Grand Opening Earns Rave Reviews! Series

Intro:

1. One wrote, "Grand Opening Earns Rave Reviews! What a report! God’s creation was a complete success! All goals were accomplished not just for the initial launching of Creation, but with all systems on "go" for hundreds and thousands of years."

2. God’s creation work pleased God - it was perfect! Nothing needed to be repeated, repaired, or revised.

3. Seventh day - an Expression of God’s pleasure over what He created.

Trans: Gen. 2:1-3

A few general observations:

(1) First, there is no introductory formula ("then God said") because his creative word is not required.

(2) Second, this day does not have the usual closing refrain "evening" and "morning" to indicate its termination. Theologically the absence of the refrain implies that creation was intended to enjoy a perpetual rest provided by God, although that rest was disrupted by human sin.

(3) Third, the seventh day is the only day of the week blessed and consecrated by God.

(4) Fourth, unlike the creation days, the number of the "seventh" day is repeated three times (twice more by the pronoun "it").

I. FIRST, THE COMPLETION. 1:1-2a

1 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done -

A. First, creation week came to an End.

Hamilton, "Silence and stillness once again enter the atmosphere...There is no activity, no noise, no speaking. All that God willed and designed for his canvas of the universe is now in place...The Hebrew word for completed or finished, kala, especially in the Piel stem...[Here] means to bring to completion...The point made by this verb is that the universe is no longer in a process of being created."

1. The End of the Week.

on the seventh day - later it becomes obvious that this is what we call Saturday. Later in Israel the "seventh" was displaced with the customary word "Sabbath," and its ritual observance became the preeminent sign of God’s covenant with Israel:

"For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." Exodus 20:11 (NKJV)

"t is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’ " Exodus 31:17 (NKJV)

Monday is not the first day of the week, most see Satuday and Sunday as the week end; but Sunday is in fact the first day of the week. This is observed by looking at any Calander.

2. The end of Work.

God has finished his work of creation - The first law of thermodynamics is now in effect. This law says that energy can be changed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.

While it is true that the amont of available or usable engery is depleted [the second law of thermodynamics], that unavailable engergy still exists.

"3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, ’They shall not enter My rest,’ " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works"; Hebrews 4:3-4 (NKJV)

"For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His." Hebrews 4:10 (NKJV)

This does not mean that God stopped working! He rested on the seventh day from His creative activity, but He did not cease His direct control of the universe:

"But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." John 5:17 (NKJV)

"who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power..." Hebrews 1:3 (NKJV)

God never does, do-overs! Years ago we used to have bullitons, I often had to redo them, God never has that problem. Here are some actual bullitons that should have been redone:

This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the alter.

Thursday night: Potluck Supper - Prayer and medication will follow.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning.

Ushers will eat latecomers.

Next Sunday Mrs. Vinson will be soloist for the morning service. The pastor will then speak on "It’s a Terrible Experience."