Lessons from genesis 1 (part 2)

Lessons from Genesis 1

Laindon Bible Class

12th & 19th January 2011

Part 2

Genesis 1 2

Theme: God as the creator

• Genesis 1 gives us an account of physical creation by God through His Elohim

• Why does He give it us? So that we might understand his purpose

• What is his purpose? To fill the earth with His glory (Numbers 14:21)

• Is physical creation an end in itself? No, God’s complete work is a spiritual creation

Genesis 1 3

God’s creative work

Physical Creation

Spiritual Creation –through

Christ

Spiritual Creation

-in us

Kingdom of God

Genesis 1 4

Our plan for this study

Spiritual Creation –through

Christ

Gospel of John

Physical Creation

Genesis 1

Spiritual Creation

-in us

ThroughoutScripture

Physical Creation

Genesis 1

Genesis 1 5

Structure of Genesis 1

Day Verses Subject Partners

1-2 Introduction

One 3-5 Let there be light

Two 6-8 The firmament, waters separate

Three 9-13 Dry land appears & vegetation

Four 14-19 The sun, moon and stars

Five 20-23 Birds of the air and fish of the sea

Six 24-31 Land animals and man

Shape & sequence of creation

Genesis 1 6

Man & animals

Birds & fishes

Sun, moon & starsLand &

vegetation

Separation of waters

Light

Context orframework

Fills orpopulates

Increasingcomplexity

Ecclesiastes 3:11“he hath set the world [eternity] in their heart”

Genesis 1 7

Some guiding principlesIsaiah 55:8-11

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Genesis 1 8

The New Creation

• Jesus is the first born of a new creation (1 Corinthians 15:23; Colossians 1:12-17)

• We too are a new spiritual creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15)

• The new man is a spiritual not a physical creation, through Jesus (Ephesians 4:24)

• The new man is renewed “after the image” of God (Colossians 3:10)

Genesis 1 9

Ephesians 2:10

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Genesis 1 10

Our initial state

• Ignorance is darkness (Ephesians 4:17-18)

• Wicked men walk in darkness (Proverbs 4:19)

• The natural heart of man scoffs and rejects God as his creator (2 Peter 3:3-5)

• Man in his natural condition is without hope (Ephesians 2:11-12)

Genesis 1 11

Day 1 – “Let there be light”• The first and essential act of creation

was God’s light (Psalm 19:1-3)• Light came through God’s word: “And

God said…” (cf Psalm 119:105 & John 3:19-21)

• God made a distinction between light and darkness (cf Psalm 88:12-13)

• Light overcomes darkness (cf Ecclesiastes 2:13 & Romans 13:12-14)

Genesis 1 12

Day 1 – “Let there be light”

• Light and dark do not mix (cf Luke 11:34-36)

• God is light (cf 1 John 1:5 & 1 Timothy 6:16)

• God is the Father of Lights (James 1:17)• We are the children of light

(Ephesians 5:8)

Genesis 1 13

Day 2 – Division of waters

• “…the evening and the morning were the first day…”

• Second day continues the theme of separation or division (sea, sky, clouds)

• The sea is a well understood symbol of peoples and nations (cf Psalm 65:7; Ezekiel 26:3 & Luke 21:25)

Genesis 1 14

Day 2 – Division of waters

• God separates out for himself a people, represented by clouds (cf Mark 13:26; 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Hebrews 12:1 & Revelation 1:7)

• The sun (Jesus) draws the clouds out of the water

• The dew and the rain come down from above – the work of the saints

Genesis 1 15

Day 3 – Dry land & plants

• God gathers the waters together and causes the dry land to appear – draws his people out of the oceans (cf Deuteronomy 32:8)

• Sets a boundary between his people and the rest of the nations (cf 2 Peter 3:5 & Psalm 104:6-9)

Genesis 1 16

Day 3 – Dry land & plants

• The nations cannot prevail against God’s people (Jeremiah 5:22 & Hebrews 11:29)

• God also causes the land to bring forth grass, herbs and trees all bearing fruit

• God requires his people to bear fruit (cf Jeremiah 32:19 & Luke 13:6-9)

Genesis 1 17

Day 4 – “Let them be for lights”(Builds on Day 1)

• God brings into being the sun, moon and stars: “…for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years…”

• Man is dependent on the rule of these lights, which are constant reminders

• Why rule? Because authority is a God given principle and we should submit (Romans 13:1 & Hebrews 13:17)

Genesis 1 18

Day 4 – “Let them be for lights”(Builds on Day 1)

• Sun is the primary source of light – Jesus (Psalm 19:4-6 & Malachi 4:2)

• Moon (lesser) reflects the light of the sun when it is not there – the ecclesia (Genesis 37:9-10)

• Stars are individuals in a position of glory (Daniel 12:2-3 & Psalm 148:3-5)

• This world applies the principles of stars to themselves

Genesis 1 19

Day 5 – “Let the waters bring forth” (Builds on Day 2)

• Day 5 brings life and vitality into the seas and sky (abundantly = teeming, swarming) and God blessed them

• God’s purpose is to fill the earth with life but life that reflects His Glory

• Fish represent individual men and women (cf Habakkuk 1:14; Ecclesiastes 9:12 & Jeremiah 16:16)

Genesis 1 20

Day 5 – “Let the waters bring forth” (Builds on Day 2)

• The sea is full of men, who need to be caught and lifted out of the sea

• The Gospel is like a net to catch them (Matthew 13:47-8)

• Jesus commands us to fish and he will give the increase (eg John 21:4-7)

• Birds are a similar symbol to fish (Proverbs 1:17)

Genesis 1 21

Day 6 – “In our image…”(Builds on Day 3)

• Day 6 draws life out of the earth – “Let the earth bring forth…”

• Cattle (domesticated animals), beasts (wild animals) and creeping things (reptiles, insects etc)

• Israel frequently represented by sheep and the nations by beasts (Ezekiel 34:5)

• “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”

Genesis 1 22

Day 6 – “In our image…”(Builds on Day 3)

• Man’s appearance is like the angels – mistaken for men (Hebrews 13:2)

• “Likeness” is some thing more (cf Genesis 5:3 v 1 Corinthians 11:7)

• We have the capacity to lift ourselves up and reflect the glory of God (Psalm 8; Ecclesiastes 3:11)

• If man does not lift himself up then he is like the beasts (Psalm 49:16-20)

Genesis 1 23

The faithful’s spiritual destiny

• God wishes us to reflect His Glory (Colossians 3:10)

• This is his purpose (Isaiah 45:18)• God achieves this spiritual destiny in

us through Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)• In the end all glory will be delivered up

to God (1 Corinthians 15:24-28)

Genesis 1 24

The end of the matter…

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11