he lost on purpose. That the scripture might be fulfilled. That he may be betrayed. And crucified.

[20:16] Jesus is the perfect guardian. He is the one who serves and keeps. Jesus is the perfect image of God. And Jesus is also the perfect man as well. And he perfectly exemplifies the masculine virtues.

[20:29] That enable him to cultivate. And to protect. The people that God has entrusted to him. If we turn from the words of scripture. We also find evidence of this in the natural world around us.

[20:40] I recently read a study. In which people were. It was a very interesting study. People were given money. And they were offered the chance to take some of that money. Give it to a stranger who is also part of the study.

[20:52] And if they gave the money to the stranger. They might potentially earn a reward. Those with higher testosterone levels. Actually held back more of the money. They didn't give it to the stranger. They sensed a need to protect.

[21:04] The resources that were entrusted to them. To keep it back from a possible threat. But then when the roles were reversed. When someone else entrusted the money to them.

[21:15] Those with higher testosterone levels. They actually became more generous. They returned more money to the person who trusted them. They sensed a need to honor that trust. A need to reciprocate.

[21:27] This study suggested that we as human beings. We intuitively sense what God's word teaches. That the assignment and the glory of every man. Is to cultivate and to protect every person.

[21:37] And resource that God has entrusted to him. Now. I want to take a moment. To warn about a danger. A danger that commonly creeps into our thinking here.

[21:48] And a danger that many men are guilty of. And this danger is that we might start thinking. That because God has given every man. This masculine assignment. That therefore these masculine virtues.

[22:01] We've been talking about. The standing firm. Keeping watch. Being strong. We might think that these are the exclusive domain of men. This is for men only.

[22:13] In other words. Things like. You know. These are not for women. We might think that. We might even think that women should never do the work. Of cultivating. And protecting. And that's not true at all.

[22:25] That's not true at all. Several months back. When we were memorizing that fighter verse. Be strong and courageous. Do not be discouraged. Do not be dismayed. For the Lord your God is with you.

[22:35] Wherever you go. That's not just for men. That's for women as well. Even though it's what you might call. Masculine virtues. The point of calling these virtues masculine. Is not to say that only men should develop them.

[22:47] As a matter of fact. These virtues are meant for everyone. For everyone. Male and female. They look good on a woman as well as on a man.

[22:59] Women you need them too. What I'm saying is that these masculine virtues. They look uniquely glorious on men. They look uniquely glorious on men.

[23:11] Thanks to the assignments that God has given every man. Think of it in this way. Think of this analogy. Putting on muscle. Does muscular strength look good on a woman?

[23:22] Well sure. To a point. Yeah. I mean. Yeah. Strength can look good on a woman. I know some of you have in mind like you know. Pictures of female bodybuilders.

[23:33] And you're wondering. I don't know. You know. But the thing is. Muscular strength can look good on a woman. But it looks great on a man. It seems much more fitting on a man.

[23:44] It's the unique glory of a man. A man who labors to cultivate and protect. The converse is true as well. When a woman lacks muscular strength. Nobody minds too much.

[23:54] But when a man lacks strength. He senses a missing glory. He senses there's a missing glory. My girlfriend lost an arm wrestling match to another woman this week. I already asked her permission to say this.

[24:08] So it's okay. She doesn't care at all. She really does not care at all that she lost. Now if I were to lose an arm wrestling match to a woman. My girlfriend would probably laugh at me. Right.

[24:22] It's different. Think of the hormones in our body. Think of the way they work. Is testosterone for men only? Is estrogen for women only? No. Actually both women.

[24:32] Both men and women. They both have these hormones. They need both hormones. But testosterone is more prevalent in men. It's the unique glory of men. Estrogen is more prevalent in women.

[24:44] The unique glory of women. And so women need these masculine virtues as well. And this is especially true of women who are in life situations that are less than ideal.

[24:54] Oh that men would be stepping up in every area of their life to carry out their assignment. But sometimes they're not. And sometimes men who have been stepping up.

[25:08] Something happens. Either through injury or through death. They're not able to carry out the assignment to the full extent that they would like to do. I think in particular as an example.

[25:19] Single moms who have to play both a motherly and a fatherly role in the life of their children. Oh that men of the church would also step up as fathers to children who do not have a father.

[25:34] Often women are put in these difficult situations because men have corrupted these masculine virtues. Men are not stepping up to their God-given assignment. Or men are overstepping their God-given assignment.

[25:47] You can either not fail to step up or you can even overstep your God-given assignment. And if you observe Genesis chapter 3 carefully you can see how this first man Adam. How he fails to step up in his role to cultivate and to protect his wife.

[26:02] God has given a command. Given a test of obedience. And it is so kind and gracious of God to give the clearest possible test. Because you know this is going to be a crisis that was going to come anyway.

[26:15] But God makes it as clear as possible. He puts a tree in the middle of a garden. And says the day that you eat of the fruit of this tree you will surely die. The serpent the devil comes.

[26:31] He tells the woman the lie that she will not surely die. He tells her that she can disobey God. That in the clearest possible test of obedience. She can defy God's wisdom and defy God's authority.

[26:41] She can go her own way. Figure out what's best for herself. And take God's place. She can eat the fruit of a forbidden tree. And that is where Adam as the man needs to intervene.

[26:53] He needs to step in and put a stop to the madness. Because God actually gave the command directly to him. What's funny is that if you look at Genesis chapter 3 verses 1 through 5.

[27:04] Adam is not mentioned anywhere. Where is he? Is he off wandering around the garden? That's what I always thought as a kid. It was only until after I grew up that someone pointed out verse 6 where we read.

[27:16] She took of its fruit and ate. And she also gave some to her husband who was with her. And he ate. Adam was right there the whole time silent.

[27:30] Shirking his assignment to protect his wife. Failing to exercise his God-given authority over this animal. This serpent. He just goes along with her decision.

[27:40] He just eats the fruit with her. Adam is first of all guilty of passivity. He's guilty of passivity. That's the first corruption of these masculine virtues. And then the man and the woman hide themselves when God arrives in the garden.

[27:54] They sense their shame and their guilt and they hide. In verses 9 through 10 we read. The Lord God called to the man and said to him, Where are you? And he said, I heard the sound of you in the garden.

[28:07] And I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself. So rather than taking responsibility for cultivating and protecting what God has entrusted to him, The man again shirks his assignment.

[28:19] He hides. He hides from God. In the futile hope that he won't have to answer. He won't have to answer for himself and for his wife. Adam is guilty not only of passivity.

[28:33] Adam is guilty of avoidance. He is guilty of avoidance. And that too is a corruption of these masculine virtues. Verse 11. God responds to the man.

[28:45] He said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat? The man said, The woman whom you gave to be with me, She gave me the fruit of the tree and I ate.

[28:59] What a guy. Once again, he's shirking his responsibility. He's shirking his assignment. The man, he assigns blame to the woman.

[29:11] Notice he's not only blaming her. He's blaming God. The woman whom you gave to be with me. Adam is guilty not only of passivity and avoidance.

[29:23] He's guilty of blame shifting. Listening to a sermon of John Piper this week, He pointed out that Adam has in mind, He talks about the fruit of the tree, eating it.

[29:35] He has in mind the penalty. You will surely die. Guess what he's saying to God? If anyone here is going to die, it ought to be her. She ought to be the one who dies, not me.

[29:51] This blame shifting is also a corruption of the masculine virtues. And so when God responds by pronouncing a curse on them, He tells the woman in verse 16, Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.

[30:07] The word translated rule, that means to dominate. That means to exercise tyranny. And God is saying that the masculine virtues, they're not only going to be corrupted when men fail to step up to their assignment, they're going to be corrupted when men overstep their assignment.

[30:20] When they dominate, when they control, when they abuse women, rather than cultivating and protecting the wife and the daughters that God has entrusted to them. What a terrible thing.

[30:37] And then God turns His curse on the man in verses 17 through 19. Cursed is the ground because of you. In pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field.

[30:50] By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Remember, it was that ground and that garden that He was to cultivate and protect, and now look what is happening to His relationship with the ground.

[31:11] These are the consequences when a man fails to step up or when a man oversteps the assignment to cultivate and protect. These are the consequences, men, when you and I fail to rightly develop the masculine virtues of alertness, of resilience, of courage, of loving strength.

[31:28] Virtues that we need to carry out our assignment. The consequences are painful toil. The consequences are hard work that bears only thorns and thistles. And finally, the consequence is death.

[31:42] Death. Returning to the dust. The resources entrusted to us are lost. The people entrusted to us wither away. Men, let us not forget that it is our glory to excel in God's right way of living.

[32:00] Let us not forget the assignment and glory of every man to cultivate and to protect every person and resource that God has entrusted to him. So, men, who and what has God entrusted to you?

[32:15] Who and what has God entrusted to you? Think of the relationships in your life. Think of the relationships that God has entrusted to you.

[32:28] Perhaps you are a husband or a father or a son or a brother a neighbor a boss or manager an employee a classmate I could go on and on.

[32:48] Are you for each of these people that you're thinking of are you exploiting each of these people for your own pleasure and your own gain? and your own honor?

[32:59] Are you exploiting them? Or are you cultivating them to live a life of glory and obedience to God? Are you letting outside threats and foolish ideas and false teachings just get a hold of them and you're saying nothing at all?

[33:17] Letting it happen. Or are you protecting them from lies and from harm? If you're part of a growth group this may be a good time to talk with your growth group tonight about tonight or this week about specific ways that you can carry out your assignment in the real relationships that God has entrusted to you.

[33:40] Next month we're going to begin a sermon series on the book of Ephesians and when we eventually reach chapters 4 and 5 we're going to be spending a lot of time talking about the relationships in our lives and at that time men you'll have an opportunity to learn how you can carry out this assignment to cultivate and to protect the people that God has entrusted to you.

[34:06] So who and what has God entrusted to you? Think of the what now. Think of the resources in your life. Think about the resources that God has entrusted to you. Now I've often seen this broken down into three Ts and it's kind of corny but it's easy to remember.

[34:20] Time, talent, and treasure. Time, talent, and treasure. Are you cultivating and guarding your time? Are you using it well and productively according to your calling?

[34:35] Are you cultivating your talents? Are you using your strengths and abilities and spiritual gifts to serve God especially in the local church that God has entrusted to you?

[34:48] Are you cultivating and guarding your treasure? Are you using wisely the financial resources that God has entrusted to you? The possessions and the home that God has entrusted to you.

[34:59] Are you storing up treasure in heaven by being generous to those in need? Women, what if the men in your life were to step up?

[35:11] What if they began to cultivate what if they began to protect every person and resource that God has entrusted to them? Would that not be a beautiful and amazing thing?

[35:23] Don't you think? Wouldn't that be a marvelous antidote to the ridiculous macho chauvinism? The corrupted masculinity that God hates?

[35:37] Men, what if you were to step up? What if you became this sort of man who is known for cultivating, who is known for protecting every person and resource that God has entrusted to you?

[35:51] Now, if you're being realistic about yourself, you know you can't do it. You don't have what it takes. So many men are insecure because they know they deep down, they know they can't do it.

[36:04] They know they don't have what it takes to do this assignment. The image of God, as we've been talking about, it's been corrupted by sin. Your masculinity has been corrupted as well. You find yourself failing to step up when you should.

[36:16] You find yourself overstepping your assignment when you shouldn't. So men, know that you can be forgiven. You can be forgiven of your sins.

[36:27] You can be forgiven of your corrupted masculinity. You can turn to the one man who is the perfection of every masculine virtue. You can turn to the man, Jesus Christ. because Jesus lived a perfect life on your behalf.

[36:42] So that everyone who believes in him, man or woman, everyone who believes in Jesus is counted as righteous because God looks at them and he sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

[36:53] He looks at them and sees that Jesus did everything God expects a human being to do. So everyone who believes in Jesus is justified, is counted righteous.

[37:05] when God looks at you, he sees the man you ought to be. And Jesus died on the cross. Jesus takes the punishment, the hell that we deserved and he takes it on himself.

[37:17] He took it on himself and then he rose from the dead to new life so that you too can live a new life. Men, you too can be a man empowered by the Holy Spirit and God the Holy Spirit can work a change in you and empower you to do the things that you can't do on your own.

[37:35] that you could never do. And so now as you look at Jesus Christ, as you behold him, as you read about him, as you learn to love him and to treasure him, as you come to know him, you receive the power that you need for this assignment and for this glory to cultivate and to protect every person and every resource that God has entrusted to you.

[38:00] May that be true for every man in this room. Let me pray. you're out of hope üst in this room and for you we'll see you at this court we'll see you and we'll see you come to see you next time.

[38:15] Bye. Bye. Bye. . . Bye.