In the Beginning God
26 January 2014 AM – Genesis 1:1 – Gen 14 – Scott Childs
Introduction: Read text. The word “genesis” means “origin” or “beginning.” In the book of Genesis we learn about the origin of the universe, life, man, marriage, evil, language, government, culture, nations, religion, and God’s chosen people. Henry Morris The book of Genesis covers about 2,400 years of history. That is 60% of the history before Christ was born. For this reason it is an especially important book for us to study.
The first four words of the Bible are “in the beginning God.” Immediately, the question comes up, “When was the beginning?” Based on the genealogical records of the Bible, Christians date the beginning about 4004 BC or about 6018 years ago. This is a gigantic contrast to the evolutionary theory of 4.6 billion years ago. Christians ought to accept the Bible’s date willingly, but in the next several weeks, I hope to present factual evidence to support the biblical age of origins.
Transition: This morning, we are going to start at the beginning and examine the first four words in the Bible, “in the beginning God”. We will focus our attention on facts about God Himself.
I. The First Four Words Present the Fact that God Exists
A. The Bible Affirms that God Exists
1. The Bible does not try to prove the existence of God, it simply assumes it.
2. The opening phrase of the Bible assumes that God exists as the only uncaused cause.
3. The Bible calls those who deny God’s existence, fools.
Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
4. The Bible records that Jehovah is the only God.
Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: …
5. For those who deny the authority of the Bible, there are other proofs.
B. Other Proofs that God Exists
Consider this statement by Emery Bancroft. “We cannot prove that God is, but we can show that in order for the existence of any knowledge, thought, reason, or conscience in man, man must assume that God is.” Christian Theology, p. 62
1. There is a universal belief in the existence of God.
a) “Man everywhere believes in the existence of a supreme Being or Beings to whom he is morally responsible and to whom propitiation needs to be made.” William Evans, Great Doctrines of the Bible
b) Those who claim to be atheist have convinced themselves of that idea, contrary to nature.
2. Everything has a Cause. Everything that exists has a cause or Maker.
Scientists calculate the probability of one molecule of a small protein common in plants and animals evolving without a Creator, is an astounding one chance in one followed by 75 zeros. www.icr.org/article/evolution-biologically-impossible/
3. All Design must have a Designer. No one is foolish enough to believe that a car evolved without a designer, yet details in biology and nature are far more complex than any car.
4. Moral Argument. “Man has an intellectual and a moral nature, hence his Creator must be an intellectual and moral Being, a Judge, and Lawgiver.” William Evans
II. The First Four Words Present the Fact that God is Eternal
A. When the beginning began, God was there
1. This first verse in the Bible simply states it as fact that God existed before the beginning.
2. God is a timeless being. Before the beginning of time only God existed.
B. God has always existed.
Evolutionary scoffers often mockingly ask, “Where did God come from?” While they find it impossible to believe that God has eternally existed, they instead believe that a tiny dot of unknown origin exploded with a Big Bang to create all that now exists. Now that takes faith!
1. God is self-existent.
“Belief in a personal, self-existent God is in harmony with all the facts of our mental and moral nature. Atheism leaves all these matters without an explanation, and makes, not history alone, but our intellectual and moral nature itself, an imposture and a lie.” Patton
One of God’s names in the Old Testament is “Jehovah.”
The name comes from the verb “I am.” In Exo 3:13-15, Moses confronted Jehovah in a burning bush. When Moses asked for an identification of God, the answer given was, “I am that I am.” The name implied not only that God always was, is, and will be, but that God is independent of any other thing. “Jehovah,” therefore, means “the self-existent God.” Elmer Towns
2. God is eternal. He has neither beginning nor ending.
Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
3. God’s nature knows no limits or bounds. He is infinite. Infinity can belong to but one Being. Since God is the only infinite Being, He must be the mighty Creator of all else that exists.
4. God’s eternality is a great encouragement to Christians.
a) We will partake of his divine nature.
2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
b) We will live forever with God
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
III. The First Four Words Present the Fact that God is Triune
A. The word for God in Genesis 1:1 is plural
1. This Hebrew word for “God” is Elohim. This term comes from two other Hebrew words, El meaning “Strong One,” and ohim meaning “to swear or bind with an oath.” Elmer Towns
2. The word “Elohim” is plural. This does not prove that God is more than one Person, but it supports that fact. God did not have to use this word to describe Himself, but He did.
B. God is three Persons in one Being.
1. The word trinity describes God as three Persons in one Being. Though this word is never found in the Bible, the doctrine certainly is.
a) Jehovah’s Witnesses and Jews deny that the Son and the Spirit are the same Being as the Father.
b) Mormons believe the Father, Son, and Spirit are three separate Gods.
c) However, the Bible teaches the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three Persons in one Being or one Godhead.
2. God speaks of Himself as “us” in several Bible verses (Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7, Isaiah 6:8).
3. The word “creator” is a plural Hebrew word in Ecclesiastes 12:1
Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, …
4. In the beginning God created, yet John tells us that God the Son created everything (John 1:1-3).
5. The Holy Spirit was also active in Creation (Genesis 1:2).
Conclusion: The words “in the beginning God” tell us much about our God that lays a solid foundation for the rest of the Bible. Believing in God is an essential step toward receiving His salvation. Believing that God is self-existent, eternal, and mighty gives us assurance that He is the origin of all things. Believing that God is trinity, enables us to better understand His Being.
Even more important than believing these facts about God, is placing your faith IN God to save you from hell. The book of James tells us that even the devils believe God exists. Saving faith is more than agreeing with fact. It is placing your total trust in Christ’s death and resurrection to save you from hell. If you have not done that, I urge you to do it today.
Song: Come to the Saviour – 254