What was God’s original purpose and plan
for man in the beginning and even now?
"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. So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." --Genesis 1:26-28
Note: We were made in the image of God. We understand this to be, mainly, His character. For when we are like Him in character we will be one with His purposes and plans. We will love as He loves and our motives will be pure and unselfish. But what has happened to us? Man, without a Saviour, has become just the opposite of what God intended.
"And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." --Genesis 2:7
Note:Man became a living soul, after God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. One text says, in Him we live and move and have our being. He created man perfect in body, mind, and spirit in the beginning.
"And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." --Genesis 2:15
Note: This was a pleasant job God appointed for man in the beginning. After he sinned gardening became quite toilsome, but to start with it was very pleasant and rewarding. From what we can understand, God had other enterprises and activities to occupy our time. He intended for man to enjoy learning, creating, traveling for all eternity—ever expanding his powers of mind in unselfish endeavors. For those who seek His will God still has these plans.
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all [things] under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, [and whatsoever] passeth through the paths of the seas." --Psalm 8:4-8
Note: Man had the care of everything God made on this earth. He learned many things about the natural world he was put in charge of. Everything around him was pleasant and beautiful. God even gave him a companion who was a complement to him and a equal partner in all this. Yet, something happened to spoil all this paradise.
"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." --Acts 17:24-28
Note: God made man to enjoy this world and whatever his future held was sure to be wonderful and would expand as he learned more. Yet, our Creator asked us to worship Him as our Maker and the Giver of all blessings. This was not a hard thing for man to do in his perfect state. He needed to remember he was dependent on God for life itself and the continuation of life and all that is in it. Yet, something happened to spoil all this.
Read Genesis 3:1-24 (The story of the fall of mankind)
Note: This sad story of Eve’s being deceived by our worst enemy (who we will learn more about in a later study) helps us to understand why sin and suffering continue today. God never intended for man to fall, but He made provision for it before it ever happened. Yes, He knows the end from the beginning. The plan God laid out for our salvation and the end of suffering and sin takes time. He not only wants us to realize how terrible it is, but He wants the whole universe to understand, so sin will not rise the second time.
"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." --Psalm 51:5
Note: This doesn’t mean all mothers commit a sin to have a child. God intended humans to have children. But all of our ancestors have received the sinful nature and passed it on their children. We are guilty of sin when we choose to sin, and the tendency is present ever since our births. We might blame Adam and Eve for our sins, but this will not solve the problem. Many people blame their parents for their bad habits, but this doesn’t solve the problem of sin in our own lives. Only Christ can solve the sin problem, and we will learn more about this later.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as [it was] by one that sinned, [so is] the gift: for the judgment [was] by one to condemnation, but the free gift [is] of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" --Romans 5: 12-17
Note: Thus, the gift of righteousness comes through our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Not only does He forgive our past sins, but He will give us divine power to become more like Him in character. We will , day by day, be renewed in His image– the same image He intended for man in the beginning. In spite of the sinful natures we inherited, God is still willing to give us all we need to become what He wants us to be. For He knows this is the only way we will be happy for eternity. Those who choose not to serve Him would never be happy in a perfect, unselfish world.
"Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." --2 Corinthians 5: 17-20
Note: Through Christ we are reconciled to God. When our sins are forgiven and we are living our life for Him, we become ambassadors for Christ (living witnesses in words and actions to the power of God to change humans).
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." --Psalm 51:10
Note: David understood his great need. He not only repented of his great sins, he longed for God to clean his heart, motives, and attitudes up. Can we pray for anything less?
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" --1 John 4:7-20
Note: The basis for being renewed in God’s image is LOVE– pure agape love. This is an unselfish love, and only this kind of love can bring us happiness for eternity.
CONCLUSION:
God’s loving purpose will be fulfilled
in those who choose to trust and obey Him.
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