God, In the Beginning (Gen 1:1-19)

My message is called, “God”, and it takes us into the first chapter of Genesis, whereby God appears to us, unfolds Himself in light, and then reveals salvation in Christ by the gospel.

God is ORIGINATOR, creator, and sustainer of all things. Things are as they are because He has chosen it, and it is good. All that He does, from DEATH to mercy is GOOD and just, for He is gracious to punish the wicked and save the lost. He is merciful in His wrath, keeping evil away from good, and dividing light from darkness.

Major themes in these first 19 verses include:

1. God made (vs1-2, 7, 16)
   
2. God said (vs3, 6, 9, 11, 14)
   
3. God divided (vs4, 6-7, 14, 18)
   
4. God said everything was good (vs4, 10, 12, 18)
   

It is God's goodness that leads us to repent, and without knowing the goodness and justness of His wrath, we will never see the GOODNESS of mercy.

First, God made - “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters... Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also”. The heaven and the earth weren't formed by themselves. But, God, as ruler over all with power almighty created SOMETHING out of nothing. He who inhabits eternity, made the heavens and earth, wherein He dwells, though they fit in the palm of His hand (Is 40:12). He is the great God who fills all things, and yet created darkness and light for His praise.

This initial “nothingness” and “emptiness” that was the earth ALSO pictures the soul of depraved man, wherein God causes light to shine, so that we go from nothing and vanity to seeing, believing, and loving the glory of Christ (2 Cor 4:6; Luke 1:77-79).

Secondly, God said - “ “Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light...Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters... Then God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so...Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so...Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years”.

All that He made was by the word of God, and everything stands upon the word of God, so that it is supreme above all. The word of God is the rule of life, and the word of God is the power to produce OBEDIENCE to the word. We LOVINGLY preach Christ as He is, and God gives men light thereby.

Thirdly, God divided - “And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness...Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so...Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years... and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.”

He separates good from evil, just from sinful, and saved from lost. He separates the angels from fallen and elect, mankind from sinful and righteous, and He does the SEPARATING Himself, giving Christ to die for chosen men, making a distinction between us, even as He told Moses, “And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that you may know how that the Lord does put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel”, so that blood was shed for Israel, while Egypt had to pay her own sins, even as Christ DIED for the church, and all who don't believe shall be estranged forever (Ex 11:6-7). He made a division between good and evil, creating the good, by giving us Christ the sin-bearer for His elect, and He makes this division continue, as He gives us holiness and causes us to be His children in reverence, love, and obedience (1 Pet 1:15).

Fourthly, God saw that all He did is good - “And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good... And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good... and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good”.

Don't question Him. He is gracious, saving men from sin, and He is RIGHT to punish. Nietzsche, that German philosopher, said he couldn't worship a God who demanded to be praised all the time, but why not? Why not worship the GIVER of every gift (James 1:17)? Why not adore Him who does right?

To love anything that He does or gives and not love the Giver is hypocrisy and unthankfulness, man's original sin (Rom 1:21).

But, to acknowledge that all goodness flows from the Heaven above is to be wise; it is to PRAISE and rejoice in the praise-worthy. Thus, while we praise God for OUR salvation, we shall be saved and shall give Him His due.

This gospel of Genesis is the God of glory unfolding Himself, in the beginning.