god's ultimate intention (ppt2016)

God’s Ultimate Intention


“Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness” —Gen. 1:26


In the Image and Likeness of God?


The words Image and likeness are virtually synonymous.




This is not a redundancy, but is rather an ancient Hebrew method of expressing emphasis.




This is not a redundancy, but is rather an ancient Hebrew method of expressing emphasis.

Whatever the full exactness of this Image/likeness was will remain a mystery. However, we are not left in the dark. We have all the salient knowledge the Lord has desired us to have.



Some, along with old Jewish commentators, have conjectured the Image was man’s sentience, intellect, self-awareness, and creative ability.



Without a doubt, part of that Image and likeness consisted of man’s unique sentience, cognition, etc. But the meaning here in Genesis 1:26 must necessarily mean far more than this.




[The Image of God was] “not in his intellect, for the devil and his angels are, in this respect, far superior.” —Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Without a doubt, part of that Image and likeness consisted of man’s unique sentience, cognition, etc. But the meaning here in Genesis 1:26 must necessarily mean far more than this.



One could also put forth the explanation that the Image was God’s imparted immortality in man, but this would be a stretch and equally based upon pure conjecture


However, one sure aspect of this God-imparted Image is man’s innate moral compass…




However, one sure aspect of this God-imparted Image is man’s innate moral compass……Something of which still remains as one of the most solid apologetics for the case for God.



However, one sure aspect of this God-imparted Image is man’s innate moral compass……Something of which still remains as one of the most solid apologetics for the case for God.

The moral argument stands as impossible to prove apart from a perfectly moral and righteous Creator.



The preposition “in” is used in nearly all translations, but the preposition is not a set-in-stone usage.




The overarching aspect of what this Image entailed comes into clearer view as soon as we become willing to divorce ourselves from the Hebrew particle bĕ “having to be” a preposition.




The overarching aspect of what this Image entailed comes into clearer view as soon as we become willing to divorce ourselves from the Hebrew particle bĕ “having to be” a preposition.

the Hebrew particle bĕ could also be, and indeed often is, used as the adverb “as” in the OT.


“As” God’s Image



The fact that the Hebrew particle bĕ bears the use as an adverb of comparison is well attested. If reviewed this way [in exegesis], the phrase in question could just as likely read, “as Our image” … rather than “in Our image.”


“As” God’s Image• God as the Creator and Sovereign of the universe created mankind “AS” HIS

IMAGE, that is as His viceroy to rule on His behalf over all things.




IMAGE, that is as His viceroy to rule on His behalf over all things.


VICEROY — a ruler exercising authority over a given place on behalf of a sovereign.



• Moses put forth the God-to-man “Image” relationship of Genesis through the lenses of a “Suzerain-Vassal” Covenant.

• God as the Creator and Sovereign of the universe created mankind “AS” HIS IMAGE, that is as viceroy to rule on His behalf over all things



• Moses put forth the God-to-man “Image” relationship of Genesis through the lenses of a “Suzerain-Vassal” Covenant.

• God as the Creator and Sovereign of the universe created mankind “AS” HIS IMAGE, that is as viceroy to rule on His behalf over all things

This points back to the emphatic usage of both Image and likeness in Genesis 1:26. Moses was trying to put forth with strong emphasis the extremely important meaning of this Image of God that Adam was created “as”



IMAGE, that is as viceroy to rule on His behalf over all things

Suzerain — a sovereign person or state having some control over another (the vassal) that is internally autonomous.

• Moses put forth the God-man “Image” relationship of Genesis through the lenses of a “Suzerain-Vassal” Covenant.





Vassal — a holder of delegated land by tenure on conditions of paying homage and allegiance (to the Suzerain).


The Vassal is the person or country in a subordinate position to another but allowed to exercise delegated internal government as authorized by the Suzerain, as long as homage is paid:





Vassal — a holder of delegated land by tenure on conditions of paying homage and allegiance (to the Suzerain).




There was an ancient Near Eastern practice of conquering kings erecting images of themselves in lands they had brought under their control. These statues were not identical to the kings themselves but represented them, and therefore were to be treated with the same respect the king himself would demand. To deface or remove the image would be interpreted as an act of rebellion against the sovereign [king], and the perpetrator could expect severe repercussions.




“Not identical to the kings themselves”:




“Not identical to the kings themselves”:

The statues denote the “image” of the king but not in exactness of appearance. They weren’t erected for that.




“But represented them”:




“But represented them”:The purpose of the erected “image” was one of functionality—to represent the king. They stood in the king’s place, to administer his lordship as if he were himself present.



The grammatical difference between “in and “as” is theologically profound, for the point being made is no longer one of ontological identification (“being like God”) but rather…

FUNCTIONAL REPRESENTATION!



Adam was to be the paternal king over the earth



Entrusted by God as long as Adam was submitted to God’s rule over him.






Functional Representative (VICEROY) of God



1) As supreme father of all subsequent humanity







2) As God’s ruling viceroy over the earth







3) As exemplary revelation of God and His character








3) As exemplary revelation of God and His character





4) As expression of what fellowship with God looks like



“AS” = GOD’S FUNCTIONAL REPRESENTATION• “In the place of” … not in His divine likeness or

appearance.



“AS” = GOD’S FUNCTIONAL REPRESENTATION• “In the place of” … not in His divine likeness or appearance.• Adam & Eve weren’t “little gods!” WE are not “little gods!”



“AS” = GOD’S FUNCTIONAL REPRESENTATION• “In the place of” … not in His divine likeness or appearance.• Adam & Eve weren’t “little gods!” WE are not “little gods!”

As the hedonistic false gospel preached by many Word of Faith adherents would have us to believe!



“AS” = GOD’S FUNCTIONAL REPRESENTATION• “In the place of” … not in His divine likeness or appearance.

Our goal is NOT to “find that lost or hidden divinity that lies undiscovered inside all of mankind.”

• Adam & Eve weren’t “little gods!” WE are not “little gods!”

As the hedonistic false gospel preached by many Word of Faith adherents would have us to believe!



To BE the image of God is radically different than being IN His image. In the former, man correctly stands in the place of God;

The latter, he is incorrectly much like God, which leads to endless heresies, cults and mystical doctrines fashioned by the inclinations of man’s fanciful imaginations.

• “In the place of” … not in His divine likeness or appearance.

“AS” = GOD’S FUNCTIONAL REPRESENTATION



• Adam was created “sinless” … not perfect (mature/complete)




Many confuse being sinless with being perfect. The biblical use of perfect always denotes spiritual maturity and completion, NOT sinlessness or flawlessness!

“AS” = GOD’S FUNCTIONAL REPRESENTATION• Adam was created “sinless” … not perfect (mature/complete)




Sinless and Perfect are NOT synonymous, and cannot be used interchangeably.




Spiritual maturity can only come through knowledge of God, much time spent with Him, and carrying out His will.


Sinless and Perfect are NOT synonymous, and cannot be used interchangeably.




• Adam could not have been created with full knowledge of God, if so he would not have fallen for the serpent’s lie;




Jesus was both sinless and perfect (mature). His 40-day bout with the Devil in the wilderness testifies to what the mature/perfect man could do … what Adam could have done in the Garden had he persevered unto gaining full knowledge of God through continuously denying his own self-will, partaking more and more of God’s fellowship, and eating from the tree of life.






Jesus was both sinless and perfect (mature). His 40-day bout with the Devil in the wilderness testifies to what the mature/perfect man could do … what Adam could have done in the Garden had he persevered through continuously denying his own self-will, partaking more and more of God’s fellowship, and eating from the tree of life.

Adam and Eve could have rebuked the Devil’s lie (“You will surely NOT die”) with God’s Word.





“As” God’s ImageQ: Why didn’t God create

man in heaven? Why earth?




First of all, Adam was not created “ex nihilo.” Adam was “formed” by God out of already created material — “earth/dirt.”

• Not EX NIHILO — “Out of nothing.”




First of all, Adam was not created “ex nihilo.” Adam was “formed” by God out of already created material — “earth/dirt.”

So Adam could ONLY have been created on earth because that’s what he was formed out of.

• Not EX NIHILO — “Out of nothing.”

• adamah = “from the dirt/earth/dust”


“As” God’s Image Q: Why the Garden then?



1) provide a manageable microcosm in which he could exercise his divinely orchestrated rule

Mankind was created “As” God’s Image and placed in the Garden setting to …

Q: Why the Garden then?



• This would serve as a test for their ability to rule over rest of the earth






• This would serve as a test for their ability to rule over rest of the earth

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will make you ruler over many things; enter into the joy of your master.’” — Matt. 25:23

Jesus gives us a clue with The Parable of the Talents





“As” God’s ImageMankind was created “As” God’s Image and placed in the Garden setting to …

2) To provide an enclosed “tabernacle” so man could fellowship with God and mature in his knowledge and likeness of God


Garden means “tabernacled,” we will see this more later on.



• Abraham gives us a strong clue as to this purpose of the Garden







“Abraham was surrounded by an atmosphere of pagan idolatry, and God called him out of that mess to place him and his descendants in a relatively uninhabited portion of Canaan and an isolated part of Egypt so they could mature in their faith in God.” —Eugene Merrill, Everlasting Kingdom







Garden means “fenced in,” “enclosed,” “tabernacled”










= A Place of WORSHIP!









= A Place of WORSHIP!


= A Place of FELLOWSHIP!





He created all things in order to display His glory and majesty over a kingdom of space and time. Accompanying that work was His desire for fellowship with man, with whom He could also share His responsibilities of paternal kingship.

Fellowship




Fellowship

God’s desire for fellowship implies His pre-possession of fellowship before He created man.




Fellowship

God’s desire for fellowship implies His pre-possession of fellowship before He created man.Fellowship could not have begun with man as that would contradict God’s eternal nature. Out of the overflow of the fellowship that He enjoyed within His Triune Godhead, God created man.



“To love God in the Old Testament sense of the verb (’āhaḇ) was to choose Him…to make up one’s mind to serve Him unreservedly. Though love has its ordinary meaning of strong affection, along with its other emotional overtones … in covenant contexts the word (’āhaḇ) is virtually synonymous with (bahar) “to choose.” The love of God is as elective as it is emotive. In fact, HIS LOVE is expressed in the outward manifestation of choosing.” —Eugene Merrill, Everlasting Kingdom

Fellowship


“As” God’s Image Fellowship

An infinite God of love is a God of infinite love. Infinite love is uncontainable and can only be shared, expressed, and poured out. His choice to create man was that expression!






The blessing of getting married is being chosen out of the myriads of other choices in the world. The LOVE in marriage says, “I choose you!”





That’s what makes adultery so sinful and painful! It destroys the greatest blessing of love by saying, “I reject you and choose another!”



Man was created with free will and placed in a setting where the tempting choice to “choose another” (sin) was necessary…

Fellowship



Man was created with free will and placed in a setting where the tempting choice to “choose another” (sin) was necessary…

Fellowship

“Necessary,” because love can only be expressed through choice. A person must be presented the option to not love in order to love.



Creating man was not only risky, it was infinitely costly!

Fellowship



Creating man was not only risky, it was infinitely costly!

Fellowship

This presented the ultimate possibility of God sending His own Son Jesus to redeem man should he choose to disobey and sin.



We could almost imagine Satan tempting God right before the creation:

“You know if You create man, it will cost the crushing of Your Son Jesus, right?”



God still chose to create man.






What love!!!






What love!!!

God would rather have a family that He would suffer and die for, rather than not create free-willed man just so He could spare Himself from sending His Son to redeem man!






“You know if You create man, it will most likely cost the crushing of Your Son Jesus, right?”

Fellowship


What love!!!


Here it gets deep! The fact that God could create man, and God is eternal and all-knowing, for God NOT to create man would be utterly selfish, which contradicts His character.





Fellowship


What love!!!


Here it gets deep! The fact that God could create man, and God is eternal and all-knowing, for God NOT to create man would be utterly selfish, which contradicts His character.“God is Love” (1 John 4:16)





Fellowship


What love!!!



“Love is not selfish” (1 Cor. 13:5).

“God is Love” (1 John 4:16)





Fellowship


What love!!!



“Love is not selfish” (1 Cor. 13:5).

“God is Love” (1 John 4:16)

Therefore, the very creation of man was the highest expression of LOVE!





Fellowship

Therefore, the very creation of man was the highest expression of LOVE!

The creation of man had the Cross of Christ in it!


END PART 1



“What was from the beginning … what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ —1 John 1:1-4

What is the “WHAT” ?



“What was from the beginning … what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ —1 John 1:1-4

John writes, this fellowship is from (apo') the beginning, more than just in it. This is not merely the Genesis beginning—the initial starting point for man—but essentially The Beginning (archēs), the Pre-existing Source of creation Himself. The fellowship that is eternally in Him was from Him and bestowed upon us.



Q: Why this fellowship with man? What is God’s ultimate intention for it?


“As” God’s Image Fellowship Conformity

to Christ- Likeness

A: Because man can only come to intimately know God through continuous fellowship with Him, which would progressively conform him unto spiritual maturity




We can’t know a God (or anyone for that matter) that we don’t fellowship with often!

Conformity to Christ- Likeness






= DEVOTION!







= DEVOTION!

Man cannot become like someone he doesn’t know!






to Christ- Likeness

Adam, God’s earth-created son as to ultimately become a spiritually mature man closely mirroring the character of Jesus, the uncreated heavenly Son of God.



As we learned that tending the Garden was a test, the forbidden tree was another. Adam could have persevered from test to test unto gaining full knowledge of God through continuously denying his self-will, partaking more and more of God’s fellowship, and eating from the tree of life.





As we learned that tending the Garden was a test, the forbidden tree was another. Adam could have persevered from test to test unto gaining full knowledge of God through continuously denying his self-will, partaking more and more of God’s fellowship, and eating from the tree of life.


“Why would God test? Isn’t being testing the same as being tempted? Adam being tested by God sounds like a horrible social experiment!”




to Christ- Likeness

1) Faith cannot be faith unless it is tested. 2) “Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away” (Lk. 8:13).

3) “knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and endurance must do its complete work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:3-4).




to Christ- Likeness

Testing is the refiners fire that produces spiritual maturity and conformity to the image of Christ-likeness!




to Christ- Likeness

Testing is the refiners fire that produces spiritual maturity and conformity to the image of Christ-likeness!Without testing there is no growth!Testing and temptation are not the same! Testing is for our spiritual purification. Temptation shows what is being purified!

When God is testing us, He is not tempting us, not even close! Frankly, I don’t know where believers got this confused idea




to Christ- Likeness

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:8).

Clue:




to Christ- Likeness

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:8).

Clue:

Adam, God’s earth-created son as to ultimately become a spiritually mature man closely mirroring the character of Jesus, the uncreated heavenly Son of God. God gave man free-will so he could choose God (which is the Hb. definition of “love”) Man had the choice whether to use this gift independently for self or in accordance with God’s will. The more Adam would deny his own independent will, tested by the opportunity to eat from the tree of death yet choosing the tree of life (type of Christ), he would mature in the the likeness of Christ, who “learned obedience through what He suffered.”




God’s Functional Representation as…




God’s Functional Representation as…• His King-ship




God’s Functional Representation as…• His King-ship

God’s Viceroy — ruling over the earth as man joyfully submits to God’s perfect will.

= “Father, Your will be done, not mine”




God’s Functional Representation as…• His King-ship• His Character




God’s Functional Representation as…• His King-ship• His Character

Man’s moral compass = bears the marks of God’s character




• His King-ship• His Character• His Christ-likeness





• His King-ship• His Character• His Christ-likeness

Through fellowship with God, Adam (the earthly son) would progressively take on the character of Jesus (the heavenly Son)




in

THE FALL!

— — — —


“Forfeited”

God’s Image

in


— — — —


“Forfeited”

God’s Image

in


Driven by the Devil’s deception that the independent self-will leads to higher glory and better benefits, Adam “forfeited” the image of God through his rebellion.

— — — —


“Forfeited”

God’s Image

in


Driven by the Devil’s deception that the independent self-will leads to higher glory and better benefits, Adam “forfeited” the image of God through his rebellion.

Adam didn’t “lose” anything; he gave it away!

— — — —


“Forfeited”

God’s Image

Separated from God’s Ultimate

Intention

in


Adam and Eve were now completely separated from God’s ultimate intention after they forfeited the “functional representation” of God they were created to bear forth.

— — — —

“Forfeited”

God’s Image


“The

Way

” ba

ck


“For since by a man [Adam] came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” — 1 Cor. 15:21-22

“Forfeited”

God’s Image


“The

Way

” ba

ck


“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.” — Rom. 5:1-2

Access!

“Forfeited”

God’s Image


“The

Way

” ba

ck


“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.” — Rom. 5:1-2

Access!

“ACCESS” into what grace?

“Forfeited”

God’s Image

God’s Ultimate Intentionedemption

“The

Way

” ba

ck


Redemption fills the Christian’s view. The believer is so enamored with the good news that God has provided the “Way” back through the finished work of Christ, that he or she is just overwhelmed with rejoicing because of it – and rightly so!

“Forfeited”

God’s Image


“The

Way

” ba

ck


The believer desires to tell everyone about his or her sinful path away from God and the wonderful “Way” back God provided, which is so glorious and beautiful. Now as Christians, they have been reunited with the right path of God. This is still good and right!

“Forfeited”

God’s Image


“The

Way

” ba

ck


The believer desires to tell everyone about his or her sinful path away from God and the wonderful “Way” back God provided, which is so glorious and beautiful. Now as Christians, they have been reunited with the right path of God. This is still good and right!

However . . .

“Forfeited”

God’s Image


“The

Way

” ba

ck


A year goes by, then 2, then 5, 10…etc. They are still hanging out on that corner of the path of repentance and redemption, telling of what they were like separated from God and what He did about it.

Repe

ntan

ce R

d.

“Forfeited”

God’s Image


“The

Way

” ba

ck


And . . .A year goes by, then 2, then 5, 10…etc. They are still hanging out on that corner of the path of repentance and redemption, telling of what they were like separated from God and what He did about it.

Repe

ntan

ce R

d.

“Forfeited”

God’s Image

edemption

“The

Way

” ba

ck



God’s Ultimate Intention is cut-off and ends up becoming “God’s Ultimate Redemption”

Repe

ntan

ce R

d.

“Forfeited”

God’s Image

edemption

“The

Way

” ba

ck



They spend all their evangelistic efforts speaking of the big

V in the diagram.

Repe

ntan

ce R

d.

“Forfeited”

God’s Image

edemption

“The

Way

” ba

ck



The “get good, miss bad” mentality so consumes the presentation of the Gospel.

Repe

ntan

ce R

d.

“Forfeited”

God’s Image

edemption

“The

Way

” ba

ck



The “get good, miss bad” mentality so consumes the presentation of the Gospel.

The best then that the church offers as reason for God’s redemption through Christ becomes…

“To miss hell and get heaven” — a completely self-centered purpose.

Repe

ntan

ce R

d.

“Forfeited”

God’s Image

edemption

“The

Way

” ba

ck



If salvation is purely about “missing hell and gaining heaven,” then most of salvation’s value rests in the future tense…In other words, at the end of our life.

Repe

ntan

ce R

d.

It doesn’t have much present tense value; at least not a lasting value that continues to blossom once the novelty of the “salvation experience” wears off!

“Forfeited”

God’s Image

edemption

“The

Way

” ba

ck


Conformity to Christ- LikenessRe

pent

ance

Rd.

Any salvation that doesn’t have fellowship with God as the prize:

=• What messes God got us out of• Membership at social clubs for

“religious people” (a.k.a. being a church-goer)

If salvation is purely about “missing hell and gaining heaven,” then most of salvation’s value rests in the future tense…In other words, at the end of our life.

It doesn’t have much present tense value; at least not a lasting value that continues to blossom once the novelty of the “salvation experience” wears off!

“Forfeited”

God’s Image

edemption

“The

Way

” ba

ck



The big V takes full precedence while Z is never discussed, taught, or pursued.

Repe

ntan

ce R

d.

“Forfeited”

God’s Image

edemption

“The

Way

” ba

ck



Therefore the Gospel remains almost purely about what God is going to do for man rather than what God wants to do in man…

Repe

ntan

ce R

d.

“Forfeited”

God’s Image

edemption

“The

Way

” ba

ck



Therefore the Gospel remains almost purely about what God is going to do for man rather than what God wants to do in man…

Repe

ntan

ce R

d.

What man can be delivered out of, rather than what he can be delivered unto.

“Forfeited”

God’s Image

“The

Way

” ba

ck



We MUST tear down the wall and help one another get off the corner and make that “RIGHT TURN” at Redemption.

- - ->

Repe

ntan

ce R

d.

“Forfeited”

God’s Image



We MUST understand that we have been redeemed back to the road of “Christ conformity.”

- - ->“The Way”

onward

“The

Way

” ba

ck

“Forfeited”

God’s Image


We MUST understand and preach that God’s ultimate intention was never derailed by man’s sin.


“The Way” onward

“The

Way

” ba

ck

Fellowship with God & Christ-like conformity has been, is, and eternally will be God’s ultimate intention.

“Forfeited”

God’s Image

HAVE YOU ENTERED THE PURSUIT?


God’s Ultimate Intention“The Way”

onward

“The

Way

” ba

ck

god's ultimate intention (ppt2016)

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