First Principles
Lesson 5
Lesson Text—Genesis 1:27-29
Genesis 1:27-29
27 So God created man in his own
image, in the image of God created
he him; male and female created he
them.
Lesson Text—Genesis 1:27-29
28
And God blessed them, and God
said unto them, Be fruitful, and
multiply, and replenish the earth, and
subdue it: and have dominion over
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl
of the air, and over every living thing
that moveth upon the earth.
Lesson Text—Genesis 1:27-29
29
And God said, Behold, I have given
you every herb bearing seed, which
is upon the face of all the earth, and
every tree, in the which is the fruit of
a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be
for meat.
Lesson Text—Genesis 1:30
Genesis 1:30
And to every beast of the earth, and
to every fowl of the air, and to every
thing that creepeth upon the earth,
wherein there is life, I have given
every green herb for meat: and it was
so.
Lesson Text—Psalm 8:3-7
Psalm 8:3-7
3 When I consider thy heavens, the
work of thy fingers, the moon and the
stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful
of him? and the son of man, that thou
visitest him?
Lesson Text—Psalm 8:3-7
5
For thou hast made him a little
lower than the angels, and hast
crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion
over the works of thy hands; thou
hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the
beasts of the field;
Lesson Text—Psalm 8:8-9
Psalm 8:8-9
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of
the sea, and whatsoever passeth
through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is
thy name in all the earth!
Focus Verse—Psalm 8:6
Psalm 8:6
Thou madest him to have
dominion over the works of thy
hands; thou hast put all things
under his feet.
Focus Thought
God made man-kind in His image
with dominion over all His
creation. Mankind lost this
dominion through the Fall but
regains it through Jesus Christ.
Culture Connection
I. Earth
Made
for
Mankind
Have you ever seen the devil
depicted as a funny-looking little man
in a red suit with pointed tail and a
pitchfork in hand? We often have many
misconceptions about the devil, who
first was known as Lucifer, an angel in
Heaven who led a rebellion against
God. He lost his state in Heaven, and
now he leads the efforts to entice
mankind away from God. Contrary to
popular perception, Satan is very
limited in his power.
I.
Unlike God, Satan is not omnipotent,
omniscient,
omnipresent.
He does
Earth
Madeorfor
Mankind
not know our thoughts, is not
necessarily in our presence, and has
only limited power.
Generally, the devil has only the
power that individuals give him within
their own lives. Meanwhile, believers
have the biblical promise that if we will
resist him, he will run away!
What is the true picture of the devil?
Read Isaiah 14:12-19. It is hardly a
victorious and powerful image!
I.
The prophet pictured the devil as
downtrodden,
weak,
and defeated.
Earth
Made for
Mankind
Ultimately, he is destined for the lake
of fire and he wants to take others
there with him.
As we learn from the lesson today,
believers are destined for victory
through Jesus Christ. Mankind lost his
dominion because of sin; however, he
has the opportunity through
redemption to be freed from sin’s
dominion and regain his victorious
position through Christ.
Contemplating The Topic
I. Earth Made for Mankind
The Scriptures firmly declare that
God has ultimate authority and
dominion over all His creation.
Romans 11:36
“For of him, and through him, and
to him, are all things” (Romans
11:36).
Revelation 4:11
“For thou hast created all things,
and for thy pleasure they are and
were created” (Revelation 4:11).
Job 26:7
“He stretcheth out the north over
the empty place, and hangeth the
earth upon nothing” (Job 26:7).
Jeremiah 27:5
“I have made the earth, the man
and the beast that are upon the
ground, by my great power and by
my outstretched arm, and have
given it unto whom it seemed meet
unto me” (Jeremiah 27:5).
Isaiah 45:12-13
“I have made the earth, and created
man upon it: I, even my hands,
have stretched out the heavens,
and all their host have I
commanded. I have raised him up
in righteousness, and I will direct
all his ways” (Isaiah 45:12-13).
Although
the Creator and
I. Earth
MadeGod
foris Mankind
Master of all things, He placed the care
and dominion of the earth into the
hands of mankind. Our lesson today
covers how mankind initially failed in
that responsibility but how we can
regain it through Jesus Christ.
Searching The Scriptures
I. Earth Made for Mankind
Earth Made for Mankind
Mankind is the summit or apex of all
God’s creation. God simply spoke all other
creatures into being, but Adam was special
because God intimately made him: “And
the Lord God formed man of the dust of the
ground” (Genesis 2:7). As we studied in a
previous lesson, God created mankind in
His image and likeness.
A.
This likeness entailed similarity in
personality and character and included
Dominion
over
the
Earth
an eternal soul. Mankind possesses
the rational and moral nature of God.
Although God initially created mankind
as sinless and without an impulsion or
inclination to sin, He did give him the
ability to choose and to make
decisions.
While many of God’s creatures are
stronger and have keener senses than
humans, only humans have the ability
to think rationally.
eagle can over
see farther
better
A. The
Dominion
the and
Earth
than humans, and the dog can smell
and hear better; but God chose
mankind to be His best friend. God
desired companionship, which
demanded that mankind would have
the ability to choose whether or not he
would love God and have a
relationship with Him.
A. Dominion over the Earth
A. Dominion over the Earth
God initially placed all creation
under the authority and dominion of
mankind. (See Psalm 8:3-6.)
“When I consider thy heavens, the
work of thy
fingers,
the moon and
Psalm
8:3-6
the stars, which thou hast
ordained; what is man, that thou art
mindful of him? and the son of
man, that thou visitest him? For
thou hast made him a little lower
than the angels, and hast crowned
him with glory and honour. Thou
madest him to have dominion over
the works of thy hands; thou hast
put all things under his feet”
(Psalm 8:3-6).
A.
The psalmist was awed when he
considered
theover
order the
and immensity
Dominion
Earth of
God’s handiwork. He simply marveled
that God had entrusted mankind with
dominion over His earth and all living
things. The author of the Book of
Hebrews quoted the psalmist and then
added, “Thou hast put all things in
subjection under his feet. For in that he
put all in subjection under him, he left
nothing that is not put under him”
(Hebrews 2:8). (See James 3:7.)
James 3:7
“For every kind of beasts, and of
birds, and of serpents, and of
things in the sea, is tamed, and
hath been tamed of mankind”
(James 3:7).
A.
God placed the care of His great and
beautiful creation in the hands of
Dominion
over
the
Earth
mankind “to dress it and to keep it”
(Genesis 2:15). While this was a high
honor, with it also came a tremendous
responsibility. Since God placed
human beings as stewards of His
creation, Christians should certainly be
the strongest ecologists upon the face
of the Earth.
However, we should remember that
we are not the owners of creation; we
are only the managers, or stewards.
A.
What an awesome role with which God
Dominion
the
Earth of
has
entrusted over
us—the
caregivers
His entire creation!
We hear much discussion about the
protection of the environment, with
people staking out extreme stands on
either side. We may have differing
opinions about the methods, but we
should recognize our responsibility to
take care of God’s garden. It is a
sacred trust.
A. Some
Dominion
over
the
Earth
have said, “Mankind is the only
creature who dirties his own nest,” but
no one should ever be able to make
such a statement regarding Christians.
We should never be guilty of
knowingly defacing His landscape or
cruelly destroying any of His creatures.
A.
Stewardship entails wise use. God
DominionIsrael
overtothe
Earth
commanded
let the
land rest—
to go fallow—every seventh year. Even
today farmers recognize this to be a
wise practice in order for the minerals
and water content to be replenished,
and for some weeds to die. God has
given the plants and animals into our
hands for food and for our ongoing
use. (See Genesis 9:1-3.)
“And God blessed Noah and his
sons,
and said9:1-3
unto them, Be
Genesis
fruitful, and multiply, and replenish
the earth. And the fear of you and
the dread of you shall be upon every
beast of the earth, and upon every
fowl of the air, upon all that moveth
upon the earth, and upon all the
fishes of the sea; into your hand are
they delivered. Every moving thing
that liveth shall be meat for you;
even as the green herb have I given
you all things” (Genesis 9:1-3).
A. Dominion over the Earth
God’s giving of dominion to
mankind is a gift—not a right.
Therefore, believers should be careful
to exercise the best possible measure
of stewardship over all the Earth.
B. Dominion over Spirits
B. Dominion over Spirits
Before the Fall, it was God’s plan that
mankind have dominion not only in the
physical realm but also in the spiritual
realm. God placed two special trees in
the Garden of Eden, giving mankind a
choice. One tree symbolized eternal life
and the other tree symbolized carnal
knowledge of good and evil. If they ate
of the first tree, they would live; if they
ate of the second tree, they would die.
A.
As long as Adam and Eve chose life,
they
had communion
withEarth
God and
Dominion
over the
dominion over the forces of evil.
However, when they chose to disobey
God’s command and partake of the
forbidden fruit, these forces of evil
captured and dominated their lives.
Ever since Jesus’ birth, death, and
resurrection, mankind again has the
ability to choose the road he will
follow. With the help of the Holy Spirit,
God’s people can claim dominion over
the forces of evil in the spiritual world.
A.
When Jesus was on Earth, there was a
Dominion
over
theoccurring
Earth in
constant
spiritual
battle
His ministry. Evil spirits constantly
confronted Jesus, and He often cast
them out. Satan does not give up
easily.
To the seventy disciples, Jesus gave
authority over physical illness and
demonic spirits. (See Luke 10:17-20.)
As born-again believers, we also have
dominion over all spirits through the
name of Jesus Christ.
A. Furthermore,
Dominion we
over
Earth
can the
anoint
with oil
and pray in the name of Jesus Christ
over those who are sick and God will
raise them up (James 5:14-15).
Believers have dominion over sin
through His name. Paul wrote to the
Roman church, “Sin shall not have
dominion over you: for ye are not
under the law, but under grace”
(Romans 6:14). (See Psalm 44:5.)
Psalm 44:5
“Through thee will we push down
our enemies: through thy name will
we tread them under that rise up
against us”
(Psalm 44:5).
Since Christ’s
crucifixion
at
A. Dominion
over
the Earth
Calvary and the outpouring of His
Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, we
can claim dominion over all spiritual
principalities and powers. (See
Romans 8:37-39.)
Dominion Lost
II. Dominion Lost
When mankind yielded to temptation
in the Garden of Eden, sin stripped him
of all dominion. Adam and Eve did gain
knowledge, but they lost their state of
innocence. God’s purpose for mankind
was that he should be sovereign under
God in the realm of nature. However,
mankind never realized his purpose due
to sin. In fact, he is now in servitude to
his sin and to lust. (See Hebrews 2:8.)
A.
One biblical example where
Dominionwas
over
the
sovereignty
given
andEarth
then lost is
the case of King Nebuchadnezzar. God
told Jeremiah that He would give
Nebuchadnezzar dominion over all
lands and beasts of the field (Jeremiah
27:6-7), and He promised that all
nations, along with their kings, would
serve him. After God raised the king
up, He warned him in a dream to stay
humble and to acknowledge God as
the source of his power.
A.
Even after the dream and Daniel’s
Dominion
over
the
Earth
warning, however, Nebuchadnezzar
became lifted up with pride and spoke
aloud as he walked in the palace: “Is
not this great Babylon, that I have built
for the house of the kingdom by the
might of my power, and for the honour
of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). While
the words were still in his mouth, a
voice from Heaven pronounced
judgment: “The kingdom is departed
from thee” (Daniel 4:31).
A.
Shortly thereafter, Nebuchadnezzar
became
insaneover
and his
drove
Dominion
thelords
Earth
him from his palace. For seven long
years he roamed the fields eating
grass like an ox. His hair grew long
like eagles’ feathers and his nails like
birds’ claws. It was not until he
confessed that God was the source of
his greatness and all dominion and
authority comes from Him that God
restored him to power. (See Daniel
4:34-37.)
A. The Fall
A. The
God gave
AdamFall
and Eve the
freedom to enjoy all the fruit of the
Garden except one. So that mankind
would have a choice, God placed the
tree of knowledge of good and evil in
the midst of the Garden and told Adam
and Eve not to eat of it. God further
warned, “For in the day that thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis
2:17). The day they chose to eat of the
forbidden fruit, death entered into
Paradise.
process of over
sickness
death
A.The
Dominion
theand
Earth
began its work immediately, and they
withdrew from the presence of God.
In the form of a serpent, Satan
beguiled Eve by using the same tactics
he has used many times since. Eve
added power to the temptation by
entering into dialogue with Satan and
adding to God’s Word. True to His
word, God immediately dispersed the
consequences of disobedience
following Adam and Eve’s willful sin:
A.
“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly
multiply
thy sorrow
Dominion
overand
thethyEarth
conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring
forth children; and thy desire shall be
to thy husband, and he shall rule over
thee” (Genesis 3:16).
Eve lost a measure of her equality
the day she sinned. God said that she
would be in subjection to her husband
and he would rule over her from that
day forward. Further, she would
conceive and suffer the pain of
childbirth.
A.
To the man, God cursed the very
ground that before had yielded its
Dominion
over
the
Earth
bounty. Thorns and thistles would
grow in the same ground that had
previously produced only food for the
picking. To eat and feed his family
would now require digging and tilling
the ground by the sweat of his face.
God also said that when Adam died
physically, he would return to the very
dust from which he was formed. Of
course, this also applied to the state of
Eve when she succumbed to death.
B. The Ramifications
B.
The
Ramifications
Mankind lost his home in the most
beautiful and perfect garden God ever
made. (See Genesis 3:23-24.) In a radio
message that aired in July 2008,
evangelist and apologist Ravi Zacharias
enumerated the ramifications of the Fall:
“Rejection, alienation, substitution,
separation, dominion of sin, and
condemnation.”
Adam and Eve went from acceptance
to rejection, which led them to feel their
alienation from God.
A.
Sin separates a person from God. In
their guilt, Adam and Eve withdrew
Dominion
over
the
Earth
from God and tried to cover their sense
of nakedness and inadequacy with fig
leaves. They attempted to substitute a
covering from the very foliage of
creation to achieve dominion over
creation. Today, we still see mankind’s
various attempts to substitute the false
for the real. In prophetic mercy, God
substituted the skins of slain animals
for mankind’s flimsy attempt to cover
himself with leaves.
A.
The question God asked Adam and
Dominion
over
the
Earth
Eve is interesting: “Who told you that
you were naked?” Could it be the very
one who had caused them to fall had
turned around and then accused them
of being naked? Certainly, Satan is the
“accuser of the brethren” and the one
who causes individuals to fall. Then he
condemns them when they do fail.
A. Dominion
over
the Earth
Due to Adam
and Eve’s
sin and
disobedience, God had to separate
them from His presence. From that
point onward, mankind was in slavery
and under the dominion of sin. The last
step downward is the heavy weight of
guilt and condemnation.
Dominion Regained
III. Dominion Regained
“Thou hast put all things in subjection
under his feet. For in that he put all in
subjection under him, he left nothing
that is not put under him. But now we
see not yet all things put under him.
But we see Jesus, who was made a
little lower than the angels for the
suffering of death, crowned with glory
and honour; that he by the grace of
God should taste death for every
man” (Hebrews 2:8-9).
A.
The writer to the Hebrews declared
Dominion
over
the
Earth
that God had placed all authority under
mankind, yet we do not see it in reality
because of sin. However, we see
Jesus—made lower than the angels—
taking on flesh, dwelling with us, and
suffering death to redeem mankind and
restore him to his place of dominance
in God’s kingdom. (See Hebrews 2:7-9.)
What the first Adam lost, the Second
Adam—Jesus Christ—redeemed when
He restored mankind from his fall.
Believers today
promise
A. Dominion
overhave
thetheEarth
that when Jesus Christ returns to rule
and reign on this earth for one
thousand years, they will rule and
reign with Him. What we lost through
sin, we will regain through redemption.
A. Fulfillment in Life
A. Fulfillment in Life
We can fulfill our destiny and regain
our favored position through Jesus
Christ. Jesus has promised us victory
over sin: “For sin shall not have
dominion over you: for ye are not under
the law, but under grace” (Romans
6:14).
God has promised His children a full
life of mercy and grace when they fall,
A.
Fulfillment
in
Life
peace when they are worried,
deliverance and comfort when they are
afflicted, healing and divine care when
they are sick, and His presence when
they are lonely. Furthermore, He has
given believers the church body for a
family and home, and Heaven for
eternity. He further promised that
whatever we ask believing, He will give
to us. We are not just His subjects, but
we are His children individually and His
bride collectively for eternity.
B. Authority over the Devil
B. Authority over the Devil
As children of God, believers are no
longer helpless but conquerors. He has
promised, “Behold, I give unto you
power to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the
enemy: and nothing shall by any means
hurt you” (Luke 10:19).
A.
When the seventy disciples returned
from
their assignment
rejoicing
Dominion
over the
Earththat
even the devils were subject to them
through the name of Jesus, Jesus
made a strange statement: “I beheld
Satan as lightning fall from heaven”
(Luke 10:18). Clearly, He was observing
the fallen state of Lucifer and his
subjugated position beneath the
authority of God and His ministers.
Just before the Resurrection, Jesus
went down into Satan’s territory and
took captive the devil’s prisoners.
A.
Jesus’ resurrection broke Satan’s
power of death. God had promised
Dominion
over
the
Earth
mankind that the day would come
when the offspring of the woman
would crush the head of the serpent.
Satan bruised the heel of the seed of
the woman, but the Seed of the woman
has smashed Satan’s head.
Jesus rose triumphantly from the
grave. Because He overcame, we are
overcomers also. (See Romans 8:35,
37.)
Romans 8:35, 37
“Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . .
. Nay, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through him
that loved us”
(Romans 8:35, 37).
C. Victory over Sin
C. Victory over Sin
“There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of
the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
made me free from the law of sin and
death” (Romans 8:1-2).
A.
We now have victory over sin, and
we have the power to choose whom we
Dominion
over
the
Earth
will serve. In a sense, the two trees are
again in our garden, and we can
choose between carnal knowledge and
abundant, everlasting life. Paul’s
exhortation to the Romans reveals we
have a choice: “Let not sin therefore
reign . . . but yield yourselves unto
God” (Romans 6:12-13). We can
choose to be born again of the water
and the Spirit, which liberates us from
the bondage that had mankind in
slavery for four thousand years. (See
Romans 6:14.)
A.
We all serve a master whether it is
Dominion
overmammon,
the Earth
the
flesh, the devil,
or Jesus
Christ. Others will know who our
master is by whom we obey and serve.
Our liberty comes through our
obedience to the doctrine of Jesus
Christ, which has the power to deliver.
We stand in freedom by our foundation
upon the doctrines of the apostles and
the prophets.
We once served Satan, but now we
have changed masters.
A.
As the servants of righteousness, sin
has no more dominion over us: “We
Dominion
over
the
Earth
know that whosoever is born of God
sinneth not; but he that is begotten of
God keepeth himself, and that wicked
one toucheth him not” (I John 5:18).
The verbs of this Scripture indicate
continuous action in the present tense,
which indicates that sin is not habitual
to the child of God.
However, this does not mean that
our battle for dominion is over, for we
still live in the flesh.
A.
Our hearts may be toward Christ, but
Dominion
over
the
Earth
the flesh desires the former life in the
same way the Israelites longed for the
onions and garlic of Egypt. We
constantly war against a backward pull
to the habits and the ways of our past.
However, we now have the choice as to
whom we serve, which allows us to
overcome in the struggle between the
Spirit and the flesh.
Not only hasover
God promised
us
A. Dominion
the Earth
victory, but He has also promised us
forgiveness if we slip and fall. We may
lose a skirmish, but ultimate victory is
ours if we continue to rise from where
we have fallen. We now have an
advocate to help us in this battle—
Jesus Christ. (See I John 1:9-10; 2:1-2.)
Romans 8:1-2
“If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. If we say that we
have not sinned, we make him a
liar, and his word is not in us” (I
John 1:9-10).
I John 1:9-10
“My little children, these things
write I unto you, that ye sin not.
And if any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the righteous: and he is the
propitiation for our sins: and not
for ours only, but also for the sins
of the whole world” (I John 2:1-2).
D. Destiny by Choice
In the
thirtieth by
chapter
of I Samuel,
D.
Destiny
Choice
David had just returned from battle to
find that the Amalekites had destroyed
Ziklag and had taken their wives and
children captive. The men were
overcome with grief and were ready to
stone David. However, David
“encouraged himself in the Lord his
God” (I Samuel 30:6), and he asked God
if he should pursue his enemy. The Lord
replied, “Pursue: for thou shalt surely
overtake them, and without fail recover
all” (I Samuel 30:8).
A.
On the way to find the enemy,
Dominion
over
the
Earth
David’s men found a young Egyptian
lying near death in a field, sick and
without water and nourishment for
three days. They brought him to David,
who gave him water, bread, figs, and
raisins to eat. David inquired as to
whom he belonged and why he was
there. He answered, “I am a young man
of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and
my master left me, because three days
agone I fell sick” (I Samuel 30:13).
A.
When David asked the young man if he
could take him to where the Amalekites
Dominion
over
the
Earth
were, he replied that he would do it on
one condition—that he not be given
back to his old master. He had made a
choice.
Likewise, we have a choice about
whom we will serve. We can either
choose the world and its philosophy,
or we can choose Jesus Christ and His
loving mercy and grace. As our Master,
Jesus treats us very well. He never
throws us away or leaves us to die
when we are down. He is faithful at all
times!
Internalizing The Message
D. Destiny by Choice
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve
the Lord, choose you this day whom ye
will serve; whether the gods which
your fathers served that were on the
other side of the flood, or the gods of
the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell:
but as for me and my house, we will
serve the Lord. And the people
answered and said, God forbid that we
should forsake the Lord, to serve other
gods” (Joshua 24:15-16).
A.
Mankind is God’s special creation,
Dominion
over
theofEarth
created
with the
choice
whether or
not to love and serve Him. Adam and
Eve had a special relationship with
Him, and He gave them dominion and
authority over His creation on Earth.
However, they lost their special place
both physically and spiritually through
disobedience.
Instead of forgetting mankind and
leaving him to die alone, God came to
where he was and took on flesh to
dwell among His special creation.
A.
He lived a sinless life as an example,
Dominion
over
the toEarth
but
He went even
further
triumph
over death and Hell. He did this to
restore mankind to the position for
which He had originally created him.
Because of Calvary’s work and the
outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the
Day of Pentecost, we now have a
choice of masters. Our old master, sin,
caused us to do things of which we
were ashamed. It was a cruel
taskmaster, only using us and
throwing us in the field to die.
the Goodover
Samaritan
came to
A. Then
Dominion
the Earth
where we were in life’s ditch. He picked
us up, cleaned us, and poured in the
healing medicine of His Spirit. He
carried us to the church and paid the
price for our healing and care.
Our Master has all dominion and
power, yet He is a loving God who
treats us well and cares for us at all
times.