Main Point: God created the image of God to finish the work of God, by creating rest in the rest of creation.
CREATED TO CREATE
Genesis 2:19–20 (ESV) – Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field…
Genesis 1:28a (ESV) – And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…
Genesis 1:28 (ESV) – And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it…
Genesis 1:28 (ESV) – And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
CORRUPTED TO CORRUPTION
A FINISHED WORK TO FINISH THE WORK
Genesis 2:1–3 (ESV) – Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Genesis 2:15 (ESV) – The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Numbers 3:5–8 (ESV) – And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, as they minister at the tabernacle. They shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard over the people of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle.
John 19:28–30 (ESV) – After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
1 Peter 2:5 (ESV) – You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
GIVEN REST TO BRING REST
Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV) – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV) – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”