Notes on Genesis
Notes
Transcript
Notes on Genesis
* Now last week we introduced to you the theory that is called by Bible Scholars as the “Gap Theory.”
* The Gap theory is the idea that something happened between verses one and two of Genesis chapter 1 that destroyed the original earth, created in verse 1.
* According to the “Gap Theory”, days of creation that follow in Genesis chapter 1, are a record of the restoring of the earth after some cataclysmic destruction had taken place between verses one and two.
*There are many Bible teachers, like C. I. Schofield, that teach this view, and they quote a lot of passages that seem to back up their position.
* Many of our Bible Colleges and Seminaries hold to this position, but there are others who don’t.
* I have several reasons that I believe I can discredit this “theory”, but I will just care a couple with you.
* The first reason that I don’t believe the Gap Theory is an accurate interpretation of Genesis 1, verses one and two, is that the “Gap Theory” interpretation does not come directly from the text of Genesis chapter 1.
* I believe that the “Gap Theory” doesn’t fit the context of Genesis chapter 1, unless you leave Genesis chapter 1, and go to other places in the Bible, and torture the text to make the “Gap Theory” fit.
* But the biggest reason that I don’t believe the Gap Theory is an accurate interpretation of Genesis chapter one, is that the motive for believing the Gap Theory is in question.
In most cases the motive for believing the Gap Theory is an attempt by some Bible Scholars to make the creation account here in Genesis chapter one, agree with the teaching of modern science.
* Specifically, the belief that the earth is billions of years old.
* To many Bible Scholars this looks like an excellent place to stick the billions of years modern sciences say are needed for Evolution to take place.
* Many sincere and competent Biblical scholars have felt it so mandatory to accept the geological age system of modern science, that they have either consciously or unconsciously, stretched the meaning of the text of Genesis 1:1-1 to make the Bible agree with science.
* Another attempt to make the creation account here in Genesis chapter one fit modern science, and the belief in billions of years of earth’s history, is what is called by Bible Scholars “Theistic Evolution.”
* Theistic Evolution is the idea that maybe each day in the creation record represents, not just one 24 hour day, but maybe the Bible is referring to the word “day” as if it were to mean ages of time.
* So by this reasoning, God could have used the process of evolution to create life over billions of years, and it still fit the record in Genesis chapter 1.
* By this then, they can have their cake and eat it too!
* You can say that you believe the Bible, but you can also agree with modern science and evolution and not have any egg on your face for believing that God created the universe in just 6 24 hour days!
* How convenient!- But I have a problem with that. The reasoning is flawed.
* We don’t need to interpret the Bible by the authority of modern science, what we need to do is interpret modern science by the authority of the Bible.
* There is no reason to make the Bible agree with what science says.
* The so called truths of “modern science” are constantly changing as we learn more and more about the universe.
* At one time, modern science taught that the earth was flat, and that the sun revolved around the earth.
* It was even against the law in England at one time to questions these “supposed facts” of modern science.
* The truths of science change because they are determined by the finite, scrawny little minds of men.
* The truths of the Bible will never change, because they came from the mind of God.
* The mind of the Creator transcends the minds of men, and exists outside our universe, a God that never has to learn anything new, who knows all the facts from the beginning, a God that never changes.
* Another big reason that I don’t feel the Gap Theory, or Theistic Evolution is accurate, is that it disagrees theologically with what the Bible teaches about sin.
* Now the Gap theory, and Theistic Evolution are a wonderful place to stick in the “billions of years” that modern science teaches, and it’s a wonderful place to stick the dinosaurs, (that solves the problem of putting them on the Arc), but in order to save modern science and make it fit the Bible, we destroy our theology of sin.
* The Bible teaches that death did not come into the world until sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden.
* If you believe that the fossil record is thousand and billions of years old because there is a gap between Gen 1 verses one and two, then you are saying that death was in the world before the fall of Adam and Eve.
* The fossil record is a record of death. In order to have a fossil record that is billions of years old, you must then deny the Bible’s teaching that death did not come into the universe until after that Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden.
* Now you are really contradicting what the Bible teaches! and right where it really matters- the theology and nature of Sin and Salvation.
* For these reasons, and more, I don’t think that the Gap Theory, or Theistic Evolution, fit the teaching of the Bible.
* To me the Gap Theory, or Theistic Evolution, does not stand alone in the text.
* But I would like to share with you, what I feel, is a more accurate and faithful interpretation of verses on and two of Genesis 1.
* The main premise of the Gap theory is that Bible says after the world was created, the world was without form and void, and the main premise of Theistic Evolution is that life on earth began win a primordial deep in which, over billions of years, evolved
- Look with me at verse 2:
Genesis 1:2 (KJV 1900)
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
* Those who teach the Gap Theory, say that God would not have created anything that was without form, and void, and full of darkness- that is not consistent with the nature of God.
* Those who teach “Theistic Evolution,” or the idea that God used the process of evolution to create life, say that the description of the earth being empty and void in Geneses 1 and verse two also proves their view.
* I don’t think that Genesis chapter one and verse two supports either view. Both views are flawed in their process of interpretation.
* One of the first rules of interpreting the Bible is that “if the text makes sense, then seek no other sense.”
* If you will bear with me a few minutes I will show how the text makes perfect sense, exactly how it reads, and needs no other theory or explanation.
* I believe the problem here is human reasoning.
* Why don’t we just let God say what he is trying to say instead of interrupting the text with our opinions about what God would have done?
* Let me give you an interpretation of Genesis chapter one that I feel is an interpretation that agrees and perfectly follows the text itself.
Summary of the Text:
God builds a Universe
The Builder gathers the materials together necessary to build a universe
* I am going to use the illustration of a builder, building a building as we go through Genesis chapter one in order to picture in our minds the flow of the text.
(Draw a builder)
* First of all we see in the first verse of the Bible that God transcends the universe that He is about to create. God who lives in eternity, being a spirit, lives outside of, and is not restricted by the universe.
* He lives outside time, space, force, action, and matter that we see created in verse 1.
Genesis 1:1 (KJV 1900)
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
The Building Materials- Building Blocks of the Universe
* Herbert Spencer, a non-Christian scientist, was hailed as one worthy of many prizes in science, and he died in 1903.
* His greatest achievement, was that he discovered the categories of what scientists call the “knowable universe.”
* In other words, Herbert Spencer discovered the scientific principle that everything that exists in the universe fits into one of five categories.
(Draw the following chart on the board)
The five “Knowable” categories of reality in the Universe
1). Time
2). Force
3). Action
4). Space
5). Matter
* This was hailed as a massive discovery, the defining of this list of realities in the universe.
* Spencer said, “Everything fits into one of these categories, time, force, action, space, matter,” and he was hailed as a hero by the scientific community.
* The problem with this, is that Herbert Spencer was not the first one to come up with this list.
* We see this very same list in the very first verse of the Bible. Spender was a little late- God had already this scientific discover in the first words of the Bible Genesis 1:1:
* Look in your Bible with me at verse 1-
Genesis 1:1 (KJV 1900)
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
(Have the class help finish out the chart on the board)
The five “Knowable” categories of reality in the Universe
1). Time
“In the beginning,”- that’s Time
2). Force
“God”- that’s Force
3). Action
“Created”- that’s Action
4). Space
“The heavens”- That’s space
5). Matter
“The earth”- That’s matter
* Everything that Herbert Spencer discovered in 1903, was in the very first verse of the Bible all along.
* I the first verse of the Bible the Scriptures says that God created everything, and in saying that, the Bible gives us all the categories that exist in the observable universe, “which is our reality.”
* Now according to the Bible, there is another, alternate reality, a reality outside of our reality and not subject to the rules of Time, Force, Action, Space, or Matter.
* This is where God dwelt, before He created the universe, and where God still lives. This is why we say the God is “Transcendent” above our universe.
* Because God’s reality, the spiritual realm, the supernatural realm, has more dimensions than our reality, what God does appears a miracle to us, because it is impossible in our limited, for dimensional reality.
*That is why when Abraham complained to the Lord that Sarah was past the age of being able to get pregnant, God asked Abraham “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
Matthew 19:23–26 (KJV 1900)
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Matthew 17:20 (KJV 1900)
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
* And so, because God is Transcendent above our reality and universe, according to the Bible, God created the entire universe with no preexisting material, and He did it in only six days.
* And the Bible says that God did this out of nothing, and from nothing.
* Now look with me at verse 2:
Genesis 1:2 (KJV 1900)
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
(Write out “Without Form, Void, and Darkness on the board)
* I am going to use the illustration of a builder, building a building as we go through Genesis chapter one in order to picture in our minds the flow of the text.
* When a builder decides to build a structure, the first thing that he does is gather the basic building materials that will be used in the construction of that building.
(Draw a pile of construction materials)
* Here in Genesis chapter 1, we see God doing the same thing, but instead of going down the lumber store, God just creates all the materials that He will need to put this universe together.
* That reminds me of a joke I once heard. Once a group of scientists gathered in front of God and said, you know God, we can clone human beings now. With our medical knowledge we thing that we can create things life just like you did.
* And so God agrees to the challenge, and the scientists begin to gather dirt in a pile like God did when He created Adam.
* -But God says whoa! Wait a minute here- you create your own dirt!
* Back to our story, so God just creates all the materials that He will need to put this new universe together and puts it in a pile.
* Everything that God needs to create the universe was created at once and that’s verse 1:
Genesis 1:1 (KJV 1900)
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
* Now verse two says:
Genesis 1:2 (KJV 1900)
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
* God has “created” everything He needed out of nothing, and set it aside.
* Now think with me, we have all the elements of the universe, but there is no power in the universe. There is no power in the universe yet. God has not turned the power on yet.
(Draw a light switch in the off position)
* Since there is no power of gravity to make particles draw together, there is not yet any power of electromagnetic force to charge the protons, and the electrons, and the neutrons of atoms together, and there is no nuclear force to cause the electrons, neutrons, and protons to orbit the nucleus of the atoms, then the earth was a murky deep, nothing solidified, nothing gas, the atoms have not come together to make water just a mixture of matter, with nothing but space in between.
* The elements of the universe was like the powdered chocolate, in a glass of chocolate milk, the elements of the universe suspended in empty space.
(Draw a glass of chocolate milk)
2 Peter 3:3–6 (KJV 1900)
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
(the elements of creation were suspended in space not connected, not moving at all)
* and so we see a description of this primordial soup in Genesis 1 and verse 2:
Genesis 1:2 (KJV 1900)
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
* This is the pile of building materials that God created and would use to create the universe during the coming next 6 days of creation.
(Draw a chart (9x2) allowing for 6 days of creation)
Eternity Past
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Transition/
overlap
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
* The only thing that was moving, the only thing that was moving was the Spirit of God, moving “upon the face” or in other words “in the presence of” the waters or “the deep.”
* Notice that the Scripters says the Spirit of God was moving. That word means “Vibrating.”- The Spirit of “God Vibrated upon the waters.
* Here we see another member of the trinity involved in the creating process.
* All are associated with “fields” of activity and with transmission by wave motion.
* All forms of energy is set in motion by rapid back and forth movements and they are normally produced by the vibratory motion of a wave generator of some kind.
* The transmission of energy in the operations of the cosmos is in the form of waves—light waves, heat waves, sound waves, and so forth.
* Energy cannot create itself.
* The only thing that was moving was the Spirit of God. The spirit of God was the only thing in this creation scene that was energized.
* It is most appropriate then that the first record of energy in the universe is described as the “vibrating” movement of the Spirit of God Himself.
* The same word for “moved” in the phrase “The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” in the Hebrew can also mean “breath.”
2 Peter 1:20–21 (KJV 1900)
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
* Move here means that they were carried along by the wind of the Holy Spirit like the breath of God pushing the sails of a ship forward.
* It is interesting then that the very next thing God does in the creation record is to speak- give forth breath vibrating the vocal chords of God- God speaks the first words every recorded in the Bible-
(Review for session 2 here)
* Now look at verse 3:
Genesis 1:3 (KJV 1900)
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
* Bam! When the spirit of God spoke the lights turned on!
(Draw the switch on the on position)
* God spoke and said “Let there be light!” and the entire universe came to life with energy! Light is life according to the Bible!
* Without light nothing can live, we see this in the process of photosynthesis.
* The plants make food with light, and the rest of creation is maintained by the plants- and it all happens because of light!
* And the light came from God speaking- the Word of God is light.
* With the creation of light came every form of energy on the face of the universe, the nuclear forces of the universe were turned on.
* The electromagnet forces of the universe were turned on!
* The force of gravity was turned on!
* At that moment all of the elements of the Periodic Table snapped together when the hidden nuclear power of the atom fired up!
* Electrons, and protons, and neutrons began to whirl around and sucked into orbit around their nucleus in their own little solar systems of energy! – The universe had been power on by the touch of the power of the Holy Spirit of God and the voice of the Word of God!
* The Word of God turned the lights on!
John 1:1–5 (KJV 1900)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
* The basic building blocks of the universe are atoms. By all reason, the parts of the atom should repel from one another science is trying to find out what force hold the electrons, in orbit around the nucleus of an atom.
* This is the idea behind the Large Hadron Collider- the largest, most complex experimental facility ever built in CERN Switzerland.
* The particle collider is the largest single machine in the world- Somehow it reminds me of the tower of Babble that’s intent was to reach up to God in order to de-throne him in the heavens.
* Scientists are using this research facility to discover what forces that we cannot see holds, the universe together at the molecular level.
* I believe that we know what holds the universe together. The same power that created the universe, holds it together until this day.
Colossians 1:12–17 (KJV 1900)
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:
all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
* Now look with me at verse 4 and we will see a clue as to what is going on here in the text in Genesis chapter 1:
(Start Session 2 here)
Genesis 1:4 (KJV 1900)
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
* Now this is a clue here as to what God will be doing on the first three days of creation: look at the words and God divided.
* This denotes a change in what the Creator is doing in the text.
* Now, instead of creating, God is going through His stack of universe building materials, and separating, or dividing, things to prepare for what he will make out of what He has already created.
(Have the class help fill in the following chart)
Eternity Past
In the Beginning- Eternity God Created it all: Genesis 1:1
Day 1
God Divided the Light from the Darkness (Verses 4-5)
Day 2
God divided the waters above from the waters below- (Verses 6-8)
Day 3
God divided the Land from the seas… (Verses 9-10)
Transition/
overlap
God stops dividing and begins to fill… (verses 11 and 12)
Day 4
God filled the Stratosphere with stars, planets… (Verses 14-19)
Day 5
God filled the Atmosphere, or the sky, and God fills the Seas with fish and birds (Verses 20-23)
Day 6
God filled the dry land with animals and Man VS.(1:24–31
Day 7
God Rested (Chapter 3 vs 1-2)
* The first day- (Verses 4-5)
God Divided the Light from the Darkness Vs. 4
Genesis 1:4 (KJV 1900)
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
* The Second Day- (Verses 6-8)
God divided the waters above from the waters below- Verse 6
God divided the waters in the Stratosphere, Outer Space, from the waters in Atmosphere, the Sky.
Genesis 1:6–8 (KJV 1900)
6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
* The Third Day- (Verses 9-10)
God divided the Land from the seas…
Genesis 1:9–10 (KJV 1900)
9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
* Now, once again we see the text indicate a change in what the creator is doing. He stops dividing and begins to fill what He has created, then energized, and then divided. (verses 11- 13)
Genesis 1:11–13 (KJV 1900)
11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.
* Can anyone see the pattern to what God is doing in verses 11 and 12?
- He stops the “separating process” of creation and begins the “filling process” at the end of day three.
* So God at the end of day 3 fills the earth with grasses, herbs, and trees.
The Fourth Day- (Verses 14-19)
God fills the Stratosphere on the fourth day…
Genesis 1:14–19 (KJV 1900)
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
The Fifth Day- (Verses 20-23)
God fills the Atmosphere, or the sky, and God fills the Seas…
Genesis 1:20–23 (KJV 1900)
20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying,
Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
The Sixth Day-
God fills the dry land with animals and Man
Genesis 1:24–31 (KJV 1900)
24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
The Seventh day-
Genesis 2:1–3 (KJV 1900)
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
* And so what is the pattern of the creation account have we discovered from the text it’s self here?
(Show the video on the evidences of Hebrew poetry found in Genesis chapter 1 at this point)
(Write this pattern on the board)
The Pattern that emerges from the text:
1). First God created.
2). Then God energized.
3). Then God separated.
4). Then God Filled.
5). Then God Rested.
* Does this remind us of something else, another creation that God has made?
(Show the 2 videos about the canopy theory of verse 6, and discuss)
(Discuss the other similar versions of the creation story from other cultures from around the world at this point.)
“The Epic of Gilgamesh”
“The Jewish legend of Lilith.
* Modernistic liberal, Bible denying scholars teach that the writhers of the Bible stole the stories of creation from Babylon and Egypt and re-wrote them to show that their God was greater than the other God’s of the nations.
* According to these liberals, the other Gods of the nations were changed into the devil and demons, and demonic false Gods in order to dis the religions of other nations.
The Theology of Creation
* Does this remind us of something else, another creation that God has made?
The Pattern that emerges from the text:
1). First God created.
2). Then God energized.
3). Then God separated.
4). Then God Filled.
5). Then God Rested.
(Fill in the second half of the chart with their counter parts in the second creation)
The process of the “new creation” - Salvation
1). We are first “regenerated” or “re-created,” or “Born again” and made a new creation. –made new out of nothing!
John 3:7–8 (KJV 1900)
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV 1900)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2). We are then energized by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 (KJV 1900)
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
3). We are separated from the world, or sanctified by the Word.
John 17:13–19 (KJV 1900)
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 (KJV 1900)
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
7 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
4). We are filled with peace and joy, the fruit of the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18–21 (KJV 1900)
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Galatians 5:22–25 (KJV 1900)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
5). We will also rest form our labors as well.
Hebrews 4:8–11 (KJV 1900)
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Conclusion:
* Not only does our interpretation now make perfect continuity with the text of Genesis chapter 1,
* But also, we have a double evidence that our interpretation is right and accurate,
* Because our interpretation fits perfectly with the theology of the entire Bible.
We can only accept creation by faith.
Hebrews 11:1–3 (KJV 1900)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God,
so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
The creation is the first text/test of faith.
* This is a pun on the words text and test, but a true pun.
* In Genesis chapter 2 we see that the Word of God, the “TEXT” of what God said, , God’s Word, became the “TEST.”
* Adam and Eve failed the test, they fail to believe the Word of God, and caused them to loose eternal life.
* In the New Testament, which is the story of the “New Creation,” we find just the opposite: that it is that “faith in”, or the act of “believing” the Word of God, restores to mankind eternal life, which was lost in Genesis.
Romans 10:8–17 (KJV 1900)
The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
* We find the same test that was given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eve is given to everyone in the Gospel of the New Testament.
Everyone who believes the Word of God will have eternal life, and everyone who does not believe the Word of God is damned to eternal death as Adam and Eve were.
John 3:18–21 (KJV 1900)
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(According to John 1:1, His name is the Word, so to paraphrase “but he that believeth not the Word of God, is condemned already)
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
(You see here the creation theme with the division of the darkness and the light)
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
* This test of believing on the Word as the condition of restoring the eternal life that Adam and Eve lost continues on as a major theme thought the New Testament:
John 1:1–5 (KJV 1900)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:6–14 (KJV 1900)
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 6:40 (KJV 1900)
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Acts 13:47–48 (KJV 1900)
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
1 John 5:7–13 (KJV 1900)
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
* Now let’s return to the first verse of Genesis: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” This is a majestic verse.
* Genesis 1:1 is a tremendous verse. I am of the opinion that it is the doorway through which you will have to walk into the Bible.
* If you reject the creation account of Genesis Chapter 1, then you cannot believe any of the rest of the Bible.
* In order to believe that God is the Creator, you must first have faith that God exists. Turn with me to Hebrews 11:6 and look at verse 6:
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
* Notice that the writer of Hebrews us starts with the book of Genesis and Goes all through the Old Testament proving that faith in the Word of God is how the Old Testament saints were saved- just the same way that we are saved in the New Testament.
Hebrews 11:4–8 (KJV 1900)
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Whatever you do with Genesis chapters 1 and 2 sets the tone with what you will do with the rest of Scripture.
If you can't trust the upfront, literal, meaning of the text of Genesis chapters 1 and 2, then you can't trust any of the Bible.
* In Genesis chapter 2 we see that the Word of God, the “TEXT” of what God said, , God’s Word, became the “TEST.”
* Adam and Eve failed the test, they fail to believe the Word of God, and caused them to loose eternal life.
* In the New Testament, which is the story of the “New Creation,” we find just the opposite: that it is that “faith in”, or the act of “believing” the Word of God, restores to mankind eternal life, which was lost in Genesis.
* Genesis 1:1 is a tremendous verse. I am of the opinion that it is the doorway through which you will have to walk into the Bible.
* If you reject the creation account of Genesis Chapter 1, then you cannot believe any of the rest of the Bible.
Mankind has exalted his own "High Ideas" against God's revelation of Himself in Creation that exclude faith:
2 Corinthians 10:3–6 (KJV 1900)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
* By the deceptive doctrines that are offered to the minds of men by the powers of darkness, men teach the imaginations of their foolish hearts, pseudo sciences such as Evolution, The Big Bang Theory, UFOs and extraterrestrial life.
* Mankind wants to drown out the truth that God has placed within the heart of every man that God is their Creator, and therefore they are not their own, but must be accountable to the Creator.
God will hold those who exalt their own ideas accountable for rejection His revelation of Himself in creation:
* I said before that Genesis 1:1 is the foundation of all truth, the gateway to faith in the Creator.
* The apostle Paul bears down even harder and deeper upon this everlasting truth in Romans chapter 1:
Romans 1:17–25 (KJV 1900)
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie,
and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Eternity Past
In the Beginning- Eternity God Created it all: Genesis 1:1
Day 1
God Divided the Light from the Darkness (Verses 4-5)
Day 2
God divided the waters above from the waters below- (Verses 6-8)
Day 3
God divided the Land from the seas… (Verses 9-10)
Transition/
overlap
God stops dividing and begins to fill… (verses 11 and 12)
Day 4
God filled the Stratosphere with stars, planets… (Verses 14-19)
Day 5
God filled the Atmosphere, or the sky, and God fills the Seas with fish and birds (Verses 20-23)
Day 6
God filled the dry land with animals and Man VS.(1:24–31
Day 7
God Rested (Chapter 3 vs 1-2)