The Creation of Man

OBJECTIVE

This lesson will discuss:

  • The Creation of Man
  • God's Intention for Mankind

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this lesson is to discuss the fall and salvation of humanity. It will bring together the creation of man and God's intention for mankind, explaining how freedom of choice given to mankind leads to the fall of mankind. This then leads to the mercy of God being manifested through the promise of a Savior to redeem mankind death.

HOLY SCRIPTURE

"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have domain over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over ever living thing that moves on the earth.'" (Genesis 1:26-28)

"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 being." (Genesis 2:7)

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works" (Psalm 139: 14)

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

CONTENT (KEY POINTS)

Ask the students:

  • Is God lacking anything? (No)
  • Does God need anything? (No)
  • So Why do you think mankind was created? Why did God create us?

listen to answers of the youth

Let's look at Genesis 1. Who can tell me the days of creation (note that "days" means "period of time" not 24-hours)?

  • Day 1 - Light / Darkness ; Day and Night
  • Day 2 - The sky (the firmament)
  • Day 3 - dry land, seas, grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth
  • Day 4 - the Sun, Moon and stars
  • Day 5 - Sea creatures and birds
  • Day 6 - cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, mankind
  • Day 7 - "God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." Genesis 2:2-3

What does this tell us about God:

  • He's very organized and shows order through His steps of creations
  • He's creates things on purpose and with a purpose; God is not haphazard
  • He set everything up for mankind to live a very good life. He provided for us before we were even created
  • God did not create anything evil. (See video in Servants' Resources section regarding did God create evil)
    • A Good God cannot create something that is evil. Evil is created through free will. It is not the lack of good but the free-will rejection of good.
      • (God doesn't make things that are bad, but the creation fell with sin, and became broken.)
  • God created the universe; all things were made by God
    • All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. John 1:3
  • All persons of the Trinity participated in the creation
    • The Father is the source or cause of creation;
    • The Son is the architect and master craftsman of creation;
    • The Holy Spirit is the Life-Giver that animated and gave life to all of creation.
    • Everything in creation came through the Holy Trinity, because the Holy Trinity is united in everything.
  • God is "Pantocrator," creator, governor and Lord of all
  • God empowers mankind
    • He gave mankind authority and responsibility over the earth and animals

What does this tell us about God's view of mankind?

  • He cares for us very much. We are the crown of His creation. If we look into Genesis 1 even further, we see that after each of the first 5 days, God sees His creation and calls them "good". However, this was not done after creating humanity. After day 6, it says "Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good" Genesis 1: 31. The entire economy, crowned with the creation of humanity was very good
  • If we look at Genesis 1 and 2, God even created mankind differently than all other creation. For all other creation, God spoke and things came into existence. For humanity, it says in Genesis 2:7 "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 being."

So why did God do all this for us? Why did He create us, and create us with such honor and exaltation?

From various Bible passages, such as John 21, 1 Cor 13 and 1 John 4, there are different types of love such as:

  • Philia -- friendship love.
  • Eros -- romantic love / erotic.
  • Agape -- unconditional love.

This last type of love is what St. John uses to describe God: God is loveagape (1 John 4:8). This love is unconditional love, sacrificial love, giving love... the love that doesn't seek it's own and is more focused on giving, sharing and sacrificing. This was expressed vividly in the incarnation, ministry and suffering of God the Son.

Thus God looked to share this love...to share HIMSELF.

Hence in the creation of man, man was made a rational being with logic, emotion, a conscience, a soul, free will and GOD HIMSELF: God the Holy Spirit which was given to us when God breathed in the nostrils of Adam (cf Gen 2:7).

  • God wills to share Himself with us.
  • And thus He created mankind.

Not just as any other creation but in HIS IMAGE. This is unique to mankind and a grace given to humanity.

  • The Lord Christ is the Very, True, and Absolute Image of God (cf. Col. 1:15, Heb. 1:3).

He made us in His image and gave us Himself to share in the love with Him.

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works" (Psalm 139: 14)

The Church sometimes uses the term "Eucharistic" to describe humanity's state before the Fall. The term "Eucharist" is derived from the Greek word eucharistia which means "Thanksgiving" and also happens to also be the term used for the Sacrament(Mystery) of Communion. In this sense, man was created to share the love of all of God's creation and see the world as God's gift to man, a sacrament of God's presence, and a means of communion with Him. Therefore, man was created with the intention to live a life full of joy and thanksgiving for all that was freely given to him.

Everything that man experienced and did was filled with the contemplation of God and was seen as a sacramental act towards oneness with Him. From every breath he took to every meal man enjoyed in Paradise, every act was seen as "Eucharistic" and a reason for giving thanks, invoking joy and praise towards God which helped carry man closer into communion with Him.

Side note: With this said, the Church understands the "Eucharistic" state of man in relation to his vocation as a priest of the entire world. Man alone of all living things is capable of praising God verbally and blessing Him. The entire universe is entrusted to him as a gift, for which he is to bring a "sacrifice of praise" and offer back to God as "an oblation from what is His." In this Eucharistic offering lies the meaning of man's existence: all creation assign to human this high-priestly ministry in order that God may be praised continuously through their lips.

LITURGICS

Monday Theotokia:

"While Adam was sad, God was pleased, to bring him back, to his authority

God felt compassionate, through His love for man, and was pleased, to free her Eve once again.

Rejoice and be happy, O human race, for God so revealed, His love to the world,

That He gave, His beloved Son, for those who believe in Him, so that they may live forever

For He was overcome, by His compassion, and sent unto us, His almighty arm"

APPLICATION (Action)

What does the creation narrative mean to you? Is there any impact or application today?

There are many aspects that are relevant and impactful but let's discuss two major ones

Through the Creation Narrative, who am I to God?

  • I am special and precious in God's eyes (God values me)

Despite the fall, God continues to call us inscribed on the palm of His hands, wonderfully made, children, free, friends.

The devil uses the same lies today as he did thousands of years ago. He tries to trick us into many things. The devil often times, tries to trick us, as He tricked Adam and Even into believing that 1. God doesn't love us as much as He says (insinuating that God is a liar) or 2. I don't deserve to be loved by God.

God's creation should show us just how loving God is and how special and precious we are to God.

It can be easy to get bogged down in body image and popularity with the hopes of being liked, being valued.

From the beginning, God has showed us how precious we are to Him. How much He values us. God doesn't need anything yet still went through all of this to create us and so much to renew us and make us a new creation with the hopes of sharing in His love.

We run after people in hopes of being "loved", accepted, valued, sought after... God has been saying it and doing it from the beginning. He's our number 1 fan and loves us more than we can ever comprehend.

It's important to remember that God created us ONLY because He loves us and He wants to be in deep communion with us. You -- each one of you -- is special and irreplaceable. God never had to create you, but He takes delight in you You are precious in His eyes.

Through the Creation Narrative, who is God to me?

The idea that God is a legalistic God or simply a judge or a wrathful God is very far from the truth. God didn't create us to be minions or mindless creatures but to have a relationship with Him.

This was the original intention of our creation and is still the intention of our being. To have a relationship with God and reciprocate in His love.

That's who God is. God is love and offers us His love, His peace, His joy. God is present, God is involved in my life. God desires me. He leaves it up to me to decide to accept and reciprocate that love or not. All His commandments and direction are ways that lead us to His love. All our spiritual practices should lead us to His love and deepen our love for Him.

THE NEXT STEP FOR ME IS TO RECIPROCATE HIS LOVE.

(Talk to Him, Commune with Him, Learn about Him, Trust Him, Depend on Him, Prioritize Him - Make Him the crown of your life)

SERVANT RESOURCES

  • Did God Create Evil? | Coptic Orthodox Answers
  • St. Athanasius, On the Incarnation
  • St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Gospel of John, Book 2, Ch. 1:32-33 (Ancient Christian texts, pp. 81-82), Ch. 7
  • St. Ephrem the Syrian, Commentary on Genesis
  • St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Origin of Man
  • St. John Chrysostom, Sermons on Genesis
  • St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Making of Man