In The Beginning

Genesis 1:1-4

Created by David Turnerwww.BibleStudies-Online.com

The Atheist says

“There is no God”“We are the product of 4.5 billion years of

fortuitous, slow biological evolution. There is no reason to think that the evolutionary

process has stopped. Man is a transitional animal. He is not the climax of creation.” Dr.

Carl Sagan

The Humanist says

“Man is God”Religious humanists regard the universe

as self-existing and not created. (Humanist Manifesto I, American Humanistic Association, First Article,

1933)

The New Ager says

“ Everything is God”"We are at any given moment living the totality

of everything....The vibrational oscillation of nature is quickening....Just remember that you are God, and act accordingly." Shirley

Maclaine

The Egotist says

“ I am God”"Everything is more or less organized matter.

To think so is against religion, but I think so just the same. When did I realize I was God? Well, I was praying and I suddenly realized I

was talking to myself." --Peter O'Toole

But Mosses said

“In the beginning God”

What do you believe about God?

What you believe about God is your worldview. It colors everything else you believe

about the world, about others and about yourself.

I believe in God as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. --C. S. Lewis

In the beginning God created the heavens and

the earth. Gen 1:1

Believe this and you shouldn’t have a problem

believing everything else in the Bible.

Attacks against believers usually start here.

Foolish people say that a Creator made the world. The teaching that the world was created is wrong, and should be rejected. If God created the world, where was he before creation? …

No single being had the skill to make this world. Besides, how can a spiritual god create that which is material? How could God have made the world without any raw material?....

Good men should combat the believer in divine creation, who is maddened by evil doctrine. Know that the world is uncreated, as time itself is, without beginning and end….It is uncreated and indestructible, it endures through the compulsion of its own nature. (Mahapurana 4.16-31, 38-40. A Scripture of Jainism)

Yet, the universe gives evidence of God.

Psalm 19:1-4 (NET)1 For the music director; a psalm of

David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky displays his handiwork. 2

Day after day it speaks out; night after night it reveals his greatness. 3 There is

no actual speech or word, nor is its voice literally heard. 4 Yet its voice

echoes throughout the earth; its words carry to the distant horizon.

The result of the evidence

Romans 1:18-25 (NET)18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, 19 because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.

The result of the evidence

Romans 1:18-25 (NET)21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22

Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23

and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

So, what does the Bible say about God?

Genesis 1:1-5 (NET)1 In the beginning God created the

heavens and the earth.

In the beginning God …

• Before the beginning there was only God.• Time started when God began to create.

– God exists outside of time. – God is the author of time.– God determines the order, sequence and

perimeters of time.– God influences time, but is not influenced by

time. He is independent of time.

In the beginning God …

• Elohim– The first name used for God in the Old Testament– It is used 2,500 times in the Old Testament– It appears to mean “Strong One” and emphasizes

His majesty and might.– It is plural in form but usually singular in meaning.

Often called a “plural of majesty”.– This “uni-plural” noun my suggest a uni-plurality

within the God-head. God is one, yet more than one.

In the beginning God created

Created (bara)– The verb ָּב��ָר�א (bara’) always describes the

divine activity of fashioning something new, fresh, and perfect.

– The verb does not necessarily describe creation out of nothing (1:21,27), but it is implied here and elsewhere (Heb. 11:3; Col 1:15-17; Rom 4:17).

Genesis 1:21 God created the great sea creatures and every living and moving thing with which the water swarmed, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:27 God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.

Colossians 1:15-17 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, 16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.

Romans 4:17 (NASB95) 17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

John 1:3 (NET) All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

What did God create?

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Heavens and earth = the entire ordered universe.– Heavens (plural) includes all that is other than

the earth.– Earth – our world.– He created what we see and what we can’t

see– He created physical beings and spiritual

beings. – He is the force that holds it all together.

Colossians 1:16 (NET)16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him.

Colossians 1:17 (NET)17 He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

– Universe is a tri-unity of time, space and matter (energy is included in matter).• Time – past, present, future• Space – three dimensional • Matter – liquid, solid, gas

– Every painting reveals something about it’s maker. The universe is God’s masterpiece revealing characteristics about his nature.

Worship the God of Creation

Psalm 104:24-35 (NET)24 How many living things you have made, O Lord! You have exhibited great skill in making all of them; the earth is full of the living things you have made. 25 Over here is the deep, wide sea, which teems with innumerable swimming creatures, living things both small and large. 26 The ships travel there, and over here swims the whale you made to play in it. 27 All of your creatures wait for you to provide them with food on a regular basis. 28 You give food to them and they receive it; you open your hand and they are filled with food. 29 When you ignore them, they panic. When you take away their life’s breath, they die and return to dust. 30

When you send your life-giving breath, they are created, and you replenish the surface of the ground.

Worship the God of Creation

Psalm 104:24-35 (NET)31 May the splendor of the Lord endure! May the Lord find pleasure in the living things he has made! 32 He looks down on the earth and it shakes; he touches the mountains and they start to smolder. 33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God as long as I exist! 34 May my thoughts be pleasing to him! I will rejoice in the Lord. 35 May sinners disappear from the earth, and the wicked vanish! Praise the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!

The Creation Worships Him

Psalm 148:1-7 (NET)1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the sky! Praise him in the heavens! 2 Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his heavenly assembly! 3 Praise him, O sun and moon! Praise him, all you shiny stars! 4 Praise him, O highest heaven, and you waters above the sky! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he gave the command and they came into existence. 6

He established them so they would endure; he issued a decree that will not be revoked. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea creatures and all you ocean depths,

The Creation Worships Him

Psalm 148:8-14 (NET)8 O fire and hail, snow and clouds, O stormy wind that carries out his orders, 9 you mountains and all you hills, you fruit trees and all you cedars, 10 you animals and all you cattle, you creeping things and birds, 11

you kings of the earth and all you nations, you princes and all you leaders on the earth, 12 you young men and young women, you elderly, along with you children! 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty extends over the earth and sky. 14 He has made his people victorious, and given all his loyal followers reason to praise – the Israelites, the people who are close to him. Praise the Lord!

The God of Creation gives us strength.

Isaiah 40:25-31 (NET)25 “To whom can you compare me? Whom do I resemble?” says the Holy One. 26 Look up at the sky! Who created all these heavenly lights? He is the one who leads out their ranks; he calls them all by name. Because of his absolute power and awesome strength, not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you say, Jacob, Why do you say, Israel, “The Lord is not aware of what is happening to me, My God is not concerned with my vindication”? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom. 29 He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy. 30 Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble. 31 But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.

The Creator will be worshiped

Revelation 4:9-11 (NET)9 And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns before his throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created!”

The Creator will judge

Revelation 10:5-6 (NET)5 Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6 and swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, and the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, “There will be no more delay!

The Creator will deliver us

Romans 8:18-22 (NET)18 For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility – not willingly but because of God who subjected it – in hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now.

Come to the Creator.