Apr 24
7
Baptist Catechism 13
Q. 13. How did God create man?
A. God created man male and female, after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures. (Gen. 1:27; Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24; Gen. 1:28)
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Introduction
Our catechism provides us with an overview of what the scriptures teach about God.
We have learned about what God is. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. God is one. We have learned about who God is. In the one true and living God, there are three persons – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And now we are considering God’s works. Our catechism began in the correct place, with God’s decree. In eternity, God decreed all that comes to pass. And we know that he accomplishes his decree in his work of creation and his works of providence. We will eventually talk about providence, but for now, we are talking about God’s work of creation.
We have learned that, in general, “the work of creation is God’s making all things of nothing, by the Word of His power, in the space of six days, and all very good.” And now we turn our attention to the pinnacle of God’s creation, which is mankind.
The question before us is, how did God create man? That is a very important question. In fact, two of the most important questions we can ask are, what is God? And what is man? If we are to understand what man is, we must first submit ourselves to God and his revelation and in this way come to understand how God created man in the beginning.
How did God create man? Hear the answer again: God created man male and female, after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.
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God Created Man Male And Female
First, we say “God created man male and female…”
Sometimes we use the word “man” to refer to a human who is male. But at other times we use the word “man” to refer to mankind, or to humans in general. That is how the word “man” is being used here. “God created man male and female…” Stated differently, within the unity of humanity there is found the diversity of gender.
There are two genders or sexes: male and female. This is by God’s design, and it is good. Male humans and female humans are different in some very important ways. They are different physiologically and biologically. This is clear to all who have eyes to see. But as it pertains to their nature, they are the same. Men and women are human. They have human bodies, and they have human souls. They both have rational minds, free wills, and affectations. Though each and every human male and human female differ slightly from all others as it pertains to physical appearance and personality, all belong to the same species. They are human. Together, Adam and Eve, and all of their male and female descendants, are mankind. Both the male and the female are essential. Without the male or the female, there would be no humanity. This is one reason that God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him” (Genesis 2:18, ESV). And we know that the woman was taken from the man’s side. This indicates three things. One, she is made of the same substance. Two, she was made to correspond to him. Thee, she is somewhat different than him.
Frankly, this is beautiful. But you know that fallen humanity has warred against this beauty from the time of man’s fall into sin. Men have suppressed and abused women. Women have hated and rebelled against men. Men have attached themselves to men, and women to women. And now, in our day and age, the very idea that there are two genders determined by God and given to individuals at the moment of conception is under assault. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Those in Christ must confess that in the beginning, “God created man male and female…” We are to see the beauty in the unity and the diversity. Men should strive to be godly men, and women should strive to be godly women. We are to do this in humility, showing honor to one another as we appreciate the differences between us. Again, in the beginning, “God created man male and female…”
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After His Own Image
Secondly, we confess, “God created man male and female after his own image.” Note this: both men and women are made in the image of God. This is one thing they share in common.
What does it mean to be made in the image of God? Many things.
One, humans were made in such a way that they can relate to God. We have the capacity to know him, worship him, and serve him. The other earth creatures cannot do this in the way that humans can.
Two, humans were made in such a way that they can imitate God. God is holy, and humans can be holy. God is love, and humans can love. God is good, and humans can do good, etc. We are volitional creatures. We are moral creatures.
Three, humans were made in such a way that they can represent God on earth by doing his will.
Being made in God’s image has little, if anything, to do with our physical makeup. It has everything to do with our spiritual capacities.
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In Knowledge, Righteousness, And Holiness
Thirdly, we confess that God created man male and female, after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness…” These three descriptive words are very important.
What was man’s condition when God first made them? Did God make Adam and Eve ignorant so that they did not know God? No, he made them with knowledge. They had the capacity to know their Creator from the beginning, and they did know him, for he revealed himself to them in the garden.
Did God make Adam and Eve unrighteous so that were at enmity with him from the beginning and in need of his saving grace? No, they had the capacity to do what was right and to do what was wrong, but they were right before God in the beginning and did not need his saving grace.
And did God make Adam and Eve impure or corrupted? No. He made them holy. Again I say, they were made with free will so that they could choose the right path or the wrong path (and we know where this went). But they were not made impure. They were holy when they came from the hand of God.
The righteousness and holiness of man in his original state are communicated in the Genesis narrative with the words, “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day” (Genesis 1:31, ESV).
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With Dominion Over The Creatures
Lastly, we confess that “God created man male and female, after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.”
That little phrase, “with dominion over the creatures”, is more important than you might realize. It points to the purpose for which God created man. Man – that is to say, the man and the woman together – were, in the beginning, given dominion over all the creatures. That is what Genesis 1:26 says: “Then 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 birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Genesis 1:26, ESV).
Notice the close connection between God making man in his image, and God making man to have dominion. In brief, God made man in his image so that man could exercise dominion on earth.
“Dominion” is kingdom language, isn’t it? To have dominion is to rule. And no, to exercise dominion does not imply harshness. Some rule harshly, but it is possible to rule in a benevolent way too. And that is what Adam and Eve were created to do. They were to rule on earth as God’s vassal-kings, or vice-regents. They were to exercise dominion over God’s garden-temple. They were to keep it and expand its borders as they filled the earth through procreation. In short, man was to function as God’s prophet, priest, and king on earth seeking to expand and establish God’s eternal kingdom.
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Conclusion
You know where this story goes. God created man male and female, after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures, but man fell into sin. The image of God was not lost, but it was badly marred by sin. Now, by nature, man does not know God. Man is not righteous or holy. The image remains, but man’s state of being has changed. He is no longer perfect, but fallen and sinful.
The good news is that God is gracious and kind. He has provided a Redemer, Jesus of Nazareth. He lived for sinners, died for sinners, and rose again for sinners. Salvation is available through faith in him. And please here me: not only is the forgiveness of sins available through faith in Christ along with the hope of life everlasting. In Christ, the image of God that was marred and corrupted by sin is renewed.
Ephesians 4 speaks to this. There Paul reflects on who we are in Christ Jesus and urges us to live holy in him. Listen to Ephesians 4:20-25 and see that in Christ the image of God is renewed in us. “But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” In Christ, our minds are renewed so that we might know God truly. In Christ, we are made righteous so that we might stand before God. In Christ, we are made holy so that we might worship and serve God in purity. The knowledge, righteousness, and holiness of man were lost when Adam fell into sin. In Christ, the second and perfect Adam, they are restored. We must trust in Christ to be forgiven and to have life everlasting. And in Christ, the image of God is renewed. Thanks be to God for the new life he has given us! May God sanctify us further so that we become more and more like Christ, the true and better Adam, as we walk with him and abide in him.
