The Beginning: Genesis as an introduction to the story of God’s love for us.

We have just started another year and with it we have a year long bible reading plan for all of us to follow. Our plan this year is a chronological plan, meaning that we are reading the Bible in a chronological order, rather than just from one book to the next. This is a helpful way to read through the Bible becuase it helps us to see all that God is doing at anyone time, and make better sense of the Bible.

Look with me at Genesis 1:1

Genesis 1:1 says, “[1] In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis introduces us to the beginning, and in the beginning there was God.

This seems simple enough, but I have a feeling that if I asked you to tell me what the book of Genesis is about, you might tell me that it’s about God making the world. And, to be fair, that’s probably the part of Genesis that you have heard the most about.

But, Genesis, like the rest of the Bible, is about the God of creation.

There are 50 chapters in the book of Genesis, and the part about creation is over after chapter 2. But, the rest of the book of Genesis is about God, in particular the book of Genesis is an introduction to what we call the gospel, and the gospel is all about Jesus.

I know that it might seem a little off to say that Genesis is an introduction to the gospel when so much of our emphasis with the book in our lifetime has been about creation. But, familiarity does not equal centrality. Even though we are most familiar with the creation account of Genesis, that doesn’t mean the book is centered on creation.

The central theme to the book of Genesis is Jesus.

Jesus isn’t named in the book, but Genesis is the introduction to the story of God and His gospel, and Jesus is at the center of God’s story- the Gospel.

Every story starts with a beginning, and the story that starts in Genesis ends in Revelation. And in Revelation 21:1-5 we find the story that begins with “in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Ends with:

“[1] Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. [2] And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [4] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” [5] And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

One of the most read books in our home is The Jesus Story Book Bible, it describes the story of the Bible this way…

“The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne—everything – to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!” — The Jesus Story Book Bible

Genesis is the beginning of a story that spans all of Scripture. This story has a beginning, a problem, a solution, and a spectacular ending!

The story of the Bible, the Gospel can be summarized with four words:

Creation — Fall — Redemption — Consummation (Fulfillment)

Creation- There is one God and He is the God revealed in the Bible.

Genesis 1-2

God was, is, and will be

God made the world and all that is in it.

God made the world the way that the Bible says.

There is one Adam, there is one Eve, and all the world is one human race with Adam and Eve as first parents.

Fall- Sin and its curse.

Genesis 3

Sin came into the world through Adam. I know that serpent tempted Eve, but Adam was present and Adam was responsible. He sins by abdicating his role and by eating the fruit. This is why the world is stained by Adam’s sin and not Eve’s.

The serpent (Satan) tempted them to sin, but he did not make them sin.

Genesis 4 Cain and Abel

Cain murders his brother in pride and anger

Genesis 5 Seth to Noah

This is the line of faithfulness from Seth to Noah

Genesis 6- The depth of despair and the decree of God’s judgment

At this point in the history of the world unspeakable things are occurring and the Lord has had enough of the wickedness of men.

Genesis 6- God warns Noah & Promises judgement and salvation

As God warns Noah He also pronounces judgment on the world. God provides a way of escape or salvation to Noah through the building of the Ark. Noah obeys.

Genesis 7- Noah in the Ark and the Flood of God’s Judgment

God places Noah and his family in the Ark and then floods the world. All living men and land creatures are wiped from the face of the planet. The only ones left are Noah, his descendants, and the animals on the ark with him.

Genesis 8- God keeps His promise to Noah

God remembers Noah after the floods receded and opens the door to the ark. Noah makes an altar and worships the Lord and begins to fulfill the Lord’s instructions.

Genesis 9- God makes a covenant with Noah and all future generations

God promises to never flood the earth again. This promise prepares us from the coming final judgment of the earth at the end of the age. But, we have the promise and the sign of the rainbow that remind us of the promise God made to Noah and all future generations.

Genesis 10-11- The nations multiply from Noah’s descendants and they build the tower of Babel.

As the nations multiply so does sin. The eventual result is the tower of Babel. God confuses their languages, births the nations, and scatters them throughout the earth.

Genesis 11- From the many nations God calls one to be the blessing to them all. (The line of Abram)

From the scattering of nations God calls to Abram to go and follow Him. We will look more at this next week.

Redemption- God’s promised covenant to redeem mankind from the curse of sin.

In the same story that shows us the beginning of the problem of sin, we see the first steps in the solution, God’s plan of redemption through Christ.

Genesis 3 God covers their guilt and shame

When Adam and Eve sinned, God came looking for them. He called them out from hiding, led them through confession, and then killed an animal to make clothing for them. The consequence of sin is unavoidable. But, even in this moment we see the compassion and mercy of God to cover their guilt and shame. This is a foreshadowing of the sacrificial system that God would give Israel and the first glimpse of the manner by which God would overcome sin and death- the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 3 God promises a son who will overcome the serpent, sin, and death.

Even in the judgment God gives to Adam, Eve, and the Serpent there is the whisper of Jesus. God promises that one day the woman would give birth to a son… the serpent would bruise his heal, but the son would crush the head of the serpent. That son is Jesus Christ. The cross is the bruise and the empty grave is the crushing of the serpents head!

Genesis 5 Seth is born to provide a line of faithfulness to replace what was lost in Abel. Cain’s line leads to the cities that lead the judgment of God that results in the flood. Seth’s line results in faithful generations that include godly men like Enoch (Who walked with God and was taken up to be in the presence of God.), Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah.

Genesis 6-9 Noah and his family are carried through the judgment of the world in the Ark. This is a precursor to Christ. Those who have faith in Christ are carried through the final judgment of the world in Jesus like Noah was carried through the flood in the Ark.

Genesis 10-11 God scatters the nations for His glory so that one day in Christ He will gather them back together for His glory.

Genesis 11- Out of the confusion of Babel, God calls a man named Abram to be a blessing to all nations. Jesus Christ is that promised blessing.

Consummation- The fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ.

This is the fulfillment of God’s promises. This is the undoing of sin, the gaining of what was lost in the garden. This is the hope that we have and the promise that we have in Christ. The promise of redemption is made to Abraham, and the fulfillment of that promise, the son that would be a blessing to all nations is Jesus!

The consummation of God’s work is the full and better Eden, Promised Land, Temple, etc.

Revelation 21-22 give us a glimpse of the final working of God’s redemptive plan. Let me read a long section of the Bible in hopes that God stirs in your heart as you hear of what He has promised.

Revelation 21

[1] Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. [2] And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [4] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

[5] And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” [6] And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. [7] The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. [8] But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

[9] Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” [10] And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, [11] having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. [12] It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed—[13] on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. [14] And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

[15] And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. [16] The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. [17] He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. [18] The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. [19] The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, [20] the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. [21] And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

[22] And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. [23] And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. [24] By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, [25] and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. [26] They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. [27] But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Revelation 22:1-7

[1] Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb [2] through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. [3] No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. [4] They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. [5] And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. [6] And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” [7] “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

When it comes to the Bible as God’s story, we can see now why we need the beginning… Genesis starts at the beginning, with the truth of who God is, then Genesis walks us through from creation, to the fall, to the promise of redemption, and aims us forward with faith to the fulfillment of the promise in Christ.

We need the Bible to understand God and the story of His promised rescue.

Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s plan to redeem and restore mankind and the world.

Eden- Jesus

Ark- Jesus

Tower of Babel- Jesus

Where the people of the earth were building themselves up to be equal with God and were scattered into different languages and nations; Jesus has humbled himself to save us and unite all nations

Philippians 2:8–11 (CSB),8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In the end, when all is said and done the chaos and confusion of the nations that came out of Babel is undone and united in Christ.

Revelation 7:9 (CSB)

9 After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.

The creation account, like the rest of the Bible, is essential to the gospel.

Without a literal Adam, we don’t need a literal Jesus.

Scripture tells us in Romans 5:12–15 (CSB) sin came into the world through Adam, but that through Christ the gift of God’s grace has come to us. Death came through the first Adam and life comes through the second Adam (Jesus Christ).

God’s purpose and plan before the fall is your pursuit after salvation.

Through sin mankind rebels against God’s design and plan. This rebellion against God’s design and plan is sin. Presently under attack:

This applies to:

Marriage (including roles)

Sexuality

Gender

Church

God’s plan to save the world is for the gospel to be delivered by a church on mission.

Romans 1 makes it clear that we are all without excuse. Adam has sinned and the human race and all of the world are now under the curse of sin. We have exchanged the truth of God with a lie and worship the created rather than the created. This means that every where someone doesn’t worship God through faith in Jesus Christ we must take the gospel. This means that we must answer the call of God to follow Him and make disciples. This also means that God calls some of us out from the church to go and pastor other churches, to serve as ministers in other churches, to start new churches, to serve as missionaries around the world. Everywhere the Spirit of God is at work there are people loving God, growing in grace, giving it all, and living sent. Don’t be afraid to surrender to being sent across the street or across the globe.

Jesus has crossed from the throne room of heaven to the cross of calvary to save you from your sins. Say yes to Him and the direction He has for your life.

What can you do this week, and also this year?

Commit to reading the Bible to know God and His story with us throughout the year.

Commit to being here to worship and grow together as a church family.

Commit to being on mission together by showing and sharing the gospel to the people you see each day.

Why these three commitments?

Becuase the more you read the Bible the more you will know God.

Because God is worthy of worship and our weekly commitment to Him and to one another demonstrates his place in our lives.

Because the story of the Bible is the story of God’s love, and what kind of church would we be if we don’t prioritize showing and sharing the gospel with the people we see each day.

If we want to be people who share the gospel, then we need to be people are living the gospel together. And if we want to be people living the gospel then we need to be growing in the gospel, and if we want to be people who grow in the gospel, then we need to be in the Word.

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