Creation, Sin, and More Sin
The Beginning of It All
Gen 1:1-2:3
David Taylor
December 10, 2016
Today we start working through the book of Genesis, the first book of the bible. I will split the book up into three series, chapters 1-11 which centers on the beginning of history; 12-36 which centers on the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and 37-50, which centers on the story of Joseph. The series we start today is “Creation, Sin, and More Sin” covering the first eleven chapters. In these chapters you see God creating all things, the fall of humanity into sin, and then the uncontrollable spread of sin like a virus. Today I want us to look at “The beginning of it All,” in Genesis 1.
God Created All Things
The bible starts out telling us how it all began with a summary statement, “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.” God created tells us that the world is not the product of chance, the random forming of molecules. Modern man believes that creation evolved accidentally over millions of years and that the material world is all there is. And because this all there is then you live only for this life. In contrast, Genesis tells us that creation has a starting point, it has a purpose, and that purpose points us to a Creator. Genesis also tells us that God created. That word created is only used of God in the bible. The creation account also tells us that the material world has a spiritual component because all of creation is connected and in relationship to it's Creator. All of it is under his dominion, his rule, and designed for his purposes. Homer has some very talented and creative people who can create some amazing things. You see this with the artisans selling items at the Nutcracker Fair. Genesis tells us that God created the world with created with purpose and design.
God Created by his Word
We read that God created by the power of his word out of nothing. Eight times the bible says there was nothing and then there was something because God said so. God did not need raw materials as we do. He said it and it was so. God's word has the power to accomplish this because God is the one speaking. Nothing hinders God's word because his word is a person, his Son Jesus Christ. God speaks by his word, together with his Spirit, to create. God's word, by God's Spirit, creates and sustains all things. In creation God's word overcame the emptiness, darkness, and chaos. If I want light I have to flip a switch. All God did was say, 'let there be light and there was light.' I have to use raw materials to create. I told you last week I made a new top to my pop up camper but I could not make it out of nothing, I used raw materials. God did not use anything to create. God created everything out of nothing by the power of his word.
God Created an Ideal Habitat
God begins by creating a habitat and then fills it with inhabitants. He creates light and day and night, sun and moon, water and dry land. Did you notice that light comes before the sun and moon. Some say that this shows that this account of creation is an error and therefore not inspired by God but this shows that God does not need them to make light because God is light and this is the light of his glory. Then God fills his creation with plant life and living creatures creating an ideal habitat, made for the flourishing of life. And then God blessed the living creatures with the ability to multiply and fill the earth.
God Created Humanity
In verse twenty six, we see a change in the way things have been worded. Let's read the rest of the chapter, “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.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” God made a decision to create humanity. This points us to the complexity of God. God is an eternal triune community made up of three separate and equal persons, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit who have existed in a community of mutual love and joy. God did not have to create humanity but freely chose to create to include humanity in his circle of love. If God were not a trinity, love would not be ultimate because God would not know love prior to creation. Love requires more than one person. Created in the image of God means we reflect him like a mirror. In the Ancient Near East, kings would make images and place them around their territory to identify their kingdom. Similarly, that word in the LXX is where we get the word icon from. Icons are symbols that represent something else like a person, an idea, or a product. Today companies make icons to represent the company or products they make.
God Rested After Creation
At the end of his creative process we are given a summary statement, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” After God finished all that he had made, God ceased from his work. But this is not the rest one experiences from exerting themselves. God finishes creation and then relished in his handiwork. He created a place where he would dwell with his people, in his place, and under his rule. Have you ever worked on something or accomplished something and when you finished it, you relished in your accomplishment? Or you had a good meal and set the fork down to delight in the meal. That is what God is doing here. He has finished and is relishing in his handiwork.
At the end of the creative process there is peace and harmony in creation. God has created a perfect habitat for humanity to thrive, united in fellowship with their Creator. There is no hint of decay, death, hate, malice, destruction or evil disasters in his creation. Unfortunately, that is not what we see around in us or around us because of sin, which we will look at next week.
Take Aways:
• God still creates by the power of his word. 2 Cor 4:6
• God recreates his people into the image of Christ. 2 Cor 3:18
• The Sabbath is fulfilled in Christ. Hebrews 4:3-4
• The purposes of God include all peoples. Mat 28:18 -20
