Lesson One

MAN'S CREATION

1. God’s Creation and Man’s Fall
   1. "Man was made in the image of God, a vessel to contain God – Gen. 1:26; 2:7; Zech. 12:1; Rom. 9:23-24

      Burden to Impart:

      The climax of God’s creation of the universe and all of the creatures on the earth was the creation of man. Man was created last, for all things were for man and man was obviously for God, for man bore God's image and likeness (Gen. 1:26). Man alone was created with a spirit ,(Gen. 2:7; Zech. 12:1). Thus, man could express God outwardly (because he had God s image and likeness) and could even contain God inwardly (because he had a spirit).

      Memory Verse:

      "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over...all the earth..." (Genesis 1:26).

      Facts to Teach:

      1. The last item that God created in Genesis chapter one was man. After this God rested. The fact that man was the last thing that God created tells us two things:
         1. All things created before man were created FOR man; and
         2. Man satisfied God’s heart and purpose completely, therefore God rested. (He did not rest because He was tired, but because His work in creation was finished.)
      2. Man is unique. All other creatures were created according to “their kind.” But, man was made in God’s image and according to God’s likeness. This means that man closely resembles God and even appears like God. God’s image is expressed in our soul, our personality, through our mind (by our thinking), our emotions (by our feelings), and our will (by our choices). Of all of the thousands and thousands of insects, fish, birds, and animals, only man has God’s wonderful image! Man is therefore able to understand God’s purpose, love God’s desire and choose God’s will.
      3. Man is also unique because man was created with a spirit. When God breathed the breath of life into man He “formed” the human spirit within him (Gen. 2:1; Zech.12:1). Only man has a spirit. Therefore, man’s spirit is the most special part of his being. According to Zechariah 12:1, the creation of man’s spirit is as great a matter as the creation of the heavens and the earth. This is because the whole purpose of the heavens and the earth is wrapped up with man’s spirit. The heavens were created to contain the earth. The earth was created for man. And man was created with a spirit to contain God Himself! How marvelous!
      4. What is man? Man is altogether a vessel, a container (Rom. 9:20-23; 2 Cor. 4:7). Man is a very special three-part vessel. His body was made to receive and contain food, his soul was made to receive and contain knowledge, and his spirit was made to receive and contain God (John 4:24; 1 Cor. 6:17).