First Things First Series

THE ADAM PROJECT

First Things First: Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:4-7

We would do well to start preaching the gospel not in terms of just religion, or having a relationship with God but preaching it on the basis of a covenant that God makes with people. In fact the Bible is divided into two testaments the Old and New testaments or covenant. What is a covenant? A covenant is a pact between two people or two parties that involves promises on the part of each to the other. Covenants in the scriptures were more than just simple agreements or contracts. A contract always has an end date, while a covenant is a permanent arrangement. Another difference is that a contract generally involves only one part of a person, such as a skill, while a covenant covers a person’s total being. The word for covenant in the Old Testament also provides additional insight into the meaning of this important idea. It comes from a Hebrew root word, which means, "to cut." So it could be referred to as “cut covenant.” because it involves animal sacrifice.

1. God in his grace makes the first move to start and set up the covenant.

2. Neither God nor we can break this covenant.

3. God promises to bless us in his love and grace.

4. God sets the terms and requirements of our covenant.

5. God is our friend who acts in alliance with us.

A. God and His Rule Must Be Our Priority

If we are going to understand what covenants are we must go to the beginning. The first five books of the Bible, which were written by Moses, are called the Law, the Torah or the Pentateuch. They are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, numbers and Deuteronomy. Genesis begins with God. God is always first. He should be the foremost person in our lives. I am not a fanatic, you say. I am a good person and church has its place. I think when people say that they are saying, “God has his place…” meaning that their desires are ahead of God in their list of priorities. God is just a person who is there when they need him. He is a resource; he is a “break glass in case of emergency” kind of Deity to them. Well, let me ask, “If you say you believe in God then why did he create you? Do you think he created you with the intention that you live your own way?” You were created to know, serve and worship the Creator. By the way looking at some of you, you are not doing to well on your own.

“First, God. God is the subject of life. God is foundational for living. If we do not get the sense of the primacy of God, we will never get it right, get life right, get our lives right. Not God at the margins; not God as an option, not God on the weekends. God at the center and circumference; God first and last. God, God, God.” Genesis is God’s construction of his Kingdom in its embryonic form. God gives our lives significance and meaning. God made the world where everything and everyone is created with an intention and design. He does not work impersonally from space, but he is in operation in the here and now. No matter how good or bad anyone is, we continue to be a part of his project-the Adam Project so there is no place to drop out.”

B. Clearing Up the Dense Confusion

We see the Spirit of God brooding over a convulsing mass of darkness, making the first move. He is not without audience. The angels that he has created are standing by. In fact the creation event was a exciting time for them. God says in the book of Job, "Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone--while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? (Job 38:4-7NIV).

There are four words that describe the earth’s condition. It was “without form and void” heavy darkness and unpopulated by human or animal. The Hebrew words for without form and void are tohu and bohu, meaning confusion and emptiness. And there was only heavy darkness. God is not only the author of all being, but He is the source of life and motion. Dead matter would be forever dead if he did not bring life to it. God can raise the dead. And this makes it realistic to us that God should raise the dead.

People’s lives are reduced to a lifeless condition by the sin of man, under which the creation sobs in pain. They are dead. There are grave dwellers still walk are not some horror movie-spiritually they are dead. That is why the work of God’s Spirit in the soul is a new creation, this chaos represents the state of a person who is not in covenant with God there is disorder, confusion, and trouble it is empty of all good, for it is without God; it is dark, it is darkness itself. This is our condition by nature, until Almighty God in his grace effects divine change in our hearts. The Spirit of God moves upon us and no one can resist him.