08: Creation: Genesis as Foundation Part 1 – Discussion Starters
- “God existed before time was created.” Our lesson begins with this statement. What does that mean to you and me today? Is it a hard statement for us to understand? What does it mean to us in terms of where we came from and how we got here? What is the Word that was God and was with God? Is it important for us to believe that Jesus was the Creator of this world and all that is in it? Why do some people—even Christians—face a struggle believing
this? - The days of creation. Why is it so hard for God’s created human beings to understand the creation of the world in seven equal steps in creation week? Couldn’t a “day” in the creation story rep represent a year, a thousand years, or much more? Instead, how long was every day during Creation Week? How does the seventh day as Sabbath support the concept of a day of worship every week? What is the other creation predicted in the Bible? What is your personal plan for participating in that creation?
- The Sabbath and creation. The battle of many against the observance of the seventh day of each week in God’s plan seems to be continuing without a break. Why do people seem to oppose observing Sabbath as a holy day to such a marked degree? Why can’t they just accept the seven-day week of antiquity and forget that so many are worshiping on another day? What are the three actions that God took during Creation Week that fulfilled His blessing on the Sabbath day? Why are so many opposed to observing this holy day as God commands us to?
- Creation and marriage. Have you observed a slow but steady change through the years in God’s plan for man and woman to unite in marriage? Why do you think the evil one is so determined to destroy this concept? Why do you think modern man and woman are so willing to abandon it? Is marriage more than a friendship or an arrangement between two people? What does God long to see in every marriage relationship? How does the fifth commandment concerning the command for children to honor their father and mother support a strong, heterosexual union between a man and a woman in marriage? Can God’s plan for a heaven-blessed union between man and woman union be observed in any other kind of relationship founded on God’s creation plan for man and woman
- Creation, the fall, and the cross. Do you ever wonder what it would be like if suddenly all sin and corruption were to disappear from the earth? Satan had an evil plan as soon as he saw God’s created world and the human beings created for full enjoyment and peace. What was his plan? How did Satan’s determination mark the life of Jesus on earth and all human beings born to the human family? Can God make everything wonderful again? What must you and I do to be sure we will be included in the final triumph and triumph in the all-powerful joy of full union with Jesus?
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Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draws back,.....but we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrew 10:38-39
What is the definition of faith? What is the definition of belief or believing? Are these two different or the same? Can we use these words interchangeably?
Joyce, you asked many questions above- But for me, the beginning of all of those comes down to faith and belief.
E.g growing up we were poor and many times the little money my mother had did not last from month to month. Sometimes I would see my mother get dressed, have her purse without any money or a few dollars, she will then take a shopping bag and say she is going to the market. How can one go to the market to shop without money? After a while, she will return with foodstuff. (At that time people did not stand at the street corner and beg, so begging was counted out in her life). Where did she get all of those foodstuff?
The very thought of getting dressed and going with a bag believing that she will get the food from somewhere, from someone is faith. Now, Faith, is the substance(obtaining the foodstuff) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
We as her children believed our mother will bring back food for us although we didn't know when or how. But believing we will eat those days was good, but until my mother actually bring back the food- that was faith. Faith without works is dead- James 2:17.
It is through faith we understood that the worlds were framed by the word of God. Hebrew 11:1
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19.
Joyce, I can believe there is only one God, the creator of all things, marriage is about one man to one woman, etc as mentioned. Many of those things Satan and his angles believe but they do not acknowledge.
My question is/concern, how is there so great a disparity in the church? Reading James 2:5-12. While we believe and have faith is so many things, can faith save us?
Ephesians 2: 8 & 9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast." It is a dual process. The grace of God is represented by Jesus Christ, who He sent to die on the cross for us so that he could atone for our sins and make salvation possible; yet while faith is an essential component the Bible also states in James 2:19 & 20, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?". This statement was not to be viewed as contradictory but as another part to Ephesians 2: 8&9, in that because we have faith, it will show through our actions, our "works", naturally. Your mother embodied the concept in this verse by bringing her bag, and getting herself ready whenever she had to go to the market. She had faith in action, whereas some, I dare say most, would not have had enough faith, to prepare to receive what they have asked for in God's name.