Virtually
every theme in Scripture has its roots in the book whose name means
“beginning.” Genesis introduces the Author, sets the stage, presents the
characters, and initiates the plot of the entire Bible. Grace, faith, sin,
worship, sacrifice, obedience, blessing, jealousy, betrayal, and judgment – all
are found there. Join us as we explore our Creator’s very first book. And, as
an added bonus, get a head start on your Bible reading for 2019!
Genesis
1 is “the most amazing composition in all the world’s literature, using only 76
different word-forms fundamental to all mankind, arranged in a wonderful
poetical pattern yet free from any highly colored figures of speech. It
provides the perfect opening to God’s book and establishes all that men really
need to know of the facts of creation. No man could have invented it: it is as
great a marvel as a plant or a bird. It is God’s handiwork, sufficient for
Hebrew children or Greek thinkers or Latin Christians; for medieval knights or
modern scientists or little children; for cottage dwellers or cattle ranchers
or deep sea fishermen; for Laplanders or Ethiopians, East or West, rich or
poor, old or young, simple or learned … sufficient for all! Only God could
write such a chapter … and he did.” Frederick A. Filby, Creation Revealed: A Study of Genesis Chapter One in the Light of
Modern Science (Westwood, N.J.: Revell, 1963), 15–16.
Gen
1-2 – Creation
Gen
1
In
the beginning ________.
In
the beginning … WHAT? That next word determines what one will believe, what he
will value, and how he will live.
So
it was for Israel in the wilderness then; so it is for the church in the
wilderness today.
How
does our view of origins affect our daily lives?
OUTWARD
BEHAVIOR – based on …
INSTITUTIONS
Family,
Society, Friendships – based on …
VALUES
Morality,
Right and Wrong – based on …
WORLD
VIEW
Purpose
and Ownership of the World – based on …
VIEW
OF ORIGINS – basis of all!
Concerning
God?
Concerning
the world?
Concerning
my life? Worship, Purpose, Obedience
God,
the Spirit of God, the Word of God. John 1
Worldview
– definition, significance, and basis.
Every
worldview answers three basic questions:
Where
did we come from, and who are we?
What
has gone wrong with the world?
What
can be done to fix it?
Conflicts
over morality are really conflicts over worldviews.
Biblical
theism: the belief (worldview) that there is a
transcendent God who created and rules the universe and that all of life is to
be lived for His glory and under His direction.
Genesis examines every area of life
in the light of this view.
Genesis 1 Refutes the Competing
Ancient Worldviews of Egypt and Canaan:
Polytheism
… there are many “mini-gods,” limited in power, subject to failure.
Pantheism
… everything is god, including animals and objects.
Animism
… all natural phenomena have souls independent of their physical being.
Nature
Worship … the sun, the stars, or other forces are divine (astrology).
Genesis 1 Anticipates and Refutes
Competing Modern Worldviews:
Naturalism:
… natural causes alone are sufficient to explain everything that exists.
Materialism:
… matter is all that there is, with no spiritual realm or reality.
Existentialism:
… “Existence precedes essence.” Life is absurd and meaningless; the individual
self must create his own meaning by his own choices.
Secular
Humanism: … man is god, the center, sum, and ruler of all.
Moral
relativism: … every moral principle is a personal or social preference.
Multiculturalism:
… all cultures are morally equivalent, choosing their own values.
Pragmatism:
… whatever works best is right.
Utopianism:
… social and economic structures can solve humanity’s problems.
Post-Christian
thought: … Judeo-Christian truths are no longer to be used as the basis of
public philosophy or moral consensus.
Postmodernism:
… there is no universal, overarching truth; … all truth claims are merely
social constructions shaped by class, gender, and ethnicity.
Our modern secular culture is
redefining every element of life in light of current worldviews that do not
begin with God.
Without
form, so God forms on days 1, 2, and 3.
Void
(empty), so God fills on days 4, 5, and 6.
The
process of creation (Repeated pattern in six parts):
ANNOUNCEMENT
- “And God said ...”
COMMANDMENT
- “Let there be ...”
RESULT
- “And it was so.”
REPORT
- “And so God made ...”
NAMING
- “And He called ...”
EVALUATION
- “And it was good ...”
CHRONOLOGICAL
FRAMEWORK - “And evening ... morning”
How do later Scriptures reflect back
on the Creation?
PSALM
8 (All)
Man’s
dignity, in spite of his smallness
PSALM
19:1-6
The
creation declares God’s glory.
PSALM
104
God,
the master architect; His majesty seen in creation; His providence sustaining
His creatures
PSALM
136:5-9
Thanks
to God because of His creation with skill
MATT
19:4-6
God’s
plan for marriage based on His creation
MARK
13:19
Tribulation
“not since the beginning, when God created”
JOHN
1:1-13
In
the beginning the Word
COL
1:15-17 parallel
ACTS
17:24-29
No
temples, no divine needs, no distance, no images.
ROMANS
1:18-23
Visible
creation reveals God’s invisible qualities.
2
COR 4:6
As
God brought light into darkness then, He has brought us the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
1
TIM 2:11-15
Woman’s
subordinate role based on her being created second and deceived by the serpent
HEBREWS
11:3
The
worlds prepared by the word of God ... what is seen was not made out of things
which are visible
REVELATION
4:11
God
worthy to receive praise because He is Creator
God’s
naming implies His authority over each.
“Let
there be light!” 2 Cor 4:6; John; 1 John
“Let
Us make man in Our image.” 3:22; 11:7
Gen
5:1; 9:6; Eph 4:24; Col 3:10; Jas 3:9
“Man”
– male and female. Equally in His image.
Distinct
from, to rule over, animals and all else.
“Be
fruitful and multiply.” Gen 9:1, 7
God
“rested” – only from creating. John 5:16-17
OT
Sabbath; our eternal rest. Ex 20:8-11; Heb 4
Gen
2
Gen
1 – overview of creation. Gen 2 – focus: man, woman.
No
rain yet, but a mist (vapor or fog).
Man
from dust – back to dust (3:19).
Heb.
adam (man) from adamah (ground).
Man
became a “soul.” 1 Cor 15:45; Matt 10:28.
Garden
“in” Eden. “Eden” = “delight.”
Tree
of life; tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Each
tree’s purpose and message (reminder).
River
from Eden --- Tigris, Euphrates, 2 more.
Different
topography before / after the Flood.
Possible
showing of “Is Genesis History?”
Work
– its nature and purpose before the Fall.
Fruit
of all trees allowed, except one.
Purpose:
choice and consequences. Death!
Good.
Good. Good. All good. Not good!
Man’s
need: a helper “meet” or “suitable.”
Not
found! Woman as a unique creation.
Adam’s
naming animals implies his authority.
Man
and woman –
Equal
in essence, value, intellect, spirituality.
Equal
in status before God. Gal 3:26-29
Distinct
in relationship roles. 1 Cor 11:1-3
Interdependent.
1 Cor 11:8-12
Made
by God from one (bone, flesh) – into two.
Then
united from two into one again by God.
Called
woman (Heb., ishah) from man (ish).
“Therefore”
conclusion: leave, cleave, one flesh.
Jesus’
further inference: Matt 19:1-9
Marriage
copies that original pattern.
Naked
together without shame or sin.
The
marital relationship: God’s holy design.
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