God’s Creation

Intro

Sermon series called: The Big Story. The goal of this series is to see Jesus woven throughout the OT. Genesis 1.

Main Idea: God creates and sustains with his Word

Our God is a speaking God. This would differentiate him from other religions. We can’t separate the creation account from the context it was written. Mt. Sinai. Moses. 430 of slavery. Received God’s Law, Rule, Statues, Commandments, Words as Psalm 119 says. There is power when God speaks. Moses would explain the creation account to a people who just saw God work and now he spoke to them.

Other religions had creation “stories.”

Their gods didn’t speak.

Attach gods to elements of creation (sun, moon, darkness, waters, etc.)

I will not be talking about the science behind Genesis 1-2.

Truth #1: Creation is dependent on God

Exp. All of creation is dependent. God is the main character of the creation account. Verse 1. God is center of the story. Before creation existed, God was there. Our lives can be centered around us. It doesn’t. This story is not focused on us, it’s focused on God. Creation only exists because God said it could. We only exist because God said we could.

Ill. Growing up with parents who said, “Because I….said so.” Or “I brought you into this world, and I can…take you out.” Joke about this, but we were dependent on our parents as our children are dependent on us.

Arg. Even more so are we dependent on God! Other religions had creation accounts, and had false gods attached to the elements that Genesis 1 clearly states that God created. For Israel = Moses is saying, “Look at the power of God almighty. He speaks and brings life. He has spoken to us, we must obey.” God is a speaking God, and creation is dependent on him.

Christ - God not only spoke through his Law, but the author of Hebrews explains how else he spoke. Hebrews 1:1-4, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”

God spoke to us through Jesus. When we hear the words of Jesus, we are hearing the words of God.

Through Jesus he created the world.

Upholds the universe by the word of his power.

Purified us from sin.

App. A few questions to consider:

Are you fully dependent on God or self?

What changes should you make for you life to center around Him?

Truth #2: Creation is ordered through God

Exp. Creation is dependent on God and it is ordered through him. Creation was not left without order. God brought order to chaos. Verse 2. Chaos. Verse 3 = light. Verse 4 = separated light and dark. Verses 6-7 = separated sky from ocean. Verse = separated water and land. Verse 11 = brought vegetation and fruit. Verse 14-15 = sun and moon. Verses 20-21 = fish and birds. Verse 24 = animals. Verse 26 = man. God ordered creation.

Ill. Moving into a house. It was chaos. Boxes everywhere. No space to walk. Little by little putting things where they belong made space. Once we began to bring order to our house, the chaos ended. Easier to live.

Arg. God does this with creation. Though see the chiasm. Day 1 corresponds with day 4. Day 2 with day 5. Day 3 with day 6. What do I mean:

Day 1 - Light // Day 4 - Sun and Moon

Day 2 - Sky and Ocean // Day 5 - Birds and Fish

Day 3 - Dry land // Day 6 - Animals and Mankind

Exp. He created a place and then he filled that place. God brought order to his creation. There was light before the sun and moon. There was vegetation before the sun. It doesn’t make sense. Genesis 1 is not a study of science but a testament to the greatness of God.

Christ - God has ordered creation in the way in which he chooses. Paul affirms this. Colossians 1:15-17, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Creation was ordered:

By Jesus. Jesus is the creator. He was at the beginning forming everything.

For Jesus. All that was made was made for him. He is the end of creation. We were made for him.

App. God gave order to creation. He holds all of it together. And he’s holding you. Your life my be crumbling, feel like he’s not there. He’s holding you. How do you do this?

Trust him. Trust that he is holding you. He kept the Israelites, and he will keep you.

Pursue him. You were made for him. Genesis 1:26. You were made in his image. This is his order of creation.

Truth #3: Creation rests in God

Exp. On the final day of creation, God rested. God entered an eternal Sabbath. Verses 2:1-3. God had reached the pinnacle of creation, and he knew he didn’t need create more. Creation was complete. Before creation, God was resting and after creation, he rested. We are dependent on God. Ordered through him. We rest in him. Creation rested in God. What does that look like? End of each day = evening and morning. Why evening first? The day begins with resting. We first and foremost rest in how God feels about us. Israel just came from making bricks. Only value was what they could do. To God, what they contribute is not their value.

Ill. Sports teams. If they don’t bring value, he doesn’t play. Imagine being on a team and playing simply because the coach likes you. Hard for us to understand.

Arg. Our thinking must shift. We must rest in what God thinks about us not how we hope to impress him. You can’t earn his love or favor. We are given spiritual rest now. That rest is given through Jesus.

Christ - Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Spiritual rest in Christ. God showed how much he loved us through Jesus.

Exp. Future rest in heaven. A rest that is coming.

App. How do we rest?

Stop trying to prove yourself. You can’t earn it. You won’t earn it.

Look at what he has done. Look at creation. Look at Jesus.

Conclusion

We began with God’s Word, and we end with it. Jesus is the Word. John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Jesus is the final word.