Alright, guys. As you can see, we are continuing our study in the Gospel Project, and we are still, of course, in the book of Genesis. And there are three main sections that we're going to be looking at this morning. Genesis 1, 26-31, Genesis 2, 1-3, and verse 15. and then Genesis 2, 16 through 18, and then verses 21 through 25. And if you just look at the handout, you'll be able to see the text that is already on your sheet. So I'm gonna ask for three volunteers. Three volunteers, first to read Genesis 1, 26 through 31, and then a second volunteer to read Genesis 2, one through three, and verse 15. And then Genesis 2, 16 through 18, and 21 through 25. Who will take that first passage? Brittany, thank you. Second passage. Anybody? What's your name again? Brent, sorry. Brent, thank you. Third passage. Tim. So just go ahead and read whenever you're ready, guys. God who created man, man who created us. Thank you. Thank you. Tim. 21. Thank you. Let's look at the session summary together here, guys. In the previous session, we traced the first five and a half days of creation, seeing that God created everything good for his son. In this session, we will examine the rest of the creation account and focus on the pinnacle of creation, humanity. In doing so, we will see that God created people to be unique from the rest of his creation and to bear his image in every facet of life. It is in bearing God's image that we find our dignity and purpose and the foundation for our relationships with God and others. Let's look at our first question under the main heading, we bear God's image and how we rule over the earth. Question one, the ESV study Bible notes say this regarding Genesis 126. Many Christians and some Jews have taken us to be God speaking to himself since God alone does the making in Genesis 127. This would be the first hint of the Trinity in the Bible. Can you think of any particular reason why it would be most appropriate to have a reference to the Trinity in Genesis 1? Go ahead, Brittany. Okay, good. Who else? Steve? Good, good. Anyone else? Yeah. Yeah, that's good. Yeah, yeah, that's good. That is good, man. Anybody else? Good answers. Here's what I put down. All those answers are great. I think it would be most appropriate to have a reference to the Trinity in Genesis 1, seeing that the triune Godhead plays an integral part throughout the Bible's storyline. The plan of redemption is totally dependent upon the various works of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It's so important in the Christian life to not lose sight of that. God, the Father, God, the Son, God, the Holy Spirit. I know that growing up in the church myself, I think if there's been one aspect of the Trinity that has been ignored, Wrongly so, it's been the work of the Holy Spirit. And I think part of that is because, I think growing up, I was never, like, into charismatic theology. And I think that's one of the drawbacks of charismatic theology. And I'm not blasting charismatics, but I'm just saying in terms of theology. So I kind of shunned away from that. And I think that was a mistake on my part because I think that at times I took it too far. You have to remember that we worship God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And God the Holy Spirit plays a major role in the work of redemption. And so let's not lose sight of that. That's a very important truth for us to realize. If you want to live a balanced Christian life, you need to have a balanced understanding of the Trinity. That doctrine is vitally important to Christian living. Okay? Question number two. It states in Genesis 127, so God created man in his own image. In the image of God, he created him. Male and female, he created them. What important truths does this verse reveal to us regarding the creation of male and female? This is really good. Go ahead, Jeff. Yeah, yeah, very good. Go ahead, Tim. Yeah, that is so important to grasp. That is so important to get. Because today, you still have those that just the way they talk, it's almost like, you know, God favors man over woman. You don't see that in the Bible. You're not getting that from the Bible. You know, we are meant to be together. And in the fact that it says what it does here in Genesis 127 should make that crystal clear. Male and female. This is the image of God. Male and female. And that's a vitally important thing to understand. Go ahead, Stacey. Wow, that's really good. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. That is such a good point. I didn't even think about that. But when you said that, one of the first thoughts that came to my mind is, and I'm sure you guys can relate to this, it's hard at times because when you see what's happening in society, and you hear the way that people are so vigorously defending transgenderism and the like, it's hard not to get somewhat angry. And I'm not defending being angry in a sinful way, but there is such thing as a righteous indignation. And I think that as a child of God, as a man or woman who believes in the authority of Scripture, something like that should bother you, because that's not God's design. and the way that society is working so hard to just to twist the Word of God, or to literally just ignore the Word of God, and act as if this Word has no authority whatsoever, and trying to do this in a way that intimidates those who continue to hold to the Word of God as the authority. This is the only authoritative truth source that we have. It is the Word of God. It's not society. It's not culture. It's not philosophy. It is the Word of God, and that's why we must maintain what the Word of God says, but we also must be careful, as we live in a sin-fallen society, to make sure that we're not acting like those around us, that we're not speaking the truth with anger, that we're not being insulting, because we first have to realize that our unsaved neighbors do not see the truth of Scripture. They don't understand it. What you and I understand, they don't understand. We talk about Jesus Christ, we talk about salvation, we talk about the indwelling work of the Spirit in our lives, they can't relate to that. That makes no sense to them. And then when we share things like this, say an issue regarding gender, They're so immersed in culture that Satan has their mind. And so they are blinded by Satan. And so therefore, I think it's vitally important for us as believers to always speak the truth, to always be willing to defend the truth, but to make sure that when you do this, that you do it in love, that you don't act like those around you. who are acting so ungodly in the way that they speak the truth. We don't have to yell. We don't have to be offensive. All we have to do is speak the truth in love, give the truth of the Gospel, and the Holy Spirit does the rest. We can't save anybody, but the Spirit of God does. What God calls all of us to do is to be faithful where we are, living out the ramifications of the Gospel, speaking the truth of the Gospel, and showing that the Gospel has truly transformed our own lives. Sure, sure. And if God doesn't intervene, if the Holy Spirit doesn't intervene, that sin will lead them straight into hell. But that's why we continue to pray for the lost. That's why we need to be men and women who take evangelistic prayer very seriously. Because there before the grace of God go I. Now, the only reason you and I are not in the same condition as others around us is because of the grace of God. It's got nothing to do with you and me. There's nothing good in any of us before Christ touches our hearts and awakens us spiritually. And that's just a fact. So that's something that should humble us. Go ahead, Laura. And she was really confusing me in this two or three hour conversation we had. Why am I doing that? She really believed that they were saved as well and that this is just one woman's all over the world and it's not sin. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Unfortunately, that's not the first time I've heard things like that. Look, I mean, again, this is why we need to know the Word of God, like you just said, Laura. Again, we speak the truth in love, and I don't know where she's coming from. I mean, there are some serious problems with her spiritual understanding. I would say that if she continues holding to such a view, she should seriously reevaluate her own spirituality. I'd hold to something like that, because Scripture is not unclear in calling sin, sin. And for anyone to think that because of the fall, like I've said this to numerous people that I've spoken to about this issue, I said, you can say to me whatever you want, I know this much for sure, because it's clearly taught in Scripture, that if you're living a life of homosexuality, you will not enter the kingdom of God. The Bible's crystal clear on that. I mean, there's no confusion on that passage in 1 Corinthians. So, you have to be very careful. There are those who embrace Christ today for real, who struggle with homosexual desires, and I understand that, and I pray for these brothers and sisters in Christ. I certainly believe that you can be a true believer and struggle with stuff like that. We have not been glorified yet. All of us have certain besetting sins that we have a hard time overcoming. But if you are engaging in that behavior, and this is where the Bible is crystal clear, If you are engaging in that behavior, if that's your lifestyle, the Bible is crystal clear that you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. And this is something that society does not want to hear because it's considered hate speech. But that's just another reason why we have to do everything we can to make sure that we're saying what we're saying in love and not in hate bin. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks, Ben. Jeff, did you have your hand up? Right. Sure. Sure. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. Kelly, do you want to say something? Right. Yeah. Sure. Sure. Yeah. Right, right, yeah. When I worked in the circuit board industry in Florida, there were two girls that I worked with who were living a homosexual lifestyle, and I made sure that I had a really good relationship with both of them. I wanted to make sure that they did not think that I was treating them any differently than anybody else. I mean, they knew that I was heading towards the ministry, And so, I was very sensitive to that, because I don't want them to think that, oh, here we go, you know, this guy's a Bible believer, so he's going to look down on me. I don't want to do that, although sometimes in my own weakness. I mean, look, there are certain sins that I see that just makes me sick. I mean, they do, and I get angry. But I have to be very careful with that, because if I'm not careful, suddenly I'm acting like the unsaved world. Again, there before the grace of God go I. And so we can't lose sight of that. It's only because of God's grace that we're not moving in that direction right now. It's God's grace. And so always remember who you are in Christ and remember that wherever God has you, the people that he brings you into contact with, that you rub shoulders with, all of this is part of God's divine design. Nothing happens in the Christian life, or actually in any part of life, by mistake. It's never just chance. Everything happens according to the providence of God, according to the sovereignty of God. And so you have to start with that as your foundation. God knows what He's doing. If He's brought homosexual people into your life, be praying for the best way to handle that relationship. Ask for wisdom, a wisdom that God will give as we ask for it. Kathy, you wanted to say something. video. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And there are so many examples in scripture why that is such a big mistake. I mean, look at Abraham. Oh, my goodness. You know, he said that the child of promise is Isaac. He hasn't come yet. And he tried to move the way he did. And look at the Middle East today. He tried to take matters into his own hand. And Ishmael and Isaac and all that came from that. God knows what He's doing, trust in Him, and whatever comes, let it come, because as the people of God, we know that we win in the end, because the grave was empty on Easter morning. So that is the great victory of the Christian life, is the resurrection. Because Jesus rose, we will rise. We know that He is the Son of God. We know that He has fulfilled the plan of redemption, that there is salvation by faith in Christ and in Him alone. So praise be to God for that. So thank you guys. I'm sorry, Lorraine, did you want to say something? Sure. Yes and living in society today I mean you guys have all seen it yourself and you've experienced in various degrees it's getting harder and harder to live a faithful Christian life I mean it just is but I mean, look, I don't want to be persecuted. I don't like pain. But, I mean, when you look at the history of the church, I mean, the faithful people of God have been known throughout the centuries to be persecuted. I mean, even to the point of death. And so, this is common knowledge, and we see it in the Bible itself. And so, by God's grace, that will not happen in our time. But maybe it will. I mean, I don't know. But again, God calls us to be faithful where we are. Be faithful where you are. Do things the right way. Do things in the way that you know God has called you to, in accordance with His Word. And you let the chips fall where they may. But you continue to trust in Him. This is what God's looking for. He's looking for a faithful group of people who will work in this sin-fallen world to advance his kingdom in this world. And that's what he wants to do. And I would probably say that most of us, if not all of us, have not been called to die for Christ, but all of us have been called to live for Christ, though some have been called to die for Christ. And only time will tell whether or not that's the case with each of us as individuals. Ray. God's hatred for sin is real. And that hatred is going to be poured out fully in the pit of hell. No doubt about that. But while we are here, our goal is to preach the truth of Christ at the elect of God whom we do not know. We don't know who the elect of God are. That's why we are to pray, and to pray, and to share the gospel, and to live out the ramifications of the gospel, that that gospel might save the elect of God. And we know that it will save the elect of God. But again, it goes back to living faithful lives. Steve. At the University of Pittsburgh. Wow, that's great man. That's great. Thank you guys. Number three. Genesis 128 is referred to as the cultural mandate. The Nine Marks website says this of the cultural mandate. The cultural mandate is the command to exercise dominion over the earth, subdue it, and develop its latent potential. God calls all humans as those made in his image to fill the earth with his glory through creating what we commonly call culture. The cultural mandate is given to all people. Therefore, the cultural mandate is not just for the people of God. Moreover, it is not uniquely tied to the gospel or the Great Commission, which is a distinct mandate given to the people of God alone. Having said that, only the true people of God, the church, will be able to fulfill the cultural mandate as it was intended, according to the desire to give glory to God. From a Christian worldview, what is the practical importance of being fruitful and multiplying? And then what is the practical importance of developing the earth's potential? Let's talk first about being fruitful and multiplying from a Christian perspective. Why is that important? Go ahead, Jed. Say it again, Joseph. Okay. Yes. Okay, good. What else? What is your goal as a parent, as a Christian parent, with your kids? Bringing them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. And the hope is? Salvation. Now there's no guarantee that just because you are a Christian that your children are going to know Christ, but I do think you can defend from scripture that children have a better chance of coming to Christ if they grow up in a Christian home. You know, think of the passage in Proverbs. Train a child in the way he will go. My mind is going blank on me. Train the child in the way he will go. I don't have kids. And that's right, he will not depart from it. That's right. Sorry about that. Oh my gosh. My goodness. But, so I think there is a defense for that. So, you know, when it comes to being fruitful and multiplying as a parent, you want to see your kids come to Christ. And so, that's one of your greatest prayers is that will happen. And you're going to do that by raising them in the right way. You're going to get them to understand the importance of the Bible. You're going to make sure that your home is a Bible-believing home. That the structure of the home has the Bible, which is setting the parameters. And that's good because we want to have more Christians. I mean one of the things I was thinking about even the past election with Jeremy is that having a Christian voice, somebody who truly loves Christ, being in a position of influence, political influence. Yes, praise be to God for that, and that was our hope, but God has a different plan for Jeremy in that regard. But this is all part of it, raising your kids in the right way, to see them grow up and be great representatives of Jesus Christ. Go ahead, Mark. Yeah, that's good, Mark. Thanks, Ben. Very important in the church. Go ahead, Jeff. Wow, that's interesting. That's good. Yeah, that is true. That is definitely true. That is definitely true. Yeah. Joseph. Right. Right. Right. Sure. Absolutely. Yes. That's good, man. Kathy. That's right. That's right. That's good. Tim, you're going to. Right. That's good, guys. That's good stuff. Just quickly, the second answer that I had here for the practical importance of developing the earth's potential. Developing the earth's potential The practical importance of developing the earth's potential is that the earth's resources will be used in a way that benefits all humanity, leading to a magnification of God's goodness as believers credit the Lord for sovereignly providing such advancements. It's not just what you do in the church. There are Christian scientists. so many that have an impact in the medical field, for example. But doing what you do to the glory of God, where that is your motivation, and for the world to know that, you know, it's a great witness for Christ. And so, to bring that down a bit, None of us are going to necessarily find the next great cure, at least none of us here I don't think, but the fact that God puts us where we are and our mindset is to do the best we can to be faithful stewards of what God has given to us, this great planet. and just looking to develop and to progress, but in a God-honoring way. That's what we're seeking to do. So that helps bring us to our jobs, for example, as an example. You know, doing the best we can wherever it is the Lord has us, vocationally speaking. And that kind of leads us into the second section here. We bear God's image in how we work and rest. We're almost out of time, so let me just do number five. According to the MacArthur Study Bible Notes on Genesis 2-2, God certainly did not rest due to weariness. Rather, establishing the pattern for man's work cycle, He only modeled the need for rest. How exactly does our need for rest bring glory to God? Kathy? Okay, that's good. Yeah, did you hear that? It shows our dependence on God. Very good. Anyone else? Here's what I put down. Our need for rest brings glory to God and that through our willful resting we are displaying a total trust in God's provision. In the words of Old Testament scholar Bruce Waltke, the Sabbath is the sign that the Creator has set Israel apart for a special covenant relationship with Him. In the New Testament, believers gather together on the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, to break bread and to read, teach, and study scriptures. A person who feels inclined to work seven days a week should examine what God he or she worships. God is that to which your heart clings and it trusts itself. Those who find their security and significance in mammon or professionalism find community worship on the first floor.