In The Beginning
James Foley
Country Baptist Church
11/21/2010
Text: Gen. 1:1-2
Introduction:
This morning’s message will attempt to draw a parallel between creation and the redemption process. We will use the creation process to illustrate the similarity between creation and man’s sinful condition, both of which can be summed up in one word; chaos.
The point of this exercise is to illustrate man’s hopeless condition and the purpose of a sovereign, loving God to remedy that condition. Scripture teaches that man is incapable of remedying his lost condition himself.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. “Ye must be Born Again.”
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was (became) without form, and void (chaos); and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Was this when Satan was cast out? Possibly: Isa. 14:13-14 Satan was on the earth when he initially revolted against God. Notice what God stated was Lucifer's (the devil or Satan's) plans in Isaiah 14:
"For you have said in your heart; ‘I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the Most High.'
He was created perfect and with a free will, just like Adam. And just like Adam, he chose to rebel and sin against God. 1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Isa 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited.
Now what does this all have to do with us today? Since the time of Adam all humans have been born into the world with a sinful nature. Just what does this mean, how has it been passed on to me?
Ro. 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that (in whom) all have sinned:
13 For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure (type, or picture) of him that was to come. (Jesus)
The first of every kind determines the nature of that particular kind. In this creation story, everything was created “after its kind”. And since the time of Adam, every human has been born into the world with Adam’s nature, a sinful nature. We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because that is our nature, we were born sinners.
Ro 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Ro 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. Depravity.
So it is easy to see that mankind is in dire straits. He is born into this world with a death sentence hanging over him. The heavenly judge has passed this sentence, which means that I have been tried already and my sentence is death. How can I escape, or can I escape? Scripture asks the same question.
Just as in our society today, the only thing that can change a judicial conviction, once sentence has been passed is a pardon; this is exactly what God, through Jesus, offers.
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him? This is speaking of the salvation that God offers and Jesus died to provide. There is no escaping our inevitable doom outside of Christ.
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Heb 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, what is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands.
Christ is the literal “second Adam”, born sinless, just as the first Adam, but without the sin that comes through the first Adam. This is a result of His virgin birth; He was not conceived of sinful man’s seed, but of the Holy Spirit. Joseph was not his biological father.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Eze. 33:11 Say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Where do you stand in respect to God? Why are you here this morning? Perhaps you don’t even know the real reason you are here. Maybe something just seemed to draw you, or there may be something in your life that is going on and making your life chaotic? You may even feel a need for something outside of yourself, but don’t know what it is.
Or perhaps you do know what it is that is needed and God has brought you to the place where this need can be fulfilled. Possibly God has spoken to your heart in the past, but you turned away, not knowing that you were being asked to make a “life or death” decision. This religious foolishness was not for you, you knew better than that. If that is the case, what a shame to be so blind as to not even realize that not heeding God’s loving call was to make a decision to die an eternal death.
When God asks us to turn from evil as he did to Israel, we may not even know what that entails: “turn ye from your evil ways”. There are only two powers in this world, the power of evil, or Satan, and the power of good, or God. If you turn from evil, you must turn to something and the only thing to turn to is a loving God who has been waiting and watching for you your whole life. Jesus came to earth, taught about salvation and even gave His life so that you might have a way to have eternal life instead of the present condemnation of eternal death. Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God has made provision for your salvation already by means of the sacrifice of Christ:
1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. It is sufficient for ALL, but only those who will accept it can benefit from it.
I can purchase enough donuts for each person in this room, but the only ones that will get to enjoy eating one will be those who accept my gift.
Ro 6:23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. God is still in the business of saving souls, He invites you today to come to Him and accept His gift. This is the primary mission of this church, to attempt to reconcile men to God.
2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.