How did God create man?

We've looked briefly at the Bible's teaching regarding the creation of the heavens and the earth, and here we look at how the LORD God created mankind. Crucial to the Christian Faith is the Biblical doctrine regarding the creation of man; for, if God did not create man, mankind is not accountable to God and the Bible's doctrine about sin, judgment and atonement through the shed blood of God's only-begotten Son topples as well. And, I might add, crucial to the arguments against same-sex marriage and all other sexual behavior which deviates from traditional marriage between a man and a woman, is the Biblical doctrine regarding the creation of woman and the institution of marriage recorded in Genesis 2.

How did God create man?

The Bible answers that question for us when it says in Genesis 1:26-27: "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

It further explains how the first man was created in Genesis 2:7: "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." Of the creation of woman, God's Word says in Genesis 2:18-25: "And the LORD God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.' Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.' Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed."

The first man and woman were created in the image of God, with His likeness. This does not mean they looked like God, for God is a spirit. It means they were like God in that they knew God and His will and gladly and willingly lived for God in accord with His will and purpose in creating them (See Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24; and Ephesians 2:10). They knew God, loved Him, trusted Him and were of one heart and mind with Him in all their thoughts, desires, words and deeds.

We learn from the Scriptures that God formed the body of Adam (Adam means man) from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him, making Adam a living being. He was given life, both physical and spiritual. He was made alive to God.

We learn that the first woman was created from the first man and for the man to be a helper and companion to him who was like him and fitting for him. She was indeed flesh of his flesh.

Though many in our time would deny it, this is also the reason for marriage between a man and a woman. God created the woman for the man, brought her to the man and the two became one flesh. Any sexual union outside of marriage between a man and a woman is contrary to God's purpose and design in creation.

Though we may think we exist only as the natural result of the sexual union between a man and a woman, the Scriptures teach us that we are no accident. God created each of us in the womb of our mother and gave us life. Not only did He bless man and woman with the ability to have children (Genesis 1:28), He creates and forms each of us in our mother's womb.

The Bible says in Psalm 139:13-16: "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them."

Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer and also the pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Rogers. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.