Question 4

Question:

“How and why did God create us?

Answer (Kids in bold):

“God created us male and female in his own image to know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory. “

Memory Verse:

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

Commentary:

Question 4 reflects the famous question at the beginning of the Westminster Shorter Catechism: ”What is the chief end of man?” Answer: “To glorify God and enjoy him forever.”

Male and Female

God created people, male and female, to reflect him and to subdue the earth and to fill it (Genesis 1:26-31). Men and women are created in the image of God, and each reflect God’s glory in a particular way according to their maleness and femaleness.

Know Him

This doesn’t mean to know of God and merely acknowledge his existence, but to know him and to be in a relationship with him; to know what pleases him and to seek to please him in those things (Deuteronomy 7:9). Knowledge of God can only come by the Spirit of God (Isaiah 11:2).

Love Him

To know God is to love God (1 John 4:8). Loving God is the first great commandment (Luke 10:27), which is shown to us in the first five commandments (Exodus 20:2-12).

Live With Him

Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden (Genesis 2-3). The Spirit indwells all believers (Ezekiel 36:37), and God builds his house within his people (John 14:23). We shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6). Christ is with us by the Spirit, and by the Spirit we will be with Christ in the flesh in the age to come. (1 Cor 15:12-26).

Glorify Him

All things have been created to glorify God, and man has been created to glorify God above all of creation (1 Cor 11:2-15). The purpose of man is to glorify God (Isaiah 42:8; 1 Corinthians 6:20).

Because God has created everyone and everything, he has the right to command us in what we should do, and all men and all women are morally required to do all things to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). Because God created us so that we might glorify and enjoy him forever, it follows that doing so is also what will bring us the most satisfaction (Psalm 119:97-104).

Resources:

Other Questions for Discussion:

• What is the significance of being created?
• What does it mean to be created in the image of God? How does this distinguish us from the rest of creation?
• How do we glorify God as image bearers?
• Of what importance is it that both male and female equally bear the image of God?
• How do the four purposes (knowing Him, loving Him, living with Him and glorifying Him) affect our life?
• What role does each person of the Trinity play in our bearing the image of God?
• What does it mean to live to His glory?
• What are some counterfeit or temporary “glories” of this culture that we may otherwise be seduced by?
• Why is it “right” that we should live to God’s glory? If it is right, what would be “wrong?”
• How does this question relate to and remind us of the gospel?

Prayer:

Maker of All, let us not lose sight that we, and every human being you have made, are created in your image. Never let us doubt this about ourselves. Never let us doubt this about any other man or woman, for to do so denies you the glory that is due to your name. Your likeness glimpsed in us testifies that we belong to you, body and soul. Amen.

Other Scripture References:

Genesis 1:26-27; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Psalm 139:13-16; Matthew 22:34-38; John 12:28; 1 Peter 2:9-10, 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Acts 17:25