Beginnings and Promises: The Journey from Creation to Covenant

January 28th, 2024

Story of a Painter: Imagine a painter starting with a blank canvas. With each stroke, a world comes to life. This is akin to God's work in Genesis, where He starts with nothing and meticulously crafts the universe, humanity, and establishes His relationship with His creation.

Introduction:

Today we're doing a review of the book of genesis is a marvelous book of beginnings of God's creation of the world the problem of sin and God's promises to humanity we're going to see again what we've covered last year how God has been working and the plans that he made throughout the book of genesis that affect us to day.

I had thought about doing another rap to summarize genesis like I did with Romans a few people busted my groove. But more to the point we're going to get into a serious couple chapters covering Sodom and Gomorrah and the consequences of sin and I wanted the capacity to focus on those. Next week I'm going to take a Sunday to speak on the topic of baptism because that's not something we talk about enough here at cornerstone I want to take a kids and doughnuts Sunday to do that to speak to our kids because I know my children are interested in this. After that we will dive straight into the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.

But saying all this doesn't diminish the import of what we're doing. After all God's word all of God's word is profitable for teaching correct and rebuking and training and righteousness is it not? So let's take a look again at how the great painter sets out to create his great masterpiece that is planet earth and humanity.

Part 1: Creation and Mankind (Genesis 1:1-2:25)

Creation: Discuss the six days of creation, emphasizing God’s power and intentionality.

Genesis 1:1 ESV

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

In these first strokes of the painting we see God forming a complete and beautiful world. The Bible gives us origin and purpose the world wasn't crafted out of violence or because the gods needed someone to serve them our God wanted to create someone in his image and he created a complete world in which to do that. There's so many things to say about Creation. The Creation account in the Bible exalts God above creation pointing Jews and then Christians throughout history to worship God not creation.

It was truly wondrous in the Genesis creation account what sets Christianity and our View apart from so many other faith is this reality that we are created in God's image.

Genesis 1:27 ESV

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Man and Woman: Highlight the special creation of humans in God's image and their appointed role in creation.

Part 2: The Fall and Its Consequences (Genesis 3:1-24)

Genesis 3:4–5 ESV

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 3:6 ESV

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

The Fall: Analyze the temptation and fall of Adam and Eve, focusing on the introduction of sin and its repercussions.

God’s Response: God’s judgment and mercy, the promise of redemption (Protoevangelium - Genesis 3:15).

Genesis 3:15 ESV

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Part 3: The Spread of Sin and God's Judgment (Genesis 4:1-11:32)

Cain and Abel: The spread of sin in human heart and society.

Genesis 4:7 ESV

7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

The Flood: God's judgment on a corrupt world and His saving grace through Noah.

Genesis 6:5–6 ESV

5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

Tower of Babel: Human pride, divine intervention, and the diversification of humanity.

Genesis 11:4 ESV

4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

God’s demonstrated goal throughout the Biblical history has never been to hold humans down but instead to get us to realize the hold that sin has on us. Therefore when he scatters humanity at the tower of Babel He isn’t stunting our evolution; He is protecting us from our sin nature.

Part 4: The Call of Abraham and the Covenant (Genesis 12:1-18:15)

Abraham’s Call: God’s call to Abraham and the promise of blessing to all nations through him.

Genesis 12:1–2 ESV

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Covenant with Abraham

Genesis 15:5 ESV

5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

Sarah and the Promise: The promise of Isaac and God's faithfulness in seemingly impossible situations.

Genesis 18:10–12 ESV

10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”

Conclusion:

Connecting to Christ: Draw parallels between the promises in Genesis and their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Emphasize God's faithfulness and the overarching story of redemption that begins in Genesis.

The Journey Continues: Just as God guided the patriarchs, He guides us today. Our lives are part of this ongoing story of God’s promises and faithfulness.

Application:

Encourage the congregation to see their story in God's story, to trust in His promises, and to live out their unique role in His creation.

Prayer and Closing:

A prayer that seeks God's guidance to live in the light of His word and promises, just as the patriarchs did.