Study Notes

Genesis 1:1‑2:3

“In the beginning, God created…”

With those words, the Bible begins, like a majestic overture, to declare to us that there is a God who made all that is. Above anything else that Gen 1 is, it is an overture about God. God is the subject of the first and the last sentences. Indeed, he is the only character in the chapter. God is mentioned 35 times in 34 verses. When I read it, I hear God declaring, “You have been made to know me. Now, I will make myself known to you!”

So, I am thrilled to speak today about our Father God, the one who created me, as we begin 5 weeks of messages about Genesis 1-3. I must confess to you that I know that churches can be, have been and still are divided over these chapters – not so much by what God’s Word makes known about our creator God but by issues related to when he created and how long it took him to create.

Over the past two months, scientists in our own church family have been meeting to talk about Genesis and science in sessions facilitated pastorally by Matt Barnes. We’ve discovered what, I imagine, most of you already know, i.e., some in our church family are convinced that God created everything less than 10,000 years ago. At the same time, we have a large community of Jesus-following people here at LAC who are convinced that the world they observe is more like 13.7 billion years old. And, both groups of people are faithful followers of Jesus who believe in the truthfulness of the Bible.

The questions we have about how old the earth is and how long God took to create it are questions I’m quite sure most of us who have come today to church ask. I believe that, although these are not the most important questions raised by Gen 1, they are still important – and, of course, they are of great interest to us all. At the same time, I believe those questions are not best answered in a setting like a sermon in which we have only one-directional communication. We need to talk about them together. So, over the next several weeks, we are going to be offering settings in our church in which we can talk with one another about those questions of how God created and when God created.

But, I am convinced that the “how” and “when” issues about creation are among the many things that genuine followers of Jesus can disagree about and still be in fellowship with one another. That’s because we are unified by the central truths of our faith even when we often disagree about issues that are not central to the Gospel. Let me show you what God’s people have always agreed about when it comes to God creating. In the Apostles’ Creed, Christians all over the world and throughout history confess:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And the Nicene Creed agreed upon several centuries later:

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And the LAC Statement of Faith:

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing...

 

Christians are united in these basic commitments to God our Father being the creator of all that is. And I say, what God has joined together, let not disputes over disputable things pull apart.

With that in mind, here’s what we will be doing in coming weeks to further discussion about those matters in Genesis 1-3 that we might disagree about: We will be offering post-service luncheons – “conversations” – over the last three weeks in February.

Conversations

February 12 “Listen” – How Christians May Speak about Controversial Things

February 19 The Bible and Creation with Dr. Richard Averbeck

February 26 Science, Faith and Creation with LAC Scientists

We have also prepared some devotional materials for you to use as an individual or as a group. If you would like these devotionals emailed to you, then please text your email address to 626-765-4453.

In our worship gatherings, Matt Barnes and I will focus on the central points of what our Father teaches us in the opening chapters of his Word. So, we start today where the Bible starts, i.e., with the way Gen 1 introduces us to God. Of the many truths God makes known there, I find to be most relevant to our lives today.

 

#1: From Wondering to Knowing -- The God of the Bible is God.

“God created the heavens and the earth.”

This is the first truth that strikes me here. I want you to remember that, when Moses put together the Book of Genesis, after the people of Israel had been in Egypt as slaves for so long, his people almost certainly believed in many gods. Probably, those Israelites who crossed the Red Sea under Moses’ leadership believed that each nation had its own set of gods. But, as Moses was called to go to Egypt’s Pharaoh to set the people of Israel free from slavery, he discovered that the Pharaoh had no inclination to let his cheap work force go free. So, as you may know, God sent ten plagues to Egypt. Each of those plagues was a direct attack on one of the gods of Egypt. God was thereby saying, “Those gods are not God.”

Then, God’s people experienced the great miracle of the Red Sea parting, of them escaping through the waters and then of seeing the armies of Egypt swallowed up by the waters. The people of Israel must have wondered, “What kind of God is this that we have? We’re such a small nation but our God has given us victory over all the gods of Egypt. Who is our God? How can we know what he is like?”

With that in mind, imagine Moses opening his mouth and saying, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth!” In this opening to the Books of Moses, God is saying, “I am. I have always been. All the things that others worship are not God. They’ve all been made by me. I alone am God. There is no other.”

So, let me ask you a question: Who made God? That's a question children often ask. In debates about the origins of the universe, we are asking that same question, i.e., of how everything actually that is actually began. Did some big piece of matter crash into another piece randomly so that sparks flew and life began?” Is matter what is eternal?

God opens his book by saying, “That uncaused cause that you intuitively think must exist – I am! God is saying, “You sense that there must be something/someone greater than yourself in this universe who made this world you live in? I am and I am ready to tell you what I am like.”

And please don't be fooled by those who say that all religions say that an uncaused God started the world. That’s not true. Other ancient accounts of the origins of the world begin with an original substance already existing before there were any gods. The creation stories of the Egyptians in the days of Moses, of the Babylonians and the Acadians are not creation stories at all but “theoganies”-- stories of how the gods came into existence. But not Gen 1. In Gen 1, God is, always has been and always will be. The God of the Bible is God and there is no other. That’s what Gen 1 is saying. “In the beginning, God created…”

 

#2: From Chaos to Order -- What God Does is Characterized by Order and Purpose.

“Now the earth was formless and empty…” “God saw all that he had made and it was very good.”

Both my friends who are scientists and those who are artists love this aspect of what they read in Genesis 1. It gives them the freedom to explore, and discover what is in the world that our Father has made. Just notice how God does His work throughout the chapter.

When I read Gen 1, it sounds to me like an artist or an architect building something. He starts on the first three days with the structure. And then he fills each part of that structure in days 4-6. So, God speaks light into being on day 1 and then fills in the operation of lights in his creation on day 4. He separates the sky from the water on day 2 and then fills in the sky with birds and the water with fish on day 5. God separates the water from the land and even begins to fill in the vegetation on day 3 and then fills in the land with creatures – ultimately with human beings – on day 6.

The way Moses reports God’s act of creation sounds like a builder taking a snapshot after each day of his work. He says, “There – I made it and it’s good.”

I want you also to notice that in those six days of God’s creative work, creation is taken:

* from chaos to order,

* from utter darkness to the separation of darkness and light,

*from a disordered "expanse" to the distinction of sky and then water and dry ground,

*from emptiness to filling,

*from inanimate and unintelligent creation to intelligent life made in God’s image.

Notice this too: God knew that the first readers would mostly be those who would not be readers – but would need to be able to remember what they hear. So, the language is rhythmic: “and God said”… let there be… and God saw… and it was good…” And he used a lot of repetition, e.g.: the numbers 7 and 3 and 10; the use of “and it was evening and it was morning” to mark off the days of his creative work. It seems to me that God is speaking in such a way that people will be able to remember what he has done and pass it down.

In all this, God is telling us he is both creator and craftsman-‑ giving things in his world a beautiful form. And, when he is done, all that He does is good. It is very clear that, throughout the process, God knows what He is doing.

And, of course, that is still true. This God “who is” is still ordering ‑‑ turning chaos into beauty, sinful people into whole people. God is still working all things, as in creation, for good (Rom 8:28). Of course, since we believe that he is the powerful one who made everything, then we can always have hope in the midst of our chaotic lives that God is present and at work – and that he will continue to do his beautifying work in this world and in our lives. God makes beautiful things out of dust. Indeed, he made beautiful things out of nothing!

Do you see how this gives you consolation and hope when your family, your career, and your whole life seems to be chaotic? God is! He is still at work. And, when God works, in his time, he turns chaotic things into things that are ordered and beautiful. I tell you, when you know him, we will do that in your life.

 

#3: From Impersonal to Relational: God Is a Person, One Who Is Distinct from His Creation.

“And God said...”

This may be the most striking part of Genesis 1 as it spoke into an ancient near-eastern world. Remember again that, as Moses was being inspired by God to put the first five books of Scripture together, the Egyptian culture in which his people had lived for so long worshiped the sun, the river and many other inanimate parts of the material world. But, the five books of Moses open by proclaiming, “God is a who; not a what!”

All the verbs of the chapter make known that the world’s Creator possesses mind, will and intellect – all the elements of personality. The phrase, "And God said", is repeated again and again. God is a God who speaks. It’s clear that this God we encounter when we open the Bible is not an it but a "You".

What difference does this make? I tell you, when you believe in a God like this, it changes the way you look at everything in the world. Like what? Let me tell you just two:

 

1. It changes the way you look at the world (worldview).

Christians believe that the world we live in is no random event. This beginning of Genesis tells us that this world is the purposed product of a God who knew what He was doing.

Genesis 1 said no to the polytheistic worldviews God’s people had lived in the midst of while they were slaves in Egypt. And it says no to the naturalistic world views of our own world. Some modern philosophies tell us that matter is eternal so that the world and life itself emerged by a chance collision of particles. When people believe that, they are left wondering whether there is any purpose in life at all. That worldview leaves us thinking that life is a consequence of a random event in a meaningless universe.

Then, you open the Bible and it says, "In the beginning, God..." The ultimate truth behind the universe is not impersonal energy but a living Person. And the ultimate director behind this universe is not mathematical equations but a person who opens his Word by declaring, “I am a who; not a what.”

 

1. It makes possible a relationship with your Maker.

When you think about it, in the way God has inspired the Bible to begin, he is saying, “I am ready to make myself known to you.” In a very personal way, God is saying, “Here is who I am. I want you to know me.”

This is the beginning of a story that we’ll think about for the next five weeks. We see God doing life with people in Gen 2. It shows us the kind of relationship with him that God intends for us. In Gen 3, we see why we may intuitively sense as human beings that there must be a God but do not really know him. We have sinned against him and walked away from him.

The main reason why Jesus, God in flesh, came to this world is to reestablish a relationship with God, our personal God. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son… No one has seen God at any time except God the one and only Son. He makes him known (John 3:16; 1:18).

Do you know him? Do you want to know him? Let me tell you now: If you enter into a relationship with God, he will still be who he is, i.e., God. The God who commands the light to shine in Gen 1 is the God who will command you to. When you meet him, you will have to surrender your life to him and trust him by faith. The God who can distinguish good from what is not good in the world He has made is a God who will insist on goodness in you too. As the Apostle Paul said, when you enter into a relationship with God through faith, your life will no longer be your own. Your life will no longer be able to revolve around you – but be guided by him.

But, I tell you that the kind of relationship that faith in Jesus makes available to you is life as your life was created to be. You were made to know your Maker. You were made for him.

"In the beginning, God created." God’s is still creating and re-creating. He will re‑create you...if you will trust Him.

 

 

Chinese Study Notes

                                                                        起初---神論導論

                                    創世記1：1-2：3

        

        

“起初，神創造。。。”

         聖經開始的這幾個字為我們拉開了神奇的序幕，向我們宣告上帝創造萬物。創世記一章記載的有關上帝的導論比這一章的其他內容都重要。上帝是本章第一句也是最後一句的主語。事實上，他是本章唯一的角色。在這一章的34節經文中，有35次提到上帝一詞。我邊讀邊聽到上帝宣告說：你們被造是為要認識我，如今我將自己啟示給你們！

         因此，今天所傳講的這位創造我的上帝讓我感到戰兢，我們也要在接下來的5周連續傳講創世記1-3章的信息。我必須承認我知道教會對於這幾章的解釋一直存在著分歧---不在於上帝啟示他是創造者，而是與此相關的諸如他什麼時候以及花多長時間創造的問題。

         在過去兩個月中，Matt Barnes 組織我們教會的科學工作者就創世記與科學的問題進行了系列討論，帶給教牧同工很大幫助。我猜你們也都知道，我們教會某些會友認為上帝是在近一萬年前創造了萬物；與此同時，還有更多在洛杉磯地區的耶穌跟隨者們相信，人們所觀察到的世界至少有一百三十七億年的歷史了。並且，這兩群耶穌的門徒都相信聖經的真確性。

         我相信關於上帝何時創造了世界以及花多長時間創造了世界，這兩個問題是今日大多數來教會的信徒問得最多的問題。我相信這些問題雖不是創世記一章提出的最重要的問題，但也相當重要---當然了，也引起我們極大的興趣。同時我還相信，這些問題並不能像在講道這種單方面對話的場景中得著最好的解答。我們需要共同探討。所以，接下來的幾周，我們將在教會預備場地供大家一起討論關於上帝何時以及如何創造萬物的話題。

         然而，我確實地知道，“如何”以及“何時”創造的話題也像許多其他事物一樣，雖可能使耶穌的真門徒們在看法上產生分歧，卻仍能保持彼此間的團契。這是因為儘管我們在福音的非主流資訊上看法相左，在信仰的核心真理上的看見卻是合一的。我們先來看看歷史以來上帝的子民在創造的問題上達成的共識是什麼。使徒信經，歷史以來大公信徒告白說：

我信上帝，全能的父，創造天地的主。

         尼西亞信經在幾個世紀後回應宣告道：

我信獨一上帝，全能的父，創造天地和有形無形萬物的主。

         大洛杉磯縣基督徒信仰告白：

我們相信上帝，萬物的創造者，無限完美且永恆的自有永有者。。。

            基督徒在忠於天父為萬有的創造者這一點上是合一的。我要說的是，上帝聯合的，人不能製造紛爭將其分開。

      在此基礎上，接下來的幾周我們將進一步討論創世記1-3章中可能有分歧的內容：我們在2月的最後三周討論結束後會準備午餐會進行“漫談”：

                  漫談

2月12日          “傾聽”—基督徒如何討論有爭議的話題

2月19日          與Richard Averbeck博士談聖經與創造

2月26日          與洛杉磯地區科學工作者們談科學，信仰與創造

      我們也給大家準備了一些靈修材料供個人和小組使用。如果各位需要，我們可以發到你的電子郵箱，請將郵箱地址發送到626-765-4453.

      Matt Barnes和我將在崇拜時間集中精力，重點在天父給我們的創世記前幾章的教導上。因此，我們今天開始傳講的也是聖經開始的資訊，比如，創世記一章介紹的有關上帝的導論。在上帝的諸多啟示中，我注意到一些與我們今天生活息息相關的內容：

#1：從彷徨到認知—上帝就是聖經中的上帝。

“神創造天地。”

      這是這裡打動我的第一個真理。我希望你們記得，摩西將創世記整理成書時，已經是以色列百姓在埃及為奴許久以後的事了，那時的百姓一定已經相信多神信仰了。或者，那些在摩西的帶領下經過紅海的以色列人相信每個民族有每個民族的神明。然而，當摩西被呼召去要求法老釋放以色列人脫離奴役時，他發現法老根本不想放過這些廉價勞動力。所以，正如你們知道的，上帝給埃及降下十災。每一災都是針對一個埃及神祗所為。上帝藉此宣佈，“這些神明不是神。”

                  於是，上帝的子民經歷了紅海被分開，以及他們如何從水牆中經過並看到埃及追兵被水吞噬的偉大神蹟。以色列民當時一定會感到奇怪，“我們的上帝是怎樣的一位上帝呀？我們是如此渺小的族類，但我們的神卻讓我們大勝埃及的眾神明。我們的神到底是誰？我們如何才能知道他的樣子？”

         在此基礎上，試想像摩西開口說“起初，神創造天地”的情形！在摩西五經的開頭神就說：我是自有永有者。世人敬拜的都不是神。他們都是我所造的。除我以外，沒有別神。

         因此，我要問你們一個問題：誰創造的上帝？這是孩子們通常會問的問題。在關於宇宙起源的辯論中，我們也會問諸如此類的問題，如，萬有是如何開始的。是一大塊物體與另一大塊物體偶然相撞迸濺出火花之後生命就開始了嗎？物質是永恆的嗎？

         上帝開宗明義就說：你們已經意識到一定存在著一位無始無終者---我就是！上帝還說：你們不是意識到在這個宇宙中一定有比你們更偉大的一位創造了你們生活的世界嗎？我就是！並且我要告訴你們我是怎樣的一位。

         請不要被某些欺騙人的說法愚弄，他們說所有宗教都在講同一位無始無終的上帝開始了這個世界。不是這樣的！其他關於世界起源的記載講到，在神明出現以前世界已經有原始物質的存在了。摩西時代的埃及人，巴比倫人以及阿卡迪亞人的創造故事根本不是創造故事而是“神譜”---有關神如何出現的記載。但創世記一章不同，在創世記一章中，上帝已經存在並且一直存在，也將永遠存在。聖經中的上帝才是上帝，除他以外，沒有別神。這就是創世記一章清楚說明的：“起初，神創造。。。”

#2：從混亂到秩序—上帝工作的特點就是有秩序和目的。

“地是空虛混沌。。。”“神看一切所造的都甚好。”

         我的科學工作者的朋友和藝術工作者的朋友都很喜歡創世記一章這段話的意思。這賦予他們自由去進一步探索我們天父的其他創造。請注意本章所記載的上帝是如何做成他的工作的。

         閱讀創世記一章對我而言，就像一位藝術家或建築師在做作品。他用前三天完成結構，用後三天補充結構。因此，上帝在第一天用話語造出光，然後在第四天補充光的運作方式。在第二天將水天分開，然後在第五天造飛鳥和海裡的魚充滿其間。上帝在第三天將水與旱地分開甚至使菜蔬長出，之後才將動物帶入---最後在第六天造人。

         摩西所描述的上帝創造聽起來就像一位建設者每天工作之後為自己的作品拍張照。他說，“好了，我做完了，而且做得甚好。”

         我還請大家注意，在上帝六天的創造工作中，被造物逐漸：

         *從混亂到秩序，

         *從純粹的黑暗到光暗分開

         *從無序的“廣褒無垠”到天空，水和幹地的清晰區分

         *從空虛到被充滿

         *從無生氣和無靈智的被造物到有上帝形像的靈性生命出現

         請大家再注意：上帝知道第一批讀者不是今天的讀者---但需要記住他們所聽到的。所以，這裡使用的語言的節奏感很強：“神說。。。要有光。。。神看。。。是好的。。。”他也使用了大量的重複，如，數位7，3和10；使用“有晚上、有早晨”標記創造工作的日期。在我看來上帝如此說是為了人們能記住並將其傳遞下去。

         上帝如此做就是為告訴我們，他是創造者也是工匠---能將混亂變為美麗，也能將罪人變為完全。上帝如今還像創造之初時一樣繼續行作萬事，帶給我們益處（羅8：28）。當然，正因為我們相信他是那位創造萬物的大能者，我們在混亂的生活中才會仰望他的同在和工作---就是他會繼續從一無所有中帶出美善的事物！

         在你的家庭，事業和人生一塌糊塗時，你看到這些會帶給你安慰和盼望嗎？上帝在工作！他如今仍在工作。並且，當上帝工作時，他要將混亂變為秩序和美好。我要告訴你，當你認識他時，他也要在你的生命中如此工作。

#3：從非人的到關係的：神是一位不同於他的被造物的有位格者。

“神說。。。”

         對古代近東世界的人來說，這幾個字也許是創世記一章中最令他們吃驚的部分。還記得嗎，當摩西受上帝默示將聖經前五卷書整理成冊時，在他們曾經生活過的埃及文化已經敬拜太陽、河流和眾多無生命的物質許久了。然而，摩西五經開卷便說：神是獨一的；不是某一個！

         本章中使用的所有動詞都顯示出世界的創造者擁有思想、意志和靈智---擁有所有我們知道的人格特徵。“神說”這一句式反復出現。上帝是說話的上帝。我們打開聖經遇到的這位上帝不是“它”而是“你”。

         這有何不同嗎？我告訴你，你相信這樣一位上帝會改變你看待世上萬事萬物的角度。我只舉兩個例子：

1. 祂改變你看世界的角度（世界觀）。

         基督徒相信我們生活的這個世界沒有偶然事件。創世記開始就告訴我們這個世界是上帝有目的作品，上帝知道他在做什麼。

         創世記一章否定了在上帝百姓為奴的埃及的多神論世界觀，否定了我們今天世界的自然神論的世界觀。某些現代哲學告訴我們物質是永恆的，我們眼見的世界和生命是由原子隨機碰撞產生的。當人們如此相信時，會困惑於世界到底有無目的。這樣的世界觀會認為，生命只是無意義的宇宙中偶然事件的結果。

         之後，當你打開聖經時卻聽到說，“起初，神。。。”。宇宙背後的終極真理不是無位格的能量而是一位活的位格者。宇宙的終極主宰並非一套數學方程式而是一位用他的話宣告“我是獨一的，不是某一個”的那位。

1. 可以和你的創造者建立關係。

         你思想時會想到，上帝起初默示聖經時會說：我要將自己啟示給人。上帝以非常人性化的方式說：這就是我，而我願意你們認識我。

         以上就是我們接下來幾周將要思考的問題的一個開始。我們將看到上帝在創世記第二章對人生命的工作。它揭示了上帝要我們和他建立怎樣的關係。創世記三章讓我們看到，人類為何會直覺到一定有一位神卻不能真正認識他---因為我們向他犯了罪，遠離了他。

         我們還會談到耶穌為何作為道成肉身的上帝來到這個世界，重建與上帝的關係，作為我們個人的上帝的真正原因。“神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子。。。沒人見過神，只有父懷裡的獨生子將他表明出來（約3：16，1：18）。

         你認識他嗎？你願意認識他嗎？ 現在讓我來告訴你：如果你和上帝建立了關係，他會一如既往地作他自己，即，上帝。那位在創世記一章中命令有光照耀的上帝將帶領你。當你與他相遇時，你要將你的生命交托他並信靠他；那位為世界區分善與非善的上帝將助你向善。正如使徒保羅所說，當你因信進入與神的關係中，你的生命將不再只屬於你。你的生命將不再只圍繞自己打轉，而是被他所引導。

         然而，我要你知道，因信耶穌帶給你的關係會使你的生命像人起初被造時那般美好。你被造是為要認識你的創造者。你為他而造！

         “起初，神創造。”上帝仍在創造以及再創造。他也要將你再創造。。。如果你信任他的話。

榮耀歸給神，

Greg Waybright 博士

主任牧師