MAY WE BE MORE LIKE GOD – PART 1, IN THE BEGINNING

• The entire universe was created for God’s glory. We were also created for His glory (Romans 11:36, Colossians 1:16).
• We glorify God by knowing who He is and living a life imitating him (Ephesians 5:1-2).
• Exodus 34:5-7 5 Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. 6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.”

• • Compassion – Tenderly Pitiful
  • Mercy /Grace – Kindness to the undeserving
  • Slow to anger – Patient, long-suffering
  • Unfailing love – Loyal love motivated by personal compassion and given without expecting anything in return.
  • Faithfulness – Reliability, confidence in Him, trustworthy.
  • Forgiveness – Pardon or cancel a debt. A decision not to hold something against someone despite what they have done.
  • Not excusing the guilty – God’s justice. Sin has consequences, and sin must be punished.

• Genesis 1:26-28 – God’s intent was to fill the earth with people made in his image who would display His character and glory to creation and to one another.

“When God creates human beings in his image, puts himself on display, and commands that the earth be full of such images of himself, it is clear that God’s goal in creation is the display of God.” John Piper

• Genesis 3:8-13 8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
• God did not immediately accuse, condemn or kill Adam. Instead, God simply starts a conversation with them through a series of questions.
• QUESTION FOR YOU: Where are you regarding your relationship with God?
• Genesis 3:10-13 10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” 11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat 12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”
• God wanted Adam to confess his sin. Instead, Adam acted like a victim and he and Eve avoided responsibility for their sins against God. Despite this, God did not accuse or condemn them. In a compassionate, merciful, tender, kind, loving, and just way, He had a truthful and honest conversation with them.
• 2 Peter 3:15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.
• QUESTION FOR YOU: What is your response when someone from your garden (home) offends you or sins against you?
• No matter what mess there is in your life right now, or what sin is separating you from Him, do not be afraid to have an honest and truthful conversation with God. Do not be afraid to confess your sins to Him.
• QUESTION FOR YOU: Have you had an honest conversation with God about your sin?
• Do not be afraid to have an honest conversation with God about your sin and how you feel about Him.

• Do not run away from God because of your sin.
• CAIN
• Genesis 4:6-9 6 “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” 8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him. 9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
• Genesis 4:13-16 13 Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear! 14 You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!” 16 So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
• God never banished him from his presence, only from the land. Cain banished himself from God’s presence.
• DAVID
• Psalm 51:1-11 For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. (Keep in mind Exodus 34) 1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. 5 For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. 6 But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. 7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. 9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
• 1 John 1:8-9 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
• You want to display God to those in your home? If you haven’t done so, you have to come to God first, humbly confess your sins, embrace his compassion, mercy, love, forgiveness, and justice demonstrated by Him on the cross.
• Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty for my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I receive joyfully receive Your gift of GRACE. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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