Give three texts showing the workings of Christ’s power.
Divisions of the lesson: (1) Man Is a Higher Order of God’s Creation. (2) Man’s nature by creation. (3) The Life Given to Man.
QUESTIONS.
MAN A HIGHER ORDER OF CREATION.
1. What is said of the creation of man?
“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.” Gen. 1:26.
2. What is the signification of the expression “image of God”? See note 1.
3. What is said of the moral condition of man when he was created?
“Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” Eccl. 7:29.
“And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Gen. 1:31. See note 1.
4. What other terms are used to express the exalted position of man in his creation?
“For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man.” 1 Cor. 11:7. See note 1.
5. What is God’s glory? Ans.—God’s glory is the unfolded fullness of divine power and goodness, and is in harmony with his self-existence. See Ex. 33:18, 19.
6. How did man lose the image and glory of God?
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23. See note 2.
7. What must take place before it can be again restored to him?
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3.
“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him.” Col. 3:10. See note 2.
MAN’S NATURE BY CREATION.
8. What is said of the creation of man?
“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 soul.” Gen. 2:7.
9. Of what was he formed?
10. After he received breath, what did he become?
Ans.—“A living soul;” the Hebrew version reads, “living being;” Dr. Young, “living creature.” See Revised Version.
11. Why was he called Adam? Ans.—Adam, or Adamah, means earth, or ground.
12. Of what did God tell him he was composed, and to what would he return after his disorganization?
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Gen. 3:19.
13. What does the apostle Paul say of the first man?
“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” “The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.” 1 Cor. 15:45, 47. See note 3.
THE LIFE GIVEN TO MAN.
14. With what capacity was man created? See note 4.
15. On what condition was an endless life promised him?—Ib.
16. What was the essential thing to eternal life?
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live13by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matt. 4:4.
17. Who is the source of that life?
“For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” John 5:26.
18. Who is our righteousness?
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” 1 Cor. 1:30.
