I heard that question posed this last Sunday. Good question. What did God have in mind when He made man? He has never changed His mind about His creative intent. I have included a number of verse references that answer that question, in part. My hope is that you will pause and give thought to what, as a Christian, you were made for - a hint - it is for God's glory and the world's good. And let the Spirit answer the question in whole.
"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'” - Genesis 1:26
When He created us, He had a purpose in mind. He made everything in its kind. But man (and woman) He made to reflect God the Father, the Son and the Spirit. He gave us intellect - imagination - creative ability (in the context that we can only create from what He created - we cannot speak something from nothing into something) Although we do try to recreate - but then still the means is always from what He created.
"For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous." - Romans 5:19
He makes us righteous through Jesus obedience - His example. (John 15:13)
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." - Romans 8:2
He made us free from the law and sin and the penalty of death.
"For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit." - 1 Corinthians 12:13
He took those who were separated by their differences - culture, language, ethnic heritage, nationality, economic standing and made them one in the same - a reflection of the Trinity by His Spirit - adopted as children of God.
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." - 1 John 3:1
The world does not receive us because it did not receive Him. He made us strangers in our own land.
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive." - 1 Corinthians 15:22
He made us spiritually alive - dead in Adam - revived by faith - bearers of eternal life.
"... to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." - Ephesians 1:6
He made us acceptable to Himself through the sacrifice of Jesus. Able to enter into His presence without fear of condemnation and judgement.
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins" - Ephesians 2:1
"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses" - Colossians 2:13
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit" - 1 Peter 3:18
We were separated from God - spiritually lifeless before Him, but we who were dead were made alive
"With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude ( something that is similar to, but not equal to) of God." - James 3:9
Like in Genesis - when we are born again by the Spirit, God is making us into the image of His Son.
"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." - Romans 8:29
Are you walking and living in these truths? Or has Christian become nothing more than an adjective that describes one aspect of your life on this planet? Dr. Tony Evans once said that the word Christian is not an adjective which only modifies a noun. Christian is a noun. As a person born again by faith in Jesus you are a Christian - a child of God first and foremost. All other descriptions have become adjectives.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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