Sound Doctrine – Man

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The bible clearly establishes that Man is superior to all animals and the only being superior to man is God Himself. When God created animals, it was good, but when the creation was complete with man resembling God and has authority over all animals, God saw that it was very good. This shows how this creation is a crown among all others including the planets and the whole earth. This study is to understand the importance and purpose of our existence in this world.

The first quality Man has is that he has the image of God in him. We know that God is a Spirit and has no form. But He sometimes uses a physical form as we know God was walking, and met Abraham etc. This physical form came down again as a baby as Jesus emptied Himself. The reason God gave His image to us because one reason in Gen 1:26, where God wants us to have dominion over all the living beings. God wanted us to perform tasks that He did with the same resources He has. With all the right resources, we are expected to be rulers in His kingdom.

The sole purpose of our creation is in Is 43:7, where we are created for His glory. We read that glory in 1 Cor 10:31 where we are asked to do everything only to glorify God. The Bible shows how Jesus glorified God and so, we follow Him. John 1:14 says that the glory of God was seen completely in Jesus as He was full of grace and truth. The relationship with being gracious and truthful is seen in Psalms 115:1 , 34:6, 57:10 etc. More than all the other characteristics of Christ grace and truth glorified God.  We have to compare this with the reason God created us in Gen 1:26. It would be easier to understand that we are expected to be rulers of His kingdom with grace and truth.

Being gracious is important as we know that God considers forgiveness with very high regard. We know the parables and the prayer Christ has taught us. This training of being a gracious leader is required for our lives in heaven. Christ also had a tough stand on people judging others. A leader should be strict and strong but also be ready to forgive others when they repent. In situations, our moves should be based on how Jesus would have handled them. In John 14:11, Jesus said that a good shepherd would lay down his life from his sheep and Jesus did that. This characteristic is grace and we should love our neighbors like our own selves so that we would be ready to lay down our lives for others. Philippians 2:3-8 speaks about humility of Christ. It may be hard for us to understand being a ruler and humility working together, but Christ achieved perfectly. Mark 10:43-45.

The next important aspect of glory is truth. If we really love and have grace, we will not let our neighbors be in darkness. This is not only about preaching the gospel but also about ensuring that what others believe is the truth. Psalms 57:3 explains that God sends forth His lovingkindness and truth to save us. When we receive grace, God is patient and kind towards our shortcomings, but the truth takes us more and more towards God Himself. This is why Grace and Truth is revealed through Jesus Christ. The truth is that Jesus is the only way to heaven and all other ways cannot take us there to glorify God.

It is important for us to understand that some people who are not redeemed and are disobedient die to glorify God. We read that in Isaiah 66:17-19 also in Lev 10:3. The doomed ones are not sinners but those who reject the truth and have disregard to the Lord’s word. To glorify God, we need to be more truly thanksgiving by receiving more and more of His grace as per 2 Cor 4:15.

The first commandment God ever gave us is in Gen 2:24 (applicable outside the garden of Eden) is that he should leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife. This commandment is given that early is because this is a very important place where we glorify God the father. This is explained in 1 Cor 11:7. Covering heads involves the glory of God and so, should have strictly followed while praying. A man covering his head while praying symbolizes that he does not need Jesus. Similarly, a woman who does not cover her head symbolizes that she needs her husband and not Jesus. Both are not acceptable before God.

Now, glorifying God in the family is very important as this model is a practice of being a good ruler. If we do this job with grace and truth, we are setting up an example of heavenly kingdom in the earth for others to experience. In Ephesians 5:27 we read how a husband should present to himself which can be compared to our original call in Ephesians 1:5. The bible commands every man to leave his father, mother and hold fast to his wife because God wants Him to be a ruler in His kingdom. A person who is not capable for making own decisions and incapable of buildup his own wife cannot be a proper king. We should display our responsibilities as good leaders in our family, church and work place so that God will be glorified in full.

1 Corinthans 6:20 is more direct that after creation, we are now bought again to become saved Christians. Now, it is our duty to glorify God. Everything that we do, earn or pursue should glorify Him. We read that again in 2 Thes 1:11-12 where the purpose of grace is to glorify God. In Mathew 5:16, Jesus wants us to show-off our good works so that the Father will be glorified.

Amen.