Jan 10, 2026
Feb 01st 1994
Debrecen Messages #8 -The Centrality of Man in God’s Purpose and The Creation of Adam
What if God’s greatest desire isn’t just about saving us, but about a grander purpose for humanity? This profound message delves into God’s eternal intention for man, far beyond what mainstream church culture often perceives. Gene Edwards unveils a breathtaking revelation of God’s original plan for mankind, established before the fall, where man was designed to bear His image and rule the earth. He explains that Jesus, as the Son of Man, perfectly fulfilled this blueprint, coming to embody man’s true purpose and conquer where Adam failed. Discover how believers today are called to be a “new humanity”—a corporate, living organism, distinct from mere organisations, through whom Christ becomes visible on earth once more, bringing joy to the Father. This isn’t just about individual salvation, but about God needing man to accomplish His ultimate purpose in creation.
I’m going to start off the same way as I have before. There was a lot that happened before creation, and there were no mysteries. God knew what he was doing. The Godhead, the
Father, the Son, and the Spirit all knew, and they agreed upon this magnificent undertaking, this bold adventure.
But as God began to create, and many things happened right up until the moment the Lord began to create with his let there be, all of their plans became secret and there were left two or three mysteries, and when we get into the epistles, we will discover what those things were that were hidden. Does anybody want to quote some of the verses that tell us what those mysteries are?
The mystery of Christ. There’s the mystery of Christ. The mystery of Christ in you, the mystery of Christ in the church. The mystery of the fellowship of the Godhead. The mystery of the fellowship of the Godhead. Okay, fine. And then there’s just the mystery hidden in Christ. We find out what it is, but it’s just the mystery hidden in Christ. These are mysteries that are not known; on the other hand, their fingerprints are found in Genesis 1 and 2. Now, Kalia, why is Genesis 1 and why is Genesis 2 so unique and important to us?
Because there is no sin, there is no fall yet. There’s no sin and no fall. Therefore, anything we read in this is a purpose that has nothing to do with the fall. So if God were to say to man, subdue the earth, have dominion, bear my image, that doesn’t change. That is something he wanted without a fall. And quite frankly, Kalia, he will be doing this when all of the fall is over and this creation is ended, that stands for man to bear the image.
Praise the Lord. Will we ever bear his image? We know not what we shall be, but we shall be like him. You shall be my sons and my daughters, said the Lord Almighty, and we will be kings and priests unto God, and we will judge angels and nations and nations. I don’t want that job. I’m going to give my vote to Michael the archangel. If they’ll let the angels, the angels can’t judge men, but I’m going to give my vote to Michael. I figure Michael can do a better job than I can of judging at least one of those angels.
Brothers and sisters, we ended yesterday on a thunderous, thunderous note, and I want to go back to that time. There’s something just really interesting about all of this. When Jesus lived on the earth, he was God come in the flesh. He was the Son of God, but before creation, according to Colossians, he was also the image of God. And then he became the expressed image of God. And man was chiseled out of clay in the image of God, but the image of God is Christ.
So, Adam was actually made in the likeness of Christ. It was Christ who stood in the position of creator. And he created man in the image of Christ. Now, what’s amazing is that the scripture, I think it’s Philippians, maybe 3. I’m not really sure. Somebody read Philippians 3.8 and tell me what it says. I may have the wrong verse. Otherwise, I’ll have to do like Barnabas and say somewhere it says. I don’t doubt I’m wrong. I’m not any good at verses. More than that, I count all things to be loss compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. Well, that didn’t help, did it?
Suffer the loss of all things and count them to go rubbish. Well, that’s a beautiful verse. It has nothing to do with some verse, some word that says that the Lord was made in the image of man.
Do you know where that is? Is that in Colossians? Well, try 3.8. I have no idea where it is. What about Colossians 3:10? Oh, it doesn’t matter. We really don’t care. I can’t. Sure. And have put on the new self, who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the one who created him. It’s close. Well, it’s nice. I’ll find it and I’ll try to find it. And, well, no, we’re not going to go any further than this.
Some of you out there in video land might think I’m embarrassed, but really, I’m not. Dividing the New Testament into chapters and verses was a pagan practice, and I never did get into it. What have you found now, brother? Another beautiful verse. Okay. 4:24. Put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness, the holiness of the truth.