sf362 - In The Beginning God (Genesis 1 1)

Genesis 1:1

Introduction

The importance of studying Genesis

“Genesis is important because it gives us our origins – not merely the origins of one particular family but the origins of matter, life, values, evil, grace, the family, nations, and other things – in a way that unites us all.” (J.M. Boice, Genesis, Volume 1; 16)

Genesis tells us of God.

Genesis tells us of the origins of man.

Genesis tells us of the origins of evil.

Genesis teaches us of our own helplessness.

Genesis teaches the doctrine of justification by faith.

Genesis teaches the doctrine of sovereign election.

Genesis teaches the origins of divine judgment.

“In the beginning God…”

“These are the most tremendous words ever penned” (Arthur Compton, physicist)

“The first four words of the Book of Genesis are sufficient proof of the Bible’s inspiration” (John Gerstner)

The acceptance of these words as authoritative leads us to several important conclusions.

1A. What Belief In The God of Genesis Refutes

1B. Belief in God refutes atheism.

If God was in the beginning, then there was and is a God.

Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

2B. Belief in God refutes materialism.

God preceded creation and is set apart from creation.

Therefore ours is not an entirely material universe.

Since God created matter, matter did not always exist.

3B. Belief in God refutes pantheism.

Pantheism says that God is in matter or is matter.

Romans 1:18-25 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man -- and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

2A. What Belief In The God of Genesis Affirms

1B. God is self-existent

God is unknowable

Ø Because He is the ultimate cause of everything He cannot be known like everything else in known.

Ø What we know of God is dependant on His revealing it to us.

God is answerable to no one (Job 38:1-4)

2B God is self-sufficient

“God was under no constraint, no obligation, no necessity to create. That He chose to do so was purely a sovereign act on His part, caused by nothing outside Himself, determined by nothing but His own mere good pleasure; for He ‘worketh all things after the counsel of his own good will’ (Ephesians 1:11)…. The force of this is [that] it is impossible to bring the Almighty under obligations to the creature; God gains nothing from us.” (Pink, The Attributes of God)

God does not need companions.

Ø God is not and never has been lonely.

God does not need helpers.

Ø The fact that He has entrusted us with work to do, means only that is the way He has sovereignly chosen to accomplish His purposes.

God does not need defenders.

Ø Indeed it is God who defends us.

“God does not need us. But the joy of coming to know Him is in learning that He nevertheless stoops to work in and through His children.” (Boice, 31)

3B. God is eternal

God is, has always been, and will always be, and that He is ever the same in His eternal being.

He is unchangeable

Ø God’s love is unchanging; we are secure in His love.

Ø God holiness is unchanging; sin will always be sin.

Ø God wisdom and will is unchanging, He is never mistaken

Ø God justice is unchanging; He will punish all sin.

Ø God grace and mercy are is unchanging.

He is inescapable

Ø Man can never escape God.

Psalm 139:7-12 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

Application

He is the God who is “infinite, eternal, unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.” (Westminster Shorter Catechism, A. 4)

The God Who Is There (Boice, 33)

Genesis 1:1

1A. What Belief In The God of Genesis Refutes

1B. Belief in God refutes _______________________.

Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

2B. Belief in God refutes _______________________.

God preceded creation and is set apart from creation.

Therefore ours is not an entirely material universe.

Since God created matter, matter did not always exist.

3B. Belief in God refutes _______________________.

Pantheism says that God is in matter or is matter.

Romans 1:18-25

2A. What Belief In The God of Genesis Affirms

1B. God is self-_____________________________

God is ______________________________

God is answerable to no one (Job 38:1-4)

2B God is self-______________________________

“God was under no constraint, no obligation, no necessity to create. That He chose to do so was purely a sovereign act on His part, caused by nothing outside Himself, determined by nothing but His own mere good pleasure; for He ‘worketh all things after the counsel of his own good will’ (Ephesians 1:11)…. The force of this is [that] it is impossible to bring the Almighty under obligations to the creature; God gains nothing from us.” (Pink, The Attributes of God)

God does not need _____________________________.

3B. God is ____________________________________