OUTLINE
1. Entrance of Sin on Earth, Ch. 1-11
A. Creation, Ch. 1-2
1. Heaven and Earth, 1.1
2. Earth Became Waste and Void, 1.2
3. Re-creation, 1.3-2.25
(a) First Day – Light 1:3-5
(b) Second Day – Air Spaces (Firmament), 1:6-8
(c) Third Day – Dry Land Appears and Plant Life, 1:9-13
(d) Forth Day – Sun, moon, stars appear, 1:14-19
(e) Fifth Day – Animal Life, 1:20-23
(f) Sixth Day – Fertility of Creation and Creation of Man, 1:21-31
(g) Seventh Day – Sabbath, 2:1-3
(h) Recapitulation of the Creation of Man, 2:4-25
CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Gen. 1:1)
This is one of the most profound statements ever made, and yet we find that it is a statement that is certainly challenged in this hour in which we live. I think this verse is all we have of the actual creation – with the exception, as we shall see, of the creation of man and animals later on in the Book of Genesis. However, this is the creation story, and I will admit it is a very brief story.
I must admit that I stand firmly on the side of creation and against all so-called scientific theories like the Theory of Evolution. (Did you know that a theory is defined as something that cannot be proven.) I am not going to take the time to explain evolution because I do not believe in it, and I cannot teach anything that I do not believe in. It requires more faith to believe in evolution (speculation) than to believe GOD CREATED IT.
There is something I would like to ask you. If God had given a scientific statement of creation, How many people of Moses' day could have understood it? How many people even in our day could grasp it? You must remember that the Bible was not written only for learned professors but also for simple people of every age and in every land. It certainly would have been rejected if it had been written in the scientific language of Moses' time.
Therefore, men have proposed several solutions relative to the universe's origin. One is that it is an allusion... Well, that is undoubtedly contrary to fact. However, some people hold that theory. Others believe that theory. Others believe that it spontaneously arose out of nothing. (In a way, this is what the Bible states, although it goes further and says God spoke it into existence. He created it.) Another view is that it had no origin but has existed eternally. A fourth view is that it was created, which breaks down into many different theories that men hold to explain the universe's origin.
Another view is suggested by biologist Edwin Conklin speaking of evolution, who stated that the possibility that life originated by accident is "comparable to the probability that the unabridged dictionary originated from an explosion in a print shop." That sounds very unscientific coming from a scientist, but it is true.
There seem to be at least three different theories of the universe's origin that even astronomists have suggested, and it is interesting to note them. One is known as the "steady state" theory, one is the "big bang" theory, and another is the "oscillating theory."
A Caltech scientist at UCLA told the National Academy Of Science that new findings rule out the "steady state" theory that the universe has always existed and that new matter is constantly being created. Several years ago, that was the accepted theory; now, they have a new theory for the universe's origin. Dr. Baum held the "big bang" theory: a big explosion took place billions of years ago, and we are in for another probably in ten billion years. I do not think we have to worry about that much, but it is an interesting theory.
Several years ago, Dr. Louis Leakey, an anthropologist (the son of a missionary), discovered what we called a missing link in Africa. He dug up pieces of a skull with well-developed teeth, called it the "nutcracker man," and claimed it belonged to a teenage youth about six hundred thousand years ago. We have had theories like that before, and since we have heard no more of this one since 1961, I guess the scientific world did not fall for it.
There are other ways of explaining the origin of man; Dr. Lawrence S. Dillon, associate professor of Biology at Texas A and M College, says man is not an animal but a plant that evolved from brown seaweed. We are told we should be down at the beach pulling out seaweed because that is grandma and grandpa. Some of this speculation becomes ridiculous.
There is no unanimous acceptance of evolution even by scientists.
May I say to you that some of these theories are moving into the realm of speculation and some into religion? Evolution is speculation and always has been that. However, unfortunately, a significant number of folk have accepted it as fact. My friend, to be an evolutionist, you have to take it by faith.
In our day, a group of theologians (young theologians, for the most part), who do not want to be called intellectual obscurantists, have adopted what is known as "theistic evolution." Theistic evolution is probably the most unrealistic of all theories. It is also a narrow view and an illogical position. The evolution of the first living cells from non-living materials may represent a quantum jump rather than an infinitesimal step along the path of progress, but it is an entirely natural development. There are those today who are trying to run with the rabbits and with the hounds. They would like to move up with the unbelievers, but they also like to carry a Scofield Bible under their arm. That is the condition of the theistic evolutionist. He usually follows the wrong group; the rabbits or the hounds. That is the condition of the theistic evolutionist.
Other ridiculous theories have been advanced. One is that man began on this earth from garbage that some prehistoric intelligence left on this earth in the dim and distant past. That statement comes from a scientist! While some scientists sent us out to look for our ancestors in the trees, others sent us to look at the seaweed. Moreover, now some send us to the garbage can. This is getting worse and worse. I do not know about you, but I feel that God's statement of creation still stands in this modern age.
It still makes good for me to read, "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." Who created the universe? God did. He created it out of nothing. When? I do not know, and nobody else knows. Some men say one billion years ago, some say 2 billion, and now some say 5 billion. I say that they are all pikers. I think it was created long before that. Friends, we must keep in mind that God has eternity behind him. What do you think he has been doing all the billions of years of the past? He has had this creation for a long time to work with it. He has been busy. He has been working on this creation for a long time. He has not told us much, has he? It is rather presumptuous for little man to think he knows as much as he does.
The psalmist wrote, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." (Ps. 19:1)
The apostle Paul wrote, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)
The writer to the Hebrews says, "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Hebrews 11:3)
We must accept creation by faith. Even science cannot tell us how something can be made from nothing. God did it just that way.
According to the Babylonian account, the heavenly bodies are gods, but they are nothing more than matter, according to the Bible.
I reject evolution because it rejects God, and it rejects revelation. It denies the fall of man and the fact of sin, and it opposes the virgin birth of Christ. Therefore, I reject it with all my being. I do not believe it is the answer to the universe's origin.
People ask who created it, when it was, and why he created it.
The word of God tells us that this universe was created for his pleasure. He saw fit to create it; he delighted in it. In the final book of the Bible, we find these words: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will, they were created and have their being." (Rev. 4:11)
God created this universe because he wanted to create it. He did it for his pleasure. You may not like the universe, but he does. He did not ask me where I wanted to be born. He did not ask me anything about creation. He did not give me a choice about my Race, height, weight, parents, friends, etc. He did not give me a choice of anything, did you?
The second reason he created this universe was for his glory. And in the prophecy of Isaiah are these words, "everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
The word of God also tells us that God created man in his universe for "fellowship." He wanted to have fellowship with humankind, so he created a free moral agent. God could have created a bunch of robots. God could have created mechanical men, and they would bow down to him when he pushed a button. However, God did not want that kind of man. God wanted a man to be free to choose, love, and serve him.
My friend, amid all unbelief, blasphemy, and hostility toward God around us, the most significant thing you can do as a human being publicly chooses the Lord Jesus Christ. To believe in God the Father almighty, the maker of heaven and earth, and to receive his Son Jesus Christ is the most glorious privilege you and I have. We have absolute freedom when we choose Jesus Christ as our Savior. Theistic evolution is not the answer. It attempts to follow creation until man's time, then considers Adam and Eve to be products of some evolutionary process. The theistic evolutionist considers the days in Genesis as long periods. I do not, but God marks off the creative days with these words, "and the evening and the morning were the first days," etc. God makes it clear that he was not referring to long periods but actual twenty-four-hour days.
Now the earth was formless and empty, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Gen. 1:2)
Although this view has been discredited by many in the past few years, I believe that a great catastrophe took place between verses 1 and 2. There is an abundance of evidence to support this view. To begin with, look out upon this vast creation; something has happened to it. What happened? I do not know, and nobody else does.
However, I think that something happened that was a great catastrophe. The earth is described as being without form and void. "Darkness was over the surface of the deep" indicates that God was not there.
Formless and empty means that there was a look of emptiness. Formless means the earth was in ruin. God created the earth, but he did not create it in vain. He formed it to be inhabited. God did not create the earth without form and empty. You and I live in a universe where only the earth is habitable. God created this universe as a cosmos, not chaos, and it was God who came to this wreck.
I believe Genesis is telling us that the world became formless and empty. Furthermore, God made it habitable for human beings. I believe the entire universe came under a great. What was the catastrophe? We can only suggest that there was some preAdamic creature on this earth. Moreover, it seems that all of this is connected with the fall of Lucifer, Son of the morning, who became Satan the Devil. I think all of this is involved here, but God has not given us details.
The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. The word "hovering means brooding, like a mother hen broods over her little chicks. The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Hovered means (brooded, moved) over the face of the waters.
The Holy Spirit began a ministry here, which we will see him doing again and again. He comes into this scene, and he re-creates. It is re-creation. This is precisely what he does for us.
You will remember that the Lord Jesus said, "…except a man be born again of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5) Now, if you want to make Baptism the symbol of it, that is fine. However, water means the word of God. The Holy Spirit is the author of it. This is very important for us to see.
6. He was wealthy
Matthew 27:57 also points out that Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man. This is evident in the way the Bible describes Joseph:
• He was a prominent member of the Jewish Council (Markomb cut out of the rock (John 19:41)
• The tomb was located in a garden (John 19:41)
7. He cared for Jesus
However, Joseph of Arimathea's riches did not restrict his character, personality, or devotion, as can be seen in how he and Nicodemus treated Jesus after His death. Joseph of Arimathea boldly asked for Jesus' body, took Jesus down from the cross, and lovingly and carefully wrapped His body in linen.
"Joseph of Arimathea...who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went into Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus" (Mark 15:43). This passage only mentions Joseph, and no one else, approaching Pilate and asking for Jesus' body. Imagine the courage and faith it would have taken to do this by yourself.
9. He was a planner
Joseph of Arimathea had a tomb prepared for his burial. He planned and was ready for his death. However, Matthew 27:60 says that Joseph of Arimathea laid Jesus' body "...in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed." He was preparing a burial place for his death, but when he saw his Master's need, Joseph of Arimathea quickly and willingly laid Jesus in his tomb "where no one had ever lain before" (Luke 23:53).
Joseph of Arimathea is a biblical figure mentioned in all the four gospels of the New Testament as the man who buried Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. Joseph probably belonged to the Sanhedrin. He asked Pontius Pilate for permission to bring Jesus's body down, bathed it with spices, rolled it up in cloth, and buried it in a cave with the help of Nicodemus. Over the years, his story has been retold and has given rise to multiple legends. One of them states that Joseph went to England with Jesus and established Christianity there. Another version states he carried the Holy Grail to England. Joseph is considered a saint by both the Eastern and Western churches.
The Bible has a way of repeating itself. All of Scripture is worthy of deep study and meditation, and the reader should take special note of everything in it. There are no wasted words in Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) each have accounts of the life of Jesus while He "wore flesh" on Earth. The four Gospels do not share all the same reports, but Joseph of Arimathea and his role related to the burial of Jesus is mentioned in each.
Conclusion:
As you look at Joseph of Arimathea and his character, why not reflect upon your life and devotion to Jesus? Although not much is said about this man, Joseph of Arimathea's actions helped remove the shame of Jesus hanging on the cross overnight and provided burial for Jesus.
Perhaps another question to ask is, who is your true Master? What have you done for your Master's recently? Will you, like Joseph of Arimathea, use your position, money, and courage to stand for what is right?
