Summary: 35 verses give us a complete insight into the mind of God as author, creator, sovereign, all-powerful, and later even as redeemer. In these verses we can see Him and all that He is, and choose to worship Him in His glory!

Alpha and Omega, Part 6

God’s finished work of Creation

Genesis 1:26 – 2:4

Introduction

- We’ve begun the year with “one purpose”: Knowing there is a God!

-- Just as a building requires a builder, a creation must have a Creator

- Continuing our series, “Alpha and Omega”; looking at the beginning to the end

-- Been studying 2 critical questions: How did we get here? How does it end?

- Last week’s big ideas (re: v26)

1. God’s sovereignty is always on display

-- He created in His own image, for His glory, so we can see Him in everything

2. God had a clear purpose for creating mankind (to reign & worship)

-- Even though He knew we would sin … He still chose to create us for Himself

-- Even (big) in our rebellion, He still provides a way for us to know Him (Jesus)

3. God’s creation of mankind was deliberate

-- Mind blowing: He discussed our creation with The Son and The Spirit

-- He desired that we would know Him, working & praising & fellowshipping

-- APP: Our response is what demonstrates who He is in our life (action & words)

- Let’s look at our passage for today … Read Genesis 1:26 – 2:4 / Pray

- TR: Touched on this last week – want to ensure we have a clear understanding

-- Our were placed on this earth for one primary purpose …

Point 1 – Humans were created to reflect God

- First, we see God’s decision to create; and then it was done by His word

-- However, what God has created is not just something that looks like Him

-- What he’s created is something that contains His own attributes

- What man has that animals do not is critical thinking – the ability to reason

-- Animals realize their environment; but for them it is an instinctive realization

- Mankind not only realizes creation, but we interact and directly affect it

-- Specifically, we are given dominion over it (to care for it: nourish, etc.)

-- Hebrew: radah; to have dominion; rule; dominate

-- EX: We can appreciate beauty & consider when/how to do right or wrong

- Analogy: We would not chew our shoes due to the consequences; puppy would

- They act on instinct, we are given a choice and can change our course of action

- Being created in His image ALSO gives us the ability to reflect God’s emotions

-- It’s given so we’d mirror Him to those we encounter; (ex) to show love of God

-- HUGE example of God reacting to us: Romans 5:8 says, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

-- Don’t miss: How we react to others shows how this verse applies to us (grace)

- It’s in this that shows we were created to respond, or go to, to God for guidance

-- Why? So we’d live our life in worship and adoration of Him – and Him alone

-- It’s a gift from God to have his characteristics, to reflect Him in how we live

-- It’s what separates us from the animals; and what we must grasp in this series

- TR: So, in our reflection of Him, we are also given a blessing …

Point 2 – Humanity is blessed to populate the Earth

- God gives us a blessing in how we should continue to live (v28)

-- It is critical to comprehend this: be fruitful and multiply (or, make more of)

-- Look let’s just say it: This is a GOOD thing given by God!

- However, it comes with a specific direction and the words are clear:

-- Hebrew: parah; to bear fruit (multiply)

-- Hebrew: barak; to bless

-- Obvious: We cannot reproduce without each of these: a man and a woman

- Chris Bruno, Crossway Magazine writes, “When we think about the message of the Bible, we have a story that can be summarized by creation, fall, redemption, and new creation. The God who creates is also the God who redeems!”

- And in that, God has graciously given us everything on this Earth to govern

-- The discipleship challenge is … will we live our lives to reflect this?

- Here’s the tough challenge for us today:

-- Will we act in a way that reflects everything that God has done for us?

-- For example, even in the simplest things the bible gives very clear instructions

-- 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

- Paul is not telling us how to eat a hamburger or how to drink a cup of coffee

-- He is also not browbeating us because we over-indulge (diff message)

- But, by living the way we were created to act …

-- God directs us to interact w/ Him in everything we do! To reflect Him to all!

-- Again (challenge): Will we allow God to be echoed in everything that we do?

- God calls all of these things He has created to our attention, and says …

-- Read verses 29-30 – emphasize the simplicity: “Look!” (Heb: hinneh; behold)

- (v31) And when God had finished … He said that is was VERY good

-- Hebrew meod; force or abundance

-- Hebrew towb; pleasant; good

-- All other things were good; but His finished product is “very good” (emphasis)

- TR: So here we are, Day 6 comes to an end and something marvelous happens

Point 3 – God finishes His work, and then He rests

- Creation comes to a close with a defining moment in history: God rests

-- This day, more than any other day, is to give honor to the Lord

- The seventh day is a special day - it is a day of restoration and comfort

-- It is a day glorified by God; something for us to realize and apply here

- Hebrew shabath; to cease, rest (where we get the word Sabbath)

-- It is the seventh day of the Jewish week and reflected as a day of comfort

-- It does not to imply any kind of weariness; again, simply a day honored by God

- The Jews recognized the day as sacred, held to it religiously, but often in error

-- Instead of honor, they used religious things as a manner of judgment of others

-- REM: What is our calling? To take care of the Earth.

-- Be fruitful and multiply. Reflect God and His attributes to others.

- But, in our arrogance, even Jesus was reprimanded for working on the Sabbath

-- Turn to and read Mark 3:1-6

-- SEE THIS: Jesus was doing God’s work, on God’s Holy Day, in His house!

-- And in its simplest application, the religious (Pharisees) completely missed it

-- APP: We can do religious stuff but STILL miss experiencing God – how?

- We can miss God because we are interested in own control (in our rebellion)

-- See: God calls us to exemplify Him, to show Him to others; to lead by example

-- Yet, even in something so simple as a day of rest, we find ways to mess it up

- For us today: it is not that God was worn out after a “tough work week”

-- There is nothing in scripture that says God needed a break

-- Psalm 121:4, “Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.”

- God is not a slacker (as some are today) … He hasn’t stopped working

-- IMP: The DAY is sanctified – it is a day to remember and worship God

-- APP: If we needed a command to spend time with Him, we can start here!

- Perhaps an opportunity for each of us to look back at our work, and honor God

-- BIG: What is our work? Simple: to reflect God and take care of his creation

- TR: So, as we draw today to a close, what do we need to see?

Big Ideas

1. The events surrounding Creation are not mystifying mysteries

-- God created to bring glory to Himself and even made us in His own image

-- Why? So that we could in turn show Him to others through how we live

2. God’s completion of creation puts an exclamation mark on everything

-- vv. 1:31 merely says, "… and he saw that it was very good!"

-- REM: Previously said things were good … but this time it is ALL very good

- Why is this declaration important? It is a finished work, a completed effort

-- On Feb 5, 2023, you and I are not finished works … we still have work to do!

3. In order to effectively move forward, we have to see & believe God’s actions

-- First, see that even timeline is revealed to us – there are no hidden years

-- He said this, He did this, and then he called it a day … period!

-- REM: Again (earlier messages) Hebrew: ereb is evening and boqer is morning

- It is when man rebels and inserts himself as wiser than God that we get in trouble

-- EX: We inserted “millions of years” as a theory when God said “7 days”

- Consider this … 35 verses give us a complete insight into the mind of God

-- As author, creator, sovereign, all-powerful, and later even as redeemer

-- In 35 verses we can see Him and all that He is, and worship Him in His glory

- And somehow, in our arrogance, we place our knowledge in front of His

-- This is the challenge of our life – to see Him, to worship Him, to honor Him!

- So, how do we respond to God? How do we adore and glorify His work?

-- This is our challenge today … what say you?

- Pray for:

• Clarity to understand creation – God said it, then He did it

• The willingness to believe on faith He will do what he said (rescue)

• Maybe today you are looking for a church to belong, love to welcome you