Notes from a sermon preached by Dr. Greg Sloop at the Kannapolis Church of God on Sunday, January 21, 2018 in the 10:30 am service. For video of service, go to the church website, http://www.kcog.org, and click on the livestream link for a replay of the service. For audio of the service, go the the website and click on the media page.
Genesis 2:7 (NKJV)
7 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 being.
FORMED
GOD FORMED
The Creative Act
I like to point out that all the rest of humanity came into being because “God said….”
However, mankind came about because “God formed.” We are the only part of creation with whom God came into direct contact. In other words, God got His hands dirty making us. It was…
MAN
The Inception of Humanity
How did God get His hands dirty? Well, He made man with the capacity of choice. He placed us—as theologians like to say—at the perfect epistemic distance from God that we are not compelled to love Him and have relationship with Him, but we are also not so far away that we can’t love and relate to Him. Therefore, the possibility of rejection is present, which is a “not clean” act. Humanity, with the capacity for failure, but also the capacity for love and relationship. Mankind, with nearly unlimited potential—especially when in communion with the Spirit of God—can also have the capacity for utter depravity. Adam showed that Achilles Heel when he sinned in the Garden of Eden. Yet, evangelism and discipleship—a response to God’s call and command—are happening all around the world preparing for His return.
DUST
The Matter from Which We Came
And, God formed man from the dust, the earth. The committal prayer I use as graveside services includes the “ashes to ashes, dust to dust reference which explains what happens to the body at death. However, there is still a dignity about the body, because God, the Master Creator, the Great Artist, formed man and made Him good. So, even though the Creation of Man is a risk, it is also a Masterpiece, because all of God’s Creation is good.
BREATHED
GOD BREATHED
The Transfer of Life
Breath of God is Life
MAN’S NOSTRILS
Mankind Received a Powerful Gift
BREATH OF LIFE
The Breath of Life Began an entire race of beings with reason and capacity for relationship with God. From God, designed to be with God.
LIVED
MAN
For now at least 5,000 years, mankind has existed. We were given dominion over the earth, and have farmed, hunted, invented, and developed this earth to the massive population and knowledge base that it is today.
BECAME
But it all began because God willed it. We are not an accident.
LIVING BEING
We are not descended from apes or walking fish or tadpoles. No, we are a unique creation of the Most High God. His breath is in us, and therefore we LIVE.
The Logic of Life
Life is created and given by God
Life, therefore, is the purview of God, His possession
Jesus gave His life as a ransom for ours.
When man seeks to take a human life, he assumes the place of God
Trangressions Related to Life
Abortion
Murder
Suicide
Human Trafficking
Euthanasia
Takeaway Thoughts
Life is a Gift From God, so Treat it With the Dignity God Gave It
God is the Giver of Life, so Do Not Take Life Into Your Own Hands.
Devoted To You 