SCRIPTURE: Genesis 1:1-2:4 (Page1);  Colossians 3:1-4:6 (Page 1401)
SERMON: Man: The Image & Likeness of God			         16 December 2001

I.	TEXT: THE SIXTH DAY (1:24-31)
a.	LIVING SOULS, CONTINUED (24,28,30; see 20f)
b.	LIVING SOULS ON LAND (24-31; 2:4f; see 1:20-23; see 1:11,12)
c.	NON-HUMAN LIVING SOULS (24,25)
1.	means & Maker: earth brought forth & God made (24 & 25; see 11,12)
2.	comprehensive: large & small; domestic & wild (24,25; see Ps.89:11; Neh.9:6; Jn.1:3; Col.3:15,16)
3.	each after their kind (25,24; see 11,12; 21)
d.	HUMAN LIVING SOULS (26-31)
1.	a unique plan: Let Us make man (26a; see Josh.22:26; 2Sam.16:20; see Mt.28:19; Gen.1:1-3 w/Jn.1:1f)
2.	a unique pattern: Our Image; Our Likeness (26b; contrast 11,12; 21; 24,25; see Lk.3:38)
a.	image: form; expression/impression (26b; 27a,27b; see 5:3; 1Sam.6:5; Num.33:52; Ps.39:7; see Col.3:15/3:19; 2:9; Heb.1:3)
b.	likeness: copy (26b; Ezk.1:5; Dan.10:16; see Heb.8:2,5; 9:24)
c.	plurality: male & female (27; see 26(Us,Our); see 5:2; 6:19,etc.)
3.	a unique purpose
a.	to subdue all the earth (28b)
b.	to rule all other kinds of living souls (26b,28b)
c.	summary: to effect and preserve godly order (see 2:15; 3:1f,17f; see Tt.1:5)
4.	a unique blessing: subdue all the earth by filling it (28a; see 22; see Ps.127:3-5)
5.	a unique power: special creation (27a,b,c; see 1,21)
6.	a common provision: vegetation (29,30; see 9:6; Mk.7:19; see Is.65:25)
e.	FINISHED! (31; see 2:1-3; note: all, behold, very)

II.	TRUTHS & CONSEQUENCES: THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIVING BEINGS
a.	GOD IS OUR FATHER AND HUMANS ARE OUR KIND (Acts 17:26,28;23f; Lk.3:38)
b.	HUMAN LIVING SOULS HAVE AS MUCH IN COMMON WITH GOD AS WE DO WITH ANIMATED SOULS (2:7,19 and 1:26,27)
c.	HUMAN LIVING SOULS ARE AN EARTHLY COPY OF GOD; WE ARE NOT THE EXACT HEAVENLY THING (26; but see Jn.1:1f,14,18; 2Cor.4:4; Col.1:15,19; 2:9; Heb.1:3)
d.	HUMAN LIVING SOULS ARE BLESSED TO BRING THE REST OF CREATION UNDER OUR POWER AND AUTHORITY AS THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD AS HIS STEWARDS (26-31; see 2:15f; Mt.21:33f)
e.	ALL HUMAN LIVING SOULS BEAR THIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS (27; see 1Cor.11:7)
f.	MALES AND FEMALES HAVE THE SAME POWER AND AUTHORITY OVER THE EARTH AND OTHER LIVING SOULS (27; see Prov.31:10-31)
g.	HUMAN LIVING SOULS ARE NOT BLESSED (EMPOWERED AND AUTHORIZED) IN THEIR CREATED NATURE TO BRING OTHER HUMAN BEINGS UNDER THEIR POWER AND AUTHORITY (26,28; see Ex.4:22; Dt.21:15; 1Tm.2:12,13)
h.	THE IMAGE OF GOD PROTECTS HUMAN LIVING SOULS IN A UNIQUE WAY (Gen.9:26; see Jms.3:9; Mt.5:21f)
i.	A HUMAN LIVING SOUL BEGINS AT CONCEPTION (Ps.51:5; 139:7,13-16 with Gen.1:1,2)
j.	THE SANCTITY OF A HUMAN LIVING SOUL DEPENDS ON HIS KIND AND NOT ON HIS LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT (1:26,27; constrast 11,12; 21; 24,25; see Ps.51:5; 139:7,13-16 with Gen.1:1,2)
k.	IDOLATRY IS SELF-DENYING AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE TO THE HUMAN LIVING SOUL (Rom.1:23f; contrast Gen.1:26,27)
l.	FERTILITY IS A GIFT OF GOD (28,22; 4:25; 17:16; 30:24; 1Sam.1:11; see Ps.127:3f)
m.	CHILDREN ARE A GIFT OF GOD (Ps.127:3f; see 1Tm.5:4 with 2Cor.12:14)

SUMMARY

With very deliberate purpose and by the exercise of very special creative power, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them and blessed them to subdue all His works and set in order, nuture and protect all His other living souls.  Thankfully rejoice in all the useful commoness we have with other created things and, especially, with other living souls.  Marvel at our privilege of being like God and being given His power and authority to take care of and enjoy the whole earth and, especially, other living souls.  Praise God for His unsearchable grace to human living souls in our very creation and nature.  And may He indeed bless us to fulfill our commission to fill the earth, subdue it and care for all living souls to His glory.