Sermon Tone Analysis

Importance:

The Book of Genesis is in many respects the most important book in the Bible.

It is of first importance because it answers… the fundamental questions of the human mind.

It contains the first authoritative information given… concerning… questions of everlasting interest: the Being of God; the origin of the universe; the creation of man; the origin of the soul; the fact of revelation; the introduction of sin; the promise of salvation; the… division of the human race; [and] the purpose of the God’s chosen people… in this inspired volume of beginnings, we have the satisfactory explanation of all the sin, misery, and contradiction… in this world, and the reason [for God’s plan] of redemption.

The Book of Genesis is the seed in which the plant of God's Word is [contained].

It is the starting point of God's gradually unfold[ing] plan [for] the ages.

Genesis is the [base] of the pillar of the Divine revelation.

It is the root of the tree of the inspired Scriptures.

It is the source of the stream of the holy writings of the Bible.

If the base of the pillar is removed, the pillar falls.

If the root of the tree is cut out, the tree will wither and die.

If the fountain head of the stream is cut off, the stream will dry up.

[R. A. Torrey : The Doctrinal Value of the First Chapters of Genesis]

“A.

Every New Testament writer refers to the Genesis 1-11

B. Jesus Christ referred to each of the first seven chapters of Genesis.

C. All the New Testament books except 9 have references to Genesis 1-11

D. Every chapter in Genesis 1-11, except chapter 8, is directly referred to

somewhere in the New Testament.

E. Every New Testament writer apparently accepted these early chapters of Genesis as historically accurate.”

F. There are at least 68 references to Genesis 1-11 in the New Testament.

The New Testament, the need for Christ, the person of Christ, the work of Christ, and the sacrifice of Christ are meaningless when separated from Gen. 1-11.

Christ and the apostles treated the first 11 chapters of Genesis as history, and this history also includes of the history of the creation of the universe and of Adam and Eve, by a personal Creator.

In 1 John 3:12 Cain is recognized as a historical character, and in Hebrews 11, Abel, Enoch, and Noah are listed along with Abraham, and all that followed in the flow of human history.

Peter wrote: “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).

The apostle asserts that Christianity is not a fictitious story.

It is not a myth, nor is it a falsehood.

Rather, Christianity is an observation.

Christianity is observable history, a history of the unfolding of the infinite, personal, living God working out His detail plan to redeem mankind in Jesus Christ.[Walt

Brown, ‘In The Beginning, Compelling Evidence For Creation And The Flood]

Genesis is divine revelation.

It is true.

Its Author is God Himself and its benefactors are all those who believe His words and love Him in return.

Moses was the human author.

Old Testament - 4 Sections: Pentateuch, History, Poetry, Prophets

We are starting at the very beginning.

Title: Genesis - Origins (Greek) In the beginning (Hebrew)

In Genesis we see the origin of Creation, the universe, sun, moon, stars, planets, light, life, time, animals, and plants.

We see the origin of man, woman, marriage, the family, law, sin, consequences, grace, Covenant, and promise.

We see the origin of civilization, nations, and government.

We do not see the origin of God, His plan, His purpose, or His glory.

Storyline:

“In the beginning, God” - God is already there.

Everything else comes from Him.

He possesses being.

He is self-existent.

He is all-wise, all-powerful, and ever present.

He is not bound by space or time.

He is the Hero of the story.

He is the focus of the story.

He is the author of the story.

It’s His Story.

“Created” - His mind is beyond anything we can fathom.

His power and skill are indescribable.

All creation testifies of His greatness.

Genesis was written in 2 Acts:

1: God and His Creation (1-11)

- Creation, God’s good world, and God’s image bearers

- Temptation, Human Sin, The Fall, The Curse, The Promise

- Cain murders Abel, Noah, The Global Flood, Babel

2: God and His Covenant People (12-50)

- Abraham - Chosen by God and called out to leave everything he knew and go to an unknown place where God promised to bless him, his offspring, and the entire world.

- Isaac - Child of promise

- Jacob - 12 sons - 12 tribes of Israel - Judah - Line of Christ

- Joseph -

Themes:

God creates by bringing order and beauty out of chaos and darkness.

Humans are the divine image bearers.

Human selfishness and sin lead to the fracturing of the divine-human relationship and the ruin of human relationships on all levels.

God responds to human sin in two ways: He brings justice on rebellion and offers grace by promising future blessing for His world.

God initiates his plan to rescue humanity through his covenant with the family of Abram God’s blessing to the nations through Abraham provides the foundational storyline for the rest of the Bible.

The drama of Genesis 12-50 consists of the sin and folly of the family of Abraham and how they constantly put God’s promises into jeopardy.

Abraham - Endangers the promise of a large family by giving away his wife, twice! 12, 20 Sarah - Tries to force God’s hand to give them a child by having Abraham sleep with Hagar, her servant.

16, 21 Isaac - Gives away his wife Rebekah.

26 Jacob - Is a thief and a liar and gains the blessing by stealing.

25, 27 Joseph’s brothers - Try to kill him and sell him as a slave.

37 Abraham’s family is so dysfunctional that divine promises will only be fulfilled through God’s faithfulness, not theirs.

God remains committed to this family and His promises.

He constantly intervenes to rescue them.

God rescues Sarah and Rebekah from the folly of their husbands.

God provides an heir for Abraham and Sarah.

God protects Jacob despite his selfishness and deception.

God transforms the evil of Joseph’s brothers into good.

Theme verse of the entire book: Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

The pattern of how God works in the world begins in Genesis and continues through the Bible: He works through people of low status who are weak or marginalized.

God does not make the firstborn sons the vehicles of His promise, but rather the unexpected children.

He chooses Abel, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph instead of Cain, Ishmael, Esau, and Reuben.

God moves toward those who are rejected.

Hagar and Ishmael, Leah the unloved wife, and Joseph the despised brother [https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/genesis/#author-date]

Doctrines:

All major biblical doctrines are founded in Genesis.

The Nature of God

He is the supreme Creator.

(Genesis 1-2) He is the sovereign King.

(Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 9:1-7) He is the righteous Judge.

(Genesis 3:14-24, Genesis 6-8) He is the merciful Savior.

(Genesis 6-8)

The Nature of Man

Created in the image of God… (Genesis 1:26-27)

We are a unique reflection of God.