Teaching Notes are Bible studies we taught before GraceLife Ministries began publishing articles online in 1995. Some were presented as sermons, others as group studies.
Our hope is that these older studies will be a blessing to you in your life and ministry. Please use them in any way God leads you.
These teaching notes are from a study in Genesis.
[These notes are from a study taught more than 40 years ago. The notes are in outline form.]
Overhead – The Person and Meaning
Genesis 1:26 – “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
Overhead – The word בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ (tselem – image) is used three ways in Scripture:
- as an object of idolatrous worship
- of man as made in the image of God
- of Christ as the image of God
The word דְּמוּת (demuth) means “likeness.”
Teach – Genesis 1:27; 5:1, 3; 9:6
Teach – What then is the Divine image?
- I believe it refers to the whole dignity of man, in virtue of his fundamental affinity to God.
- God made man to be like Himself. He made man to be with Him and enjoy Him.
- God made man with a free, self-conscious, rational and moral personality.
- We see in this account that man is separated from the fish, the birds and the beasts. His supremacy is the culmination of the creative process.
Teach – Did man lose that image when he sinned against God? In whose image are children born today?
Through original purpose and creation man is made in the image of God, but through the entrance of sin that image or likeness is marred. We don’t naturally look like God or act like Him. We don’t strive to be with Him.
The unsaved person is unsatisfied with life. He/she searches for meaning, but can’t find it. He/she has no meaning outside of his/her purposed relationship with God.
The saved person can also live his/her life without satisfaction. He/she can also search for meaning and not find it.
The great call of God is to be like HIM .. to be like Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29-30).
Overhead – “For those God foreknew He also predestinated to be conformed to the likeness of His Son” — οτι ους προεγνω και προωρισεν συμμορφους της εικονος του υιου αυτου
Teach – Likeness or image means that we are a mirror-like image (eikón) of Jesus Christ. We should appear to others to be Christlike.
The first human being was given the opportunity to develop his walk with God unhindered by the sin that would later mar his very nature and purpose. Whereas the woman was deceived and sinned, the man made a choice based upon his personal beliefs, emotions and feelings at the moment. Because he chose the woman over God, we have all been affected and marred.
However, through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ we are o once again placed as sons with God and given the power to walk as sons.
Overhead – There are six basic things in Genesis 1 and 2 that people use to find meaning in life:
- Ruling
- Pleasure
- Knowledge
- Riches
- Vocation
- Marriage
- ??? What are you using to give meaning to your life?
[Thank you for reading these teaching notes from more than 40 years ago. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you and your ministry.]
Published by gracelifethoughts
Founder & Director of GraceLife Ministries View all posts by gracelifethoughts
