WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.200 One of the most well-known names associated with the study of the cosmos is someone probably all of you are familiar with at least in some respect it's the late Stephen Hawking. 00:00:12.200 --> 00:00:23.240 ! Hawking was a brilliant theoretical physicist, studied cosmologist, also an avowed atheist. 00:00:23.239 --> 00:00:40.640 He earned a PhD in doing research on black holes in outer space which provided for him and for others who appreciated his work a further fascination not only with the beauty of the universe but the mystery of the universe. 00:00:40.640 --> 00:01:00.159 In 1990 on a BBC program called Master of the Universe Stephen Hawking had this to say about the cosmos and its relationship to the existence of God and the existence and relative insignificance of human life. 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:01.560 Here's what he said. 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:17.520 We are such insignificant creatures on a minor planet of a very average star in the outer suburbs of one of 100,000 million galaxies. 00:01:18.740 --> 00:01:27.420 So it is difficult to believe in a God who would care about us or would even notice our existence. 00:01:27.420 --> 00:01:43.299 Hawking with a brilliant mind looked at the vastness of the cosmos and came to the conclusion that there couldn't possibly be a God who would care very much about us at all. 00:01:43.299 --> 00:02:05.319 And what's fascinating to me about his answer, that particular answer, is that Hawking seemed to automatically focus the question of God's existence not especially on the cosmos itself but on the relationship between God and human beings relative to that cosmos. 00:02:05.319 --> 00:02:35.299 It's interesting, isn't it? 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:41.239 He would simply be too immense to actually care anything about creatures like us. 00:02:42.620 --> 00:02:47.139 I want to offer a different perspective from another stargazer. 00:02:48.699 --> 00:02:56.299 This one wasn't equipped with the same measure of detail as Hawking and his brilliance. 00:02:56.299 --> 00:03:04.639 But he did still understand the vastness of the universe and the relative insignificance of human life. 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:08.079 And his conclusion was actually the opposite of Hawking's. 00:03:08.079 --> 00:03:09.199 Here's what he says. 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:20.399 When I look at your heavens and the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have set in place, 00:03:20.619 --> 00:03:24.139 what is man that you are mindful of him? 00:03:24.139 --> 00:03:39.179 And yet you have made him a little lower than the angels and the heavenly beings and you have crowned him with glory and honor, 00:03:39.979 --> 00:03:46.039 giving him dominion over the works of your hands and having put all things under his feet. 00:03:46.039 --> 00:03:50.659 Of course, those are the words of King David in Psalm 8. 00:03:51.879 --> 00:04:00.780 David wrote from the perspective of one who is fully convinced that Genesis 1 is divine revelation, 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:07.259 that it records for us the real history of how God created all that exists. 00:04:07.259 --> 00:04:16.819 But he also wrote as one who understood that Moses' arrangement of the material in Genesis 1 00:04:16.819 --> 00:04:25.939 set the creation of humanity as the climax, the apex, the pinnacle of God's creative work. 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:33.839 Human beings are not insignificant creatures in the midst of a vast universe. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:40.639 Rather, they are the crowning achievement of God's glorious design. 00:04:42.179 --> 00:04:50.139 And opposite of Hawking, when David considered that, he was overwhelmed that relative insignificance 00:04:50.139 --> 00:04:53.399 as we are in relationship to the vastness of the cosmos. 00:04:53.539 --> 00:05:02.639 Yet there is a God who creates it all and cares intimately and personally about each one of us. 00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:24.799 And what's the basis of David's presuppositions that lead him to the conclusion that he comes up with? 00:05:24.859 --> 00:05:26.299 It's our text for this morning. 00:05:26.500 --> 00:05:29.059 It's Genesis 1, 26 to 31. 00:05:29.479 --> 00:05:30.279 Let's read it together. 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:33.559 Then God said, 00:05:33.559 --> 00:05:40.039 Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, 00:05:40.619 --> 00:05:44.219 and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, 00:05:44.539 --> 00:05:47.799 over the birds of the heavens, over the livestock, 00:05:48.619 --> 00:05:53.239 over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:57.800 So God created man in his own image. 00:05:58.519 --> 00:06:01.840 In the image of God, he created him. 00:06:02.740 --> 00:06:06.319 Male and female, he created them. 00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:09.199 And God blessed them. 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:11.540 And God said to them, 00:06:11.540 --> 00:06:25.960 And God said, 00:06:25.959 --> 00:06:49.919 And it was so. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:53.860 And God saw everything that he had made. 00:06:54.860 --> 00:06:57.180 And behold, it was very good. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:02.160 And there was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day. 00:07:03.460 --> 00:07:06.319 Now much of what we're going to consider over the next few weeks, 00:07:06.340 --> 00:07:07.920 and in this next series of studies, 00:07:08.020 --> 00:07:11.500 really boils down to what it means to be human. 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:20.620 God's good design for human flourishing is going to be expounded upon all through Genesis 2. 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:23.339 And then we're going to get to Genesis 3, 00:07:23.339 --> 00:07:26.139 after seeing this glorious design for human flourishing, 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:29.740 and we're going to see how it all went wrong. 00:07:29.740 --> 00:07:37.740 But our text for today lays an essential foundation for what comes next. 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:45.540 And the emphasis here is on the uniqueness of humanity in God's design. 00:07:48.060 --> 00:07:51.199 The purpose statement maybe would go something like this. 00:07:52.100 --> 00:07:58.639 That we are made in the image of God is fundamental to understanding what it means to be human. 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:05.920 And it must be celebrated and honored as God's very good design. 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:11.379 Notice first with me, God uniquely made humanity. 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:15.319 God uniquely made humanity. 00:08:15.819 --> 00:08:17.600 Look again at 26 and 27. 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:19.960 Then God said, 00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:23.739 Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. 00:08:24.539 --> 00:08:27.180 And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:29.120 and over the birds of the heavens, 00:08:29.259 --> 00:08:30.180 and over the livestock, 00:08:30.459 --> 00:08:31.279 and over all the earth, 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:33.960 and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:37.840 So God created man in his own image. 00:08:38.659 --> 00:08:41.039 In the image of God, he created him. 00:08:41.980 --> 00:08:44.919 Male and female, he created them. 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:55.379 The first sign here that humanity is uniquely made is this divine deliberation that we note here in verse 26. 00:08:55.959 --> 00:09:03.019 Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:07.899 It's a striking change in the text as we work through the chapter, isn't it? 00:09:08.299 --> 00:09:11.480 Why the sudden change in plural pronouns here? 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:17.060 The traditional answer for Christians has always been that this is the divine, 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:27.860 intra-Trinitarian deliberation of the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit active at this moment in creation. 00:09:29.539 --> 00:09:33.200 Of course, we can't build a full theology on the Trinity here. 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:34.980 It's not quite ready for that. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:36.279 That's a later development, right? 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:37.860 But it's nonetheless present, isn't it? 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:44.259 We've already seen in verse 2, there is the Spirit of God hovering over the waters, 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:49.800 indicating that there is already a co-participant in creation. 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:57.279 And then we get to the New Testament, and we see the full meaning of this begin to be expounded upon 00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:01.600 and fleshed out with the emphasis of the role of Jesus Christ, 00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:06.039 the second person of the Trinity, and his work in creation. 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:09.319 And we see it all over the place there, and we bring all of that together, 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:14.779 and we begin to see there is something unique about this God and the Godhead here. 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:17.959 One God, three persons. 00:10:19.339 --> 00:10:21.079 But why the shift here? 00:10:21.219 --> 00:10:24.240 Why does Moses care to do it at this point? 00:10:24.319 --> 00:10:27.620 Has it done it anywhere else in all of Genesis 1? 00:10:27.620 --> 00:10:33.240 We've gone through five and a half days of creation now, and not one time has he done this. 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:36.159 Why is he now doing it here? 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:44.279 And the point is to heighten the significance of humanity in the creation narrative. 00:10:45.799 --> 00:10:50.460 It's a striking difference that demands our focus and our attention. 00:10:50.460 --> 00:10:56.740 Something is coming here that is meant to be understood by us as significant. 00:10:58.700 --> 00:11:05.240 And of course, the most obvious assertion of the text then becomes that human beings, humanity, 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:07.960 are created beings. 00:11:10.040 --> 00:11:18.200 It's equally clear that God carefully and deliberately created them. 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:27.879 This intra-Trinitarian deliberation is meant to convey the uniqueness of humanity 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:33.020 in God's creative design and order. 00:11:35.020 --> 00:11:38.300 I don't know who needs to hear this this morning, 00:11:39.300 --> 00:11:41.060 but don't you want to listen closely to me. 00:11:41.059 --> 00:11:48.959 You and I are not here by accident or by fate. 00:11:50.739 --> 00:11:57.739 You exist because God meant for you to be here. 00:12:00.419 --> 00:12:05.939 Your creation was not haphazard in any way. 00:12:05.940 --> 00:12:17.400 It was carefully and meticulously planned and executed by the same God who hung the sun and the moon 00:12:17.400 --> 00:12:19.460 and the stars in their place. 00:12:19.560 --> 00:12:23.340 The same God who spoke the light into the darkness. 00:12:23.520 --> 00:12:27.940 The same God who separated the waters that are below the earth or on the earth 00:12:27.940 --> 00:12:31.700 from the waters that are above the heavens and above the firmament. 00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:37.080 The same God that creates earth and causes vegetation to spring out of it 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:41.000 so that there are cycles of life for us to enjoy. 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:45.140 The same God who creates the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea 00:12:45.140 --> 00:12:47.340 and the beasts that roam on the land. 00:12:47.420 --> 00:12:52.900 The same God carefully, meticulously creates you. 00:12:52.899 --> 00:12:57.579 It says David again in Psalm 139, 00:12:57.899 --> 00:13:00.399 You formed me in my inward parts. 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:05.240 You knitted me together in my mother's womb. 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:12.860 I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:25.519 It would be arrogant to possess a high view of self that is rooted in some kind of contribution 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:29.800 that you believe that you have made to your significance on this earth. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:30.980 That would be arrogant. 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:32.860 It would be prideful. 00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:44.659 But to recognize that your value, your intrinsic value as a human being 00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:50.360 is the result of God's good and careful purpose. 00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:52.340 That is worship. 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:55.700 And that's who you are. 00:13:55.700 --> 00:14:04.259 Whoever of you is so discouraged this morning 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:09.560 that you wonder if your existence matters 00:14:09.560 --> 00:14:12.360 or if it should continue, 00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:21.440 I want you to know God has carefully crafted you for his glory. 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:27.800 It doesn't matter if anyone else sees the value of your life. 00:14:30.680 --> 00:14:34.540 There is no higher value than that. 00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:40.300 You don't have to live for the recognition 00:14:40.300 --> 00:14:43.920 and the hope of acceptance from any other person. 00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:48.380 You live for the glory for which you were created 00:14:48.380 --> 00:14:50.900 by a God who loves you. 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:53.060 And cares for you. 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:56.260 And brought you here on purpose. 00:14:57.160 --> 00:14:58.440 You live for that glory. 00:15:01.140 --> 00:15:03.740 Of course, the driving emphasis of the text 00:15:03.740 --> 00:15:07.600 is that humanity was uniquely made 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:10.300 in the image of God. 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:14.760 Which is why David says in Psalm 139, 00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:16.720 he's fearfully and wonderfully made. 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:19.340 There is something about our existence 00:15:19.340 --> 00:15:21.040 in the way that God has made us. 00:15:21.040 --> 00:15:26.139 That demands awe and reverence and honor. 00:15:27.920 --> 00:15:32.800 27, so God created man in his own image. 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:36.759 In the image of God, he created him. 00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:41.279 Male and female, he created them. 00:15:43.099 --> 00:15:44.819 What exactly does that mean? 00:15:46.459 --> 00:15:48.359 There's so many ways we could answer that. 00:15:48.479 --> 00:15:50.959 More ways than what we have time to answer this morning. 00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:53.459 I want you to consider it this way. 00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:54.419 I want you to think, 00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:57.079 how would the ancient Israelites 00:15:57.079 --> 00:15:59.039 wandering in the wilderness of Sinai, 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:01.199 how would they have understood this? 00:16:01.319 --> 00:16:03.899 And Moses' reading of Genesis 1, 00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:04.799 the image of God, 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:06.079 what would they have thought about? 00:16:06.199 --> 00:16:07.919 What would they have understood? 00:16:10.219 --> 00:16:13.819 To them, an image was a lifeless object 00:16:13.819 --> 00:16:17.919 fashioned out of wood or metal 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:21.319 to represent some pagan deity. 00:16:23.219 --> 00:16:25.479 It was not the God itself, 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:28.159 but it was fashioned in the likeness 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:29.559 of the supposed God. 00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:33.439 And here Moses comes along in Genesis 1 00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:36.240 and he tells us that human beings themselves 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:40.279 are the image of the one true God, 00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:44.759 not lifeless blocks of wood or metal or stone. 00:16:45.959 --> 00:16:47.139 Living beings. 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:47.500 Why? 00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:50.679 Because God is a living being. 00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:53.840 They're not little gods, 00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:56.340 but they are created in such a way 00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:59.639 as to communicate the knowledge of God, 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:02.879 the one whom they image. 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:06.160 And if you'll notice this 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:08.259 in relation to the rest of Genesis 1, 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.980 this is unique. 00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:13.680 This is distinct from everything else 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.779 in God's creation. 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:18.139 Bruce Waltke said this, 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:19.319 I found this really helpful. 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:21.539 It is often said that the Bible 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:24.139 represents God anthropomorphically. 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:27.139 That is, we take human attributes 00:17:27.139 --> 00:17:28.779 and we assign them to God 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:31.180 in order that we might better understand God. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.019 Right? 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.879 You see that all over the place in the Bible. 00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:36.400 But he says more accurately, 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:41.280 we ought to say that a human being is theomorphic. 00:17:43.840 --> 00:17:50.780 Made like God so that God can communicate himself to people. 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:52.819 Now I find that immensely helpful. 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:57.539 It's not that I'm taking who I am 00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:59.220 and applying it to God 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:02.039 in order that I can understand who he is. 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:05.180 It's no, he's taking who he is 00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:07.019 and he's putting it in me 00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:08.779 so that I can understand him 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:11.539 and understand myself in relationship to him. 00:18:11.539 --> 00:18:16.279 In other words, there is a sense in which, 00:18:16.399 --> 00:18:17.720 just to simplify that thought, 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:21.259 there's a sense in which God fashioned us with ears 00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:24.279 to teach us that he hears 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:28.200 and with eyes to demonstrate that he sees, 00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:32.299 with hands to indicate his sovereign activity. 00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:35.779 But beyond the physical, 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:38.379 we see that our rationality 00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:41.099 and our affection and our volition, 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:43.480 they're all part of the image of God 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:45.579 that we bear to the world. 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:47.259 It's amazing. 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:52.299 And this image bearing reality we find here 00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:54.539 in verse 27 is not limited 00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:57.980 to a certain subset of human beings. 00:18:57.980 --> 00:19:01.019 It belongs to all human beings. 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:04.079 Note in verse 27, 00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:08.740 man at this point is not a particular individual. 00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:12.200 It is a reference to humanity as a whole. 00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:16.139 So God created mankind, we might say. 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:20.759 God created humanity in his own image. 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:25.019 Therefore, all human beings, 00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:26.759 without exception, 00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:30.639 bear the glorious image of God 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:33.580 and therefore possess a dignity 00:19:33.580 --> 00:19:36.160 that is unique and distinct 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:38.640 from the rest of the created world. 00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:41.700 That's who you are. 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:45.800 That's who we are. 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:50.840 And it's further attested in verse 27 00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:54.580 by the mention of both male and female 00:19:54.580 --> 00:19:56.740 being made in God's image. 00:19:56.860 --> 00:19:58.520 This isn't about a man. 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:00.180 This is about humanity 00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:04.299 so that our human dignity 00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:07.839 is not based on sex. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:11.279 It's not based on ethnicity. 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:14.079 It's not based on age 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:15.900 or stage of development 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:18.160 or intellectual capacity. 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:20.740 It is rooted in the very fact 00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:23.200 that we are all image bearers 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:24.920 of the almighty God 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:26.140 specially created 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:28.140 to communicate his likeness 00:20:28.860 --> 00:20:30.019 to the world 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:31.580 that he has created 00:20:31.580 --> 00:20:33.100 for us to enjoy. 00:20:36.360 --> 00:20:39.400 But it's impossible to consider this 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:43.120 apart from humanity's fall. 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:50.580 Sin didn't destroy God's image in us. 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:55.319 But it certainly marred it, 00:20:56.339 --> 00:20:57.259 distorted it, 00:20:57.799 --> 00:21:00.119 that righteous and good 00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:01.639 and holy part of God 00:21:01.639 --> 00:21:04.919 is not imaged in us any longer. 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:08.640 And yet, 00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:12.820 in God's personal love and care 00:21:12.820 --> 00:21:15.259 and concern for humanity, 00:21:16.300 --> 00:21:18.460 which David wrote about in Psalm 8, 00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:20.980 what is man that you are mindful of him 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:22.880 and the son of man that you care for him. 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:25.039 Of course, we see echoes of Christ in that, 00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:26.759 but he's also speaking about humanity. 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:32.759 This is revealed supremely 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:35.140 in the fact that God determined 00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:38.460 a way to restore the image 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:40.619 that we have marred. 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.839 He sent a second Adam, 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.759 Jesus Christ, 00:21:47.879 --> 00:21:49.200 the Word made flesh, 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:53.099 who was the true and perfect image bearer. 00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:55.699 We've read it every week 00:21:55.699 --> 00:21:56.899 in this study so far. 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.879 In Hebrews chapter 1, 00:21:59.199 --> 00:22:00.459 he is the radiance, 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.319 the exact imprint 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:04.500 of the nature of God. 00:22:04.659 --> 00:22:07.379 He is the true and ultimate image bearer. 00:22:07.719 --> 00:22:10.299 He is God in the flesh. 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:13.459 And he succeeded where Adam failed. 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:16.480 There was no sin in him. 00:22:17.679 --> 00:22:20.799 He perfectly fulfilled the divine law. 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:24.000 And then the great image bearer 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:26.799 became our great sin bearer. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.220 Dying on a cross 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:33.839 to satisfy God's wrath against sinners 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:37.159 who have distorted and marred the image. 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.319 And of course, 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:41.559 then God raised him from the dead 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:44.279 to prove the efficacy of his sacrifice, 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:47.480 to give us true hope of forgiveness 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:49.200 and eternal life with him. 00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:51.299 And here's what's so great about it. 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:51.880 Now, 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:53.960 those who repent 00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:55.220 and trust in Jesus 00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:56.620 are being remade. 00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:59.380 The New Testament tells us 00:22:59.380 --> 00:23:00.660 we're being remade 00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:02.080 into the, quote, 00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:04.860 image of his son. 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:07.259 Into the image of Jesus Christ, 00:23:07.360 --> 00:23:08.519 says Paul to the Corinthians. 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:10.920 But when one turns to the Lord, 00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:12.759 the veil is removed. 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:14.099 And we all, 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:15.539 with unveiled face, 00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:17.700 beholding the glory of the Lord, 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:19.759 are being transformed 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:21.720 into the same image. 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:23.359 The image of God. 00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.680 The image of Christ. 00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:26.619 From one degree of glory 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:27.900 to another. 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:32.599 We are fearfully and wonderfully made. 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:34.700 We have made a complete wreck 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.579 of that image 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:37.240 that God created us to bear. 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:38.660 And then in his love 00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.420 and his care, 00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:42.120 he himself takes on humanity, 00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:44.680 subjects himself to our suffering 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.420 and to our temptations 00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:49.480 in order that he might then bear our sins 00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:51.599 so that we could bear his image anew. 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:58.180 God uniquely made humanity in his image. 00:23:58.500 --> 00:24:01.420 He is gloriously redeeming humanity, 00:24:02.120 --> 00:24:03.380 remaking his people 00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:05.380 into the image of his son. 00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:07.720 You know why your life matters? 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:09.740 Your life matters 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:12.060 because Christ died for it. 00:24:15.280 --> 00:24:16.860 Your husband may not think 00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:17.820 that your life matters. 00:24:19.540 --> 00:24:21.000 Your wife may not think 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:21.780 your life matters. 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:23.340 Your parents may not think 00:24:23.340 --> 00:24:24.800 that your life matters that much. 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:26.360 The people you go to school with 00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:27.680 and sit in class with every week, 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.320 they may not think 00:24:28.320 --> 00:24:29.300 that your life matters. 00:24:29.540 --> 00:24:30.100 Let me tell you, 00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:30.940 your life matters. 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:32.180 It matters because 00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:33.960 you're bearing God's image. 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:35.660 It matters because Christ died 00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:37.400 to restore that image in you. 00:24:38.100 --> 00:24:39.140 You do matter. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:41.079 You're uniquely made. 00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:43.120 Second, 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:47.100 God uniquely blessed humanity. 00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:48.420 He uniquely made them 00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:51.980 and then he uniquely blessed them. 00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:54.160 We see this in 28 to 30. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.279 Would you just look at it with me? 00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.860 And God blessed them. 00:24:57.859 --> 00:25:00.019 And here's the blessing. 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.159 He said to them, 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:04.399 Be fruitful and multiply. 00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:07.479 Fill the earth and subdue it. 00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:10.939 Have dominion over the fish of the sea 00:25:10.939 --> 00:25:12.240 and over the birds of the heavens 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:13.939 and over every living thing 00:25:13.939 --> 00:25:15.079 that moves on the earth. 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.240 And God said, 00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:18.379 Behold, I have given you 00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:19.899 every plant yielding seed 00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:22.099 that is on the face of all the earth 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:25.119 and every tree with seed in its fruit. 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:27.079 You shall have them for food. 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:29.740 To every beast of the earth 00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:30.960 and to every bird of the heavens 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:32.939 and to everything that creeps on the earth, 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:34.699 everything that has the breath of life, 00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:37.139 I've given every green plant for food. 00:25:37.939 --> 00:25:38.659 And it was so. 00:25:40.199 --> 00:25:44.179 This exalted nature of the creation of humanity 00:25:44.179 --> 00:25:45.079 is now furthered. 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:47.019 It begins with the image, 00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:49.059 but then flowing out of that image 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:52.559 comes a unique blessing that God pronounces. 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:56.599 We might think of it this way. 00:25:56.679 --> 00:25:58.259 In verses 26 and 27, 00:25:58.259 --> 00:26:01.039 we have the form of humanity. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:03.519 In 28 to 30, we have the function, 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:05.399 at least in seed form. 00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.659 The function. 00:26:07.659 --> 00:26:09.039 I think there's three components here. 00:26:09.139 --> 00:26:10.960 The first would be procreation. 00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.480 Procreation. 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:14.519 Be fruitful and multiply 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:16.579 and fill the earth, 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:18.139 he says. 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:22.680 Of course, procreation is not itself unique, 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:25.079 but it does take on a greater weight 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:27.480 and significance with human beings, doesn't it? 00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:31.579 We've already seen in verse 27 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:33.400 that human sexuality 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:36.019 in which God made humanity 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:39.160 in a sexual binary of male and female 00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:42.440 is part and parcel of bearing his image. 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.460 It's critical. 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:45.920 It's crucial to that image-bearing quality 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:47.220 and essence that we have. 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.740 It's also essential 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:52.799 to fulfill God's mandate 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:55.720 to be fruitful and multiply 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:57.180 and fill the earth. 00:26:58.440 --> 00:27:00.200 Flowing out of the image 00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:01.960 is the blessing 00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:03.960 and the first part of the blessing 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:06.720 is procreation. 00:27:07.620 --> 00:27:09.299 Writes Kenneth Matthews, 00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:12.059 there is no place in God's good order 00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:14.460 for unisexuality 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:16.799 or for any diminishing 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:19.220 or confusion of sexual identity. 00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:23.140 Human sexuality in Genesis 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:25.660 is a blessed function. 00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:27.220 This is covenant blessing. 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:29.099 This is a blessed function 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:31.220 in the creative purposes of God 00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.920 and it is essential 00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:35.960 for carrying out God's mandate 00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:37.259 for humanity. 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:40.079 There's so much we could say here. 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:41.500 Let's at least acknowledge 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:43.039 that if this is true 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:45.460 and we believe that it is, 00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:48.839 your biological sex 00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:50.120 is not simply something 00:27:50.120 --> 00:27:51.900 that you can toss out or ignore. 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:55.680 Your embodiment matters. 00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:59.140 It matters in bearing the image of God. 00:27:59.580 --> 00:28:01.740 It matters in fulfilling the blessing 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:03.200 and the purpose and the function 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:05.240 for which God has created you. 00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:08.220 And this unique blessing 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:10.539 of procreation for human beings at least 00:28:10.539 --> 00:28:13.420 is that we are privileged 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:15.420 to multiply and fill the earth 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:18.160 with other image bearers. 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:23.640 that the whole earth is full of glory. 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:25.460 We heard that in the prayer of confession 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:27.440 last Sunday in Isaiah chapter 6. 00:28:27.600 --> 00:28:29.360 The heavenly host is singing, 00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:31.500 the whole earth is full of the glory of the Lord. 00:28:31.580 --> 00:28:34.140 That takes on a whole new level 00:28:34.140 --> 00:28:36.340 of significance and meaning 00:28:36.340 --> 00:28:37.640 when you consider that 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:39.320 in light of the filling of the earth 00:28:39.320 --> 00:28:40.680 with image bearers. 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:44.400 God wasn't content for one image. 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:46.820 He wants a world full of images 00:28:46.820 --> 00:28:48.440 that communicate His glory. 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:51.400 And we get to participate in that. 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:54.920 But then there's also purpose. 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.000 There's procreation. 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:58.360 There's purpose here as well. 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:04.440 These image bearers are to subdue creation. 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:08.420 They're to have dominion over it. 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:13.100 We're to care for the created world 00:29:13.100 --> 00:29:14.880 as God's unique image bearers. 00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:16.820 Many will use this as an illustration 00:29:16.820 --> 00:29:18.640 of perhaps a vice regency. 00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:21.240 We are to care for His created world 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.299 as His representative 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:26.100 but also as His designated rulers of it. 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:29.120 Which is incredible. 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:31.700 Of course, this is going to be expounded upon 00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:32.360 in chapter 2. 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:33.720 We'll say more about it there. 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:35.440 But it's at least worth considering here 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:37.420 the mandate given to humanity 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:40.640 to rule and to subdue and to care. 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:46.140 God blesses us to use the earth's resources. 00:29:46.320 --> 00:29:47.660 There can be no question about that. 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.799 That's in the next verse. 00:29:50.140 --> 00:29:52.160 But He also intends for us 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:53.900 to protect it. 00:29:54.820 --> 00:29:55.940 To keep it. 00:29:56.840 --> 00:29:58.299 And to care for it. 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:02.539 And Christians ought to understand 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:04.019 the Bible well enough to know 00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:07.700 that we should care about the world 00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:09.360 God has created for us to enjoy. 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:13.379 Third, there's provision. 00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:16.119 It's part of the blessing, right? 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:18.240 There's blessing flowing out of the image. 00:30:18.959 --> 00:30:20.740 Part of the blessing is procreation. 00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:22.219 Perhaps that's the supreme one. 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:24.559 And then there's function, purpose, 00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:26.779 care for the created world, subdue it. 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:28.899 Then there's provision. 00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:34.099 Everything we need for human flourishing is here. 00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:38.079 God gives the plant yielding seed, 00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:41.940 the trees that have seed in their fruit. 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.619 And He says, 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:44.240 it's yours. 00:30:45.819 --> 00:30:46.460 Enjoy. 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.740 Bon appetit. 00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:53.700 This, of course, we learned last week 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:55.400 is corresponding to day three. 00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:59.019 God gives mankind the produce of the earth for food. 00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:02.380 Now, this doesn't necessarily mean 00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:05.859 that all creatures were vegetarians before the fall. 00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:07.819 I don't actually think that's what is intended 00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:09.120 for us to understand here. 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:11.719 Neither does it mean 00:31:11.719 --> 00:31:15.039 that every single plant was designed to be eaten. 00:31:15.479 --> 00:31:16.500 Of course, we know that too. 00:31:17.639 --> 00:31:18.779 So then what's the point? 00:31:19.919 --> 00:31:22.899 I think the point is that God has created a world 00:31:22.899 --> 00:31:25.239 in which everything that is necessary 00:31:25.239 --> 00:31:27.599 for human life has been provided. 00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:30.480 And in a very real sense, 00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:34.219 God has taken this beautiful, glorious world 00:31:34.219 --> 00:31:37.240 and He has given it to man as a gift. 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:39.119 And He has said, 00:31:39.639 --> 00:31:42.279 here, it's yours. 00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.519 Enjoy it. 00:31:45.719 --> 00:31:46.659 Care for it. 00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:49.599 It's part of the blessing. 00:31:52.459 --> 00:31:55.859 Third, God not only uniquely made humanity, 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:57.459 He not only uniquely blessed it, 00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:59.699 God uniquely honored it. 00:32:00.719 --> 00:32:01.319 Verse 31. 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:05.799 And God saw everything that He had made 00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:10.480 and behold, it was very good. 00:32:12.199 --> 00:32:13.980 There was evening and there was morning, 00:32:14.699 --> 00:32:15.359 the sixth day. 00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:19.599 Now, we're accustomed to this language already, aren't we? 00:32:20.599 --> 00:32:22.339 Throughout the creation days, 00:32:22.459 --> 00:32:24.099 God provides His own evaluation 00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:26.099 of the things created. 00:32:26.099 --> 00:32:28.839 on each day except for day two. 00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:34.299 Each time we're told that God saw that it was good, 00:32:34.439 --> 00:32:37.159 meaning that what God made 00:32:37.159 --> 00:32:38.359 and the way that He made it 00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:40.219 was exactly how it should be. 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:44.500 And then we get to His evaluation 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:45.980 at the end of day six 00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:47.779 and there's a slight variation. 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:49.240 Did you notice the variation? 00:32:49.940 --> 00:32:51.880 And God saw in everything that He was made 00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:54.600 and behold, it was very good. 00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:55.900 Very good. 00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:57.220 That doesn't mean that the rest of it 00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:58.200 wasn't very good. 00:32:58.200 --> 00:33:01.539 But there's a uniqueness to the evaluation 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.400 at this point. 00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:07.100 Again, the language is intensified here. 00:33:08.220 --> 00:33:09.799 And the difference in this case 00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:12.140 is not merely that creation is completed. 00:33:12.539 --> 00:33:14.360 Of course, this is a reference to everything. 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:15.059 He says it. 00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:16.600 Everything that He created 00:33:16.600 --> 00:33:18.620 and He pronounces it very good. 00:33:18.619 --> 00:33:21.039 But it's not just the completion of creation. 00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:23.039 It's that it was completed and crowned 00:33:23.659 --> 00:33:25.619 with God's own image bearers. 00:33:26.659 --> 00:33:28.419 That's why it's very good. 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:32.419 God's evaluation of the created world 00:33:32.419 --> 00:33:34.099 in which there is human life 00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:35.739 to reflect His glory 00:33:35.739 --> 00:33:38.199 was exalted and honored in a way 00:33:38.199 --> 00:33:39.739 that it would not be 00:33:39.739 --> 00:33:42.159 without the presence of His image. 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:47.120 For creation to be very good, 00:33:47.259 --> 00:33:49.640 for it to be complete and perfect, 00:33:49.940 --> 00:33:51.519 it needs the image. 00:33:52.120 --> 00:33:53.940 It needs the image bearers. 00:33:54.180 --> 00:33:55.860 And all of that is to say 00:33:55.860 --> 00:33:57.900 that God's design for human life 00:33:57.900 --> 00:34:00.060 and dignity with which He creates 00:34:00.060 --> 00:34:01.440 every human being 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:03.120 is to be honored 00:34:03.120 --> 00:34:05.220 and celebrated 00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:07.220 by His image bearers. 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:10.039 We're to see His design 00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:11.420 not only of the world, 00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:13.200 but of human life 00:34:13.200 --> 00:34:14.720 as good 00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:16.619 and right 00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:20.240 and exactly as it should be. 00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:23.500 And how do we do that? 00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:25.380 How do we celebrate that 00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:26.059 and honor that? 00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:27.740 All kinds of ways. 00:34:29.720 --> 00:34:31.800 We do it by standing against 00:34:31.800 --> 00:34:33.220 all kinds of evils 00:34:33.220 --> 00:34:36.039 that diminish the dignity 00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:38.360 inerrant in bearing God's image. 00:34:38.360 --> 00:34:38.460 church. 00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:42.480 This is why we walk 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:44.360 on October 3rd 00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:46.860 with the Community Pregnancy Center 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:47.500 of Lake Norman. 00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.980 Because we believe, 00:34:51.140 --> 00:34:51.960 Genesis 1, 00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:53.760 in that God's design 00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:54.700 for His image bearers 00:34:54.700 --> 00:34:55.579 is very good 00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:57.019 and should be celebrated 00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:57.620 and honored, 00:34:57.740 --> 00:34:58.340 not destroyed. 00:34:58.340 --> 00:35:04.079 We stand against racism 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:07.600 and bigotry 00:35:07.600 --> 00:35:10.579 and any distortions 00:35:10.579 --> 00:35:11.860 of human sexuality. 00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:14.079 We honor God's design. 00:35:14.240 --> 00:35:15.920 We celebrate the image 00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:17.240 by honoring it 00:35:17.240 --> 00:35:19.079 the way that God intended it. 00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:23.480 We do it by caring 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:24.079 for those 00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:25.299 who suffer. 00:35:27.699 --> 00:35:28.980 Advocating for those 00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:30.440 who are abused 00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:31.900 and abandoned 00:35:31.900 --> 00:35:33.900 and forgotten. 00:35:34.319 --> 00:35:35.159 It's one of the reasons 00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:36.719 I love so much 00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:38.159 what some of you do 00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:39.279 with your life. 00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:40.880 We have Kristen Slaughter 00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:41.619 on one hand 00:35:41.619 --> 00:35:43.199 who every day 00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:44.099 of her life 00:35:44.099 --> 00:35:46.279 sees some of the worst 00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:47.060 of humanity 00:35:47.060 --> 00:35:49.220 in trying to help kids 00:35:49.220 --> 00:35:49.960 find homes 00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:51.060 that people 00:35:51.060 --> 00:35:51.860 that will love them 00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:53.120 and actually take care of them. 00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:54.519 Why does she do that? 00:35:55.300 --> 00:35:56.800 Because she understands 00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:58.460 the image bearer significance 00:35:58.460 --> 00:35:59.480 of Genesis 1. 00:36:00.700 --> 00:36:02.120 And on the whole other 00:36:02.120 --> 00:36:03.000 extreme of that 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:03.580 we see 00:36:03.580 --> 00:36:05.060 Corey and Megan 00:36:05.060 --> 00:36:05.620 and how now 00:36:05.620 --> 00:36:06.760 they have given their lives 00:36:06.760 --> 00:36:07.620 to helping people 00:36:07.620 --> 00:36:09.519 with end of life care. 00:36:09.820 --> 00:36:09.960 Now, 00:36:10.060 --> 00:36:11.260 why do they do that? 00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:13.220 Because they understand 00:36:13.220 --> 00:36:14.180 Genesis 1. 00:36:15.120 --> 00:36:15.860 That's why. 00:36:16.280 --> 00:36:19.180 And all along that 00:36:19.180 --> 00:36:20.400 is a spectrum of you 00:36:20.400 --> 00:36:21.940 that are giving your lives 00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:23.060 and what you do for work 00:36:23.060 --> 00:36:23.620 and what you do 00:36:23.620 --> 00:36:24.600 outside of work 00:36:24.600 --> 00:36:26.100 because you recognize 00:36:26.100 --> 00:36:26.800 the image. 00:36:26.900 --> 00:36:27.600 You're honoring it. 00:36:27.660 --> 00:36:29.000 You're celebrating it. 00:36:30.140 --> 00:36:31.140 As you should. 00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:33.320 It's to seek 00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:34.280 the good of all people. 00:36:34.600 --> 00:36:35.500 Even those 00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:36.680 who reject our faith 00:36:36.680 --> 00:36:37.519 and would outright 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:39.120 deny the very dignity 00:36:39.120 --> 00:36:39.880 of human life 00:36:39.880 --> 00:36:40.660 that we proclaim. 00:36:42.240 --> 00:36:43.240 They still bear 00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:44.060 the image of God. 00:36:44.059 --> 00:36:46.960 So we stand 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:48.360 with those 00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:48.980 who would seek 00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:50.159 for reform 00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:51.380 to criminal justice. 00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:53.559 Those who would want 00:36:53.559 --> 00:36:54.239 to stand 00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:55.659 for those rights 00:36:55.659 --> 00:36:56.599 of people 00:36:56.599 --> 00:36:57.559 that relate to 00:36:57.559 --> 00:36:58.960 them being human. 00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:01.739 We celebrate 00:37:01.739 --> 00:37:03.639 bearing God's image 00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:04.579 by embracing 00:37:04.579 --> 00:37:05.539 the function 00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:06.960 that he has blessed 00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:07.759 us to serve. 00:37:08.460 --> 00:37:09.079 Namely, 00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:11.219 the pursuit 00:37:11.219 --> 00:37:13.319 of procreation 00:37:13.319 --> 00:37:15.039 honorably 00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:16.099 in the way 00:37:16.099 --> 00:37:16.719 God intended. 00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:18.619 One man 00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:19.940 and one woman 00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:20.980 in the covenant 00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:21.579 of marriage. 00:37:22.039 --> 00:37:22.639 Pursue that. 00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:24.259 We honor 00:37:24.259 --> 00:37:24.699 God's 00:37:24.699 --> 00:37:26.319 blessing that way 00:37:26.319 --> 00:37:27.440 by a commitment 00:37:27.440 --> 00:37:28.340 to make use 00:37:28.340 --> 00:37:29.579 of the earth's resources 00:37:29.579 --> 00:37:30.199 while not 00:37:30.199 --> 00:37:31.400 abusing it. 00:37:31.799 --> 00:37:32.639 By living 00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.519 with gratitude 00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:34.500 to God 00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:35.659 for the natural ways 00:37:35.659 --> 00:37:36.500 he has provided 00:37:36.500 --> 00:37:37.460 for human life 00:37:37.460 --> 00:37:38.400 to flourish. 00:37:38.659 --> 00:37:39.340 We honor 00:37:39.340 --> 00:37:40.480 God's design 00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:40.900 that way. 00:37:41.239 --> 00:37:41.800 The bottom line 00:37:41.800 --> 00:37:42.300 is this. 00:37:43.519 --> 00:37:44.820 We ought to celebrate 00:37:44.820 --> 00:37:46.059 what God celebrates 00:37:46.059 --> 00:37:47.559 about humanity 00:37:47.559 --> 00:37:50.920 because we're made 00:37:50.920 --> 00:37:52.099 in his image. 00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:55.059 Now scientific 00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:55.980 investigation 00:37:55.980 --> 00:37:56.719 and observation 00:37:56.719 --> 00:37:57.539 can do a lot 00:37:57.539 --> 00:37:58.219 of things for us. 00:37:58.260 --> 00:37:58.860 A lot of really 00:37:58.860 --> 00:37:59.760 helpful things. 00:38:00.920 --> 00:38:01.800 We ought not 00:38:01.800 --> 00:38:02.320 to believe 00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:02.940 that it can do 00:38:02.940 --> 00:38:03.360 everything 00:38:03.360 --> 00:38:04.300 because of course 00:38:04.300 --> 00:38:05.340 it can't. 00:38:05.700 --> 00:38:06.539 It can't do everything. 00:38:09.360 --> 00:38:10.700 It cannot give 00:38:10.700 --> 00:38:12.120 empirical evidence 00:38:12.120 --> 00:38:13.220 of how the universe 00:38:13.220 --> 00:38:14.740 came into existence. 00:38:15.120 --> 00:38:16.640 It can hypothesize. 00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:17.720 It can attempt 00:38:17.720 --> 00:38:18.200 to test. 00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:19.039 It's never going 00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:19.360 to be able 00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:20.060 to give empirical 00:38:20.060 --> 00:38:20.800 evidence of it. 00:38:21.720 --> 00:38:22.160 In other words 00:38:22.160 --> 00:38:22.820 Stephen Hawking 00:38:22.820 --> 00:38:23.460 was never able 00:38:23.460 --> 00:38:24.019 to produce 00:38:24.019 --> 00:38:25.420 an old videotape 00:38:25.420 --> 00:38:26.740 stick it in the VCR 00:38:26.740 --> 00:38:27.560 and say look 00:38:27.560 --> 00:38:28.720 here's where God 00:38:28.720 --> 00:38:29.500 created everything 00:38:29.500 --> 00:38:30.960 or in his world view 00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:31.600 here's where 00:38:31.600 --> 00:38:32.820 the bang 00:38:32.820 --> 00:38:33.580 took place 00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:34.159 in relationship 00:38:34.159 --> 00:38:34.900 to the universe 00:38:34.900 --> 00:38:35.920 so that all things 00:38:35.920 --> 00:38:36.079 came. 00:38:36.119 --> 00:38:37.259 You just can't 00:38:37.259 --> 00:38:38.039 do that. 00:38:38.179 --> 00:38:38.840 Science can't 00:38:38.840 --> 00:38:39.539 produce that. 00:38:40.599 --> 00:38:41.500 The question 00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:42.500 about God's existence 00:38:42.500 --> 00:38:43.639 and the origins 00:38:43.639 --> 00:38:44.279 of the universe 00:38:44.279 --> 00:38:45.139 and the relative 00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:46.340 significance 00:38:46.340 --> 00:38:47.440 or insignificance 00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:48.059 of human life 00:38:48.059 --> 00:38:48.539 then becomes 00:38:48.539 --> 00:38:49.099 a matter of 00:38:49.099 --> 00:38:50.279 probabilities right? 00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:50.920 We have to 00:38:50.920 --> 00:38:51.719 rationalize 00:38:51.719 --> 00:38:52.199 and reason 00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:52.940 through the evidence 00:38:52.940 --> 00:38:53.980 that we do have 00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:55.719 and what we find 00:38:55.719 --> 00:38:56.420 is that there is 00:38:56.420 --> 00:38:57.659 an incredible amount 00:38:57.659 --> 00:38:59.579 of rational evidence 00:38:59.579 --> 00:39:00.599 that all point 00:39:00.599 --> 00:39:01.860 to a divine 00:39:01.860 --> 00:39:02.639 designer 00:39:02.639 --> 00:39:05.239 but of all 00:39:05.239 --> 00:39:05.839 the evidence 00:39:05.839 --> 00:39:06.659 we have 00:39:06.659 --> 00:39:08.539 the greatest 00:39:08.539 --> 00:39:09.279 evidence 00:39:09.279 --> 00:39:11.299 is humanity 00:39:11.299 --> 00:39:12.019 itself. 00:39:14.940 --> 00:39:16.139 We may not 00:39:16.139 --> 00:39:16.679 have 00:39:16.679 --> 00:39:17.960 a video 00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:18.599 shot 00:39:18.599 --> 00:39:19.920 of God's 00:39:19.920 --> 00:39:20.379 existence 00:39:20.379 --> 00:39:22.339 but we do 00:39:22.339 --> 00:39:23.079 have an image. 00:39:24.299 --> 00:39:25.519 We have a whole 00:39:25.519 --> 00:39:26.579 world full of them 00:39:26.579 --> 00:39:29.000 so that written 00:39:29.000 --> 00:39:30.019 into our very 00:39:30.019 --> 00:39:30.559 existence 00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:30.659 existence 00:39:30.659 --> 00:39:31.480 is the knowledge 00:39:31.480 --> 00:39:32.340 of the creator 00:39:32.340 --> 00:39:32.840 God 00:39:32.840 --> 00:39:34.320 whose image 00:39:34.320 --> 00:39:34.940 we bear 00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:37.279 and this image 00:39:37.279 --> 00:39:38.719 is to be honored 00:39:38.719 --> 00:39:40.579 and celebrated 00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:41.420 in all people 00:39:41.420 --> 00:39:43.980 but then for those 00:39:43.980 --> 00:39:44.679 of us who are 00:39:44.679 --> 00:39:45.460 in Christ 00:39:45.460 --> 00:39:47.239 there's an even 00:39:47.239 --> 00:39:48.340 more profound 00:39:48.340 --> 00:39:48.940 way 00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:50.039 that we can 00:39:50.039 --> 00:39:51.019 understand this 00:39:51.019 --> 00:39:51.679 because we're 00:39:51.679 --> 00:39:52.960 reflecting the glory 00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:54.619 of Jesus Christ 00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:55.960 to the world 00:39:55.960 --> 00:39:57.720 in the way 00:39:57.720 --> 00:39:58.220 that he is 00:39:58.220 --> 00:39:59.199 remaking us 00:39:59.199 --> 00:40:00.079 as his people 00:40:00.079 --> 00:40:01.860 as his church 00:40:01.860 --> 00:40:04.099 and this 00:40:04.099 --> 00:40:04.820 image bearing 00:40:04.820 --> 00:40:05.480 privilege 00:40:05.480 --> 00:40:07.179 ought also to be 00:40:07.179 --> 00:40:08.260 celebrated and honored 00:40:08.260 --> 00:40:10.099 certainly by his people 00:40:10.099 --> 00:40:11.639 and all of those 00:40:11.639 --> 00:40:12.260 who follow after 00:40:12.260 --> 00:40:12.680 Christ