Genesis 1:26-31

October 31, 2012 Were studying the creation account, and last week we left off with man being created in the image of God. This week were going to pick back up in verse 26 and were going to set our attention on three shadows pointing towards Christ. In case youre tempted to think we might read too much into something (as I also fear to do), let me remind you of a few Scriptures: Jesus told some unbelieving Jews, Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (Jn. 5:39). Later Philip was prompted to go and speak to the Ethiopian: And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus (Acts 8:30-35). Youll also remember that Jesus drew near to a couple disciples who were walking together and talking about His death. They were very sad and Jesus said, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself (Lk. 24:25-27). Finally, we read in Romans that Adam is the figure of him that was to come (Rom. 5:14), and in First Corinthians we find that the first Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit and the first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven (I Cor. 15:45-47). All the Scriptures point us to Christ, and the story of Adam is no different. The three types or shadows well see here in Genesis 1-2 are: (1) the entire earth is made subject to Adam, (2) God created male and female and commanded them to be fruitful, (3) and God rested from His work. These three point us towards Christs

dominion over all creation, the believers origin in and unity with Christ, and Christs rest from all His work. Lets start in verse 26 by focusing on dominion: And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. The first thing I want to notice is that Adam received all the earth: let them have. God created it all, and then Adam received it. In Psalm 8:6 we read Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands. In Hebrews 1:2 we see that Jesus was appointed heir of all things. We see in Genesis that he was made to have dominion over every single thing on the earth: everything in the sea, the air, and on the ground was subdued by him and under his authority. The first Adam is lord of all the earth, but the Last Adam is Lord of all creation. Back to Psalm 8:6thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas, and in Hebrews 2:8 we see it clearly applied to Christ: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. Christ is the appointed heir and ruler of all things: And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13And every creature which is in heaven, and on

the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever (Rev. 5:11-14). And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Mt. 28:18-20). Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:911). As Lord of all creation (1) He is the highest authority and (2) He has the right to subdue creation and use it for His own purposes. Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him (Heb. 2:8). So in this first chapter, from the very beginning, we see Christ glorified as the Creator and Ruler of all things. http://newgracebaptist.blogspot.com/