Thank you to Tom for his talk on Overcoming Anxiety with God’s Peace. I know I can relate to this personally in areas of my life. I appreciate this quote from Tom that I’ll share again, “Anxiety may be a part of our human experience, but it does not have to define us. By acknowledging our fears, seeking God through prayer, not choosing fear but embracing His peace, practicing rejoicing and gratitude, and meditating on His Word, we can overcome anxiety and find rest in the arms of our loving Father. Let us trust in the One who holds our future and cast all our cares upon Him.”

What a reassurance that we have from God in regard to His peace…and speaking of our God..

Imagine the ultimate Artist meticulously crafting the universe, and then deciding that the pièce de résistance would be humans, made in His own image—so, at least we know where we get our creativity from"...

How about this question? Was Jesus creative? Think about His parables he used to communicate to people with. The Good Samaritan for example, which we will talk about later, Jesus used a story about an unexpected hero to teach about kindness and love for one’s neighbor. These parables are a creative approach that captured attention and left a lasting impact, even to this day. Pretty creative!

We are working through our belief statements for our church.

Why are we spending time going over these statements you may ask?

What we believe molds us and motivates us and defines us.

These belief statements, while they are specifically put together as a public statement for our 7 Creeks Church- they are the foundation we are building our church upon. These belief statements are our public declaration of faith. They are the foundation of everything we do as a church and everything we teach as a church.

Today we will look at our statement on Creation and Humanity and a few scriptures that support these statements.

Creation:

We believe that God, according to His sovereign will and for His own glory, created the heavens and the earth without the use of pre-existent material. We also believe that all living things came into being by the creative act of God and not by a random process. Creation has an existence distinct from Him and yet is always dependent on Him (Gen. 2:4, Prov. 16:4, Acts 17:24, Col. 1:16-17).

What is God's sovereign will you may be thinking?

God's sovereign will refers to the fact that God has ultimate authority and control over all things and that everything happens according to His divine plan and purpose, including creation. You can read it this way, that God is supreme and orchestrates all events in the universe, from the grand scale of creation to the smallest details.

When we think of a creative act of God, He was and is, intentional…It is an intentional act. He meant to do it. It was not by accident and it highlights His power and wisdom.

Let’s read some Scriptures that support this, which we will show on the screen here so you don't have to flip back and forth.

Genesis 2:4 - These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

This marks the beginning of a detailed account of humanity's origins and sets the stage for the story of Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden, and the first human relationships.

Proverbs 16:4 - The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

This verse reassures us that God is actively involved in the world and that His purposes will be fulfilled, even if we don't always understand how everything fits together.

Acts 17:24 - The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man

Paul is highlighting that the one true God is the creator of everything.

Here is my favorite verse when it comes to a New Testament profession of how God is the Author, Creator and how Paul calls out that Jesus Christ is central to all of creation.

Colossians 1:16-17 - For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Everything in existence, both seen and unseen was created by Christ and for Christ, including this physical world as well as the spiritual realms and authorities. We are talking about THE One True God here. Not a golden calf, or King, Philanthropist, etc…
Paul also highlights that Christ existed BEFORE all things….All of it…and if you really want to feel tiny listen to this….it's actually good news…
He holds it all together!

Now to the Humanity part of our statement today…

Humanity:

We believe that humanity, both male and female, was created in the image and likeness of God. Having been made in God’s image, each human life, from conception to natural death, is precious to God. Each human is deserving of equal dignity, value, and worth. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God fully and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. This command has no qualification and extends to each person regardless of their culture, ethnicity, or socio-economic status (Gen. 1:26-27, Deut. 10:17-19, Psalm 139:13-16, Luke 10:25-37, Acts 17:26, Gal. 3:28, James 2:1-13, Rev. 5:9-10, 7:9).

Do we treat each person as a creation of a sovereign God?

The greatest commandment, per Jesus, is to love God fully and to love our neighbor as ourselves. May we do this without any qualifications or distinctions, based on culture, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.

There are a LOT of scriptures we have supporting this statement on Humanity…

Genesis 1:26-27- Then 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 birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Humans are created in the image and likeness of God. (No pressure right?) He has given us the ability to reason, make moral choices and form relationships. He gave us the responsibility to rule over and take care of the rest of creation. (again no pressure right?) He also makes it clear that He created us BOTH male and female, indicating equality and dignity of all of us that share a common origin and purpose! You are created in His image and You have a purpose!

Psalm 139:13-16 - For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

We read and acknowledge that God is the creator of our innermost being that is part of an intentional, personal act. There is this sense of awe and gratitude for being fearfully and wonderfully made! Listen to this and believe it. You are fearfully and wonderfully made! Tell yourself that today and tomorrow. How about God’s omnipresence here…He knew about you before you or your parents knew about you….and that each of your days are ordained and known by God.

Acts 17:26 - And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place

Paul is talking to us again and reminding us that we all come from the same descendent, Adam, and share this common origin. And even through all the different nations and peoples, God had and has a purpose and plan for all of humanity.

Deuteronomy 10:17-19 - For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

We believe there is One God and HE is great , mighty and awesome! We believe that He is just, which means he is fair, moral and righteous all the while showing compassion for the vulnerable, the fatherless, widows and nomads. And he calls us to that, to show compassion to these same folks and to each other.

Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

This verse is calling us to unity, regardless of background and is cherished equally in the eyes of the Lord and we are to welcome all into the body of Believers.

James 2:1-13 - (LONG Scripture) This is a pretty long section of Scripture but to summarize it, it emphasizes the importance of not showing favoritism based on someone's wealth or status. It teaches us to treat everyone equally, with love and respect. The passage warns against judging others based on their outward appearance and highlights that faith without works is incomplete.

Revelation 5:9-10 - And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

These verses reflect who Jesus is and what is accomplished in Him..First his worthiness and unique authority in God’s plan of redemption. He has redeemed people from every tribe, language, people and nation and how these peoples are made into a kingdom and priests to serve God. That is a reminder of your new identity as a Believer and that you will share in his reign in the new creation.

Revelation 7:9 - After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Again we see the reinforcement of unity and representation of every tribe and nation who are standing before the throne in reverence, wearing white to symbolize purity and the shared faith and devotion of believers from around the world.

I want to spend a little time here in this last scripture reference, if you’d like to turn with me to Luke 10:25-37

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Conclusion: So what does this have to do with Humanity? I'm glad you asked!

The Good Samaritan parable is the example of the kind of selfless love and care that Jesus calls His followers to practice. Simply having compassion that goes beyond social, religious and ethnic boundaries and to help anyone in need. Let’s call it “Active Kindness”, intentionally seeking out opportunities to do good, to encourage one another, showing compassion. On one another...We believe our statement on Humanity...and Jesus lays out how to execute it!

Afterall we are the Church!

As we wrap up today, we want to answer a couple questions …. First let me go back and answer a question that came in a couple weeks ago…

Can you explain the difference between grace and mercy?

The short version is you need both, at least I know I do!
Grace is the unmerited favor of God. It means receiving something good that we do not deserve.
Mercy, on the other hand, is the compassion or forgiveness shown by God towards humanity. It involves not receiving the punishment or consequences we do deserve.
Grace is about receiving favor that we haven't earned, while mercy is about being spared from the judgment and punishment we deserve. Together, they highlight the depth of God’s love and kindness toward humanity.

Why did God make man AND woman?

First and foremost because men need to know what to do and when to do it…..just kidding…a little.
The short answer on this one is, the Bible tells us in Genesis 2:18 that it is not good for man to be alone so He created a helper for man, woman. God created man and woman to reflect His image, to be in a relationship of companionship and partnership, to procreate and steward the earth, to fulfill complementary roles, and to reflect the relationship between Christ and the Church.

Why are women created as only a helper? Does this make them subordinate to men?

The term "helper" should be understood in the context of mutual support and unity, rather than subordination. Now let me read this next statement. Men and Women are equal in value and dignity but are given distinct, complementary roles to fulfill God's design. Men and women are equal in value and dignity, and their roles are designed to complement and support each other in fulfilling God's purposes. If you need a little more today, may I remind you that the Holy Spirit is also referred to as The Helper, whom Jesus sends to the Believers after His ascension. Just saying that helper word is not to be marginalized.

For Further Thought and Study

What are the different theories you have heard about creation?
How would you go about sharing what you believe about creation and why?
Col 1:16-17- Read and make note of what stands out to you in these two verses.
How are our beliefs about humanity different from the beliefs held by the world today?
The word submit does show up in relation to wives and husbands in Eph 5 as well as Col 3 and can feel like subordination which gives many women a “bad taste” in their mouth depending on how they were raised and taught. Do a little bit of word search on the “submit” as used in the New Testament and see what else you learn.

This We Believe - Week 4

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