Sunday: In the Beginning . . .
Read Genesis 1:1. What deep truths are revealed here?
The Bible opens with the most sublime and profound words, words that are simple but that simultaneously contain a measureless depth when carefully studied. In fact, the greatest questions of philosophy regarding who we are, why we are here, and how we got here are answered by the first sentence of the Bible.
Image © Lars Justinen Goodsalt.com
We exist because God created us at a definite time in the past. We did not evolve out of nothing; nor did we come into existence by chance, for no ultimate purpose, and with no planned direction, as much of the contemporary scientific model of origins now teaches. Darwinian evolution is contradictory to Scripture in every way, and attempts by some to harmonize it with the Bible make Christians look silly.
We also were created by God at an absolute point in time: “in the beginning”. This must mean that God existed prior to this beginning. That is, God existed before time was created and expressed in the daily cycle of “evening and morning” and in the months and in the years, all marked by the relationship of the world to the sun and moon. This absolute beginning is echoed and supported by other passages of Scripture, which continually reaffirm the nature and means of God’s creative work (John 1:1-3).
Read John 1:1-3 and Hebrews 1:1-2. Who was the agent of creation? Think about what it means that He also died on the cross.
The Bible teaches that Jesus was the agent of creation. The Bible says that “all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3, NKJV). Through Jesus “He made the worlds” (Heb. 1:1-2, NKJV). Because all things have their origin in Jesus in the beginning, we can have hope that in the end He will complete what He has begun, because He is the “Alpha and the Omega”, “the First and the Last” (Rev. 1:8, Rev. 22:13, NKJV).
| What difference does it make to know that you were created by God? Imagine if you didn’t believe that. How differently would you view yourself and others, and why? |
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"The worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Once there were no worlds, nor was there any of the material which now composes the worlds. God set forth Christ to declare the word which should produce the worlds, and the very material of which they should be composed. “
"He spake, and it was." Before He spoke, there were no worlds; after He spoke, the worlds were there. Thus the word of God spoken by Jesus Christ is able to cause that to exist which has no existence before the word is spoken, and which, except for that word, never could have existence.”
Lessons on Faith A.T Jones & E.G Waggoner Page 13 PDF
Can you imagine if I believe God took millions of years to create the world. Then what foundational faith I would have at the twinkling of an eye I will be changed into a new creation.
Newbegin thanks for pointing out Heb 11:3.
It is not only our world that the LORD created but "worlds" or as some translations put it - by faith we understand the Universe was created by the word of God - So when we see on the news all the things that are just now being discovered in space - by faith, we have already been told that it was the LORD who created them long ago!
Having gone from a Christian basis in life to an atheist for a period of time and then back to Christianity, I can attest to how centering it is to know that we are not some randomly developed living matter that happened to get the best of intelligence being human. To know that we have a purpose is to move from a disorientation to orientation in life. We live differently because we think differently.
This sense of purpose in being created only makes the fullest sense when we know that an intelligent Being made us, not in fits and starts, but in fiat of precision and intimacy beings even more meaning to our lives. But the Bible doesn't stop there with man created by God, but introduces to us a God Who is in pursuit of relationship with us. He delights in us.
Finally, knowing that our creation has a purpose in that of "reflecting" our Creator, being fashioned in image and likeness seals one in a worldview that cannot diminish humanity's value and dignity. One verse, the first verse, of Scripture flies in contradiction to the then prevailing myths and legends about the origin of man. It was then a truly novel narrative that was far superior for one's sense of being than anything else being put forth at that time, and even now.
Wow! What a wonderful almighty powerful Creator!
Another gem discovered.
He created the first humans and shared with them a little of His creative power, he enabled them to reproduce little images of themselves as a product of love and union between themselves.
Gen 5:3 Adam ... begot a son in his own likeness, after his image and named him Seth
Take a step back to Gen 5:1 and we learn that - God created man, He made him in the likeness of God,- then in Gen 5:3 - Adam got a son in his likeness.
God gave humans the responsibility of passing on His image to our children, teaching them through love, sharing, unity and family about the character of the Triune God.
Unfortunately the original image of the LORD that Adam passed on to his son has been blurred down through the ages, but don't despair God has a plan, our destiny is to be transformed into the image of His Son Rom 8:29 if we accept His offer and love Him Rom 8:26-31
Now I do believe that as we meet our destiny we are transformed into the image of the Son, but also the image of the Father, and of the Holy Spirit.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
Deuteronomy 6:4.
Now pulling into context: God is one. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19. John 17:21.
Evidence of each as indivudual part of the God Head, Trinity if you will is found in John chapters 14,15,16.
So who created this world, God the Son did, as an individual of the Trinity.
As part of the Trinity, I do believe God the Father participated in the planing, and God the Holy Spirit. I am waiting till heaven dwelling and then a earth made new to sit at Jesus feet, and let Him help me understand some of these things in more depth.
Knowing that we were made by a Superior Being and at His image makes all the difference! What pride shall we have from what was all freely given to us? Sin enters the heart to make us all proud (fools), while we lose the respect for the Creator, His creatures and for ouselves. What was supposed to be bound to a holy origin, becomes degenerative, in the process of death, with no hope to reestablish a perfect state. We lose respect for our bodies, and ultimately for our souls. When we do not respect our own bodies and stuff it with whatever we want (because we think it is solely our possession), we have to remember that we dishonor its Creator! "Since the Master honors you with a body, honor him with your body!" (I Cor 6:13).
am feeling so joyful to know that i have my beginning in the one who create the world. just to know that, makes me fall in love with him and wants to stay with him. therefore its my delight to worship him because he alone deserve worship.am longing to see him face to face
I wonder how many who question the Bible ever consider the magnitude of anyone coming out with such a claim(Gen 1:1)? Who would think to convince others of such a claim if it wasn't true? I don't know of any other such claim by anyone. Add to this bold claim the "perfect" law of God and a "more sure word of prophecy", and you have "the certainty of the words of Truth". The only question remaining is "will I have faith?".
Here are some things that came to me as I compared Genesis and John.
Adam's story starts in Genesis with "in the beginning". Jesus's story starts in John with "in the beginning". With 3 familiar words John gives us an instant flashback to the Garden of Eden where God said "let us make man in our image". Jesus is there in the beginning with God. Jesus is God. John wrote his gospel to show us the deity of Jesus. He says, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31 NIV). To John, the person of Jesus is the Word; Jesus is the whole Message of God. The Word is a "person"al God. The Word comes to us "person"ally.
"In the beginning" reminds us of the promise to re-create this planet as well through the only One who can restore it, the original Creator (John 1:3). Jesus created everything back in Genesis and now he had become a human man to restore His human creation. Jesus is our only way to start over, to be born again (John 3). The paintings of great artists are sometimes restored, but to be worth high prices, to be valuable, they need to be originals by the masters themselves. No touchups by anyone else. Likewise, we are priceless and without a spot or wrinkle or blemish (Eph 5:27) only because we have been restored by the original artist.
We are born into the sin and rebellion of Adam's line by default (1 Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:12), but we can switch out and choose to be represented/remade through Jesus's bloodline and heirs with him (Romans 8:15-17; Heb 1:1-2). With the phrase "in the beginning" John introduces Jesus as both the Creator and the Created. Jesus is both the "and God said" and the "second Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:45-50). Jesus is the Alpha and also the Omega (Rev 1:8), the beginning A all the way to the ending Z. The Word is Everything we need from A to Z. Amen!
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.
Ps 139:14
What difference does it make to know that you were created by God? Imagine if you didn’t believe that. How differently would you view yourself and others, and why?
According to some humans man evolved from a process of genus Homo leading to Homo sapiens as a distinct species of the apes.
Some have even gone so far as to say, it was not all humans but the darker race of people came from apes. As a result, the darker race were held in bondage as slavery. While physical slavery was abolished in many countries of the world, mental and psychological slavery still existed in our modern world. The more you tell someone something, and the more you treat them a certain way over a period of years, the more they starts to believe that is true. Many famous leaders of the world were claimed to be Christians and used the bible as the book to show slavery was okay. But wasn't the bible read by the rulers but kept away from the slaves. Many slaves were not even thought to read or write in the language of their masters. Many were treated worst than animals. Disease ravished their camps yet was not treated. Slavery have a very dark past. Even if we go back to the time of the children of Israel to our modern day.
-Do we still hold to the false believe that some people are below other because of their color, race, socio-economical background, etc?
-Do we still hold people in psychological and mental bondage even while we call ourselves Christians?
The bible says all humans were made from the creator for his glory. Song says- whether yellow, red, black or white all are precious in his site.
Every day I self educate and hold on to the facts that A loving Creator and heavenly father has made me in his image and likeness and I am no slave to anyone.
Sin that started in Eden, also holds humans in bondage.
Hi Lyn -
Your post impressed me as containing a personal note regarding color, and slavery based on the color of a person; you also mention mental and psychological slavery.
I agree with your statement: "The more you tell someone something, and the more you treat them a certain way over a period of years, the more they start to believe that it is true."
Eph.6:10-18 - admonishes us to ..'put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil ... This applies to all types of assault against us - mental, spiritual, physical, ideologically, emotionally.
Prov.21:7 - The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. There are very many 'slaves' in our world today, especially in our country!
Matt.6:19-24 - warns us to understand whom we 'serve'; to not become slaves to mammon, but rather to chose God as our Master.
Proverbs and the Psalms provide wonderful spiritual food for the mind and heart - for all that delight in our 'loving Creator and heavenly Father' and want to read about the experiences of 'His Children'.
The final question of the day usually gets me thinking. Having grown up going to Sabbath School my entire life, I don’t know anything else other than God created humanity and this earth. I had to sit and think about what it would be like not to know or choose no to believe in the Bible. To think that humans crawled out of some slime pit and over millions of years, here we are today. How depressing! What would be the purpose of our lives? What hope would there be of a better life to come? A life of joy, a life of being able to walk up to Jesus and talk face to face with Him. A life of spending eternity getting to know the God that we struggle to wrap our minds around right now. I’m so thankful for my mom, reading to us every evening before we went to bed, filling our minds with the love God has for us. It’s such a gift, and I have never really sat and thought of what it would be like not to believe God created me, and is interested in me. In fact, He is so interested that Jesus prayed for me along with ALL who would believe because of the gospel writers, in John 17:20. It is truly a gift.