Embracing the Body: Creation, Brokenness, and Redemption

Over the past few weeks, we have intentionally leaned into topics that are often considered awkward or difficult to discuss in church, and today we turned our attention to the human body. From the very beginning, God created our bodies with purpose and intentionality. In Genesis, we see that humanity is uniquely formed by God’s own hands and animated by His breath, setting us apart from the rest of creation. Our bodies are not incidental or disposable; they are the means by which we fulfill God’s calling to steward creation, love others, and reflect His image in the world.

Yet, our bodies are also marked by brokenness. The fall in Genesis 3 brought pain, suffering, and mortality into our physical existence. We experience the consequences of sin—both our own and others’—in our bodies, whether through illness, injury, or the struggles of daily life. Despite this brokenness, the image of God remains in every person, and our bodies retain their dignity and value.

The incarnation of Jesus is central to understanding the significance of our bodies. Jesus, the eternal Word, became flesh—fully human, with all the limitations and needs that come with a physical body. He lived, suffered, and died in a real body, and through His physical death and resurrection, He redeemed not just our souls but our bodies as well. His resurrection was bodily, and He ascended into heaven as a glorified human, promising that we too will experience the redemption of our bodies.

This truth has profound implications for how we view and treat our bodies. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and what we do with them matters. Issues like body image and sexual sin are not just cultural or psychological concerns; they are deeply spiritual, touching on our identity as God’s image-bearers. We are called to honor God with our bodies, recognizing both their created goodness and their need for redemption.

Ultimately, our hope is not in escaping our bodies, but in their renewal. We await the day when Christ returns and makes all things new, including our bodies, which will be perfected and made immortal. Until then, we live as people who have been bought with a price, seeking to glorify God in our bodies and to use them in service, love, and worship.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The human body is created with divine intentionality and purpose. God formed humanity from the dust and breathed His own life into us, making our physical existence essential to our calling as His image-bearers. Our bodies are not an afterthought but a vital part of how we join God in His work in the world. [19:55]
• 2. The brokenness we experience in our bodies is a direct result of sin—both our own and that of others. Pain, suffering, and mortality are not signs that our bodies are worthless, but reminders of the fall and the ongoing need for redemption. Even in their broken state, our bodies still bear the image of God and are worthy of dignity and care. [28:54]
• 3. Jesus’ incarnation, death, and resurrection affirm the value of our physical bodies. By taking on flesh, suffering, and rising bodily from the dead, Jesus redeems not just our spirits but our entire selves. His glorified body is the promise and pattern for our own future resurrection, showing that God’s plan is not to discard our bodies but to renew them. [34:54]
• 4. Our bodies are now temples of the Holy Spirit, and what we do with them matters deeply. This truth challenges both the view that the body is everything and the view that it is nothing. Issues like body image and sexual sin are not merely personal struggles but spiritual battlegrounds where we are called to honor God, repent where needed, and trust in His redemptive work. [41:17]
• 5. The Christian hope is not escape from the body, but its redemption and transformation. We await the day when Christ returns and our mortal bodies are made immortal, free from pain and death. Until then, we are called to steward our bodies well, trusting that God’s ultimate plan is to make all things—including our bodies—new. [44:59]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [08:23] - Introduction: Addressing Difficult Topics
• [19:01] - Why Our Bodies Matter
• [19:55] - Created in God’s Image
• [22:53] - God’s Personal Involvement in Creation
• [25:55] - Errors: Materialism and Gnosticism
• [27:39] - The Fall and the Brokenness of Our Bodies
• [31:20] - The Image of God After the Fall
• [32:34] - The Word Became Flesh
• [34:54] - Redemption Through Jesus’ Body
• [36:45] - The Physical Resurrection of Jesus
• [40:02] - Our Bodies as Temples of the Holy Spirit
• [42:36] - The Redemption of Our Bodies
• [46:53] - Body Image and Self-Perception
• [54:04] - Sexual Sin and the Body
• [56:29] - Glorifying God in Our Bodies
• [59:31] - Baptism and Communion: Embodied Faith

Bible Reading

Genesis 1:26-28 (ESV) — > Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
> So God created man in his own image,
> in the image of God he created him;
> male and female he created them.
> And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV) — > Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Romans 8:22-23 (ESV) — > For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Observation Questions

1. According to Genesis 1, what makes humanity unique compared to the rest of creation?
2. In 1 Corinthians 6, what does Paul say about the purpose and value of our bodies?
3. The sermon mentioned that our bodies are both “very good” and “broken.” What are some examples from Genesis 3 that show how the fall affected our physical bodies? [[28:54]]
4. What does Romans 8 say we are waiting for regarding our bodies?

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says our bodies are not “incidental or disposable.” Why is it important to understand that our physical existence is essential to our calling as God’s image-bearers? [[20:43]]
2. How does the brokenness we experience in our bodies (pain, illness, aging) point us to our need for redemption? [[29:58]]
3. Why is it significant that Jesus came in a real, physical body, suffered, died, and rose again bodily? How does this shape our view of our own bodies? [[34:54]]
4. What does it mean for our bodies to be “temples of the Holy Spirit,” and how should that affect the way we treat our bodies? [[41:17]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about how we often struggle with body image and self-perception. Are there specific ways you have struggled to see your body as “very good” and created by God? How might understanding God’s intentional design change your perspective? [[46:53]]
2. When you experience pain, illness, or frustration with your body, do you tend to see it as a sign of failure or as a reminder of the fall and our need for redemption? How could you respond differently in light of the gospel? [[29:58]]
3. The idea that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit means what we do with them matters. Are there habits or patterns in your life—related to health, sexuality, or self-care—that you sense God is inviting you to change? What is one step you could take this week? [[41:17]]
4. The sermon mentioned that issues like body image and sexual sin are not just cultural or psychological, but deeply spiritual. How does this understanding affect the way you approach these struggles in your own life or in the lives of others? [[54:04]]
5. Jesus’ resurrection promises the future redemption of our bodies. How does this hope shape the way you think about aging, sickness, or even death? [[44:59]]
6. The pastor shared about using his body to serve and love others. What is one practical way you can use your body this week to serve someone in your family, church, or community? [[20:43]]
7. Baptism and communion are physical acts that reflect spiritual realities. If you have not been baptized or have questions about communion, what is holding you back? How could you take a step toward participating in these embodied practices? [[59:31]]