As our Church continues with the Masterclass study on the book of Genesis, we are continuing to post a review of our previous “Case for Genesis” class to help with your studies. This week’s post focuses on the importance of humans being made in the image of God. We will also look at important questions about marriage, family, purpose, identity and destiny that people struggle with in our culture today.

Watch this week’s class presentation on this topic:

Overview Notes from the presentation

Review

Prayer cards: Take a minute and write your name on the index card provided, and add any special prayer request you might have. Exchange cards at the end of the class this evening.

What are the twelve points to the Bible’s Big Picture (5 in the Old Testament, 7 in the New Testament)?
From last week’s presentation, what are some things you can remember, and share with others, about the problems with evolutionary theory for the origin of life?

Concerning evolutionary theory:

Phillip Johnson, U.C. Berkley Law Professor and Author of “Darwin on Trial” has said:

“Darwinism is based on an ‘a priori [prior] commitment to materialism, not on a philosophically neutral assessment of the evidence. Separate the philosophy from the science, and the proud tower collapses.”

Evolutionary Biologist, and Harvard Professor Richard Lewontin admits:

“We take the side of science in spite of its failure to fulfill many of its extravagant promises…because we have a prior commitment to materialism…Moreover that materialism is absolute for we cannot allow a divine foot in the door.”

Our Creator God has warned us:

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8 (NASB)

Made in the image of God – The Question of Identity and Purpose

Who am I and what is my purpose? The question of identity

God created humans in His image; no other living thing was created with these special attributes:

Image of God, a lesser model
Possesses a soul and a spirit: God’s breath of life
Rulership over the earth
Relationship with God and each other
Ability to love – freewill choice
Living life with eternity in mind

“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and 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.”

Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV)

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)

Christian purpose:

Jesus gave us a model throughout His ministry…

When asked: “What is the Greatest Commandment?”

“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.””

Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)

What is the purpose of marriage and gender identity?

1^st Major Historical Players: Adam and Eve

“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”

Genesis 1:27-28a (NIV)

“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”…

The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

Genesis 2:18, 21-24 (NIV)

Jesus speaking to the Pharisees:

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Matthew 19:4-6 (NIV)

Paul gives the same command from Genesis in his letter to the Ephesians:

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

Ephesians 5:31 (NIV)

Where did families come from (where did Cain get his wife)?

God had given the command to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28, 9:1)
Adam and Eve had many children (Genesis 4-5)
Cain, Seth and the other children of Adam and Eve had children and began to populate the earth (Genesis 5:4)
God had not forbidden brother-sister unions because the Mosaic Law had not yet been given—throughout the book of Genesis close family unions were common
Creation was pure and perfect and, as we know today, the DNA had not yet been corrupted (nor had the DNA had time to mutate)
Long life spans made it possible for the human population to grow quickly (after the flood life spans began to decline)

What is our final destiny?

God’s Covenant Promise is fulfilled through Jesus – Eternal Life in His Kingdom

“And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.””

Luke 22:19-20 (NASB)

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

John 3:14-16 (NASB)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

John 14:1-12 (NIV)

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”

Revelation 21:1-7 (NASB)

Mid-Term Summary

Four important Christian Skills
The Big Picture of the Bible
God creates in six days and rests on the seventh
God is the Creator as seen through His Intelligent design vs. random, undirected processes as taught by evolutionary theory
Humans are uniquely made in the image of God

Bible Study

Each week we will have Bible study following the presentation. There will be questions presented here on the weekend, and basic answers will be posted mid-week for your review. This can also be used to make a leader’s guide for your own small group and future studies!

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

Note: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for Discussion or Going Deeper questions. If you use these kinds of sources share them with your group.

1. Review of Class Topic:

With your table group, discuss today’s presentation by summarizing what you learned, commenting or asking any questions.

Read Genesis Chapters 4 and 5 with your group then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions:

2. Compare and contrast Cain and Abel by answering the following (4:1-7):

Who were they?
What offerings did they bring to God?
How did God respond to each of them concerning their offering?
Did God give Cain a choice to consider, if so, what was it?
Discuss: Why do you think Cain’s offering was unacceptable and Abel’s was? Cross-reference by reading Hebrews 11:4 and 1 John 3:12

3. What happened between Cain and Abel after the offering; and how did Cain respond when God confronted him (4:8-10)? Discuss: Do we ever try to justify ourselves to God? (If comfortable share an example)

4. How did Cain react to God’s discipline, what happened to him and how did God continue to take care of him even though he never repented (4:11-17)? Discuss: Why do you think God took care of Him, and what does this say about God’s character?

5. Who was Seth (4:25-26; 5:3) and what was the importance of His mention since Adam and Eve had a lot of other children.

6. Discuss: Where do you think Cain and Seth’s wives came from? Is there Scripture support?

7. Going Deeper: Contrast the line of descendants from Cain with that of Seth by making a chart, or list, of their genealogies (4:17 – 5:32), include their age of death (if listed) and anything relevant or interesting about their lives. Share some of the things you observe or have questions about.

8. Research and discuss: Cross-reference Luke chapter three and Jesus’ genealogy back to Adam. What is the importance of genealogies in the Bible?

Please join us each week as we continue our case for Christianity!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15