C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR AUGUST 2 & 9, 2020 THE UNITY OF BRETHREN. UNITY ONE: BEFORE AND AFTER CREATION. LESSON TWO : TOPIC – UNITY IN CREATION

UNITY ONE: BEFORE AND AFTER CREATION.

LESSON TWO

August 2 & 9, 2020

TOPIC: UNITY IN CREATION

Memory Scripture

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible

(Hebrews 11:3).

We see the unity of the Godhead fully demonstrated in the Creation, most especially, in the creation of man.

BRIEF COMMENT

Human reasoning admits there was a creation and perhaps also a Creator, Only by divine revelation do we know the manner of the creation. This is by faith in the Creator, through His Word (see Gen. 1:1; Psa. 33:6; Jn. 1:3; Heb. 1:2). Faith is the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). Only by spiritual intelligence can we discern the facts of creation by God, and not by evolution, or any worldly claim. Only by faith can we understand the unity that happened in the Godhead in Creation.

Sadly, the world agrees with evolution, the doctrine that reduces the divinely fearfully made man to a mere offshoot of an animal. What a debased knowledge! There is no greater truth than what the Scriptures, God’s Word, make us to understand: that all things came to being by God’s Word and Power (Jn. 1:3). How did it work? God, by His Spirit spoke the Word, i. ẹ. He Sent forth His Word, and all things came into existence. Believers must know that scoffers will come to want to walk according to their own ungodly lust, denying the power of God, and if care is not taken, will drag many away from their Creator (cf. 2 Tim. 3:4,5; 2 Pet. 3:3; Jude 1:18). The Word remains the only light by which we can be free from the fang of false teachers and their heresies. Read and know your Bible!

Devotional Bible Readings For Week One

Mon. July 27: God, Your Work Is Wonderful (Psa. 139:14b)

Tue. July 28: God Creates the Heavens and Earth (Gen. 1:1)

Wed. July 29: God, By Wisdom, Founded the Universe (Prov. 3:19a)

Thur. July 30: God Creates Us Fearfully and Wonderfully (Psa. 139:14a)

Fri. July 31: God Makes All Things Through Jesus (Jn. 1:3)

Sat. Aug. 1: God, How Manifolds Are Your Works (Psa. 104:24)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

1. Our God-in-three Persons is wonderful! He who was never created, made all things by His wisdom and power.

2. God is triune. Christians aren’t serving three Gods, but One — Trinity in unity, and unity in Trinity. We are talking of the unity of the Godhead, and only by faith can this be understood.

3. Man himself is a tripartite being; he is a spirit, having a soul, and lives in a body (1 Jn. 5:8). This is significant because we are made in the likeness of God.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: John 17:20-24; Romans 12:4,5; Galatians 3:26-28)

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

AIM: To show that the earth and its constituents are a products of God’s purposive creation — for His glory.

OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, it is expected that readers should be able to:

i. show God as the Creator of the universe and all its constitutes;

ii. show that man was especially made in the likeness of God;

iii. show why God decided to create all things, including man in the beginning; and

iv. show more appreciation to God for His special treatment of man amongst other creatures.

INTRODUCTION

TEXTUAL SOURCE: GENESIS 1:1-31; 2:7; PSALM 8:1-9; 19:1-6; 103:5,19; 104:21,24; 107:9; 139:13-15; 148:1-14; PROVERBS 3:19-20

We express our gratitude to God for His support that we enjoy in the ministry of the Word. The first lesson for this period, July to December 2020, UNITY OF THE TRINITY, was concluded last week, in which we examined what Trinity is all about, the attributes of the Persons of the Godhead, and the mutual agreement and operation within the Godhead. We also delved into the implication for our redemption and salvation. It is believed that we have been blessed by it.

This second lesson in the series is titled, UNITY IN CREATION. Here, we shall be discussing the involvement of the Council of Trinity in the creation of heaven and earth and all their hosts (Gen. 2:1). For man’s comfort and God’s glory. The Bible teaches us the foundation of man, how man was made and graciously put in the world God created, not by evolution, or any other false speculation.

This lesson has been programmed by God to get us better informed as to how the Godhead unitedly created the heavens and the earth, and made man in God’s image. It is also God’s express desires to help have a deeper understanding of His purpose for creating all He created. May God enable us to always appreciate His special love for creating all He created. May God enable us to always appreciate His special love for us, by giving our lives wholly unto Jesus Christ. Amen.

Happy deliberations.

INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION

This lesson is divided into two sections, I and II. Each of these sections is further divided into parts into parts A and B.

DIVISION I: CREATION: IN THE BEGINNING

This division presents God as the Creator of the universe. Part A discusses the process of formation of the universe out of nothing. It also establishes the fact that God did this by His wisdom, against the theory of evolution, as claimed by science. Part B shares His magnanimity in creating man in His image which is fearful, wonderful, and in tripartite form.

DIVISION II: CREATION: THIS PURPOSE

This division highlights God’s purposes in creation, which includes His glory, praise, and honour, as He specially made man in “our image” and lavished on him, His special care and provisions, in order to represent Him in achieving His purposes here on earth. May we no more fail Him!

LESSON OUTLINE

I. A. GOD CREATES THE UNIVERSE

B. GOD MAKES MAN IN ‘OUR’ IMAGE

II. CREATION: THE PURPOSE

A. GOD’S PURPOSE IN CREATION

B. GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL CARE FOR MAN

LESSON EXPOSITION

Aug 2nd, 2020

I. CREATION: IN THE BEGINNING (Genesis 1:1-31; 2:7; Psalms 148:5; 104:24; 139:13-15; Proverbs 3:19-20).

Creation is the act of God that brought the universe and all living beings into existence. Merely looking at how God created the universe isn’t what we are doing here. We need to learn lessons from how united God is, in calling the universe into existence and making man in His own image.

A. GOD CREATES THE UNIVERSE (Gen. 1:1-31; Psa. 148:5; 104:24; Prov. 3:19-20)

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created (Psa. 148:5).

i. Before the earth was created in the beginning, God had been in existence from everlasting to everlasting. He has no beginning and no ending (Psa. 90:2).

ii. Gen. 1:1: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth

The Heb. word bara means “to create”. God decreed and created the heavens and the earth, and all the host therein (Gen. 2:1; Psa. 148:5).

iii. 1:3-25: Heb. 11:3 confirms that God created all we see today from “nothing” (exnihilo). For six days, He created vegetation, plants yielding seed, firmament, animals, fish, fowl, etc., and blessed them to be fruitful and multiply. He also created the sun, moon and stars, for signs, seasons, days and years.

iv. Beware of the fake doctrine of “evolution” that does not accept all what the Bible says about Creation. If man had evolved from something, why has he not ‘re-evolved’ into another form since over thousands years of existence?

v. The unity of Trinity is seen in the work of creation, from the beginning to the end (Job. 26:13; Jer. 10:12-13; Jn. 1:13; Col. 1:16). The Word is the authority by Whom God created everything.

vi. Psa. 104:24; Prov. 3:19-20: The Lord, by wisdom, founded the earth. God established the order and essence of all things in a special way that no human or spirit can fathom. Do you acknowledge Him as supreme over your life?

vii. God’s sovereignty over all cannot be questioned. He reigns, rules, enthrones dethrones and administers all things and peoples. Don’t wait for an horrible experience like that of Nebuchadnezzar before you acknowledge His supremacy (Dan. 4:14-16).

B. GOD MAKES MAN IN ‘OUR’ IMAGE (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7; Psa. 139:13-15)

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well (Psa. 139:14).

i. Gen. 1:26,27: Let Us make man in Our image. We are not made in the image of angels or hosts of heaven, but in the likeness of the Trinity… Our image. In this respect, the Scripture calls us, Christians, small gods (Psa. 82:6; Jn. 10:34-35; 1 Jn. 5:8).

ii. 2:7: and man became a living being. Unlike the other creatures that He used the Word of authority to create (Psa. 148:5), God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and man became a living soul.

iii. Man was created with high intelligence and broad understanding, holiness, sinlessness, with perfect character, love and with a will and emotion. This is the likeness of God in man. Very soon, we will see Him as He is, and become like Him (1 Jn. 3:2).

iv. Psa. 139:13-15: for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God made man fearfully as the head and an administrator of all other creatures (Gen. 1:26,28). To this end, God put the fear and dread of man upon all animals, fowls etc. (Gen. 9:2; Psa. 8:6). What a privilege you should never abuse!

v. Likewise, God created man wonderfully. Isn’t conception wonderfully? What about the processes of delivery, growth, development, thinking, speaking and all what man possesses? How we sleep and wake up are all amazing, because the wonderful hand of God governs and moderates our lives.

vi. At Fall, man forfeited this divine image to a very significant level, leading to death in all its dimensions (Rom. 3:23). But by God’s provision as a way out, all believers in Jesus Christ will have the lost glory restored (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 4:12).

vii. The Edenic glory is now being restored in the hearts of believers in Christ who accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. The ultimate salvation of man is imminent when we shall see God as He is (1 Jn. 3:2).

LESSONS DERIVED

1. All things apart from man were decreed to being. That He patiently, fearfully, wonderfully and curiously made man to be in control of all things was a privilege not to be abused.

2. By the fall of the first man, all men are under curse of sin but whoever accepts the redemptive work of Christ shall be set free and restored to the image and likeness of God, so that he may inherit the kingdom of God.

WORK TO DO

How do we conform to the image of God? Is it physical or spiritual?

SUGGESTED ANSWER TO WORK TO DO

i. No one has seen God face to face (Moses only saw His back view). God, no doubt, manifests His presence to us when He wills. In the O.T., it is called Theophany.

ii. Therefore, we cannot physically describe God. Of course, He has not given us any physical description of Himself.

iii. To start with, for anyone to conform to the image of God, the one must have sincerely given his/her life to Jesus and accepted His Lordship. Only then has one begun the race to conforming to the image of Christ.

iv. We must know and accept the biblical fact that our destination is to be like Christ (Rom. 8:29). This should spur us towards the upward goal of Christlikeness.

v. We conform to His image when we are spiritually-minded (Rom. 8:5,6; 1 Cor. 2:14). God is spirit (Jn. 4:24). This is facilitated by circumcision of the heart (Deut. 30:6; cf. Prov. 4:23).

vi. It means heaving God’s characteristics in us — His communicable attributes, i.e. being like Jesus in life and disposition; living a life patterned after Christ Paul says imitate me as I imitate Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 11:1; Eph. 5:1).

vii. It is also to be like Christ in His suffering, humility, obedience and glory (cf. Phil. 1:29).

viii. It is to be of like-mind with Christ (cf. Col. 3:1ff)

II. CREATION: THE PURPOSE (Psalms 8:1-9; 19:1-6; 103:5,19; 104:21; 107:9; 148:1-14)

Aug. 9th, 2020.

We serve a purposely God who never embarks on anything without a clearcut purpose. In fact, such would be in line with His eternal redemptive purpose. We must see the Creation in this light. Of course, He made everything, man inclusive, for the purpose He had predetermined for it. This informs the providential care He accords man

What a wonderful, purposed God we serve, Who can never be caught unawares?!

A. GOD’S PURPOSE IN CREATION (19:1-6; 148:1-14)

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge (19:1-2).

i. God created the heavens and the earth in order to show forth His wisdom, power and majesty to the world (Psa. 104:24; Jer. 10:12-13).

ii. 148:1,2: Praise Him, all His angels. God created the angels, so that they may show forth His honour, glory and power, to praise His greatness forever.

iii. Lines 3-10: God created the heavens and the earth to show forth His greatness and unsearchable wonderful works to mankind. His glory is revealed in nature. This is clearly buttressed in Isa. 55:12. God must receive His due honour and glory, because all His creatures, like the sun, moon, tree, big rivers, etc., must glorify Him (Psa. 96:12; 98:7-8)

iv. God created the earth where His purpose and plan would be achieved. He created man so that he may fear Him, continue praising Him, worshipping Him, keep His commandments, and represent Him on earth (Psa. 29:2; 96:9). Hence, He made us that we may be a delight to Him and boast to Satan (Job 1:8; 2:3).

v. God created the heavens as a place of eternal rest for man after this world of sin and troubles (Rev. 14:13).

vi. God created the world as a preparatory ground for His eternal kingdom (Dan. 2:35-44). Are you a candidate of His kingdom (the Church), now?

vii. The purpose of God for man is His glory. And, refreshing enough, is the fact that what glorifies God is the best for man himself. Man should therefore strive to do everything that glorified that glorifies God. This is our destiny. May we not miss it. Amen.

A. GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL CARE FOR MAN (8:1-9; 103:5,19; 104:21; 107:9)

You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet (8:6).

i. Psa. 8:5: And You have crowned him with glory and honour. Man was given dominion over all creatures in the beginning. Though, he partially lost this through sin, he will regain it at our Lord Jesus’ return.

ii. 103:19; 104:21: God governs this world Himself and cares even for the animals and fowls of the sky. If He feeds the non-humans, you don’t have to worry (Matt. 6:26). He has your best interest at heart (cf. Jer. 29:11).

iii. He providentially governs the nations, giving rewards and protection to the righteous, and punishments to the wicked (Psa. 1:6; 4:8; 73:24, 66:7,Isa. 44:28,45:1-4; Rom. 8:28).

iv. God cares about everything relating to us He is concerned by our successes and even our failures (Psa. 139:14-16; 75:6-7; Jer. 1:5; Matt. 10:30).

v. 103:5; 107:9: God supplies the needs of every creature, His people inclusive, according to His riches in glory. Phil. 4:19 demonstrates confidence in the fact that God shall supply all our needs (cf. 1 Tim. 6:17). Included here is the fact that He provides answers to our prayers (Matt. 6:7-9,33).

vi. If He does these for you, what are you going to give Him?

vii. Something providential is that relating to or believed to be determined by the wisdom, care provided by the Almighty God. It is part of His eternal purpose for man. But for His providence, the universe would have been totally decimated. That is the loving God.

LESSONS DERIVED

1. God created the heavens and the earth, so that they may show forth His glory, greatness, honour and power, everywhere. Does your life glorify Him?

2. As wicked as this world is, coupled with the disobedience of man, the loving God does not disown man but still cares for him. Hallelujah!

QUESTIONS

1. What is the difference between the creation of man and the rest creatures?

2. Why did God venture into the creation of the universe?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:

i. God, by His Word, created all things, including man (Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16).

ii. All other creatures came before man, this is to make man comfortable.

iii. Other creatures were called forth, let there be (Gen. 1:3,6), but man was formed with clay with the full presence of the Godhead, the united Trinity: come let us (Gen. 1:26).

iv. Man was created in God’s own image; the image of the Trinity (Gen. 1:27,28; 1 Jn. 5:7,8). That is why man is made of three components — body, soul and spirit.

v. God gave man dominion over the other creatures (Gen. 1:28), thus making him special in some ways, than those creatures, hence the Psalmist’s wondering in Psalms 8:3ff.

vi. Man is given privilege to be ambassador of God (2 Cor. 5:20; 6:1).

vii. Man’s soul returns to God when he dies. Others don’t (Eccl. 12:7).

ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:

i. The Bible teaches that God created the universe.

ii. God created the earth for His own self (Prov. 16:4; Rm. 11:36; Col. 1:16).

iii. God created the earth for His praise, honour and glory (Psa. 19:1; Isa. 43:6b-7).

iv. He created it for His own pleasure (Eph. 1:5; Rev. 4:11).

v. To make known His power and wisdom (Eph. 3:9,10).

vi. So that we may know Him, love Him and show Him to the world (Rom. 1:20,21).

vii. Man is specially created to enjoy the earth’s alluring beauty, and glorify God.

viii.Man is created to be with Christ in His heaven. That is the original plan of God for man before the fall. Christ has come to reconcile man of God.

LIFE APPLICATION

A tripod is a potable three-legged frame or stand, used as a platform for supporting the weight and maintaining the stability of some other objects. It provides stability against downward and horizontal forces. The camera lens of the surveyor sits on the tripod stand comfortably saving it from waves and winds from any angle. The Trinity is like the tripod stand, the one arm of which cannot be separated from the others without distortions. God knows the power of three when when He formed man and the universe. Let us not forget that dispensation as times and seasons belong to God (Eccl. 3:11; Dan. 2:21; Acts 1:7). The Israelites enjoyed the time of the Father, the Apostles enjoyed the time of the Son while we are now enjoying the time of the Holy Spirit. This doesn’t mean we have been dealing with three gods. It conveys the idea of unity in diversity. Believers are the objects placed on the tripod stand. Any pressure from the world will never shake us as we stand on the Trinity. We are able to do great exploits as we remain united with the Godhead. May we never be shaken out of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

CONCLUSION

Thank God for bringing us to the close of this lesson. Many revelation, no doubt, have been unraveled and we cannot now afford to sit idly than put all of these into the right actions. United we stand, divided we fall. This should be our watchword as we remain resolute to stand on the side of Christ’s truth, equity and fairness. May we be more ready than ever before. Amen.

DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK TWO

Mon. 3: Everyone Must Appreciate God’s Works (Rev. 15:3)

Tue. 4: Endeavour Not To Be A Fool (Psa. 14:1)

Wed. 5: Everything Was Created Ex-nihilo (Heb. 11:3)

Thur. 6: Every Believer In Christ Is god (Psa. 82:6).

Fri. 7: Even The Heavens Declare God’s Glory (Psa. 19:1)

Sat. 8: Everyone’s Work Follows Him (Rev. 14:13).