In The Beginning
For the next three weeks I will take a turn from what I’ve been preaching and present a short glimpse into the overarching meta narrative of the Bible. What is the Bible and what do we claim about it?
We confess the Bible to be inerrant, inspired, infallible and the Word of God. It is truth and doesn’t just contain truth. It isn’t partially true, but the specific revelation of God into this existence. That statement is one of three foundational Biblical Worldview statements. We will look at the other two as we go.
So, lets start ‘In The Beginning’ Look at GENESIS 1:1
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
It is very interesting that most evangelical Christians don’t have much problem with Genesis Chapter 3, but either don’t know how to apply 1 & 2 or try and make them allegorical or imagery of God at work.
Prior to 1859 and Darwin’s release of this work entitled, ‘On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life’ every scientist was one who held to the concept of a creator and creation.
However, today we all know science has established the origins of everything, so we just dismiss the potential and reality of these two chapters as truthful and accurate.
This morning please hear me, there is more factual scientific evidence that points to a Divine Creator then to an accidental, random, reasonless, process with no explainable first cause.
However, this morning the focus is on the factual statement of Gen. 1:1. I want to draw some things out of this passage that we need to have settled and solidly in place in the days and times in which we live.
If we miss or misrepresent ‘In The Beginning’ we find ourselves in a very dangerous and difficult place.
If Genesis 1:1 isn’t accurate or truthful then we need to go home and watch some football and grill some dogs and kick back. Because there can’t be anything more without the divine Creator.
Genesis 1:1 is the number one foundational principle of a Biblical Worldview- ‘There is a God’
So lets start with the first truth statement the Bible makes.
In The Beginning –
Hebrew ‘rey-sheeth’.
This phrase is found 18 times in the text of the Bible.
There is no place is it not used literally.
The question needs to be asked, ‘Beginning of What?’
God? Absolutely Not!
A Creator can’t come from the Creation
A Creator must be pre-existent to the Creation
A Creator must be external to the Creation
A Creator must be more powerful than the Creation
Hebrews 1:10 - ‘And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens
are the work of your hands…’
Isa. 46: 8-10 - ‘“Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the
former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none
like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet
done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose...’
Job 38
Outside of God only things with a beginning can have an existence.
So what begin?
Time – the passing of existence in our created universe.
Marking off of existence
Beginning – at the start or first things first
Eccl. 3: 1-8 - ‘for everything there is a season and a time for every purpose/matter
under heaven…’
The Creator is in charge of time!
He will bring it to an end….
Rev. 10: 6-7 - ‘ And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and
the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the
sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But
in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the
mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the
prophets.’ ‘Greek ‘Chron-os’
This statement then begs the most important question found in the narrative of creation…..
Who is this Creator?
Many, many civilizations claim a creation story and a Creator or Creative Force.
It makes tremendous difference to know which one of these is truth!
God - ‘El-ohim’ This is the common name of God found in the Hebrew text of the Old
Testament. It carries the meaning of the strong God the self-sustaining God
the self-existent God
Isa. 45: 18 - ‘For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth
and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I
am the LORD, and there is no other…’
Here we have a more detailed defining of El-Ohim.
He is Jehovah – LORD
He is El-Ohim
Every name of God reveals part of the characteristics of God.
Just for free -
Elohim – Verse 1
Spirit – Verse 2
Son – John 1:1
Jehovah Elohim - is the First Cause
Psalm 90: 2 - ‘Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the
world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.’
Created – ‘bara’ – to bring into existence. The First Effect
It means there was nothing then God brought it into being.
Every action of God reveals part of the nature of God.
Heavens and the earth - Heavens – plural space
Earth – ehrets matter
light (verse 3) energy
we now know everything also carries information
Psalm 19: 1 - ‘The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.’
Take-aways
Psalm 147: 4-5 - ‘He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord,
and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.’
Exodus 33 - God to Moses – “I know you by name”
Isa. 49:14-16 - But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” "Can a woman forget
her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
