Genesis 1:26–28 (NKJV)
26 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.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Matthew 28:16–20 (NKJV)
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Genesis 6:1–8 (NKJV)
1 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.
3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Sermon Outline and Help:
- Genesis 1:26–28 (The Creation/Human Mandate).
- Matthew 28:18–20 (The Great Commission).
- Genesis 6:1–8 (Human wickedness, divine grief, and Noah’s grace).
This sermon is a very careful study of Genesis using biblical theology and linguistic study; some of you might find the notes here helpful:
Three Interpretive Approaches to “The Sons of God” (Genesis 6:1–4)
- View 1: The Sethite Lineage
- “Sons of God” as righteous descendants of Seth; “daughters of men” as ungodly descendants of Cain.
- View 2: Divine Beings / Fallen Angels
- Intermingling of spiritual beings and human women producing Nephilim and Gibborim. (Numbers 13, Jude 6, 2 Peter 2:4).
- View 3: Dynastic Rulers / Oriental Despots
- Powerful kings building polygamous harems through coercion.
The Creation Mandate vs. Human Depravity (Genesis 1 & Genesis 5–6)
- Image of God and Humanity’s Purpose
- Genesis 1:26–28: Humans created male and female in God’s image to multiply and rule creation.
- Genesis 5: Multiplication of humanity as a fulfilment of blessing.
- Structural Contrast in Genesis 6
- Genesis 6:2: The sons of God saw the daughters of man were “beautiful” (Tov / good).
- Genesis 6:5: Yahweh saw the wickedness of man was “great/evil” (Ra).
- Edenic Parallels: Re-enactment of the Fall (Genesis 3), evaluating relative goodness/evil apart from God’s decree.
Linguistic Analysis & Theological Implications of Genesis 6:1–4
- Divine Disruption & Creation Order
- Disruption originates from heaven (Genesis 6) vs. disruption originating from earth (Genesis 11 — Tower of Babel).
- Angelic Boundaries & Marriage
- Angels lack a mandate to procreate; contrast with resurrection theology (Matthew 22:30).
- The Limitation of Life & Purpose of the 120 Years
- God limits human lifespan/grants a 120-year window for Ark construction, grace, and re-creation.
Divine Pathos and Immortality (Genesis 6:5–8)
- The Heart of God (Genesis 6:6)
- God portrayed as a grieving parent (pathos) rather than a detached tyrant.
- The paradox of God’s immutability and His genuine sorrow (grief/pain).
- Linguistic Linkage of Pain (Asav)
- Asav (grief/pain) links God’s grief (Gen 6:6) to woman’s childbearing pain (Gen 3:16) and man’s agricultural toil (Gen 3:17).
- Noah as “Rest” (Noah)
- Noah’s name signifies comfort/rest, offering relief to Yahweh’s grieving heart amidst judgment.
Redemptive-Historical Christology
- Typological Fulfilment in Christ
- Transition from the partial rest in Noah to absolute rest in Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
- Christ as the true Son of God bearing the weight and grief of human sin on the Cross.
- The call to submit to Christ, enter the restoration/garden of God, and fulfil the Great Commission.