Made For More: An Introduction to God

Genesis 1:1-2

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

The Prologue to Genesis (1:1–2:3) is a most sublime and stately section. It is not poetry, neither is it a hymn of praise. Rather, it is a moving and powerful statement of God’s creative activity which should stir us to worship and adore the great King of creation.

God

On Christmas Eve 1968 the crew of the spaceship Apollo 8 became the first humans to orbit the moon. In their Christmas greetings to earth, the astronauts quoted these words: ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’

This opening sentence, so simple yet so profound, sets the tone for the whole prologue.

The second sentence remind of a very present God.

1. The Bible prepares us for what follows.

-Appropriately, the subject of the first sentence of the Bible and of Genesis is God. He is the subject of nearly every sentence in this first section: ‘God said …’, ‘God saw …’, ‘God divided …’, ‘God called …’, ‘God made …’, ‘God created …’, ‘God set …’, ‘God blessed …’

2. The Bible introduces us to God.

-From the very first verse God discloses truth about himself. The term used for ‘God’ is Elohim, the most common word in the Old Testament when referring to the deity. Like our English word ‘God’, it can be used of pagan gods, but here it is used for the one true and living God, the God who communicates and does things. The God who redeems and loves.

3. The Bible does not set out to prove God.

-God is bigger than any mathematical calculation or philosophical argument. The very fact of creation bears testimony to the reality of God:

-‘The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork’ (Ps. 19:1).

When Paul took the gospel to the pagan cities of the Roman empire he taught the people to turn from their worthless idols to the living God who made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them (cf. Acts 14:15; 17:24–31; 1 Thess. 1:8–9).

Acts 17:22–34 ESV

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Paul came to Athens as a sightseer and became a soul-winner!

This famous city was a center of religion and culture, but all Paul could see was sin and superstition; one ancient writer said it was easier to find a god than a man in Athens. Paul disputed with the Jews in the synagogue, but had little or no success. He then followed the pattern of the Greek teachers and took his message to the market (agora) where the men assembled to discuss philosophy or to transact business.

Two main philosophies controlled Athens at that time. The Stoics were materialistic and almost fatalistic in their thinking. Their system was built on pride and personal independence. Nature was their god, and they believed that all nature was gradually moving toward a great climax. We might say that they were pantheistic.

The Epicureans desired pleasure, and their philosophy was grounded in experience, not reason. They were almost atheistic.

Here we have two extremes in philosophy, and Paul confronted them both with the Gospel of Christ. The Athenians scorned him, calling him a “babbler,” which means “a seedpicker.” They thought he was preaching two new gods when he spoke of “Jesus and the resurrection.” (“Resurrection” in Gk. is anastasia, and perhaps they took this for a proper name.) The Greeks led him to the Areopagus, their official court, also called Mars’ Hill. There Paul preached a great sermon.

He began politely by saying, “I see that you are very religious” (not “too superstitious” as in KJV). He called attention to an altar dedicated “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD,” and he used this object to preach to them the True God about whom they were ignorant. He presented in his sermon four great truths about God:

A. He is the Creator (vv. 24–25).

The Greeks believed different theories about creation, and even held to a form of evolution. Paul clearly stated that God created everything and did not live in temples made by men. God gives life to all; man can really give nothing to Him.

B. He is the Governor (vv. 26–29).

He appoints the boundaries of the nations. Through His government of the nations, He seeks to make men seek Him and find Him. Paul even quoted a Greek writer (v. 28) to show that God is the sustainer of life. This does not mean the Greek poet was inspired, but rather that his statement agreed with divine truth. Again Paul diplomatically pointed out that their temples and images were foolish and ignorant. We need this reminder today!

C. He is the Savior (v. 30).

Paul wipes away the great Greek culture by calling it “times of ignorance”! With all their wisdom and culture, the Greeks failed to find God (see 1 Cor. 1:18ff). God has commanded men everywhere to repent; and if they repent and believe, He will forgive.

D. He is the Judge (v. 31).

God has appointed a day of judgment, and the Judge will be His Son, Jesus Christ. God proved this by raising Him from the dead. If we trust Christ today, He will save us; if we reject Him, tomorrow He will judge us.

The reactions of the listeners were mixed: some mocked (this is often the attitude of pagan culture and philosophy); some delayed; but some believed!

This chapter presents three different attitudes toward the Gospel, and we find these same attitudes in the world today. Some people openly oppose the Word; some mock it or postpone making a decision; and some receive the Word and believe. Paul kept right on going as a faithful servant, and so must we, “for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9).