Genesis 1
Genesis 1
The word “genesis” means beginning. As we enter into a study of the book of Genesis, it is important to note that this title for the book doesn’t just mean that it is the beginning of the Bible, but the beginning of creation. This book is filled with importance.
Erik Raymond writes, “Genesis serves as the foundation for the rest of the Bible. In its opening verses, the writer (Moses) invites us to peek over the fence to a time when nothing existed except God in all his happy, Trinitarian glory (John 17). There, in this moment, the all-sufficient God speaks the universe into existence. Everything that is only is because of this sovereign act of our independent, creating God.”
It is in the book of Genesis that we see creation, the fall of sin, and the first promise of redemption. We are introduced to the covenants that undergird so much of what we see in the rest of the Bible. We meet the people who would eventually lead to the coming of Jesus. To put it simply: you can’t understand the rest of the Bible without the book of Genesis. That is why it is so important to grow in our understanding of this incredible book.
Today, as we look at chapter 1, I am struck by a few things that I hope you can chew on.
1. God is.
The first phrase in the entire Bible is not a lavish proclamation or defense of the existence of God. It is a simple statement that God exists, and that he has existed “in the beginning.” Again, this is where an understanding of the book of Genesis forms a proper view of the rest of the Bible, and ultimately your life. Knowing who God is according to the Bible, not your own desires or opinions, is foundational to faithful living.
God is eternal. God was not created, he is the creator. These two truths are hard to wrap our minds around. But they remind us: (1) that God is so different and above us that we are nothing compared to him, and (2) the mystery of God should lead us to worship and trust.
2. God creates.
The second clause of the first sentence in the Bible tells us that God created “the heavens and the earth.” Basically, God created everything. He is source and sustainer of life. The rest of the chapter goes into greater detail into what exactly was created and the order in which it was created. Creation culminated in God’s creation of people…
3. God makes humans in his image.
Moses goes into more detail about the creation of people, saying, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” What does this mean? In part, it means that God, “let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Being made in the image of God means that, unlike animals, men and women have a likeness to God mentally, morally, and spiriutally.
What does this mean practically?
1. God is God, you are not. The more we come to grips with who God is and how sinful we are apart from God’s grace, the better. The more we are aware of this reality, the more God can do a sanctifying work in us that we cannot do ourselves.
2. You have value as a person, not because of anything special about you, but because of God. When you think about your identity, it is an error to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but it is also an error to think lower of yourself than you ought to think. In reality, the more we understand God for who He truly is, the more we see ourselves for who we truly are. And as this progresses, the more we shift our focus and attention away from ourselves and on to Christ, the way we were designed to live and function.
Discussion Question:
What does it practically mean to you to be created by God, in the image of God?
By: Graham Withers
The word “genesis” means beginning. As we enter into a study of the book of Genesis, it is important to note that this title for the book doesn’t just mean that it is the beginning of the Bible, but the beginning of creation. This book is filled with importance.
Erik Raymond writes, “Genesis serves as the foundation for the rest of the Bible. In its opening verses, the writer (Moses) invites us to peek over the fence to a time when nothing existed except God in all his happy, Trinitarian glory (John 17). There, in this moment, the all-sufficient God speaks the universe into existence. Everything that is only is because of this sovereign act of our independent, creating God.”
It is in the book of Genesis that we see creation, the fall of sin, and the first promise of redemption. We are introduced to the covenants that undergird so much of what we see in the rest of the Bible. We meet the people who would eventually lead to the coming of Jesus. To put it simply: you can’t understand the rest of the Bible without the book of Genesis. That is why it is so important to grow in our understanding of this incredible book.
Today, as we look at chapter 1, I am struck by a few things that I hope you can chew on.
1. God is.
The first phrase in the entire Bible is not a lavish proclamation or defense of the existence of God. It is a simple statement that God exists, and that he has existed “in the beginning.” Again, this is where an understanding of the book of Genesis forms a proper view of the rest of the Bible, and ultimately your life. Knowing who God is according to the Bible, not your own desires or opinions, is foundational to faithful living.
God is eternal. God was not created, he is the creator. These two truths are hard to wrap our minds around. But they remind us: (1) that God is so different and above us that we are nothing compared to him, and (2) the mystery of God should lead us to worship and trust.
2. God creates.
The second clause of the first sentence in the Bible tells us that God created “the heavens and the earth.” Basically, God created everything. He is source and sustainer of life. The rest of the chapter goes into greater detail into what exactly was created and the order in which it was created. Creation culminated in God’s creation of people…
3. God makes humans in his image.
Moses goes into more detail about the creation of people, saying, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” What does this mean? In part, it means that God, “let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Being made in the image of God means that, unlike animals, men and women have a likeness to God mentally, morally, and spiriutally.
What does this mean practically?
1. God is God, you are not. The more we come to grips with who God is and how sinful we are apart from God’s grace, the better. The more we are aware of this reality, the more God can do a sanctifying work in us that we cannot do ourselves.
2. You have value as a person, not because of anything special about you, but because of God. When you think about your identity, it is an error to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but it is also an error to think lower of yourself than you ought to think. In reality, the more we understand God for who He truly is, the more we see ourselves for who we truly are. And as this progresses, the more we shift our focus and attention away from ourselves and on to Christ, the way we were designed to live and function.
Discussion Question:
What does it practically mean to you to be created by God, in the image of God?
By: Graham Withers
4 Comments
Knowing that I am created by God and in the image of God imparts an incredible sense of self-worth. It doesn't matter what other people think. God thinks enough of me to create me. I am highly valued.
Thanks for this reminder today, Graham! Excited to go through the book of Genesis together!
Being created by God, in His likeness, and for His purposes is encouraging & freeing & life-giving. If He's the One Who made me and also the One Who called me to live out a particular part of His plan, then whatever I cannot do is something He EXPECTS me to leave undone for His all-powerful shoulders. I can relax knowing He has already equipped me for whatever He wants me to do, and I can rest knowing He's said to do it all in His strength anyway.
Sometimes I feel like I have to live all of life in tension and never relax, since it seems like I'm always running behind in at least one of my responsibilities, and never accomplishing any of them quite right. But perhaps I'm not supposed to succeed, so that there'll be room for God to step in & fix all the mess-ups?
So beautifully worded, Naomi!
I'm reminded that God made me with a purpose in mind. Daily, I want to fulfill his purpose in my life. How can I glorify You today, God?