TUNSTALL APO PM 14 OCT 2007 In the beginning God.

Place: Tunstall Apo.                        Date: Pm Sunday, 14th October 2007.

Text: Genesis 1:1.                             Theme: In the beginning ­God.

Introduction:                                    Reading: Genesis 1-3.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

The Book of Genesis deals with beginnings. It sets forth the beginning of creation, humanity, family life and the beginning of sin and disobedience to God. The beginning of suffering and the beginning of God’s effort to redeem and restore man to a relationship of love and a fellowship of faith.

The Book of Revelation deals with the end of history and human existence as man normally understands it. The Book of Genesis provides us with a key that helps us understand many of the mysteries of life. Knowledge of the basic truths of the first three chapters is very important if you want is to begin to understand the Christian faith. A lack of proper understanding of the basic truths of Genesis may cause us troubles in our faith.

The writer of Genesis was not interested in when or how the universe was created; he was concerned with the “who” (God) of creation. This revelation of God’s activity declares that the Creator worked in an orderly fashion, moving from the simple to the complex, with mankind as the crowning climax of His creation. The source of all creation is God and the purpose of His work was to provide for man who could walk and talk and serve God in love and faith.

These three chapters in Genesis are said to serve three great purposes.

1.     They introduce God.

2.     They explain the world.

3.     They explain men.

1st POINT: GOD IS INTRODUCED, VERSE 1.

“In the beginning God.”

No attempt is made to prove the existence of God: He is simply introduced. His presence and power are taken for granted. God is introduced as a personal spiritual being. He acts! He speaks! He feels! God is introduced as one who has existed from all eternity. He is before all things, and above all things. He is the eternal and changeless God.

God is introduced as being supreme in power. He speaks the word and creates something out of nothing. He calls the universe into existence. He takes the dust that He has made and fashions man. Then He breathes into the man's nostrils the breath of life so that he becomes a living soul.

These chapters reveal God to be perfect in wisdom, for there is an organized series in His creative activity, for careful preparation for the appearance of man.

2nd POINT: THE EARTH IS EXPLAINED, VERSE 2.

          “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

          Genesis declares that the earth and our universe were created by God. Matter is not eternal, it was made at the beginning, and as the Spirit of God moved upon it God was able to say that “It was good.” The creative acts of God continued as He sought step by step to prepare the world for the coming of the man who was to climax the divine creative work.

The first two chapters of Genesis celebrate the fact that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. Because GOD is the Creator, Sustainer and Owner of all things, people should give His divine will consideration.

3rd POINT: MAN IS CREATED, VERSE 26.

          “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.”

          The Psalmist raised the question, “What is man?” Psalm 8. The first three chapters of Genesis leave no doubt that man is a special creation. He is the crown, apex and climax of God's creation. Man is a creature made in the image of God.

We are not to understand this as referring to a physical likeness to God but rather to the capabilities of knowing, responding to, and having immediate fellowship with God. In his rational, moral and spiritual nature man can walk and talk with God and come to resemble Him in a manner impossible to other creatures.

God planned for men's life to be one of joyful activity. God gave him beautiful surroundings (Garden of Eden), beloved companionship (Eve) and a pleasant occupation (Gardener). Combined with these was the joy of communion with God.

Genesis 3 reveals Adam's unbelief, rebellion, selfish ambition, disobedience and the desire to find life outside the will of God. Tragic beyond description was the outcome of sin. The rest of the Bible is an inspired account of the cost of man's sin and of God's loving and merciful programme of redeeming and restoring man to the position of sonship and fellowship, lost because of sin.

4TH POINT: SALVATION IS GIVEN, CHAPTER 3, VERSE 21.

          “Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.”

          Because of sin, a covering was needed! Here God offered up the first sacrifice for sin, someone had to die to COVER Adam and Eve’s sin, maybe it was TWO lambs that died for their garments of skin, lamb skin coats?

          Abraham was later to say to Isaac “God will supply the lamb!” This was fulfilled when God Himself give His son. John the Baptist said on seeing Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Is was through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that God once and all found a way of not only covering Adam and Eve’s sin, but the sin of the whole world.

          Calvary’s CROSS is for YOU and me; we must all come the same way!

1.     Accept that we are sinners in need of salvation.

2.     Believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again for our salvation.

3.     Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord in your life.

CONCLUSION:

Here we have it, “In the beginning God.” As sovereign Lord, He must have first place in our lives, affections, our ambitions, and our actions.