Seventh Sunday after Trinity (2024)
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Gen 2:7-17
Gen 2:7-17
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, in our Old Testament lesson today God explains how it is that he formed and shaped man on the 6th day of creation. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” In Genesis 1 God gives to mankind the authority to have dominion over the creatures of the earth and the commands to be fruitful and multiply and subdue the earth. Which leaves one wondering what is man that God would give to us this authority? That is where Chapter 2 comes in, and this lays the foundation for why human life is so precious.
Where Do We Come From?
What is life like if you don’t know your parents?
You are left wondering about who you are, where you come from, why do you do the things you do? There are a host of questions that are answered when we know where we come from, and can see our mom and dad. The more we learn about our family outside of that. It is good and beneficial to know our history.
Why would the origin of mankind matter?
Well if knowing our parents is important, it would stand to reason that knowing where the human race comes from would be beneficial as well. To know who the founders of our race are, is there a purpose or plan for humanity, and what were we placed here to do, why do we exist?
How does it affect our worldview?
This is how we see the world and humanity and it shapes our understanding of how we are to live and what we are to do, how we deal with the worries and chaos of this life. How we answer the questions of why is there evil and brokenness.
The Value of Origins
If we’re animals, then how should we act?
If you tell people that they come from bacteria that evolved and matured into slime, and eventually turned into apes, and finally into man. Well how is it that we as animals have risen to this point in the world?
We should embrace survival of the fittest.
Which means whatever makes sure that those most suited to survival ought to be the ones that have continue to have children. All of those who would not contribute meaningfully to the species do we want them to continue in the human race.
What should stop us from treating people like livestock?
If you have an animal that has a genetic defect, that is more sickly, that has an abnormal mutation, then what do you do with the animal? If we are nothing but animals then what about us?
If you embrace evolution, it leads there.
I know that sounds shocking, but it has already been done in our history, and its been practiced whenever people are treated as property or nothing but animals. Because the only value that a person has is what they can contribute to the species and anyone that doesn’t is removed. It is great evil, because God didn’t make use to be animals.
The Value of Creation
If God created us, what does that change?
If you are more than the result of random chance. Rather consider that God created and designed humanity to be here on earth. God created us separate and distinct from the animals of the earth, for called forth all the other animals and created them by His Word, but what does our text tell us. God shaped mankind with a purpose, and brought our lifeless clay to life, with His breath/spirit. Then you being here isn’t an accident.
The worth and value of a person comes from God.
For God not only formed and shaped Adam and Eve, but it tells us in the Psalms that He even knit us together in our mother’s womb. God has been watching over us from the moment of our conception. For we are precious in His sight.
Each person is someone to treat with love.
Not because of how they act or how they have treated us, but because of who created them. For each one of you here isn’t an accident, didn’t happen by chance, and isn’t just some animal. God created mankind to be steward’s of all creation and set us apart from the Creation and entrusted us with care for the creation for God works through us.
The Forbidden Tree
Some have wondered, why include this tree?
God told them that they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Now we look at it and think, well if I’m told to not do something, doesn’t that intice me to do it?? It does, but that’s because we have been corrupted by sin. Adam and Eve didn’t have that inborn sin, they were good and had a will that was truly free unlike our will which has been corrupted. You see
The name of the tree has a double meaning.
It’s not only the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but the tree by which good and evil are known. They could disobey God and embrace evil, or they could abide by God’s word and remain good. Their will was free of this corruption.
They showed love for God by keeping His command.
So when they kept God’s words, and abided by his command to not eat of the tree, they demonstrated, their love, their trust and their reliance on God’s Word. They believed their creator that He would watch over them and provide for them in this life.
The Fall of Creation
Why is everything given over to death?
Because when temptation came and the tree was at the center, Satan tempted Eve to partake of the fruit, and she gave some to her husband who standing by there and they knew instead evil. The other thing we find out is that the
The earth is under the same curse.
For what did God use to shape Adam? So the creation became tainted by the sin of Adam to the point that everything came under a curse. So like our bodies the world too is wearing out and coming to an end, all creation is. That is the power and the effect of sin, for God’s wrath is against it.
Does God care?
Certainly, He is our Creator, you don’t shape something and give it life, because you hate it. You don’t give to something your image because you want it to perish, you want it to endure. So that is why God who created the world out of Love and God didn’t abandon. Even though the world had rejected Him, and they chose to worship themselves and their own wisdom, and the creation. God gave to the world hope.
The Hope of Creation
We have a maker who is good.
God shows His goodness not just on those who loved him, but while we were yet still sinners. When mankind had fallen away and instead embraced evil and wickedness and didn’t desire his presence. Death took hold over mankind on that day, it wasn’t immediate, but the Spirit of God that had brought us to life perished and we could no longer remain in the presence of God. So what did the Father do?
The Father sent the Son to save creation.
God didn’t abandon the world, but He gave up His only-begotten Son to save you, and promises that whoever believes in Him shall ahve eternal life. For the tree of life shows up at the end of the Bible and it shows up in the Holy City of Jerusalem, in the new heavens and the new earth where God makes His dwelling place with mankind. Our hope isn’t tied to this world, but rather the Kingdom of God that is to come. That allows us to bear all manner of affliction and trial. Because no matter how bad or challenging it gets, It is in our Creator’s hands.
In Evolution, there is no hope.
Because all you have is the material world, which is subject to decay. When you stray away from Christianity, the only thing you are left with is yourself. Which means everything is on your shoulders, this is part of why the world is growing increasingly anxious and mental illnesses, because if we are just the result of random chance and the world is decaying and its on your shoulders to hold together everything that is going on, then you aren’t doing enough nor is everyone else, and if you don’t we’re all doomed. If you are trying to address the problem and effects of sin without involving God, what hope do they have?
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, this past week in VBS the kids learned about the Bible being a Bedrock upon which we can build. We want to know these teachings first. Many think that they can gain the benefits of a strong faith without knowing the teachings or studying the Scriptures. There is much to be gained by learning more about the Bible. Not just for yourself, but for the many out there who are struggling, and think that they are no different than the animals. So what does it matter if they live or die? What does it matter how they treat their neighbor, if they are weaker or inferior doesn’t that give me the right to assert my dominance over them? If I’m weaker than doesn’t that mean I should let the stronger dominate? But you are God’s creation, You are one that God loves so much taht He sent His son into the world to save you.
