Sunday, January 22, 2023 AM
THE GOSPEL OUR FOUNDATION: In The Beginning (part 3)
Mike Teel, Pastor
FOCAL PASSAGE:
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. —Genesis 1:1-3
BEFORE THERE WAS
1a In the beginning (B’resheet) —Genesis 1:1a
1. A
ACCOUNT – HEARING GOD’S VOICE
–Remember Moses had one of the most intimate relationships with God any man before or after him experienced.
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” —Exodus 3:1-4
–God desires this for all of us – that we would have a personal intimate relationship.
14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. —Matthew 18:14
–This is an account that is first-hand knowledge, an eyewitness account. So, no verification was necessary as God shared His account.
2. IN THE
MEANS …
–The word in the Hebrew for “In the beginning” is a single word (B’resheet) which means a “first of a first.”
–It means the initiation or beginning of a series of events.
3. BEFORE THERE WAS
–God indicated to Moses, “Before there was anything, at the very initiation.” Only nothing and God existed!
–This was the first time anything like this had occurred or ever would occur again!
–Just like our experience of Salvation – nothing like it before.
4.
IN SCRIPTURE
–Remember the Bible says by the testimony of two or more witnesses it makes it true and reliable.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. —John 1:1
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. —I John 1:1
THE
1b God … —Genesis 1:1b
1.
OF THE PROBLEM
–Remember the root of Israel’s problem was a “lack of belief and trust in the power and might of God.”
–Recall what Moses said to them when they were confronted with the Egyptian army behind them, mountains on each side and the Red Sea in front.
13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. —Exodus 14:13-15
–Isn’t it interesting that we have faith enough that God can forgive our sins, yet, a little like the Israelites; we don’t believe He can deliver us from our sins we are bound to repeat them over and over again.
2. PROOF OF GOD’S
–No argument is entered into, to prove the existence of God.
–It is simply stated as true.
–Remember Moses is having this conversation with God in real time.
3. WHAT’S IN A
? “ELOHIM”
–Like other Hebrew proper names, the name of God is more than a mere distinguishing title.
–It represents the Hebrew conception of the divine nature or character of God, as well as the relation of God to his People.
In The Beginning God …
THE
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. —Genesis 1:1
1. SOMETHING FROM
–Moses says, In the beginning God created…
–The Hebrew word used here is “Bara” to create, form, make, produce; and it emphasizes the initiation of the object, not manipulating it after original creation; it also means bringing into existence.
2. SETTING THE
–The fact that God and God alone created the Heavens and the Earth attest to His omnipotence.
–It sets the stage for the next step in the creative process which will be reflective of the Gospel we have been speaking of already in the Book of Genesis.
–It reflects the ability God has in the recreation of our lives through Salvation.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! —II Corinthians 5:17
–If God does not have to power to create, then how can we trust Him to have the power to create us new?
LIVE IT OUT
–Have you experienced the true new beginning in your spiritual life?
–Do you truly trust and have faith in God?
–Have you been created in Christ Jesus – free from your sins, delivered by an omnipotent God?