Bridge Church Greenbrier

August 11, 2024
Series: Hot Topics

Sermon: In the Image of God: Race and Racism

Scripture: Genesis 2:7 & Acts 17:24-27

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. '

-Genesis 2:7

'“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ '

-Acts 17:24-28

INTRODUCTION: Before we RACE to any conclusions about RACE we must look at what God says about the subject. 

Secular Definition: Race is a worldview and social classification that divides humans into groups based on their appearance and assumed ancestry, and that has been used to establish social hierarchies. 

Biblical Starting Point: Race is not plural but singular. 

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. '

-Genesis 2:7

Secular Definition: Racism is “systematic discrimination by a powerful individual or institution against individuals based on their perceived membership in a socially defined racial group.” 

Biblical Understanding of Racism: The more biblical term for racism would be HATE!! Hate is a strong dislike or ill will toward persons or things. As an emotional expression, a person may oppose, detest, or despise contact with a thing or a person. 

God Formed...(Gen. 2:7)

God Breathed... (Gen. 2:7)

God Gave... (John 3:16)

Oneness in Christ Jesus...(Gal. 3:26-29)

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal. 3:26-29) 

CONCLUSION: In Christ we are ONE brand new creation. Jesus is the solution.