A reading from Psalms 8, page 546.
What is mankind that you are mindful of them?
Human beings that you care for them.
You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands.
You put everything under their feet,
all flocks and herds and the animals of the wild,
the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name
in all the earth.
Amen.
That's great.
Thank you for reading for us, Elle.
Do turn in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 1,
which we're going to refer to Psalm 8 briefly,
but do turn to Genesis 1.
It's right at the beginning of your Bibles.
Like I said with the children,
we've been looking over these summer weeks
at the doctrine of creation.
So not so much working through Genesis 1 to 3,
verse by verse,
but looking at the themes of creation,
what does it mean that God made the world?
So we looked at the God who made the world
and we thought about that together.
What is God like?
We then looked at the world that God made.
What kind of world did God make?
We realized that he made the world to be with us.
And this week we're thinking about humanity,
the people that God made.
And next week we're going to be looking at the fall,
what went wrong in the world that God made.
So let me pray and ask for the Lord's help
as we come to his word.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father,
it would be very easy for us
just to think of this as a human exercise
for me trying to pass information from my brains
into the brains of those people in front of me.
But Lord, that's not what's going on here.
These are your words.
And we, all of us,
me and everyone else,
are sitting to listen to you.
We long, Lord,
not just to learn new ideas,
but to hear your voice.
We long to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
We long to live lives of purpose and meaning
and significance for his praise and his glory.
So be with us and help us, we ask in Jesus' name.
Amen. Amen.
Now, I think probably one of the most important
Christian books of the last 10 years
was a book called Love Thy Body.
Nancy Peercy, who's the author,
points out in the book that
most people in the West
now think very differently
to their grandparents
or certainly their great-grandparents
about issues such as abortion
or euthanasia
or marriage
or gender
or sex and sexuality.
Now, that's not that surprising,
isn't it?
We all know that.
In fact,
if the most important Christian book
of the last 10 years
just told you that,
then any of us in this room
could have written it,
couldn't we?
But we didn't.
And Nancy Peercy is brighter than all of us.
Probably most of us all put together as well.
But actually,
the thing that comes through from that book,
which is really fascinating,
is that the reason behind those changes,
the reason that you and I think differently
or most people around us
will think differently
to their grandparents on these issues,
is because of one single change
that's behind them all,
a fundamental shift in our thinking.
In other words,
new ideas about marriage,
gender, sex, abortion,
and euthanasia are,
she says,
symptoms of a deeper change,
a deeper shift in thinking.
And Peercy argues
that it's a shift
in what we think it means
to be human.
Now, forgive me
for just going into the detail
of this this morning,
but it is important for us.
We, all of us,
whether you call yourself
a Christian or not this morning,
all of us have lived
and are living
through a period
of massive cultural change.
And it is largely driven
by this shift in thinking
about what it means
to be human.
It means for most people now,
being human is understood
by splitting apart
two things
which have traditionally
been held together,
are certainly held together
in Christian theology.
The West today tells us
that our physical bodies
and our minds
are separate from one another
and that actually
our minds
and our feelings
and our perceptions
are primary
and our bodies
are secondary.
And that mind first,
body later shift
means that
if you want to know
what your life is for,
what is the purpose
of your existence,
you look not at your body
but you look to your mind.
What are your feelings?
How do you think?
Think about it like this with me
and this is Piercy's illustration,
not mine,
so if you don't like it
you can pick it up with her.
But imagine a car and a driver.
The car is the means
of getting from A to B
but the rule and the decision
and the purpose
come from the driver of the car.
And in modern thinking now,
your body is just a car
that your mind is driving.
The body is sort of a container
for the real you.
It is not the real you.
And sometimes,
in contemporary thought at least,
the car is an unreliable one.
It needs a few modifications
to make it suit
the driver's preferences.
Now think about how that works.
If your mind is you
and your body is just the container,
then it means, doesn't it,
that if somebody has
a mind that is damaged
but a body that is functional,
maybe because of age
or dementia or disability
or perhaps because
they're an unborn child
who is not yet capable
of articulating thoughts
and feelings,
in contemporary speak
you are less
than someone who is
of sound mind.
And so what can you do?
Well, you are able,
under certain circumstances,
to dispose of those
with bodies
without functioning minds,
which of course is abortion
and euthanasia.
Nancy Pearcey gives other examples.
She gives the example
of sexuality.
She says,
you know,
think about when
the sexual desires
of your mind
don't match up
with the sexual makeup
of your body.
Which one wins?
Your body
or your mind?
Now for centuries
it's been our bodies
but now of course
it's our minds
and that's why marriage
has been redefined.
Or what about
if you find yourself
drawn to the particular
cultural stereotypes
that go along with a gender
that doesn't match your body?
Do you follow your mind
or do you follow your body?
Well, the shift in thinking
says the mind should win.
The mind is more important
than the body.
Your mind is telling the truth,
your body is lying
and needs to be corrected
or rejected
or just ignored.
Now I realise
the danger of starting here
is that this is all
very theoretical, isn't it?
This is all in the ideas
of sort of philosophy
and worldview.
But we're not really
in that realm, are we?
This shift in how we think
about what it means
to be human
has lots of deeply
personal effects on us.
I don't think there's
anybody in this room
who remains unaffected
by this shift in thinking.
It's impacted
not only people
that we love
but it's also become
confusing for ourselves.
You know,
what are we supposed
to say to children
when they come home
from school telling us
that they feel like
they're in the wrong body?
That's how they've been told
to understand themselves.
Or what do we do
when family members
start putting in place
plans for assisted suicide
in the face of sickness?
What do we do
when feelings and desires
that we have personally,
that our grandparents
would have told us
to resist,
we're now told
that we must act on them
for our own good?
It's a confusing
and painful world
to live in.
And so as we come
to Genesis 1 and 2
this morning
and we're going
to think about
what it means
to be human
in God's definition,
we are in the kind
of world of ideas
and theories
but we are also
boots on the ground
in real life.
I want to show you
from Genesis 1 to 3
that the definition
of being human
from here
gives you the possibility
of a richer,
deeper,
more fulfilling life
than anything
the world has to offer.
In fact,
I think I'd go
as far as to say
that it is impossible
for any of us
in this room
to flourish as people
without understanding
God's definition
of what it means
to be human
from Genesis 1 and 2.
So let's get into this.
Let me start off
with a definition
of being human
from Genesis 1 and 2
and then I'm going
to break it down
for you.
This I think
is a fair summary
of what we will find
in these chapters
that a human being
is both body
and spirit,
either male
or female
and always made
in the image
of God.
We're going to just
look at those
three main parts
and then I'm going
to think about
some applications
for us.
The first one
is body and spirit.
A human being
is both body
and spirit.
Now you'll know
if you were with us
last week
that Genesis 1
and Genesis 2
both contain
the creation account
with different
camera angles on it
and we are told
in chapter 2
verse 7
that the Lord God
formed a man
from the dust
of the ground
and breathed
into his nostrils
the breath of life
and the man
became a living
being.
Here we see
the two interwoven
components
of a person.
Flesh
from the dust
and life
from the breath
of God.
Body
and spirit.
And it's the
combination
of those things
together
which make us
a living being.
It's worth noting
that the word
for living beings
is the same
as the word
for living creature
in chapter 1
verse 20
and 21
and 24
is the word
translated
the breath of life
in chapter 1
verse 30.
So in the first sense
the idea here
is that to be human
is to possess
a living
animated
thinking
sensing
perceiving
flesh
like an animal.
But there is also
a unique dignity
that means that
human beings
are distinct
from the other
living beings.
The breath of God
is breathed in
personally
in verse 7
through the nose.
It seems to be
an indication
of the proximity
of God.
His breath
was focused.
It's not a
gust of wind
that just happens
to pass by.
And then again
in the creation
of woman
from the side
of man
God
fashions her
from the rib
and brings her
to the man.
An idea
which gets
expanded on
of humanity
being made
in the image
of God
which we're
going to consider
in a moment.
But for now
just see that
God didn't
just make minds
and then
put them
into bodies
but God
made us
bodies and minds
living beings
people of both
body and spirit.
The body
is the person.
It's not so much
a car
and a driver.
I was trying to think
of what's an alternative
illustration to a car
and a driver.
I couldn't really think
of one but here you go.
It's more like a
flying carpet
where body and spirit
are the interwoven
fabric of the carpet.
Right?
They are
they are intimately
involved with one
another.
A mind cannot be
trapped in the wrong
body because the
body and the mind
are so close together
that it's not possible.
Of course it's true
isn't it?
In a post-fall world
and we'll think about
this next week
that it is possible
for our spirits
to be separated
from our bodies
our souls
to live separate
from our bodies
in the glories
of heaven
as we wait
for the return
of Christ.
But the Christian hope
is not a bodiless
existence floating
around in the sky
the Christian hope
is the hope
of the resurrection
of the body
the physical return
of Jesus Christ
to this earth
in his resurrection
body
to raise our bodies
that they may be
reunited
with our souls
to live with him
in a physical universe.
But it's worth
pondering this
isn't it?
The Bible
is unashamed
of your body
not because the Bible
is immodest
God covers the
nakedness of his people
in Genesis 3
we'll find next week
but all the same
God does not think
that your body
is embarrassing
or dirty
or to be ignored.
Genesis 1 and 2
contradicts the idea
that how you are made
has nothing to say
about what your life
is for.
God has designed
your body
and has given it
to you
to teach you
what your life
is for.
You are mind
and body
body and soul
and when God
comes to save
he comes
in the person
of the son
who clothes himself
in flesh
like ours
not just
so that he can die
although of course
that is central
to his mission
dying for sin
and for salvation
that he might
forgive us
for our sins
but also
for the purpose
of resurrection
too
a physical presence
that God
might be with us
in body.
So we are made
body and spirit
secondly
we are male
and female
look back at chapter 1
verse 27
so God created
mankind in his own
image
in the image of God
he created them
male and female
he created them
again this is linked
to what it means
to be made
in the image of God
and we are coming
to that in a moment
but let's notice
this distinction
between men and women
that is woven
into creation
from the beginning
here in chapter 1
as humanity
is made in the same time
in chapter 1
and then in chapter 2
made independently
with the woman
being fashioned
by God
from the rib
of man
Matthew Henry
the commentator
famously pointed out
300 years ago
that woman
was made not
from the foot
of man
to be downtrodden
nor from the head
to rule over him
but from the side
to walk alongside him
whether that's the meaning
of the rib
is debatable
but the point is
that the distinction
between the sexes
is not to do
with cultural stereotypes
there are no
cultural stereotypes
in Genesis 1 and 2
right
no one's written
a piece of music
yet
no one has built
a building
no one has done
any art
yet there is no
cultural stereotypes
football was not
invented yet
ballet had not
been done yet
okay so there's no
cultural stereotypes
with which God
makes man and woman
rather he makes
them male and female
the distinction
is a distinction
given by God
so that man and woman
are by definitions
given to them
by him
sorry that was a
completely confusing
sentence
the definition
of man and woman
was given to them
by God
which are biologically
present in every cell
of their bodies
you know so that
despite the huge
similarity between us
as men and women
the difference is
literally watermarked
in us
all the way through us
again this is really
precious the more
you think about it
you know the shift
that we've experienced
in contemporary culture
this splitting apart
of the body and the mind
that we were thinking
about
means that the world
asks our children
don't they
are you a boy or a girl
how do you feel
what do you think
what are you more
drawn to
and then they're
medicated to make
their bodies conform
to the decision
that their immature
mind has made
and we call that
freedom
but it's actually
oppression
and the bible
comes along with
true freedom
doesn't it
and says listen
God made you
he made you
and he loves you
he's made you
body and spirit
male or female
now go and explore
how you can bring
glory to him
and that is
wonderfully liberating
it's wonderfully
precious
as we're made
with that kind
of dignity
so humanity
is made
body and spirit
we're made
male or female
next we are made
in the image
of God
now we could
spend ages on this
because really
if you want a headline
for what the bible
says about it
means what it means
to be human
you could just say
it means we are
made in the image
of God
a human being
is the image
of God
so look back
at chapter 1
verse 26
then God said
let us make
mankind
in our image
in our likeness
so that they may
rule over the fish
of the sea
and the birds
in the sky
over the livestock
and over all
the wild animals
and over all
the creatures
that move along
the ground
so God created
mankind
in his own
image
in the image
of God
he created them
male and female
he created them
God blessed them
and said to them
be fruitful
and increase in number
fill the earth
and subdue it
rule over the fish
in the sea
and the birds
in the sky
and over every
living creature
that moves
in the ground
now notice here
that being in the image
of God
is a unique dignity
afforded to humanity
alone
so that all creation
reflects the glory
of the one who made it
but humanity
is uniquely
made in the image
of God
this is really important
it is not so much
that humanity
carry the image
of God
people sometimes
use the word
that we are image
bearers
but it's more than that
we are ourselves
the image of God
think about it like this
it's not like
someone says to you
what does God look like
you pull out a picture
in your pocket
and say you know
this is what God
looks like
you wouldn't do that
with God
because you can't
take a picture
of God
maybe your father
what does your father
look like
and you pull a picture
out your pocket
it's not that
you're not carrying
an image of God
you are the image
of God
what does your father
look like
he looks like me
you can see him
in me
and that's what's
going on here
uniquely humanity
carry in themselves
the image of God
it seems doesn't it
in the context
that this image
is related to the purpose
that humanity
are given
according to verse 26
it's so that they might
rule they are made
to be ambassadors
in God's world
stewarding and caring
for what he has made
they're to continue
this gardening work
that was started
by God in chapter 2
verses 5 and 6
this is what
El read for us
in Psalm 6
Psalm 8
isn't it
verse 6
you made them
rulers over the work
of your hands
this is how God
has made us
you put everything
under their feet
all flocks
and herds
and the animals
of the wild
the birds in the sky
and the fish in the sea
all that swim
the paths
of the seas
God hands responsibility
to humanity
uniquely responsible
for the world
that God has made
and they are accountable
to God
for stewarding his creation
again we're going to see
more of this next week
but they are given rules
by which to do it
in other words
being God's image
means doing his work
in righteous ways
doing it in conformity
to the commands
that he has given them
naming the creatures
forming and filling
the garden
in a way
that all the other
living creatures
are incapable of
it also seems
that this image
though is something
that is done
by the complementarity
of male and female
it seems that
it is impossible
on their own
for a man
or a woman
to reflect the image
of God
in quite the same way
as that they're able
to together
it is the diversity
in men and women
that is made
to reflect the diversity
of father son
and spirit
it is man
and woman
who are the image
of God
as the writer
of Genesis
Moses
points out
in chapter 2
verses 24 and 25
if you glance over
to that
he's there got
a little editorial
note about what
marriage is
he says the two
become one flesh
not just for their
own pleasure
but as they serve
this greater good
of reflecting God
to creation
Adam and Eve
come together
and bear children
and work the garden
as father son
and spirit
united together
have created
the universe
so Adam
can't do
what God
has given
him to do
without a woman
which means
not only that
man and woman
are equal
image bearers
but that it is
their unity
which brings
the image of God
even more apparent
now we could spend
longer on that
I've whistled through
those three
things
we are made
body and spirit
male or female
and we're made
in the image of God
now those things
stand in stark contrast
to how the world
defines what it means
to be human
but let me pull out
three specific
applications for us
I want to talk
about dignity
I want to talk
about authority
and I want to talk
about community
so let's start
with dignity
I want to suggest
to you that
actually everybody
loves the idea
of dignity
don't they
we all want
to be treated
personally
we want to be
treated with
dignity
even the famous
euthanasia clinic
is called
dignitas
it's this idea
of dignity
but really
I want to tell you
that it's only
Genesis 1 and 2
that gives you
an account
of the dignity
that we have
as humans
I don't know
whether you know
but what your body
is made up of
right
60% of our bodies
is made up
of just water
right
16% of us
is protein
16%
give or take
a little bit
is fat
and 6%
is minerals
and then a few
other bits
alongside it
now according
to the internet
which is a source
of absolute
reliability
the price
of those
constituent parts
is 78 pounds
66 pence
if you wanted
to buy
the elements
that make up
a human being
it would cost you
78 pounds
66 pence
that is if you're
using a particularly
expensive form
of hydrogen
as well
if you were prepared
to just use
water from the tap
it would cost you
about 35 quid
which is a bargain
right
in other words
because the value
of our bodies
has very little
to do with our
constituent parts
right
that the value
of humanity
is a value
that is assigned
to it
from outside
of itself
not something
that springs
from itself
because of what
it's made of
now that might
be a bit complicated
it's really important
so let me give you
an example
imagine for a moment
you collect autographs
that's not a thing
anyone does anymore
is it
you collect selfies
now
but right
okay
imagine that you
collected autographs
and so you came to me
in a moment of weakness
because you're really
struggling
right
you came to me
and said
will you sign my autograph
so I sign your autograph
yeah I'll sign that
you know
and you take my autograph
right
and then you walk out
church
and you see
Stormzy walking down
the street
and you go
I know him
he got an honorary
! PhD from Cambridge
this week
did you know that
or was it Oxford
one of the two
anyway
and you go
I know him
I'm going to get
his autograph as well
so he signs your book
right
now
those two pages
in your book
are worth
exactly the same amount
right
Steve
Stormzy
similar length
right
so there's a similar
amount of ink
on the page
the constituent elements
of those two pieces
of paper
are worth
exactly the same
but which is more
important to you
which is more precious
of course it's Stormzy's
isn't it
because of who he is
he has signed it
it carries
his signature
there is an assigned
value to that page
which is higher
than the value
of the page
that I signed
because of who
wrote it
and that's the same
here isn't it
God has assigned
a value to humanity
which is greater
than the 35 pounds
that it would cost
to make us
because we have
his signature
on us
we are signed
by the one
who made us
and that is where
our dignity
comes from
we are from the dust
aren't we
without the animating
work of God
that is all we are
but in Genesis 1 and 2
humanity is given
a dignity beyond
the value
of its elements
as a reflection
of the glory of God
God had his fingerprints
all over us
and we are called
good
very good
by the God
who made us
in his image
now importantly
that dignity
belongs to us
regardless of who we are
right
regardless of what
we've done
regardless of
where we are from
an unborn child
carries that same
dignity
as you or I do
that the person
who is lost
in dementia
has that same
dignity
that you or I do
because it is
assigned to them
by God
it's not because
of what they are
capable of
it is because
of whose image
they were made in
so it's not
just wrong
to kill the
unborn child
because it is
a real baby
it is wrong
to kill the child
because they are
created in the image
of God
and they carry
the divine dignity
euthanasia is
wrong
because even
when you are
lost in dementia
or you are facing
the end of your life
through a terminal
illness
you still carry
the dignity
of God
assigned to us
made in his image
there are loads
more implications
of that aren't there
let me just pull out
one to you
which I think
is particularly
important for us
think about racism
we live in a world
blighted by racial
discrimination
don't we
where people's
experience of life
has often been
dictated to them
by the colour
of their skin
or the cultural
heritage that they're
from
the story of
humanity
has tragic
chapters
of enslavement
and colonisation
now I would imagine
that if you spoke
to almost anybody
in London
if you spoke
to someone
on the bus
which you're not
really supposed to do
but you can do it
if you want to
speak to someone
on the bus
and you said to them
what do you think
about racism
I think 99%
of people would
tell you that they
they are bored
they think it's a
terrible thing
they think it's wrong
if you then say
to them
why
they're going
to be stumped
why is it wrong
to treat people
differently based
on the colour
of their skin
if we are not
made by God
in the image
of God
if we are just
here by chance
and really it is
selfish self-interest
which defines
what the human life
is for
the mind
ruling
trying to get
its own way
and making
everyone else
conform to what
my mind says
if that's the story
and there is no
assigned dignity
to people
then racism
can't be wrong
but if the truth
is that
we were created
by God
assigned dignity
by the one
who made us
who loves
the difference
and the distinction
in the world
that he's made
in fact
is especially
glorified
by that distinction
then of course
racism is wrong
not only because
it's an offence
to the person
who's receiving it
but because it's
an offence
to the God
who made them
we're precious
you know
our church
should be the
safest place
in the world
to be
and to be
who you are
because we know
that everyone
in this room
is precious
because we are
signed
by the God
of glory
who made us
with dignity
secondly
authority
notice here
that God
made humanity
with a purpose
of ruling
over creation
they're given
this subordinate
authority
over what he's
made
and actually
those two things
go together
don't they
it is
as Adam
and Eve
submit
to God
and his rule
that they gain
authority
over what he
has made
we're going to
think about that
some more
what went wrong
next week
but it means
doesn't it
that life
has a purpose
right
life has been
given to you
to me
that we might
continue
what God
has started
in creation
that we might
fail
subdue
and rule
over creation
now obviously
you don't need me
to tell you
that idea
has been
massively abused
is it
we don't have
the sort of
privilege of
pillaging creation
for whatever we
desire
there's a sense
of stewardship
and responsibility
that's given here
but still God
has given us
work to do
not as a punishment
but as a blessing
creation does not
need to be left
to go to wild
it needs humanity
to garden it
it's a blessing
to creation
and it's part
of following him
you know the garden
in the bible
becomes
you know we get
excluded from it
but then as you go
on in the story
it becomes
you know a camp
a settlement
a town
a city
a nation
a global economy
as humanity
in a very broken
way
are carrying on
with this work
of filling
and subduing
the earth
we have this
collective
responsibility
not as ultimate
authority
but as subordinate
with what is called
the cultural mandate
now that means
loads of different
things doesn't it
but amongst other
things
I don't know
where you're going
to find yourself
tomorrow
what is it you're
going to be doing
tomorrow
maybe you're going
to work
maybe you don't
like your job
very much
maybe you're going
to be at home
and you know
that you've got
chores to do
you've got washing
to fold
tomorrow
you've got
meals to cook
for people
it means doesn't it
that actually
God is interested
in even those
things
and those things
are an opportunity
for us to live out
the lives that he's
given us
by doing a good job
by organising
our little corner
of creation
by folding the washing
tidying the flat
serving those around us
that is our opportunity
to bring God glory
it's fascinating
isn't it
if in the world's eyes
this idea of splitting
your mind and your body
means that what
the purpose of your life
is to think really hard
about what it is
that you want
and there you will
find your purpose
if Genesis 1 and 2
are true
then what you find
is actually
your job is to
reflect who
God is
in the way
that he's made you
and use that
as an opportunity
to serve those
around you
and there you
will find purpose
and it's a much
more satisfying
way to live
finally
community
we don't have loads
of time left
to go into this
but let's try
and discover it quickly
notice humanity
are not only made
for relationship
with God
we saw that last week
don't we
are made to be
with him
but we are also
made for relationship
with one another
look down at
chapter 2
verse 18
the Lord God
said
it is not good
for the man
to be alone
I will make
a helper
suitable
for him
now that I think
is an easily
misunderstood verse
what is not good
I don't think
it's loneliness
it's not just
that he looks
at man and says
it is sad
that he's on his own
when in verse 20
it says that
no suitable
helper is found
it's not about
companionship
so much as it is
about service
it's really here
about being able
to do
and to be
what God
has called
Adam to be
and to do
Adam on his own
is unable
to fill
and subdue
creation
he needs
a suitable
helper
he needs
a woman
so that together
they can work
not just on the
garden
but also on the
procreation
that will be
needed to fill
the earth
now we don't
have time
to uncover
all of the
Bible's teaching
on sex
marriage
and singleness
and it's more
nuanced than
what's just
in Genesis 1
and 2
it's changed
by the fall
it's changed
and transformed
actually by
the need for
people to hear
of Jesus
which actually
is even more
important isn't it
and again we're
going to consider
that more in a
moment
but the main
point here is
that we cannot
be truly human
on our own
we need one
another
not just in
marriage
but we need
friendships
we need
co-workers
filling the earth
and subduing the
earth is not
something we can
do on our own
not just because
of procreation
but also because
of the need
for community
and fellowship
and friendship
and working
alongside one
another
in fact it
seems that
living the good
life is for
the benefit
of others
this is what
we're made
for
communities
of mutual
benefit
where we put
the needs
of one another
ahead of our
own
not the survival
of the fittest
but support
for the weakest
body and spirit
man or woman
in the image
of God
dignity
authority
and community
now just as we
finish
return to this
massive cultural
shift that we
have lived
through
a shift
that's risen
from this
redefinition
of what it
means to be
human
I want you
to see
that the
basic
difference
between
what the
world says
it means
to be
human
and what
the Bible
says it
is to be
human
is the
presence
of God
right
what the
world has
effectively
done
is it's
pushed God
out of the
definition
of what
it means
to be
human
and what
we think
we've done
is we've
lost God
and gained
ourselves
what we've
really done
is we've
lost God
and we lost
ourselves
with him
and so
really in
order to be
truly human
you need
not only to
understand
how God
made you
and what
God made
you for
you also
need to
know
God
that's
what Genesis
1 and 2
are saying
you know
without God
without his
image in us
you will not
really be able
to understand
dignity
authority
or community
you'll have
scraps of them
because you've
got leftovers
of them
glimmers of
them
but you won't
have the real
thing
and that means
doesn't it
that the need
of our world
your need
this morning
whether you'd
call yourself
a Christian
or not
your need
my need
this morning
is I need
God in my
life
I need to
know the
Lord
to know
myself
I need
to know
the one
who made
me
and of
course
as I
think about
that
I think
that's
really
difficult
how can
I know
God
I know
that I've
lived my
life for
myself
I know
that I've
lived as if
I could
live perfectly
well without
God
and I've
lost myself
as a result
how can
I possibly
invite
God
back into
my life
well the
good news
of the
gospel
is that
God
hasn't
waited
for you
to come
and meet
with him
he knew
he'd never
do that
he has
come to
meet
with us
God
the son
took on
human
flesh
he was
born
into
this
world
coming
to
meet
us
and
forgive
us
liberating
us
not only
from our
crazy
definitions
of
humanity
but also
from the
weight
of guilt
that piles
up
from using
this
life
that God
has given
us
for the
purposes
of
selfishness
God
creates
us
in his
image
he saves
us
by taking
on ours
being born
as a
man
dying
on a
cross
that we
might find
ourselves
in knowing
him
let me pray
and then we'll
sing
loving
heavenly
father
we thank
you so
much
that our
preciousness
is a
gift from
you
thank you
that every
person in
this room
has your
fingerprints
all over
them
and so we
want to pray
please that you
would help us
to find
ourselves
in knowing
you
we pray
especially
maybe for
people in
this room
who would
not yet
call themselves
Christians
we pray that
they might
realize that
this great
search for
themselves
is found
in looking
to you
and knowing
you
and we pray
please that
through the
person of the
Lord Jesus
we might all
meet with you
this morning
and we ask
these things
in his name
amen