DOMINION !

DOMINION ! In the first chapter of Genesis, God told Adam to dominate this earth: how is Adam was to dominate ? It was through his words ! Take dominion over it and subdue it. This was not only for the earth, but also for all that was in it. In other words, if anything got out of line, Adam was to put it back in line. This was Adam's responsibility, but he didn't do what God commanded. He turned his authority over to the evil one. He bowed his need to and outlaw spirit. (Genesis 1:26-27). " And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Man was made in the "image and likeness" of God. This image is found chiefly in the fact that man is a personal, rational, spiritual spirit being. While God is infinite and man finite, nevertheless man possesses the elements of personality similar to those of the divine person: thinking (Genesis 2:19-20; 3:8): feeling (Genesis 3:6); willing (Genesis 3:6-7). That man has a moral nature is impilcit in the record and is further attested by the New Testament usage (Ephesians 4:23-24; Colossians 3:10). Man is also according to (1 Thessalonians 5:23) a triunity, made up of body which is the un-regenerated part of man, soul, and spirit; now in that order: the body through the soul is part dominates the spirit of men; but, once a person is born a new then he are she becomes; spirit, soul, and body. But because "God Is a Spirit" (John 4:24), this tripartite nature of man is not to be confused with the original "image and likeness" of God which, being spiritual, relates to the elements of personality. Dominion. The Bible is a unity and the purpose of God is one. Man created in God's image and likeness (v.v. 26-27) was placed in sovereignty over the earth (v.v. 28-30), crowned with glory and honor (Psalms 8:5-8), yet subject to God his creator (Genesis 2:15-17). The divine intention was an is that man should have fellowship with God in obedience. Sin came, the essence of which is rebellion against the will of God, and man became separated from God (Genesis 3:8-10) and lost sovereignty over the earth (Genesis 3:17-19). The goal of God is to restore sinning man to His likeness, fellowship, and dominion (Romans 8:29; Revelation 21:3; 20:6; 22:5). "But now we see not yet all things put under him [mankind] but we see Jesus. . . Crowned with glory and honor" in anticipation of many sons sharing His fellowship and dominion (Hebrews 2:8-10; Romans 8:17-19). This is in accordance with the first promise of redemption (Genesis 3:15). In the meantime, we wait with patient assurance for God's complete victory on the earth (Romans 8:19-25; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 11:15-18) for the working out of God's purpose of total redemption.