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God’s Image Bearers: Designed to Work and Rest

April 17, 2016 Preacher: Series: How We Are Designed to Live: The Work - Sabbath Balance

Scripture: Genesis 1:26– 2:25

Key Truth: God created humanity in His glorious image to carry on the work that He began in Creation through our abilities, a covenant reminder of our relationship to Him in the Sabbath, and suitable community in reflection of the Trinity.

 

Introduction:

 

Q: What is the point of the Biblical story? What is the point of your life?

“The whole Bible is covenantal because from beginning to end it shows how God is our God and how he makes us his people, first in creation and then in redemption through Christ.”

W. Robert Godfrey, God’s Pattern for Creation: A Covenantal Reading of Genesis 1

 

The Crown Jewel of Creation and The Creation Mandate:

Genesis 1:26-30

“A divine counsel precedes the creation of man. By this means the singular dignity of man is very strongly stressed. From every point of view man is seen to be the crown and climax of God’s creation.”

H.C. Leupold, Exposition of Genesis: Volume 1 Chapters 1-19

Q: Do you recognize the unique dignity that has been placed on those who bear God’s image including you? How does your work reflect the Creation Mandate?

 

The Sabbath: The Covenant Sign of the Creator-Creature Relationship:

Genesis 1:31-2:3

“At this point in history, the Sabbath day became a special day of remembrance of God’s creative work and man’s utter dependence upon his Creator.”

Don W. Robertson, The Christian Sabbath

“The seventh day marks the consummation and finality of the creation week. But it also represents mankind’s first full day upon the earth. Humanity spends the first day of existence in God’s Sabbath, worshipping and enjoying him.”

John D. Currid, Genesis: Volume 1 Genesis 1:1-25:18

Q: How are your Sabbath practices helping you to remember who and whose you are?

 

Placed in the Garden of Eden to Work It, Keep It, and Enjoy It in Community:

Genesis 2:4-25

“The Lord God takes the initiative and places humankind in the garden of Eden with a particular task in mind. The emphasis here is not about personal human choice but rather divine initiative and divine calling."

Tom Nelson, Work Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship to Monday Work

Q: Where has God sovereignly placed you to use your given gifts to reflect His glory in fulfilling the Creation Mandate? What community has He blessed you with in this calling?

 

Genesis 1:26-2:25 teaches us that:

- humanity is the crown jewel of creation that was created in the image of God to fulfill the Creation Mandate

-the Sabbath is a covenant sign of the Creator-creature distinction and seal of the eternal goal

-humanity was sovereignly placed in Eden in community to work to help shape the raw material of Creation to the glory of God

 

“You were made to do good – to mirror and mimic what God is like to the world. To stand at the interface between the Creator and his creation, implementing God’s creative, generous blessing over all the earth and giving voice to creation’s worship.”

John Mark Comer, Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human

More in How We Are Designed to Live: The Work - Sabbath Balance

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Do Everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus

May 15, 2016

The Creation Mandate in Exile

May 8, 2016

Call the Sabbath a Delight