001 The God of Creation – part 1

Genesis 1:1-2:3 (1:1)

November 3, 2013

Without a doubt the passage we just read holds its rightful place

As the opening statement of all of Scripture.

I don’t think it is possible to overstate the importance of Genesis 1.

From the very first words of Scripture we learn of

The transcendent God who reigns and rules above all that is.

It simply reminds us that God is at the preeminent forefront of all that is.

He is the greatest…

He is the highest…

He is the absolute and undeniable head of all things.

John 1:3 “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”

Romans 11:36 “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

The simple fact that God is the Creator of all

Instantly gives God FIRST PLACE in everything

And indeed makes Him the Lord of heaven and earth.

Everything is from Him, Everything is for Him, and Everything is coming to Him.

· He is the Author of Creation.

· The Alpha and Omega

· The Beginning and the End

· The God who was and is and is to come

All of those truths are settled in the very opening pages of Scripture.

Before Scripture gives a single command…

Before Scripture reveals a single proverb…

Before Scripture utters a single prophecy…

Scripture first sets up the eternal hierarchy with God as the ultimate and total authority over all things and the One all creation will answer to.

In the first chapter of the Bible is laid the foundation for all submission,

All obedience, all trust, and all worship.

There is a God.

And because it is such a pivotal truth we understand that few truths

Have ever come under more attack and scrutiny than this one.

Our world is continually trying to do away with Genesis chapter 1.

· We hear of evolution

· We hear of Big Bang

· We hear of global warming (an attack on the Sustainer of Creation)

(And yet we know the earth is preserved for the fire of God’s wrath)

· We even hear about the earth being millions of years old

All of this is totally in contradiction to the truths found in this first chapter

That God created the heavens and the earth in 6 literal 24 hr. days.

Genesis 1:5 “God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.”

That is one literal day.

And it only took God 6 of them to create the entire heavens and earth.

And yet our world continually attacks this.

WHY?

Because our world has rejected the Creator.

Romans 1:18-25 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Our world has rejected the Creator and sought to worship themselves.

And having rejected the Creator

They have put themselves under His wrath.

Their only option is to repent or to destroy Him.

And foolishly they have relentlessly sought the second.

In their minds if they can dethrone the God of creation

Then they have grounds to remove the God of judgment.

And so they attack these truths.

And of course this is why we study them, and proclaim them,

And preserve them.

They may call us fools, they may mock and scorn us as ignorant,

But every time you proclaim this truth the sword of the word pierces their soul and reminds them again that there is a judgment coming which they cannot escape.

That is the beauty of Genesis.

Beyond that understanding these truths work wonders for

The problem of human contentment.

Our world is seemingly going crazy in their circles of futility.

More than one person has looked back on their life and wondered,

· “What is the meaning of it all?”

· “Why are we all here?”

· “What is my purpose in life?”

And yet creation emphatically answers those questions.

You are here because God put you here

And you are here to seek and to serve Him.

Acts 17:24-28 "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'”

People could save themselves a great deal of therapy

If they would simply accept the truths of Genesis chapter 1

And see that their life is not a random chaotic event.

The God of Creation created them to know Him.

Psalms 139:13-16 “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.”

The fact that God is the Creator answers so many questions of humanity.

I just can’t stress how important it is that you grasp the reality

That is given to us here in Genesis chapter 1.

It all starts with God.

Now, as we begin this study it is also important that you understand

Some of the parameters that help us to understand the message.

One commentator wrote that you cannot study the history surrounding the book of Genesis because Genesis was the beginning and there was not yet any history to study.

In one sense that is true, but in another it is false.

Yes the events written about here were the beginning,

But the book was not written at the very beginning.

This book was written by Moses.

And it was written for the benefit of those he was leading out of Egypt.

· Now you can read Genesis and learn the history of creation which is true and beneficial as we have just said.

· However if you want to see the theological message of the book, then you need to understand who wrote it and who he wrote it to.

This book is historically accurate in every way,

But it is also theologically profound in every way.

We want to make sure and see both.

This book is the work of Moses (obviously inspired by the Holy Spirit)

Meant to show Israel their beginning

And call them to trust the God who had chosen them.

This book starts with God

It walks through sin and tragedy and judgment

But very soon it reveals that God selects a people.

A man named Abram arrives on the seen – God’s elect – and he was chosen by God to father a nation.

This book is meant to move God’s children to gratitude

As they see how the God of creation

Has been flawlessly working to bring His people to Himself.

And the opening chapter of this book is meant to introduce the children of Israel to the God who has chosen them and now calls them.

That’s why I have chosen to call the study of Genesis

“The Gospel According to Moses”

It is Moses work of “good news” for the children of Israel.

It starts with creation and ends with redemption,

And it perfectly sets the stage for the deliverance of the Exodus

Which the first recipients of this book were presently experiencing.

So this morning we start at the beginning.

And in order to help us as we study there are five points

I want to make about this opening chapter of creation.

(two this morning)

#1 THE POINT OF CREATION

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

While we are certainly interested in the entire creation story,

This verse really sums up the main point

That Moses was making to the Israelites.

There is one God

He is THE God

And He sits enthroned above everything

Israel, why would you fear the gods of the sea or the gods of the air or the gods of the land?

God created them all.

The God Israel is called to serve is THE God of the world.

He is the Creator and origin of it all.

Because we know Israel’s history, we know that they were currently in the wilderness, but in about 40 years they would enter the Promised Land.

And we know what occurred when they arrived.

They were sucked away into every form of idolatry imaginable.

· We see high places

· We see pagan worship

· We hear of Baal and Molech and Tammuz and Milcom and Dagon and all

these other false gods that Israel would eventually worship.

And their idolatry is all because they failed to remember that

Only One God sits enthroned above the heavens as the Creator of all.

In fact the prophets continually tried to get this truth across to Israel.

Jeremiah 10:11-16 “Thus you shall say to them, "The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens." It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom; And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens. When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain, And brings out the wind from His storehouses. Every man is stupid, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; For his molten images are deceitful, And there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of mockery; In the time of their punishment they will perish. The portion of Jacob is not like these; For the Maker of all is He, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; The LORD of hosts is His name.”

Why would you bow to any other god?

There is only One God who “created the heavens and the earth.”

It was a foundational and pivotal truth for Israel.

No one else will ever be worthy of your worship.

Jeremiah 51:15-19 “It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom, And by His understanding He stretched out the heavens. When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain And brings forth the wind from His storehouses. All mankind is stupid, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, For his molten images are deceitful, And there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of mockery; In the time of their punishment they will perish. The portion of Jacob is not like these; For the Maker of all is He, And of the tribe of His inheritance; The LORD of hosts is His name.”

There is no call to ever worship another.

In fact worshiping any god other than the One who made them all

Is FUTILITY and STUPIDITY.

Every time I read a verse like Jeremiah 51:17 that uses the word “stupid” one of the kids will go home and tell their mom that the preacher said a bad word.

Well kids its true you shouldn’t call people stupid.

(your brothers and sisters and friends and parents are not stupid)

In fact the Bible reserves use of that word for one type of person.

It is the person who fails to honor the most high God of creation

And who instead gives His glory to some created deity.

That person is stupid.

Only a stupid person would give God’s glory to a false god.

There is only One God worthy of worship

And it is the God who created all things.

Psalms 96:5 “For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens.”

Job 26:7 "He stretches out the north over empty space And hangs the earth on nothing.”

Have you ever heard of anything so amazing?

And because of His creation God alone is worthy of praise.

Psalms 148:1-6 “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light! Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away.”

If you learn nothing else children of Israel…

If you learn nothing else First Baptist Church…

Learn that the God who created you deserves all your worship.

AND LET ME GIVE YOU A FEW REASONS WHY.

The fact that “God created the heavens and the earth”

REVEALS THE TRANSCENDENCE OF GOD like nothing else.

The fact that He created it all reveals He is higher and loftier than any other thing. There is nothing like Him.

TURN TO: Job 38:4-38

· And when you read that you must ask is there really another like God?

· Is there really any other that deserves worship like Him?

There is none.

His creating power demands our deepest worship.

His creation reveals His tremendous GRACE TOWARD HUMANITY.

TURN TO: Psalms 8:1-9

· Why would you give man such preeminence on the earth?

· What did we do to deserve such a lofty position?

God has indeed been gracious – creation proves that.

Creation gives tremendous TESTIMONY TO THE GLORY of God.

TURN TO: Psalms 19:1-6

· Does anything let you see the power of God like creation?

· Who hasn’t tremorred at the thunder?

· Who hasn’t been captivated by the snow?

· Who hasn’t been breathless at the Rocky Mountains?

· Who hasn’t marveled at the size of the ocean?

· Who hasn’t melted under the sun?

· Who hasn’t felt the power of the wind?

Creation continually testifies to the power and majesty and glory of God.

He is worthy of all worship simply because He is the Creator

Beyond that Peter even says that God’s creation is also a TESTIMONY TO HIS TERRIBLE JUDGMENT.

2 Peter 3:5-7 “For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

God’s spoken power to create

Only reminds us of His spoken power to destroy.

And as sure as He created all things, He will certainly judge all things.

He sits alone as Creator and Judge.

And that is really the point of this whole chapter.

What God is like our God?

If all you knew of Him was that He created all things,

That is enough to convince you that He alone is worthy of worship.

If you get nothing else from this chapter.

Walk away in awe of THE God who created the heavens and the earth.

He is awesome, He is glorious, He is gracious, He is powerful,

HE is transcendent, He is worthy of all your worship.

That was lesson 1 to Israel

And it is a pretty good lesson to the rest of us as well.

In fact anyone who can see that God created all things

And refuse to worship Him is exactly as Jeremiah said – he is stupid.

Romans 1:22-23 “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.”

That is the point of creation.

God is worthy of all your worship.

But let’s move on a little further this morning.

The Point of Creation

#2 THE POWER OF CREATION

Genesis 1:3

Don’t worry we are not skipping verse 2, we’ll come back to it a little later.

But before we get to the specifics of creation

I think it is important that you first see the power of creation.

I want you to understand exactly the power that God has as the Creator.

There is one phrase repeated 10 times in the first chapter of Genesis.

The first time it is used is found in verse 3.

“Then God said…”

I want you to understand that that phrase

Repeatedly makes all the difference.

The spoken word of God is in fact the dynamic that changes everything.

Genesis 1:3 “Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.”

Genesis 1:6 “Then God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."

Genesis 1:9 “Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.”

Genesis 1:11 “Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them"; and it was so.”

Genesis 1:14 “Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;”

Genesis 1:20 “Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens."

Genesis 1:22 “God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."

Genesis 1:24 “Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind"; and it was so.”

Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Genesis 1:28 “God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

God’s spoken word made all the difference.

Everything did exactly what He told it to.

· If God had never spoken, there would never have been light, or form, or land, or animals.

· If God had never spoken, there would be no morning or night or seasons. Fish wouldn’t swim and birds and wouldn’t fly and man would have no dominion.

All those things happen because God told it to happen.

Science can figure out air movements and things of that nature

That allow a birds wings to catch air and fly.

But the only reason air blows and birds wings can catch it

Is because God told it to be that way.

The power of creation was not chance.

The power of creation was not explosion.

The power of creation was the interjection of the command of God

Isaiah 55:11 “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

When God speaks, it happens.

Psalms 29:3-9 “The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful, The voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, And Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD hews out flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer to calve And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everything says, "Glory!"

AND THIS TRUTH SETS GOD AS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

God’s word is so powerful that when He wanted light He didn’t start a fire.

He instead used an even more powerful tool. He told light to come.

He stands alone as the One True God.

There is none like Him in power and might.

There is none like Him in grace and glory.

If Israel learned nothing else just from this opening chapter of the Bible

They were to see that there was no reason on earth

To ever bow the knee to any other god.

· There was no reason on earth to ever fear the work of any other

god.

· There was no reason on earth to ever tolerate the claims of any

pagan worshiper.

Israel’s God is God.

And He alone deserves the glory of that.

Israel’s failures in obedience and participation in idolatry

Are all be rooted in a failure to understand who their God was.

And might I add

That this is the problem with humanity still today.

People disobey the commands of God…

People fail to trust God…

People worship false gods…

All because they have failed to see the One God

Who sits alone as the Creator.

And in their rejection of this Creator

And because they have given His glory to created beings,

They suffer immensely for it.

TURN TO: Romans 1:22-32

All of this sin

All of this wrath

Is all rooted in the fact that humanity has failed

To give their Creator the glory He deserves.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Paul said it like this:

Acts 17:24-31 "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.' "Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."

There you have it.

The God who created everything “is now declaring that all men everywhere should repent”

Humanity has dishonored the One True God and is headed for judgment.

God is declaring that they repent and trust in the provision of forgiveness found in His Son.

Jesus Christ came and died

To pay the penalty for all those repentant sinners

Who will trust in Him and seek the pardon He provides.

But rest assured failure to do this brings a sure and certain judgment,

For the God who created this world will not overlook forever.

There is coming a day of judgment for all those who refuse Him.

2 Peter 3:7-10 “But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”

And this morning that is my invitation to you.

· If you have never repented for failing to glorify God as He deserves…

· If you have never sought forgiveness through the death of Jesus Christ…

· If thus far you have been indifferent to the coming judgment…

Then this morning I want to ask you to see who He is.

I want to ask you to recognize the glory of the great God,

Repent before Him, ask His forgiveness and trust in His Son.

He is patiently waiting, but that doesn’t mean the judgment won’t come.

He is the Creator and He not only demands,

But also deserves your worship.

Pray