Jesus Is Needed

Rediscovering Our Created Purpose: Relationship with God and Others

Have you ever felt like something was missing in your life? Like you were meant for more, but couldn’t quite put your finger on what that “more” was? As we dive into the first three chapters of Genesis, we discover a profound truth about our existence – we were created for relationship. Not just any relationship, but a deep, meaningful connection with our Creator and with each other. Let’s explore how understanding our created purpose can transform our lives and restore what was broken by sin. Restoring relationships is part of our journey.

Made in God’s Image: A Special Creation

From the very beginning, we see that humans hold a unique place in God’s creation. As Pastor Dan points out, “Even in God’s created action with humans, it’s different than every other created being that God made.” Unlike the rest of creation, which God spoke into existence, He took special care in forming us:

“Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. And the man became a living creature.” (Genesis 2:7)

This intimate act of creation reveals God’s desire for a close relationship with us. He made us “in His image” (Genesis 1:26), giving us attributes that reflect His own nature. As the pastor explains:

“We have similar characteristics. And I have to say this very carefully, but we are imperfectly and not completely, but we share in the nature of God.”

This similarity allows us to know God in a way that no other part of creation can. We can understand concepts like love, justice, and wisdom because they are part of God’s nature, and He has instilled those qualities in us. Understanding this is crucial in the process of restoring relationships.

Relationships: Reflecting God’s Nature

Our capacity for relationship doesn’t stop with God. He also created us to relate to one another in a way that reflects His own relational nature within the Trinity. The creation of male and female demonstrates this:

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

Pastor Dan explains the significance: “God has made us different. He’s given us different roles, different responsibilities. We’re physically different. And God has done that for what purpose? He’s done that not only so that we can glorify him and picture him as he is, but that also we can understand him better.”

Our relationships with each other are meant to help us better understand and experience our relationship with God. This is particularly evident in marriage, where two become “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24), mirroring the unity within the Trinity. Restoring relationships with others reflects restoring our relationship with God.

The Brokenness of Sin

Unfortunately, this perfect state of relationship didn’t last. Sin entered the world, and with it came a fracture in our relationships – both with God and with each other. Pastor Dan vividly describes the immediate impact of sin:

“Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked… And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. And the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:7-8)

Suddenly, there was fear, shame, and a desire to hide from God. The open, unashamed relationship Adam and Eve had enjoyed was shattered. And it didn’t stop there. Their relationship with each other also suffered, as blame and accusation entered the picture:

“The man said, ‘The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.'” (Genesis 3:12)

This pattern of broken relationships continues to this day. As Pastor Dan notes, “Sin has broken our relationships, but it’s really broken through our relationships, our created purpose.” Therefore, the task before us is clear – restoring relationships must become a priority.

Jesus: The Restorer of Relationships

But the story doesn’t end there. Even in the midst of pronouncing judgment, God provides hope. He promises that one day, the offspring of the woman would crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). This is the first hint of the coming Messiah – Jesus Christ.

Pastor Dan emphasizes, “Jesus came to restore our created purpose.” Through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection, Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled to God and to live out our created purpose of relationship. Restoring relationships is at the heart of Jesus’ mission.

“We can live in peace with God because of what Jesus has done,” the pastor declares. “Why is Jesus needed? He’s needed so that we can have relationship with him and his Father in the Spirit. And he’s needed so that we can live that out and picture that to the world around us.”

Putting It Into Practice

So how do we live out this restored purpose? Here are some practical steps:

1. Recognize your need for Jesus. Admit that sin has broken your relationship with God and that you can’t fix it on your own.
2. Embrace the forgiveness and reconciliation offered through Christ. As Pastor Dan says, “You can’t sin enough against me that Jesus hasn’t already forgiven me for.”
3. Seek to reflect God’s love and forgiveness in your relationships with others. Let your relationships be a picture of the Gospel and focus on restoring relationships.
4. Be honest about your struggles. Don’t hide from God when you fail, but come to Him for forgiveness and help. Restoring relationships requires vulnerability.
5. Share the good news of restored relationship with others. As Pastor Dan encourages, “May we as a church, and may we as individuals, may we share the good news of Jesus Christ this season. May we share it each and every day that we live.”

Let us embrace our created purpose, let Jesus restore our relationships, and may we find the deeper satisfaction and contentment we were made for. Let’s live out this purpose together, giving glory to the One who created us for relationship with Him by actively restoring relationships with God and others.