Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Genesis

Genesis 1:3-31 09/30/01

Intro: Sir Isaac Newton had an exact replica of our solar system made in miniature. At it's center was a large golden ball representing the Sun and revolving around it were small spheres attached at the ends of rods of varying lengths. they represented Mercury, Venus, Earth , Mars and the other planets. these were all geared together by cogs and belts to make them move around the 'Sun' in perfect harmony.

     One day as Newton was studying the model, a friend who did not believe in the biblical account of creation stopped by for a visit. Marveling at the device and watching as the scientist made the heavenly bodies move on their orbits, the man exclaimed, 'My Newton, what an exquisite thing! Who made it for you?'

     Without looking up, Sir Isaac Newton replied 'Nobody'  'Nobody' his friend asked. 'That's right! I said nobody! All of these balls and cogs and belts and gears just happened to come together and wonder of wonders, by chance they began revolving in their set orbits and all with perfect timing.'

     The unbeliever got the message. It was foolish to suppose that the model merely happened. But it was even more senseless to accept the theory that the earth and the vast universe came into being by chance. How much more logical to believe what the Bible says 'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.'

    Last week I used the word 'creationism'. I said it was the term used for the belief that God created all life just as He said in Gen. 1. Creationists read Genesis 1 literally, that is they take the normal meaning of what is said in the text. Well, what does Genesis 1 have to say about creation. Let's look.

Trans: Open you Bibles to Gen. 1:3 where we will take a look at the first 6 days of creation.

Day One
Read: Gen. 1:3-5
     'Then God said' is key to understanding not only the WHAT of creation, but it will help keep the primary focus of Genesis clear...the WHO...God said.

     So, in these verses, what did God say? Let there be light.  OK, What kind of light, the Sun wasn't created until day 4? Well, since we are not told where the light came from, it is safe to assume that it came directly from God's presence.  Think about it.

    1 John 1:5 says 'God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.'

    Ps. 104:2 says God is clothed with light.

    Revelation 22:5  'And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever.'
The very presence of God brought light where there was only darkness.

    Not only was there light but God used the light to separate the darkness. Separation is important to God, he does it a few times here in Gen 1 and we find the idea of separation throughout scripture.

     And God saw that the light was good.

     And there was evening and there was morning, one day. God could have said, a million years, a really long time, but he didn't, he said, one day...remember, literal, normal understanding of what is said in the text.

Day Two
Read: Gen. 1:6-8

    Then God said ...what? 'Let there be an expanse in the waters.'

     It seems that water vapor covered the earth like a blanket. God lifted the blanket so that there would be dry air. When separated, the lower waters later became the oceans and the upper waters may have played a role in the flood.

      What happened when God spoke? It was so, it happened, just like he said. The water separated, there's that separation again, and breathable air was formed.

     And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

Day Three
Read: Gen. 1:9-13
  And God said...what?  He said two things here.

1. 'Let the waters below the heavens be gathers into one place and let the dry land appear.'

2. 'Let the earth sprout vegetation...'

       And it was so. Separation.....Dry land appeared, boundaries for the oceans were formed. Then God called the earth to bring forth vegetation and plant life.

     And it did...It didn't argue with God or say that it will do it later when it has kids or when it is ready to die. Obedience was immediate and complete.

     And God saw that it was good. Not only what he had created , but I believe the immediate and complete obedience of the land in response to what God had said. Obedience is good.

     And there was evening and morning, a third day.

Day Four
Read: Gen. 1:14-19
      And God said...what? 'let there be lights in the expanse...'

        And it was so. God created the Sun, Moon and stars to do their own work to divide (separate)  the day and night, and to be signs for days, years and seasons.
 Have you ever thought that the Sun, stars and moon have a job to do each day, that was given to them by God and they obey? Same as the land bringing forth vegetation. Obedience is immediate and complete.

       And God saw that it was good.
      And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

Day Five
Read: Gen. 1:20-23

    Then God said...what? 'let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures and let birds fly above the earth'

    And what happened?  The waters were filled with living creatures and the sky was full of birds and other flying creatures.

    And God saw that it was good.

    Notice that God adds something not yet found in the creation narrative. 'And God blessed them'. To bless means to place God's favor upon, to enable and equip. God's blessing enables these living creatures to reproduce and equips them to enjoy all that he had made.

    And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

Day Six
Read: Gen. 1:24-31

    Then God said..what? Three things.

1. 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures'
2. 'Let Us make man in Our image, according toOur likeness
3. And let them rule.'

    And as in each time before, it was so, land animals were created. They didn't evolve, they didn't come from another planet. God said...and they were.

   God then created his greatest treasure...man and woman. How do we know they were his greatest treasure? Because the text tells us that they, man and woman, were created in the image and likeness of  God.

Sidebar: First, notice 'Let Us make man in Our image and according to Our likeness.' Once again the hint of the trinity of God at work in creation.

              Second, what is the image and likeness of God in man?

Luther: It is the original righteousness, the moral excellence that was lost in the fall. Redemption restores that shattered image.

     Image and likeness describe a similarity. It is a reflection of God's nature, to a limited degree in humans. But, it is only an image, only a likeness, only a similarity. It is not the original nor is it anything w/o the original. Without a personal relationship with the original, God, through the means He provided, His Son, Jesus Christ, it is impossible to maintain that reflection, that image and likeness.

     -God saw that the land animals were good.
     -God  saw all that he made and it was very good.
    -God blessed mankind with the favor of his presence and with dominion or rule over all creation.

     And there was evening and there was morning , the sixth day.

     I want you to notice that the 6 days of creation follows a similar pattern:

1. There is the creative word from God.
 'And God said' is used about 8 times in Gen. 1. This is significant because God didn't have to speak. He could have just thought creation into existence, but he chose to speak. He used His word to create. What does that tell you about God's Word?

     God holds his word in the highest regard, it is of utmost importance.

     That God's Word is efficacious. That means it is effective to do that which it intends to do. Nothing can thwart or stop the Word of God.

     It is the Word of God that takes sinners and makes them a new creation in Christ according to 1 Peter 1:23.

     The Word of God is truth since it comes from the God of truth. Therefor, what God says, we can believe. (Jn. 17:17)

     I could go on and on about this...think about the promises of God...both for obedience....and for disobedience. They are true and make no mistake, they will happen.

2. There is the report of what happened.
 'And it was so.' We don't have to wonder what happens when God speaks, the Bible tells us. Clearly and in a way we can all understand.

3. There is the evaluation by God.
 'And God saw all that he had made and it was very good'

ILL: T-Shirt   'God don't make no junk'  Is true!

     That includes you, your bodies, your minds, your emotions. Good, very good. That includes the earth and all that is in it. Good, very good. It even includes animals....good, very good.

4. There is a numbering of the days.
     And there was evening and there was morning day one, or two and so on.  Specific numbering of specific day. Specific numbering for specific acts of creation by God. Days, not ages, 24 hours, not millions of years.

     Just look at the text and don't read any scientific preunderstanding into it. Just read the words ....6 days.

Conclusion
     I want to end with two observations.

1. God separates.
 God separated the light from the darkness, the waters from the atmosphere, the sea from the dry land... and His people from those who are not his people. I am not talking about isolation but consecration ...separation unto holiness, to that which is good in the sight of the Lord.

1 John 1:7 'but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.'

     If...we walk in the light of God's presence, in obedience and holiness, then we have fellowship with other believers and we walk in forgiveness. Are you walking faithfully in the light of God's presence?

2. God gives responsibilities

     God told the earth to sprout vegetation...it obeyed immediately and completely.

     God told the water to teem with living creature... it obeyed, immediately and completely.

     God told the earth to bring forth living creatures...it obeyed, immediately and completely.

     Why is it that when humans are told by God to do something they play let's make a deal with him at best and at worse, they say forget it, we are not interested?

     And we think we are the most intelligent of all God's creation. Well it is intelligent to do what God says.  We have a responsibility to obey God's Word, immediately and completely.

As you leave this place this morning and go about your business this week, remember...separation unto God and obedience to His Word.