The Brinkley argus., 1919-05-02
IMPROVED uNroxM INTERNATIONAL SUNNSQ1OOL
 LESSON By REV. P. B. FITZwATER, D D.. Teacher of English Bible In the oody Bible Institute of Chicago) Copyright. 1919. by Western NeMspsger Lnl.n ?
LESSON FOR MAY 4
MAN MADE IN THE IMAGE oi
 GOD.

GOD.
 LESSON TEXTS-Genesis 21:26-S; Ephe- sians 4:20-24 Genesis 2:7-9.
 GOLDEN TEXT-God created man Tn his own image.-Gen. 1:27.
 DEVOTIONAL READING-Psalms B.
 PRIMARY TOPIC-God Our Creator and Father.
 JUNIOR TOPIC-What God Expects From His Children.
 INTERMEDIATE TOPIC-Loyalty to Our Heavenly Father.
 SENIOR AND ADULT TOP1C-The Dignity and Worth of Man.
 |. The Creation of Man (Gen. :26 2s).
 1. Time-when the earth, his home, was ready for him. The order in creation shows design on the part or God. He anticipated mans need In storing the coal in the earth. piling up minerals in the rocks, storing cleo tricity everywhere, causing the water to gush from the valleys and hillsides. preparing plants and herbs for the healing of mans injuries and food and raiment adapted to every climatic condition.
 2. His nature (vv. 26. 27). He was created in the likeness and image of God. This act was preceded by spe- cial counsel of the Godhead. It was said, Let us make man." This pre- cludes the foolish and wicked assump- ton that man ascended from or through the brute He came into be- ing by a special creative act of God. This creative act is confirmed by Christ (Matt. 1924; Mark 10:6). With such testimony we can dismiss the evolution theory as to mans origin as a human vagary. This likeness and image is not physical and bodily, but intellectual. (Eph. 4:24), and moral, (Col. 3:1O. Man is spirit, soul and body q Thess. 5 :23). Gods likeness Is reflected in mans tripartite nature. AS there is trinity and unity in God, so there is trinity and unity in man. Spirit is the highest part of man. that which makes 1t possible for him to know God The soul is mans self conscious life, the seat of his emO- tions and desires. The body is the seat of the senses, the agency by which he knows the world God made man with personality capable of having fellowship with himself, with whom he could share his glory.
 3. His rank and power (vv. 26, 2S). Man, the last in creation, was placed above all else, over all the rest of creation. Being in the likeness and image of God, he was fitted to rule. How far short man comes of living up to the position given him by the Creator! The first man was not savage, neither a baby. Fresh from lofty powers of intellect as to enable him 10 name the beasts as they passed before him, (Gen. 2:19, 20).
 II. Man Alone in Paradise (Gen. 2:7-9).
 Adam had most beautiful place in which to live. Pleasant to the eyes, and good for food' describes his sur roundings. His environment was in keeping with his nature. Eden was only fit for him in an unfallen state As soon as his nature was wrecked. out he must go. Paradise with all it's splendor could not satisfy man. His heart was desolate. Reciprocal love is the only thing that can satisfy the heart of man. Animals of all varie- ties surrounded him, but none were adapted to be his companions. To ac- centuate this need God caused the animals to pass before Adam. He was differentiated from all the animals in that he was a personality He was endowed with the power of love, there fore only a being who could love in return could satisfy him. To meet this need woman was made for man. They had minds alike; they had spir- itual natures alike; therefore they could commune together about the things that surrounded them and about God.
 Man was made from the dust of the ground and woman was taken from his side. She is therefore one re- move further from the earth than man. The fact that woman was made from mans rib points to unity, simi- larity and equality. God charged this first pair with the responsibility of replenishing the earth, (Gen. l :2S). Marriage is divine institution and most sacred; for God made them male and female and performed the first marriage ceremony. In view of this, polygamy and divorce are gross ly criminal Marriage is the fountain head of all life, religious, social and national therefore corruption here is