The Hope pioneer., 1919-05-01
LESSON FOR MAY q
MAN MADE IN THE IMAGE OF

MAN MADE IN THE IMAGE OF
GOD.
LESSON TEXTS-Genesis q 1:26-2S: Ephe-
slams 4:2O-A: Genesis 2:7-9
| GOLDEN TEXT-God created man In
his own image.-Gen. 1:27.
DEVOTIONAL READING-Psalms s.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God Our Creator and
Father.
JUNIOR ToP1c-what God Expects
From His Children.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC-Loyalty to
Our Heavenly Father.
SENIOR AND ADULT TOP1C-The
Dignity and Worth of Man.
Z. tn: Creation Of Man (Gen. 1925.
2s).
I. Time-when the earth, his home,
was ready for him. The order in
creation shows design on the part Of
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 uct was preceded by spe-
cial counsel of the Godhead. 1t 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 special creative act of God.
This creative act is confirmed by
Christ Matt. 1874; Mark 1O: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. QIph. 4:24), and moral,
(Col. 3:1O. Man is spirit, soul and
body Il Thess. :23). Gods likeness
Is reflected in mans tripartite nature.
As there Is trinity and unity In God,
80 there is a trinity and unity in man.
Spirit is the highest part of man, that
which makes it possible for him to
know God. The soul is mans self
conscious life, the seat of his emo
ti0ns 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 wv. %. 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
Creators! The first man was not a
savage. neithes baby. Fresh from
the Creators hands he possessed such
lofty powers "a intellect as to enable
him to name the beasts rs they passed
before him. fGen. 2:19, 2O).
u. Man Alone In Paradise (Gen.
2:7-9).
Adam had most beautiful place in
which to live. Pheasant 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 60. Paradise with all its
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 personality. He was
endowed with the power of love, there.
fore only 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 Goo.
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. 1:2s).
Marriage is a divine institution and
most sacred; for God made them
male and female and performed the
first marriage ceremony. In view of
this, polygainy and divorce are gross.
" criminal. Marriage is the fountain.
head Of all life. religious. social and
national. therefore corruption here ia
most fatal.