Bereshith: In the Beginning
1-11-15
Genesis
1:1, John 1:1-3
Gen 1:1
In the beginning, God
created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning
with God.
All things were made
through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
There
are only 3 options “before creation”: Nothing, impersonal something (matter), or
God.
· Something can’t come from nothing.
o Big Bang’s initial material
& the cause of explosion?
· So either matter or God always
existed & is the source of everything.
o
If matter is eternal like God then God
has no right to rule over it.
Gen
1:1 is an authoritative declaration that God alone always has been, is, & will
be. Gen 1:1a, Ps 90:2, Job 38:4-7
· “Elohyim” this is the plural,
general name for God; like calling me Pastor Dan
· Yahweh/Jehovah is the personal
name for God (like dad would be for me).
o In the creation: the Father,
Jesus Christ & the Holy Spirit acted together in distinctive roles. Gen
1:1-2, Ps 33:9, Jn 1:1-3, Col 1:16, Heb 1:2, 11:3, Rom 4:17
God created everything out of nothing so no
matter in universe is eternal.
· The phrase “Heaven’s &
earth” like “head to toe”…everything seen/unseen.
·
Creation is distinct from God
(transcendent) yet God is directly involved in creation (immanent) because creation
is always dependent on God. Eph 4:6
o
The universe is not God
(Pantheism), nor did God create & then leave the earth to run on own
(Deism)
§
From the beginning God has been interacting
with His universe.
Because God created universe out of nothing
it must have a purpose.
o
That’s the reason the universe is “very
good".
· Glorify: God's character (sovereignty,
omnipotence) is displayed in creation.
o The size of the universe proclaims
His infinite sovereign power.
· Teach: In the parables Jesus
used the world to teach men spiritual realities.
o
Genesis shows creation
happening in stages…He still works that way.
Genesis
focuses on the who & why of creation not on the how & when.
· Science can’t answer the who/why
& Genesis is largely mute on how/when.
o The Bible does not say
anything about the age of earth. It makes no comment.
·
I believe the Word suggests (but
does not require) a young earth, yet observable facts favor old earth.
o
Each side is often unable to see the
difficulties in their own positions.
All must agree: (1) Eternal God created everything
out of nothing; (2) creation is distinct from God, yet dependent on Him; (3) The
creation was originally very good; (4) Adam/Eve were special creations; (5) all
was created to show His glory;, .
·
We can disagree on: How it was specifically
created, the age of earth/human race.
Here is the Challenge: To love those who in
good conscience & full belief in God's Word hold to different position on
this matter…..I
personally embrace 24 hour, young earth
o
We need to have Less arrogance,
condescension, and academic pride, & more humility.
· Bible is not primary a science
textbook but book of redemption:
o It is not as important as HOW
the heavens were made, but how to go to heaven.
The
real issue of creation is not ultimately of facts but faith…moral/spiritual, not
intellectual: Rom 1:19-22, Heb 11:1-3,
Jn 1:1-3
· Carl Sagan, a scientist and
atheist, once said, “The cosmos is all that is, ever was, or ever will be.” This
is a faith statement, not a scientific one.
o Sagan places his faith in a
“supposedly” eternal, impersonal matter; not an eternal personal God, that he must
submit to. So the question to ask
yourself is: “Where place your faith?”
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