WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.080
 Perhaps you could turn with me now to the book of Genesis.

00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:07.299
 If you're using a church Bible, it's on page 3.

00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:11.320
! We're going to be asking the question this morning,

00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:14.359
 what does it mean to be made in God's image?

00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:19.699
 And that takes us to the second part of day 6.

00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:24.100
 So Genesis chapter 1 and at verse 26,

00:00:24.100 --> 00:00:26.360
 Then God said,

00:00:27.260 --> 00:00:31.580
 Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,

00:00:32.020 --> 00:00:36.600
 so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky,

00:00:36.600 --> 00:00:39.600
 over the livestock and all the wild animals,

00:00:40.420 --> 00:00:43.659
 and over all the creatures that move along the ground.

00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:48.000
 So God created mankind in his own image.

00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:50.780
 In the image of God he created them.

00:00:51.260 --> 00:00:53.680
 Male and female he created them.

00:00:54.460 --> 00:00:56.740
 God blessed them and said to them,

00:00:57.200 --> 00:00:59.960
 Be fruitful and increase in number.

00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:02.800
 Fill the earth and subdue it.

00:01:03.240 --> 00:01:06.519
 Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky

00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:09.640
 and over every living creature that moves on the ground.

00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:11.620
 Then God said,

00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:15.480
 I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth

00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:18.079
 and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.

00:01:18.520 --> 00:01:19.879
 They will be yours for food.

00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:24.099
 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky

00:01:24.099 --> 00:01:26.280
 and all the creatures that move along the ground,

00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:28.399
 everything that has the breath of life in it,

00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:30.780
 I give every green plant for food.

00:01:31.259 --> 00:01:32.199
 And it was so.

00:01:33.179 --> 00:01:34.920
 God saw all that he had made,

00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:37.040
 and it was very good.

00:01:37.780 --> 00:01:38.579
 And there was evening,

00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:40.120
 and there was morning,

00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:42.280
 the sixth day.

00:01:43.159 --> 00:01:43.599
 Amen.

00:01:43.719 --> 00:01:45.000
 This is God's word.

00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:49.320
 And this takes us to some of the most fundamental teaching

00:01:49.319 --> 00:01:54.079
 that we're going to find anywhere on what it means to be human.

00:01:54.199 --> 00:01:59.159
 It touches so many of our biggest questions about life and humanity.

00:01:59.379 --> 00:02:01.679
 What does it mean to be a human?

00:02:02.139 --> 00:02:05.379
 Are we, as a lamppost recently told me,

00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:07.299
 just all sawdust?

00:02:08.579 --> 00:02:10.000
 It was life random, meaningless,

00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:12.000
 and that's our best future.

00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:16.199
 Are we just naked apes,

00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:18.599
 which some of us grew up hearing?

00:02:19.180 --> 00:02:22.039
 We have evolved to survive and thrive,

00:02:22.139 --> 00:02:24.639
 but we're just one among many of the creatures.

00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:26.939
 Or it's what God says wonderfully true.

00:02:27.159 --> 00:02:31.439
 Are we image bearers with profound glory and worth

00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:32.840
 because of that?

00:02:34.420 --> 00:02:38.180
 What defines our identity as people?

00:02:38.259 --> 00:02:39.819
 How would you answer that?

00:02:39.819 --> 00:02:42.699
 It's become something of a modern battleground.

00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:46.000
 When we think of all the questions

00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:48.060
 down at the street level,

00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:49.579
 but also that make their way up

00:02:49.579 --> 00:02:51.280
 into sort of government legislation,

00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:53.979
 are we defined by gender and sexuality?

00:02:55.699 --> 00:02:59.439
 Think about all the tensions around race and ethnicity.

00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:02.240
 Even questions of,

00:03:02.579 --> 00:03:06.199
 am I truly human when I have value to society only,

00:03:06.199 --> 00:03:07.819
 or is there something more?

00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:12.199
 And over all the confusion,

00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:14.959
 above all the competing voices,

00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:17.699
 we come to a text like this.

00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:18.939
 We come to Genesis 1,

00:03:18.979 --> 00:03:20.579
 and it gets to the heart of things

00:03:20.579 --> 00:03:22.419
 because this is God speaking to us.

00:03:23.239 --> 00:03:24.939
 And he says to each one of us,

00:03:25.639 --> 00:03:26.959
 you are made by God,

00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:30.060
 and you are made for God.

00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:33.740
 As we think about the implications of this,

00:03:33.740 --> 00:03:37.360
 we understand every person born and unborn

00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:39.700
 is a little miracle of God,

00:03:40.420 --> 00:03:43.840
 and that every life truly should matter.

00:03:44.700 --> 00:03:47.159
 And today, I think in every day,

00:03:47.260 --> 00:03:47.879
 every generation,

00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:48.600
 but in this day,

00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:51.820
 we certainly need to hear the Bible's clear teaching

00:03:51.820 --> 00:03:56.719
 on the nature and the value of human life.

00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:59.780
 And so as we come to Genesis 1,

00:03:59.859 --> 00:04:02.580
 so we're kind of jumping into the second part of day 6,

00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:05.360
 and the message is remarkable.

00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:06.960
 If this is something that's new to you,

00:04:06.979 --> 00:04:08.960
 it might even seem shocking.

00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:10.919
 If we were to ask God himself,

00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:13.099
 what is the highlight?

00:04:13.979 --> 00:04:16.480
 What's the greatest thing in this universe

00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:17.420
 that you have created?

00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:20.639
 What's the center of your masterpiece?

00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:25.019
 God wouldn't point us to the galaxies.

00:04:26.339 --> 00:04:28.759
 He wouldn't point us to the mountains.

00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:32.639
 He wouldn't direct our attention to the great beasts.

00:04:34.500 --> 00:04:36.159
 He would say, you and I,

00:04:37.019 --> 00:04:41.939
 we are the crown and the pinnacle of God's creation.

00:04:43.919 --> 00:04:45.099
 And Genesis 1,

00:04:45.159 --> 00:04:47.060
 and the way the days work themselves out,

00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:49.639
 is intended to show us just that.

00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:54.620
 Days 1 to 6 reveal that we have a God,

00:04:54.699 --> 00:04:55.459
 and he is eternal,

00:04:55.639 --> 00:04:56.300
 and he is good,

00:04:56.459 --> 00:04:57.860
 and he makes with order,

00:04:57.979 --> 00:04:59.120
 and he makes with beauty.

00:04:59.579 --> 00:05:00.599
 And do you know what else we know?

00:05:00.860 --> 00:05:03.019
 We know that he makes the world just right

00:05:03.019 --> 00:05:04.259
 for you and I to live in.

00:05:05.659 --> 00:05:07.519
 Here is this wonderful environment

00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:09.180
 for us to live and love and work,

00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:11.379
 and to enjoy and to worship our God.

00:05:13.500 --> 00:05:15.019
 And we're clued into the fact

00:05:15.019 --> 00:05:17.060
 that there is something special and significant

00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:19.219
 in this second half of day 6

00:05:19.220 --> 00:05:21.200
 with a series of firsts.

00:05:21.340 --> 00:05:22.740
 So right into our text,

00:05:22.840 --> 00:05:23.800
 verse 26,

00:05:23.940 --> 00:05:25.220
 then God said,

00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:27.920
 let us make mankind.

00:05:28.340 --> 00:05:30.320
 This is the first time we discover

00:05:30.320 --> 00:05:32.580
 that God deliberates.

00:05:32.780 --> 00:05:35.420
 There is a decision within the Godhead.

00:05:35.520 --> 00:05:36.240
 This becomes,

00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:37.880
 as we get to our New Testament,

00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:40.100
 an early clue that our God is Trinity,

00:05:40.280 --> 00:05:41.500
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:45.959
 Another clue that there is something remarkable

00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:47.519
 going on in verse 28,

00:05:48.379 --> 00:05:51.000
 God blessed them and said to them,

00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:53.220
 this is the first time God speaks

00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:55.259
 to something else that is living

00:05:55.259 --> 00:05:57.959
 and establishes relationship with them.

00:05:59.540 --> 00:06:00.899
 And then it's only

00:06:00.899 --> 00:06:04.519
 once male and female have been created

00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:07.139
 that God can look at all he has made,

00:06:07.220 --> 00:06:07.879
 verse 31,

00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:11.000
 and declare it to be very good.

00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:13.259
 Now that there are people

00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:16.600
 who display his image in the world,

00:06:16.939 --> 00:06:19.860
 now that the masterpiece of creation

00:06:19.860 --> 00:06:20.779
 is complete,

00:06:22.019 --> 00:06:23.579
 the artist can stand back

00:06:23.579 --> 00:06:25.079
 with the deepest sense of joy

00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:26.000
 and satisfaction.

00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:28.639
 It's a remarkable text.

00:06:28.740 --> 00:06:29.839
 Our topic is vital.

00:06:29.980 --> 00:06:30.620
 We're only going to be able

00:06:30.620 --> 00:06:31.639
 to scratch the surface,

00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:32.459
 but what we're going to do

00:06:32.459 --> 00:06:34.079
 is we're going to think about

00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:34.639
 what does it mean

00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:36.599
 to be made in the image of God?

00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:38.259
 And then really importantly,

00:06:38.419 --> 00:06:39.339
 to begin to think about

00:06:39.339 --> 00:06:40.199
 why does it matter?

00:06:41.459 --> 00:06:43.120
 So three ideas to do with

00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:43.759
 what does it mean

00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:44.939
 to be made in the image of God?

00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:46.439
 The first is this,

00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:48.579
 we are made to represent God.

00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:50.240
 Just to hear,

00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:52.519
 let's hear verse 27 again.

00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:54.139
 So God created mankind

00:06:54.139 --> 00:06:55.819
 in his own image

00:06:55.819 --> 00:06:57.279
 and the image of God he created,

00:06:57.379 --> 00:06:58.759
 the male and female he created them.

00:06:59.379 --> 00:07:02.039
 Why use the language of image?

00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:04.379
 So let's just think really basically,

00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:05.479
 of the truth,

00:07:05.740 --> 00:07:07.699
 images are created

00:07:07.699 --> 00:07:10.039
 to image someone.

00:07:11.079 --> 00:07:12.279
 Okay, we live in Edinburgh.

00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:14.439
 Edinburgh is a city full of statues.

00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:16.560
 You know, you can think of John Knox

00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:17.860
 or you can think of David Hume

00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:19.919
 or you can even think of Greyfriars Bobby.

00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:21.979
 And all of those images

00:07:21.979 --> 00:07:24.699
 are created to make us think

00:07:24.699 --> 00:07:27.339
 of the person or indeed the dog

00:07:27.339 --> 00:07:29.039
 and their qualities.

00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:33.319
 Genesis 1 is saying

00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:36.040
 that God has now created

00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:39.699
 eight billion living statues.

00:07:41.159 --> 00:07:43.399
 Each one of us designed

00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:45.500
 to display his glory

00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:48.379
 so that as we look on one another,

00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:49.600
 we are thinking

00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:51.459
 or we are to think of God

00:07:51.459 --> 00:07:53.800
 and his glory and his rule.

00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:57.759
 That gets us to the idea

00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:59.720
 behind image and likeness

00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:02.000
 that the folks that first wrote

00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:03.280
 and then heard Genesis 1

00:08:03.280 --> 00:08:04.259
 were familiar with.

00:08:04.960 --> 00:08:06.080
 They lived in a day

00:08:06.080 --> 00:08:08.780
 when kings ruled over vast regions

00:08:08.780 --> 00:08:09.900
 and what that king would do,

00:08:09.980 --> 00:08:12.080
 he would set up a number of icons

00:08:12.080 --> 00:08:15.060
 or statues in his empire

00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:16.960
 as a way to say,

00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:18.560
 I am the king

00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:20.780
 and don't you forget it,

00:08:20.779 --> 00:08:23.339
 you owe me honour and loyalty.

00:08:24.579 --> 00:08:26.000
 Back in 1979,

00:08:26.239 --> 00:08:27.879
 the statue that's up on the screen

00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:29.939
 was discovered by a farmer in Syria.

00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:33.139
 It's the Tel Fekiria statue

00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:34.179
 and what's interesting,

00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:36.620
 so it's a statue of an Assyrian king

00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:37.339
 and what's interesting

00:08:37.339 --> 00:08:40.019
 is that the inscription on the back

00:08:40.019 --> 00:08:41.839
 in both Assyrian and Aramaic

00:08:41.839 --> 00:08:45.639
 contains the word for image and likeness.

00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:48.500
 So this is a familiar idea.

00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:50.779
 Back in Egypt,

00:08:51.419 --> 00:08:52.439
 so God's people Israel,

00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:53.439
 they had been slaves

00:08:53.439 --> 00:08:54.399
 and in Egypt,

00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:56.500
 they were used to hearing Pharaoh

00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:57.500
 talk about himself

00:08:57.500 --> 00:09:00.220
 as the image of God.

00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:02.939
 And so when Genesis comes to be written,

00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:04.139
 it takes this idea

00:09:04.139 --> 00:09:07.379
 and it makes it true and living

00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:09.580
 and applies it to God as the king

00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:12.240
 and us being made in his image.

00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:15.840
 And that means that you and I,

00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:19.139
 we are those who are made

00:09:19.139 --> 00:09:23.899
 to represent God in his world.

00:09:25.460 --> 00:09:27.220
 It's there in verse 28,

00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:29.419
 be fruitful, increase in number,

00:09:29.539 --> 00:09:31.879
 fill the earth, subdue it, rule over.

00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:35.620
 It's the purpose of that language

00:09:35.620 --> 00:09:37.419
 of be fruitful and multiply

00:09:37.419 --> 00:09:42.199
 so that the glory of God

00:09:42.199 --> 00:09:44.419
 would spread and fill the earth

00:09:44.419 --> 00:09:46.299
 as his image bearers

00:09:46.299 --> 00:09:48.740
 would spread and fill the earth.

00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:53.259
 This language is saying to us

00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:54.939
 that by God's design,

00:09:55.819 --> 00:09:58.240
 every single person,

00:09:58.819 --> 00:09:59.620
 not just a king,

00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:00.559
 not just the elite,

00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:01.959
 but every person

00:10:01.959 --> 00:10:04.519
 would have this royal role

00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:07.340
 and dignity upon them.

00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:08.939
 Psalm 8,

00:10:09.059 --> 00:10:10.819
 humanity is crowned

00:10:10.819 --> 00:10:13.059
 with glory and with honor

00:10:13.059 --> 00:10:15.399
 because we are appointed

00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:17.759
 to represent God

00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:19.399
 in his world,

00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:20.919
 to reflect something

00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:22.559
 of his glory

00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:24.259
 in this world.

00:10:24.340 --> 00:10:24.960
 And it's wonderful

00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:26.000
 that we don't need to

00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:28.299
 create our own identity.

00:10:28.299 --> 00:10:30.079
 As we read God's word,

00:10:30.199 --> 00:10:30.960
 we discover

00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:32.779
 we have a wonderful

00:10:32.779 --> 00:10:34.100
 God-given purpose.

00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:35.000
 each and every day

00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:35.740
 of our lives

00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:36.980
 to live for him

00:10:36.980 --> 00:10:38.000
 and for his glory.

00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:39.320
 So we're made,

00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:40.220
 first of all,

00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:41.940
 to represent God.

00:10:42.300 --> 00:10:42.720
 Secondly,

00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:43.740
 we are made for

00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:45.980
 relationship with God.

00:10:46.980 --> 00:10:47.700
 So in English,

00:10:47.800 --> 00:10:49.040
 we have a couple of expressions

00:10:49.040 --> 00:10:50.820
 that remind us of this.

00:10:51.800 --> 00:10:53.240
 We say of someone,

00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:55.460
 you're the spitting image

00:10:55.460 --> 00:10:57.180
 of your father

00:10:57.180 --> 00:10:57.920
 or your mother.

00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:00.420
 Or we talk about someone

00:11:00.420 --> 00:11:01.460
 being a chip

00:11:01.460 --> 00:11:03.399
 off the old block.

00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:05.080
 And so we take

00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:05.899
 family language,

00:11:06.019 --> 00:11:07.300
 we take relationship language,

00:11:07.300 --> 00:11:08.659
 and we say there is image

00:11:08.659 --> 00:11:09.879
 and likeness there.

00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:12.420
 And so Genesis 1,

00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:12.720
 again,

00:11:12.779 --> 00:11:13.800
 is revealing to us

00:11:13.800 --> 00:11:15.340
 that in a general sense,

00:11:16.460 --> 00:11:17.440
 every person

00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:19.600
 is a child of God

00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:20.560
 by nature of being

00:11:20.560 --> 00:11:22.460
 created by God.

00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:23.840
 Now,

00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:25.019
 we still need to be saved

00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:26.040
 through faith in Jesus

00:11:26.040 --> 00:11:27.200
 to become children of God

00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:28.000
 through faith,

00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:29.320
 but all of us

00:11:29.320 --> 00:11:29.879
 are made,

00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:31.139
 our original design

00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:32.700
 is that we would know

00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:34.559
 and enjoy relationship

00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:35.279
 with God.

00:11:36.419 --> 00:11:37.500
 That's one of the greatest

00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:38.720
 privileges of our life

00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:39.639
 to discover that.

00:11:40.179 --> 00:11:41.399
 What kind of relationship

00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:42.679
 are we invited into?

00:11:44.379 --> 00:11:44.759
 Well,

00:11:44.820 --> 00:11:45.159
 first of all,

00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:46.679
 it's a personal relationship.

00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:48.360
 So remember back

00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:49.539
 in verse 26,

00:11:50.259 --> 00:11:50.740
 there's that,

00:11:51.080 --> 00:11:51.919
 there's the moment

00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:53.220
 where God deliberates

00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:53.740
 and he says,

00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:55.440
 let us make mankind.

00:11:56.620 --> 00:11:58.500
 Here is the personal God

00:11:58.500 --> 00:12:01.340
 creating people

00:12:01.340 --> 00:12:02.540
 in his image

00:12:02.540 --> 00:12:04.519
 for personal relationship.

00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:06.259
 We are created

00:12:06.259 --> 00:12:07.360
 in a unique way

00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:09.180
 for a unique relationship.

00:12:11.160 --> 00:12:12.519
 Just to remind ourselves

00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:13.600
 that that says to us,

00:12:13.660 --> 00:12:15.139
 God isn't a distant God.

00:12:16.160 --> 00:12:18.220
 God isn't unconcerned with us.

00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:20.940
 We're not just here

00:12:20.940 --> 00:12:22.680
 randomly and by chance.

00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:24.519
 We have this,

00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:25.980
 we're made for a personal

00:12:25.980 --> 00:12:26.840
 relationship with God.

00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:27.360
 Secondly,

00:12:27.420 --> 00:12:28.340
 we're made for a covenant

00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:29.580
 relationship with God.

00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:31.440
 I don't know if you noticed

00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:32.460
 that covenant language

00:12:32.460 --> 00:12:33.740
 is right here

00:12:33.740 --> 00:12:34.759
 in verse 28

00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:36.300
 because we're told

00:12:36.300 --> 00:12:37.840
 God blessed them.

00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:39.000
 That's covenant language.

00:12:39.800 --> 00:12:40.779
 God blessed

00:12:40.779 --> 00:12:42.160
 Adam and Eve,

00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:42.840
 the first people.

00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:45.840
 Humanity was designed

00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:47.259
 by God to flourish,

00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:51.399
 to enjoy representing God

00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:52.560
 on the earth

00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:53.979
 and to enjoy life

00:12:53.979 --> 00:12:55.439
 with God.

00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:58.519
 We weren't made

00:12:58.519 --> 00:12:59.939
 as slaves.

00:13:01.059 --> 00:13:02.099
 Life under God

00:13:02.099 --> 00:13:03.979
 is not drudgery.

00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:06.439
 This is the way

00:13:06.439 --> 00:13:07.319
 to freedom

00:13:07.319 --> 00:13:08.939
 and joy

00:13:08.939 --> 00:13:10.619
 in life

00:13:10.619 --> 00:13:11.679
 to know

00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:12.839
 our God.

00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:15.159
 And the creation story

00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:15.939
 does this for us.

00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:16.759
 It reveals,

00:13:16.959 --> 00:13:17.759
 and we'll see this

00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:18.399
 in future weeks,

00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:19.079
 that we are made

00:13:19.079 --> 00:13:20.399
 for relationships.

00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:22.539
 We're made for relationships

00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:24.019
 with other people.

00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:24.799
 Did you notice

00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:26.740
 it's as the community

00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:28.519
 of male and female

00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:30.059
 that we image God?

00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:31.939
 Marriage,

00:13:32.100 --> 00:13:32.419
 family,

00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:33.079
 friendship,

00:13:33.319 --> 00:13:33.740
 community,

00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:34.220
 church,

00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:34.879
 society,

00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.899
 these are all

00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:37.720
 God's good idea.

00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:41.279
 We're made for relationship

00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:42.779
 with the created world.

00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:45.220
 We hear the instructions

00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:47.600
 to rule over,

00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:48.659
 to subdue.

00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:50.699
 There is agriculture here.

00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:52.939
 There's care for creation.

00:13:54.079 --> 00:13:55.159
 There's a relationship

00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:56.199
 that we're supposed to have

00:13:56.199 --> 00:13:57.139
 with the created world,

00:13:57.179 --> 00:13:57.939
 and we'll think about that.

00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:58.819
 But fundamentally,

00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:01.439
 you and I are made

00:14:01.439 --> 00:14:02.199
 for relationship

00:14:02.199 --> 00:14:04.299
 with our creator God.

00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:06.899
 So that we are most

00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:08.279
 truly human

00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:11.299
 when these relationships

00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:11.980
 are right,

00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:12.879
 and especially

00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:13.860
 as our relationship

00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:15.000
 with God is right.

00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:16.779
 And we will see

00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:17.899
 that when people break

00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:18.659
 that relationship

00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:19.319
 with God,

00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:21.279
 everything else

00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:22.439
 begins to fall apart.

00:14:23.939 --> 00:14:24.500
 That sin,

00:14:24.579 --> 00:14:25.579
 as it comes into the world,

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:27.159
 has a fracturing effect

00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:29.819
 on relationships.

00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.379
 So we are made

00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:33.539
 to represent God.

00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:34.939
 We're made for relationship

00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:35.339
 with God.

00:14:35.459 --> 00:14:36.399
 And thirdly,

00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:38.279
 as we think about

00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:38.980
 Genesis 1,

00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:40.319
 what does it mean

00:14:40.319 --> 00:14:41.100
 to be made in the image

00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:41.439
 of God?

00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:42.360
 It means we are made

00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:43.919
 to live a righteous life.

00:14:45.559 --> 00:14:46.500
 And here we need to think

00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.100
 just for a moment

00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:48.840
 about the role

00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:49.699
 of an ambassador

00:14:49.699 --> 00:14:50.939
 or an embassy.

00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:51.579
 I know some of you

00:14:51.579 --> 00:14:52.980
 have to visit embassies

00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:54.539
 for visas and passports

00:14:54.539 --> 00:14:55.120
 and such things.

00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:55.579
 But you think about

00:14:55.579 --> 00:14:56.659
 an ambassador or a visa

00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:57.539
 or an embassy,

00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:58.240
 what are they doing?

00:14:58.559 --> 00:14:59.379
 On the one hand,

00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:00.579
 they speak

00:15:00.579 --> 00:15:01.419
 and they represent

00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:03.159
 a particular nation,

00:15:03.299 --> 00:15:03.819
 a prime minister,

00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:04.439
 a president.

00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:06.280
 They are to represent

00:15:06.280 --> 00:15:07.740
 their values.

00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:09.260
 It becomes,

00:15:09.380 --> 00:15:09.700
 in a sense,

00:15:09.780 --> 00:15:11.080
 also a little colony

00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:11.860
 of home

00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:13.880
 in a foreign country.

00:15:15.680 --> 00:15:16.760
 And what Genesis 1

00:15:16.760 --> 00:15:17.560
 is saying to us

00:15:17.560 --> 00:15:19.200
 is that as image bearers,

00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:20.340
 God created us

00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:22.860
 to live like Him

00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:24.800
 and to rule like Him,

00:15:24.900 --> 00:15:26.580
 to display His values

00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:27.700
 on the earth,

00:15:28.520 --> 00:15:30.200
 to make a paradise

00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:30.840
 on the earth.

00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:32.320
 God creates Eden

00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:32.960
 as paradise,

00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:33.620
 as we'll see.

00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:34.960
 And the intention was

00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:36.220
 that as people lived

00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:37.279
 under God's rule,

00:15:37.560 --> 00:15:39.039
 that paradise would spread,

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.519
 that the glory

00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:41.460
 would fill the earth,

00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:44.840
 that it needs us

00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:45.679
 to live a righteous

00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:46.519
 kind of a life.

00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:49.679
 So God gives the direction.

00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:51.100
 You rule,

00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:51.740
 you fill,

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.480
 you subdue.

00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.899
 God's in charge.

00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:57.580
 And when life is going well,

00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:00.180
 people respond

00:16:00.180 --> 00:16:02.700
 gladly and obediently.

00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:05.379
 And it's in that context

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:06.299
 that creation

00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:07.220
 is described

00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:09.039
 as very good.

00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:11.419
 And the condition

00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:12.480
 of the first man

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.100
 and the first woman,

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:13.740
 Adam and Eve,

00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:15.379
 was also very good.

00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:17.240
 They were created

00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:17.960
 without sin.

00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:18.720
 They were originally

00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:20.200
 holy and righteous.

00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.799
 And they were created then

00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:23.860
 to do God's work

00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:25.179
 in God's ways.

00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:27.179
 not to abuse

00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:28.459
 one another

00:16:28.459 --> 00:16:29.559
 or the environment,

00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.620
 not to exploit

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.559
 or to destroy,

00:16:32.339 --> 00:16:33.120
 but to live

00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:33.819
 in the world

00:16:33.819 --> 00:16:34.699
 in such a way

00:16:34.699 --> 00:16:35.799
 to reflect the care,

00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:36.319
 the goodness,

00:16:36.439 --> 00:16:37.859
 the just rightness

00:16:37.859 --> 00:16:39.439
 of God

00:16:39.439 --> 00:16:40.519
 as creator.

00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:44.099
 It's the natural question

00:16:44.099 --> 00:16:44.739
 at this point

00:16:44.739 --> 00:16:45.159
 becomes,

00:16:45.299 --> 00:16:45.979
 why is the world

00:16:45.979 --> 00:16:46.699
 so messed up

00:16:46.699 --> 00:16:47.179
 and broken?

00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:49.699
 Why is there so much damage

00:16:49.699 --> 00:16:50.500
 to the environment?

00:16:50.500 --> 00:16:51.639
 Why is there so much damage

00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:53.600
 done to other image bearers?

00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:55.179
 And we need to understand

00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.659
 that that is not the way

00:16:56.659 --> 00:16:57.879
 God designed us

00:16:57.879 --> 00:17:00.159
 to be as image bearers.

00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:01.519
 To go back

00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.259
 to the analogy

00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:03.039
 of a statue,

00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:04.559
 if we are statues

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:07.039
 representing God's image

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.519
 and glory,

00:17:07.619 --> 00:17:08.460
 then that statue

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.519
 has become cracked.

00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:11.079
 There are pieces missing

00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:11.839
 and the paint

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:13.079
 is fading.

00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:15.640
 Rico Tice memorably

00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:16.880
 describes people

00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:18.340
 as both the glory

00:17:18.340 --> 00:17:20.680
 and the garbage

00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:21.640
 of the universe.

00:17:23.080 --> 00:17:24.160
 Capacity for beauty

00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:24.980
 and destruction

00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:28.000
 almost at the same time.

00:17:29.580 --> 00:17:30.460
 So for us

00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:31.620
 it becomes really important

00:17:31.620 --> 00:17:32.960
 if we are to truly

00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:33.920
 understand

00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:34.680
 what it means

00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:35.380
 to be made

00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:36.880
 in the image of God,

00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:38.000
 there is a point

00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.040
 where we need to understand

00:17:39.040 --> 00:17:39.840
 that we are not

00:17:39.840 --> 00:17:41.220
 the way we are supposed to be

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:42.280
 and we need to find

00:17:42.280 --> 00:17:43.640
 where can a perfect image

00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:44.280
 be found?

00:17:45.520 --> 00:17:46.320
 And to recognize

00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.599
 that God in his kindness

00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.720
 has given us one.

00:17:49.419 --> 00:17:50.039
 There is one

00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:51.159
 who has lived

00:17:51.159 --> 00:17:51.740
 in this life

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.539
 and he has perfectly

00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:54.599
 imaged God to us

00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:56.299
 and his name

00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:56.919
 is Jesus,

00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:57.960
 the Son of God.

00:17:58.919 --> 00:17:59.419
 That's why Emily

00:17:59.419 --> 00:18:00.019
 read for us

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:01.259
 from Hebrews chapter 1

00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:01.740
 verse 3,

00:18:02.179 --> 00:18:02.480
 Jesus,

00:18:02.619 --> 00:18:03.159
 the Son of God,

00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:04.139
 he is the radiance

00:18:04.139 --> 00:18:04.960
 of God's glory

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.939
 and the perfect

00:18:05.939 --> 00:18:06.659
 representation

00:18:06.659 --> 00:18:08.259
 of his being.

00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.859
 Jesus is the perfect

00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:10.740
 image bearer.

00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.779
 And the story

00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.439
 of the Bible

00:18:13.439 --> 00:18:14.779
 in one hand

00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:15.799
 becomes a story

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.480
 of God's great

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.460
 restoration

00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:19.339
 and renewal process.

00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:21.559
 That Jesus comes,

00:18:21.659 --> 00:18:23.099
 the perfect image bearer

00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:23.960
 and he comes

00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:25.680
 to live the perfect life

00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:26.279
 that we don't

00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:26.940
 and to die

00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:28.119
 in our place

00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:29.000
 for our sins

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.619
 and to give us

00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:30.119
 forgiveness

00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:30.919
 and new life

00:18:30.919 --> 00:18:32.000
 so that we might

00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.940
 be restored

00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:34.079
 and renewed

00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:35.919
 and reshaped

00:18:35.919 --> 00:18:40.279
 into his perfect image.

00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:42.079
 Colossians 3 verse 10.

00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:44.599
 That process is ongoing,

00:18:44.699 --> 00:18:45.500
 won't be complete

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.960
 until final glory.

00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:49.259
 But by faith,

00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:51.859
 when we trust in Jesus,

00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:53.319
 we are being restored

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:54.899
 and one day

00:18:54.899 --> 00:18:55.879
 we will be perfectly

00:18:55.879 --> 00:18:56.539
 restored

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:58.299
 to God's original

00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.079
 and good design.

00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:02.460
 So that's something

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.199
 of what it means

00:19:03.199 --> 00:19:03.740
 to be made

00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.679
 in the image of God.

00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:06.419
 But we need to ask ourselves

00:19:06.419 --> 00:19:07.519
 a really important question.

00:19:07.619 --> 00:19:08.659
 Why does it matter?

00:19:10.899 --> 00:19:11.559
 So what?

00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:13.460
 What's so significant

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.379
 about Genesis 1?

00:19:15.399 --> 00:19:16.259
 Let's think about it

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.740
 for a moment

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:18.019
 personally.

00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:20.139
 Take this as a chance

00:19:20.139 --> 00:19:21.559
 to kind of pull back

00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.619
 and get the big picture

00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:23.539
 of who we are,

00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:25.319
 to get a God's eye view

00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:27.220
 on your life,

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:27.740
 your purpose

00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:28.539
 and your destiny.

00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:29.279
 Because it's here

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.019
 in Genesis 1.

00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:32.059
 We'll also take

00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:32.920
 a few minutes to think

00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:33.779
 what does this say

00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:34.640
 to us culturally?

00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.539
 How does Genesis 1

00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:38.200
 help us to think

00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:39.460
 about the various isms

00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:40.839
 that we have

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:41.720
 within society?

00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:43.460
 What impact

00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:44.120
 does it have

00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:46.200
 on value of life questions,

00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:47.859
 on environmental concerns?

00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.759
 And we can use this text

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.440
 to help us to think

00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.120
 about our mission

00:19:52.120 --> 00:19:53.420
 as the church as well.

00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:54.980
 As we bring

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.900
 the good news

00:19:55.900 --> 00:19:56.880
 of Jesus to people,

00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:58.400
 how much can these themes

00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:59.280
 help us?

00:20:00.520 --> 00:20:01.040
 So again,

00:20:01.100 --> 00:20:02.280
 there's loads that we could say,

00:20:02.360 --> 00:20:03.000
 but we're going to talk

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:04.280
 about design.

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.460
 We're going to talk

00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.020
 about dignity.

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.240
 We're going to talk

00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:07.980
 about direction.

00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:09.360
 And we're going to talk

00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:10.100
 about destiny.

00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:11.080
 So let's think,

00:20:11.300 --> 00:20:11.720
 first of all,

00:20:11.760 --> 00:20:12.660
 about design.

00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:15.320
 So like the rest

00:20:15.320 --> 00:20:16.160
 of creation,

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.680
 we discover in Genesis 1

00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:19.920
 that as human beings,

00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.900
 we are designed

00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:21.620
 with goodness,

00:20:22.100 --> 00:20:22.860
 with order,

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:24.040
 and with beauty.

00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:25.519
 we discover

00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.740
 that God has made us

00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.480
 and he has made

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.980
 our physical bodies.

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:33.200
 God has given us

00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:33.899
 our biology.

00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:34.799
 God has given us

00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.799
 our gender.

00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.779
 Psalm 139,

00:20:37.879 --> 00:20:39.440
 God knits us together.

00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.399
 We are fearfully

00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:41.879
 and wonderfully made.

00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:43.259
 And we discover

00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:44.379
 at root,

00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:45.420
 you are designed

00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.180
 by God

00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:47.899
 and you are dear

00:20:47.899 --> 00:20:48.519
 to God.

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:50.740
 not a product

00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:51.519
 of chance,

00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:53.480
 not haphazard.

00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:56.079
 And that has

00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:56.879
 some really important

00:20:56.879 --> 00:20:57.480
 implications

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.599
 for some of the

00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:59.220
 big questions

00:20:59.220 --> 00:21:00.240
 that are going around

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.480
 in our day.

00:21:02.879 --> 00:21:03.660
 Perhaps we think

00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.759
 about the issue

00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.859
 of transgenderism.

00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.079
 And we recognize

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.740
 biblically

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:10.019
 that it is wrong

00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.900
 to say that we are

00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:11.980
 free to destroy

00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:13.079
 or to remake

00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:13.700
 our bodies

00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:14.559
 based on our own

00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.579
 personal desires.

00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:17.500
 And we discover

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.679
 this essential

00:21:18.679 --> 00:21:19.439
 basic truth

00:21:19.439 --> 00:21:20.399
 that sex and gender

00:21:20.399 --> 00:21:21.299
 belong together

00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:22.799
 by God's good design.

00:21:24.399 --> 00:21:25.240
 One of the ways

00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:26.139
 that we can love

00:21:26.139 --> 00:21:26.859
 people well

00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:27.480
 is to speak

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.659
 the truth in love.

00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.000
 If you have any

00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.119
 people who are

00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:33.039
 wrestling with those

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.919
 and you want to

00:21:33.919 --> 00:21:34.480
 talk about that,

00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:35.139
 do come and speak

00:21:35.139 --> 00:21:36.019
 to me afterwards.

00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:38.019
 But it reminds us

00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:39.299
 that at base

00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:40.659
 our physical bodies

00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:41.859
 matter to God,

00:21:41.939 --> 00:21:42.619
 therefore they should

00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:43.599
 matter to us.

00:21:44.139 --> 00:21:44.980
 They are given to us

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.439
 as a gift

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:45.960
 and so we should

00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:47.259
 care for our bodies.

00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:47.500
 You know,

00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:47.820
 sleep,

00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:48.340
 exercise,

00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:48.860
 diet,

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.660
 those are all

00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:50.140
 good things

00:21:50.140 --> 00:21:50.799
 for us to think

00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.120
 about.

00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:52.900
 It's important

00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:54.039
 for us to recognize

00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:55.200
 that we have

00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:56.000
 been created

00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.240
 with that sexual

00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:57.900
 differentiation

00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:59.340
 of male and female

00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:01.200
 in part to speak

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.900
 to the wonder

00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:02.680
 of our God,

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.440
 unity and diversity.

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.380
 We've been created

00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:07.460
 the way that we have

00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.559
 to allow for

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.440
 the be fruitful

00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:10.340
 and multiply

00:22:10.340 --> 00:22:11.640
 to take place.

00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:14.080
 So we have been

00:22:14.080 --> 00:22:15.520
 made by God's

00:22:15.520 --> 00:22:17.360
 good design

00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:19.460
 and we should

00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.280
 give thanks

00:22:20.280 --> 00:22:21.140
 and we should

00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:22.060
 protect that

00:22:22.060 --> 00:22:22.680
 reality.

00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:25.300
 Related to that,

00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:25.940
 secondly,

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.860
 to be made in the

00:22:27.860 --> 00:22:28.620
 image of God

00:22:28.620 --> 00:22:29.660
 is to give us

00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:31.460
 fundamental dignity.

00:22:32.080 --> 00:22:32.620
 I think that's one

00:22:32.620 --> 00:22:33.200
 of the radical

00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:34.700
 teachings of Genesis 1

00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:35.240
 and this is,

00:22:35.520 --> 00:22:36.020
 so remember,

00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:37.180
 so the people

00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:38.400
 had been slaves

00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:40.879
 for over 400 years.

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:41.480
 Their families

00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:41.819
 had been slaves.

00:22:41.879 --> 00:22:42.440
 No value,

00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.180
 no dignity.

00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:44.279
 Only the king

00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:45.279
 really counted

00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:47.460
 and here is God

00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:48.420
 speaking into that

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:48.759
 and saying,

00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:49.099
 listen,

00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.599
 every single life

00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:51.299
 matters.

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.740
 Every single

00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.779
 one of us,

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:56.200
 every single person

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:56.799
 on our planet

00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.720
 is made in God's

00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:57.980
 image,

00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:58.980
 carefully fashioned.

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:00.480
 Everyone has value

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.099
 and dignity

00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:02.879
 to borrow

00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:03.759
 from C.S. Lewis.

00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:04.500
 You will never,

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:05.799
 ever look at

00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:07.420
 a mere mortal.

00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:11.359
 And I think

00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.380
 most people

00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:13.240
 in our society

00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:14.119
 recognize this,

00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:14.779
 but here's something

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.319
 that's really

00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:16.480
 important.

00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.519
 That people,

00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.599
 according to God,

00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.579
 are made in His

00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.599
 image is the

00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:23.160
 only solid

00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:24.140
 foundation

00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:26.480
 for saying

00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:26.880
 that those

00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:28.079
 isms are wrong,

00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:30.799
 that we react

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.420
 against.

00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:33.900
 Racism,

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.940
 sexism,

00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:37.960
 tribalism.

00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:40.460
 We can only say

00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:40.839
 those are

00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:42.640
 objectively wrong

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:44.220
 if we accept

00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:44.900
 that God

00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:45.839
 has made us

00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:46.559
 and God

00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.079
 says that

00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.700
 everybody

00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.839
 matters.

00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:49.279
 If it's just

00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:50.000
 what society

00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:50.779
 thinks,

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:52.000
 on any given

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.180
 day or generation,

00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:54.380
 we find ourselves

00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:55.319
 on profoundly

00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:56.440
 shaky ground.

00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.279
 Think about

00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.720
 what happened

00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:00.259
 in Germany

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.579
 in the 1930s

00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:02.539
 and 40s.

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.879
 Why can we

00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:06.519
 say

00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.579
 that the

00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:08.339
 Nazi movement

00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:09.059
 was evil?

00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.519
 Why can we

00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.259
 say that it

00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.619
 was profoundly

00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.519
 evil to

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.279
 destroy

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.379
 Jews

00:24:16.379 --> 00:24:17.500
 and gypsies

00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.160
 and people

00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:19.200
 with disabilities?

00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:20.940
 it's because

00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:21.779
 of this

00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:22.580
 objective

00:24:22.580 --> 00:24:23.620
 truth from

00:24:23.620 --> 00:24:24.240
 God

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:25.299
 that we

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:25.779
 are made

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.059
 in the

00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:26.519
 image of

00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:26.980
 God.

00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:29.380
 Why can we

00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:29.759
 say that

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.559
 abortion is

00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:31.100
 wrong,

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:32.640
 that assisted

00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.440
 dying is

00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:33.880
 wrong?

00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.340
 Because we

00:24:35.340 --> 00:24:35.960
 have this

00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.559
 objective

00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:37.140
 truth that

00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:37.600
 comes from

00:24:37.600 --> 00:24:38.180
 God Himself

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:38.600
 that says,

00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.340
 I create

00:24:39.340 --> 00:24:40.640
 life and

00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.559
 every person

00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:42.400
 is an image

00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:43.460
 bearer and

00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.140
 life has

00:24:44.140 --> 00:24:44.759
 worth that

00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.500
 must be

00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.120
 protected.

00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:50.079
 Think about

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.739
 the storyline

00:24:50.739 --> 00:24:51.159
 of the

00:24:51.159 --> 00:24:51.479
 Bible.

00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:52.399
 We have

00:24:52.399 --> 00:24:53.039
 the eternal

00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:53.639
 Son of

00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:54.119
 God

00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:55.119
 becoming

00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:56.479
 an embryo

00:24:56.479 --> 00:24:57.719
 in the

00:24:57.719 --> 00:24:58.479
 womb of

00:24:58.479 --> 00:24:58.899
 Mary.

00:25:00.379 --> 00:25:01.139
 There's the

00:25:01.139 --> 00:25:01.739
 value of

00:25:01.739 --> 00:25:02.479
 human life,

00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:03.619
 that God

00:25:03.619 --> 00:25:04.500
 became one

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.000
 of us

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:05.879
 in order

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:06.919
 to save

00:25:06.919 --> 00:25:07.339
 us.

00:25:10.159 --> 00:25:11.099
 Another way

00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:11.579
 being made

00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:11.979
 in the image

00:25:11.979 --> 00:25:12.479
 of God

00:25:12.479 --> 00:25:13.239
 matters is

00:25:13.239 --> 00:25:13.579
 to do

00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:13.839
 with

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:15.259
 direction.

00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:16.659
 How are

00:25:16.659 --> 00:25:17.039
 we supposed

00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:17.559
 to live

00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:17.879
 in this

00:25:17.879 --> 00:25:18.179
 world?

00:25:18.939 --> 00:25:19.299
 How are

00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:19.559
 we to

00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.139
 handle our

00:25:20.139 --> 00:25:20.819
 responsibility

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.679
 of caring

00:25:21.679 --> 00:25:23.039
 for this

00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.419
 world?

00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:24.579
 And again,

00:25:24.719 --> 00:25:25.379
 Genesis 1

00:25:25.379 --> 00:25:26.239
 sets some

00:25:26.239 --> 00:25:28.099
 principles to

00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:28.619
 give us

00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:29.339
 direction.

00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:32.059
 And it

00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:32.659
 takes time

00:25:32.659 --> 00:25:33.379
 and care to

00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:33.879
 think about

00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:34.559
 how we work

00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:35.099
 out these

00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:35.619
 principles,

00:25:35.879 --> 00:25:36.619
 but we

00:25:36.619 --> 00:25:37.199
 remember that

00:25:37.199 --> 00:25:37.799
 principle that

00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:38.239
 we are to

00:25:38.239 --> 00:25:38.919
 care for the

00:25:38.919 --> 00:25:39.539
 world like

00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:39.939
 God.

00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:42.000
 We are not

00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.179
 masters here,

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:43.699
 we are not

00:25:43.699 --> 00:25:44.939
 the kings and

00:25:44.939 --> 00:25:45.359
 queens,

00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:46.599
 God is the

00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:47.219
 true king and

00:25:47.219 --> 00:25:47.699
 we serve

00:25:47.699 --> 00:25:48.619
 under him.

00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.639
 And we

00:25:49.639 --> 00:25:50.379
 are called

00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:50.959
 as people

00:25:50.959 --> 00:25:51.799
 to practice

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:53.139
 good stewardship.

00:25:54.399 --> 00:25:55.059
 So that

00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:56.079
 requires care

00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:56.859
 and attention

00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:58.279
 over a whole

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:58.819
 range of

00:25:58.819 --> 00:25:59.819
 ethical choices.

00:26:01.219 --> 00:26:01.919
 And I think

00:26:01.919 --> 00:26:02.339
 again it's

00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:02.899
 really good

00:26:02.899 --> 00:26:03.179
 that we're

00:26:03.179 --> 00:26:03.659
 much more

00:26:03.659 --> 00:26:04.419
 aware now

00:26:04.419 --> 00:26:04.879
 than perhaps

00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:05.299
 we used

00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:05.839
 to be

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.699
 of some

00:26:06.699 --> 00:26:06.979
 of those

00:26:06.979 --> 00:26:07.299
 ethical

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:07.719
 choices.

00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:07.939
 You know,

00:26:07.959 --> 00:26:08.199
 how we

00:26:08.199 --> 00:26:08.599
 shop,

00:26:08.699 --> 00:26:08.939
 how we

00:26:08.939 --> 00:26:09.159
 eat,

00:26:09.219 --> 00:26:09.500
 how we

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:09.899
 spend,

00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.319
 how we

00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:11.099
 save.

00:26:12.419 --> 00:26:13.319
 They impact

00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:14.059
 our environment,

00:26:14.219 --> 00:26:14.759
 the impact

00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.319
 on the lives

00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:15.720
 of others.

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:15.980
 So we

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.259
 need to

00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.559
 give

00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.220
 attention.

00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:20.400
 Recycling,

00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:21.299
 reducing waste,

00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:22.079
 concern for

00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:23.379
 habitat loss.

00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:25.019
 Those are

00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.500
 things that

00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.220
 should concern

00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:26.660
 us as

00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:27.059
 Christians.

00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:27.940
 And it

00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:28.700
 should concern

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.339
 us too to

00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:29.900
 think of

00:26:29.900 --> 00:26:31.059
 the social

00:26:31.059 --> 00:26:33.400
 impact of

00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:34.259
 how we live

00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.859
 in the world

00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:35.640
 day to day.

00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.299
 What do my

00:26:37.299 --> 00:26:37.940
 choices,

00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:38.559
 big and

00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:39.259
 small,

00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:40.720
 mean for the

00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.500
 welfare of

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.240
 other people

00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:42.960
 made in the

00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.759
 image of God?

00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.839
 How do

00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:46.619
 my actions

00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.079
 and my

00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:47.799
 choices

00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:49.799
 help to

00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:50.579
 care for

00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:51.099
 the poor,

00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:51.680
 the weak,

00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:52.359
 the vulnerable,

00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:53.220
 who are

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:54.220
 also made

00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:54.500
 in the

00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:54.960
 image of

00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.319
 God?

00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:57.400
 So we're

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:57.879
 to care for

00:26:57.879 --> 00:26:58.259
 the world

00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:58.900
 like God,

00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:01.099
 but secondly,

00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:02.279
 we are placed

00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:03.359
 in communities

00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:05.259
 to reflect

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:05.759
 God.

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:07.900
 And again,

00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.319
 I don't know

00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:08.799
 how much

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.799
 you have

00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.579
 thought about

00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:10.799
 that,

00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.299
 but again,

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.339
 by God's

00:27:12.339 --> 00:27:13.019
 design,

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.639
 we are

00:27:14.639 --> 00:27:15.339
 placed where

00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:15.980
 we are

00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.519
 in our

00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.180
 circles

00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:18.460
 in order

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.119
 that something

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:19.799
 of God's

00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.919
 glory and

00:27:20.919 --> 00:27:21.700
 goodness and

00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.460
 kindness and

00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:23.240
 care and

00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:24.019
 truth and

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:24.960
 justice would

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:25.599
 be known to

00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:26.039
 the people in

00:27:26.039 --> 00:27:26.480
 the rest of

00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.039
 that circle.

00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.480
 Life in our

00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.019
 home and our

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.519
 family,

00:27:32.659 --> 00:27:33.200
 where we go

00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:34.019
 to school or

00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.559
 work or

00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:35.259
 university,

00:27:35.879 --> 00:27:36.779
 the neighborhood

00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.579
 that we live

00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:37.740
 in,

00:27:37.939 --> 00:27:38.799
 the church

00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.639
 that we

00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:40.279
 are placed

00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:40.779
 in,

00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:42.539
 become places

00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:43.839
 in which to

00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.500
 show something

00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.019
 of God's

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:46.099
 love and

00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:47.220
 justice and

00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:48.559
 kindness to

00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:48.919
 the people

00:27:48.919 --> 00:27:49.699
 around us.

00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:54.439
 We're not

00:27:54.439 --> 00:27:55.519
 just a bunch

00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.460
 of individuals.

00:27:57.859 --> 00:27:58.799
 We are

00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.819
 created in

00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:00.679
 communities

00:28:00.679 --> 00:28:03.460
 so that people

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.199
 might look at

00:28:04.199 --> 00:28:05.740
 us and see

00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.299
 something of

00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:07.279
 God in us.

00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.139
 Think about

00:28:09.139 --> 00:28:09.799
 that as we

00:28:09.799 --> 00:28:10.500
 are confronted

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.359
 tomorrow with

00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:12.419
 the difficult

00:28:12.419 --> 00:28:14.179
 calling or

00:28:14.179 --> 00:28:15.159
 as we think

00:28:15.159 --> 00:28:15.619
 about those

00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:16.899
 tough family

00:28:16.899 --> 00:28:18.139
 relationships that

00:28:18.139 --> 00:28:20.019
 we have and

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.500
 maybe the

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:22.259
 awkward flatmate

00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.899
 but also to

00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:24.559
 think about our

00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.139
 life as a

00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:25.679
 church as we

00:28:25.679 --> 00:28:26.399
 look to welcome

00:28:26.399 --> 00:28:27.099
 people in,

00:28:27.139 --> 00:28:27.699
 as we want to

00:28:27.699 --> 00:28:28.299
 break down

00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:29.059
 barriers.

00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:32.199
 The fact that

00:28:32.199 --> 00:28:32.779
 we are made

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.220
 in the image

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:33.740
 of God and

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.220
 that everyone

00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:34.720
 is made in

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.159
 the image of

00:28:35.159 --> 00:28:37.500
 God can set a

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.160
 direction for

00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:38.660
 how we live

00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.319
 day to day.

00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:42.160
 Here's the

00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:42.559
 fourth and

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:44.240
 final thing for

00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:44.619
 us to think

00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.279
 about this

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.900
 morning, why

00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:47.500
 it matters to

00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:47.900
 be made in

00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.319
 the image of

00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:48.660
 God.

00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:50.240
 It speaks to

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.299
 our destiny.

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.599
 Now if our

00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:55.900
 operating principle

00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:57.440
 is that we

00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:57.920
 come from

00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:59.240
 nothing and

00:28:59.240 --> 00:28:59.900
 we're made by

00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:01.240
 no one and

00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:01.779
 we have to try

00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.500
 and create our

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.480
 own identity and

00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.339
 figure out how

00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.140
 life works and

00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:05.680
 in the end

00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.020
 there is

00:29:06.020 --> 00:29:09.180
 nothing, I

00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:09.460
 think we

00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:09.980
 recognize that

00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:10.660
 doesn't offer

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:12.300
 great hope,

00:29:12.800 --> 00:29:13.040
 maybe it

00:29:13.040 --> 00:29:13.620
 doesn't offer a

00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:15.259
 solid motivation

00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:16.900
 for wanting to

00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:18.300
 make this world

00:29:18.300 --> 00:29:19.759
 a better place.

00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:22.600
 And so we

00:29:22.600 --> 00:29:23.160
 need to hear

00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:23.640
 and to keep

00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:25.120
 hearing God's

00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:26.100
 better story,

00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:28.180
 the true story

00:29:28.180 --> 00:29:29.440
 of what it

00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:29.920
 means that we

00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:31.040
 are made as

00:29:31.040 --> 00:29:32.300
 image bearers.

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:34.639
 Now as the

00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:35.579
 story progresses

00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:36.899
 we discover

00:29:36.899 --> 00:29:37.980
 Genesis 3, we

00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:39.079
 discover the

00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:40.519
 reality that as

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.119
 people we have

00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:42.159
 fallen away from

00:29:42.159 --> 00:29:42.899
 our God because

00:29:42.899 --> 00:29:43.839
 of sin, life is

00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:44.740
 not right now

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.659
 paradise on

00:29:45.659 --> 00:29:46.240
 earth and we

00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.059
 know this.

00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:49.180
 But we also

00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:49.559
 have this

00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:51.240
 wonderful reality

00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.740
 that through the

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.619
 goodness and

00:29:53.619 --> 00:29:54.359
 grace of our

00:29:54.359 --> 00:29:56.659
 God, he is in

00:29:56.659 --> 00:29:57.419
 the process of

00:29:57.419 --> 00:29:58.639
 restoring fallen

00:29:58.639 --> 00:29:59.639
 image bearers

00:29:59.639 --> 00:30:00.480
 through his son

00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.379
 the Lord Jesus.

00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:03.119
 that we

00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:04.059
 recognize at a

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:04.859
 particular point

00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:05.480
 in time in

00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:06.359
 history the

00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:07.319
 Lord Jesus came

00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:08.440
 into this world

00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:09.119
 to display

00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:10.039
 perfectly the

00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:10.919
 glory and love

00:30:10.919 --> 00:30:12.119
 of God for us

00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:13.000
 and the place

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.599
 where we see it

00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:15.700
 most clearly is

00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.359
 as he dies on

00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:18.299
 the cross, his

00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.440
 body is torn

00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:20.180
 and beaten as

00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:21.119
 he bears our

00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:22.099
 sin and the

00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:22.899
 wrath of God

00:30:22.899 --> 00:30:23.899
 that we deserve,

00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.419
 we are seeing

00:30:25.419 --> 00:30:27.359
 God's commitment

00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:29.619
 to renew and to

00:30:29.619 --> 00:30:31.359
 restore image

00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:32.039
 bearers.

00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:33.899
 And when we

00:30:33.899 --> 00:30:35.039
 place our faith

00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:36.879
 in Jesus, we

00:30:36.879 --> 00:30:37.939
 are united to

00:30:37.939 --> 00:30:39.419
 him and then

00:30:39.419 --> 00:30:40.899
 God sets to

00:30:40.899 --> 00:30:41.359
 work at

00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:42.959
 restoring and

00:30:42.959 --> 00:30:44.279
 renewing that

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.319
 image that his

00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:46.319
 spirit comes to

00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:47.879
 live within us,

00:30:47.959 --> 00:30:48.799
 to begin that

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.899
 process that will

00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:51.059
 be complete one

00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:51.619
 day.

00:30:52.379 --> 00:30:53.479
 But we can say

00:30:53.479 --> 00:30:54.319
 the moment that

00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.559
 we trust in

00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:56.199
 Jesus, if you

00:30:56.199 --> 00:30:57.119
 trust in Jesus

00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:59.019
 today, you

00:30:59.019 --> 00:31:00.359
 become a new

00:31:00.359 --> 00:31:02.599
 creation, that

00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:03.399
 God's spirit

00:31:03.399 --> 00:31:05.019
 comes to live in

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:05.719
 your heart, so

00:31:05.719 --> 00:31:06.359
 now all of a

00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:08.339
 sudden, you're

00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:09.779
 more able to

00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.919
 represent God in

00:31:10.919 --> 00:31:11.379
 his world.

00:31:11.439 --> 00:31:12.099
 Not perfectly,

00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:14.379
 but God is

00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:15.500
 working in us.

00:31:16.579 --> 00:31:17.899
 And now we

00:31:17.899 --> 00:31:19.039
 begin to enjoy a

00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:20.079
 relationship with

00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:20.539
 God that we

00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:21.479
 never had before.

00:31:22.159 --> 00:31:23.279
 We call him our

00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:23.699
 father.

00:31:24.199 --> 00:31:24.939
 He speaks in the

00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:25.740
 Bible, we speak

00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.380
 in prayer, we

00:31:26.380 --> 00:31:27.580
 enjoy his love.

00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.480
 And the spirit

00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.279
 works in us to

00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.299
 make us more and

00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:32.019
 more righteous.

00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:34.720
 So it does become

00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.440
 true that people

00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.519
 can look at us and

00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.420
 see something of

00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:38.420
 God and his

00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:39.039
 character.

00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:41.200
 And one day there

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:43.240
 is the promise that

00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:44.539
 Jesus will come

00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:44.920
 back.

00:31:45.840 --> 00:31:46.740
 And this world

00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.380
 that seems so

00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:48.380
 fallen and broken

00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:49.960
 to snow, it will

00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.840
 be restored.

00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:53.019
 And that for those

00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:54.200
 who trust in Jesus,

00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:55.840
 we will be with

00:31:55.840 --> 00:31:57.319
 Jesus, and we

00:31:57.319 --> 00:31:58.440
 will be made like

00:31:58.440 --> 00:32:01.039
 Jesus for all of

00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:02.000
 eternity.

00:32:04.080 --> 00:32:05.200
 And so the answer

00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:05.960
 to the questions

00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:07.539
 about human image,

00:32:08.120 --> 00:32:08.779
 about human

00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:11.059
 identity, they

00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:11.819
 find their most

00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:13.400
 basic answers here

00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:14.799
 in being made by

00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:16.740
 God, being made

00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:18.860
 for God, and being

00:32:18.860 --> 00:32:20.519
 made for life with

00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:21.160
 God.

00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:21.200
 God.

00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:23.279
 And that starts

00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:24.980
 by trusting in

00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:26.980
 Jesus, the perfect

00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:28.920
 image of our God.

00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:31.320
 God.

00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320


00:32:31.320 --> 00:32:31.320