Introduction:
For VBS this year we are having a carnival to kick things off tonight.
First morning, Monday, beginning at 9 am, talking about creation from Genesis 1 and 2.
Second morning, Tuesday, talking about mankind’s view of the beginning and how that contrasts with the Biblical worldview.
Third morning, Wednesday, talking about God’s handiwork and focusing on several animals to see how special they are and how they could not just come about by chance.
Last morning, Thursday, talking about dinosaurs and how they support the Biblical worldview. Even make mention of two creatures from the Bible, Job, behemoth and leviathan that are described in detail that mankind says were not around during the time of man.
Saturday we have a youth fishing tournament where we get into creation and enjoy it.
Thesis: What does this have to do with the gospel?
For instances:
Take us through the gospel with a thrill ride, rollercoaster ride, highs and lows.
A perfect world- Genesis 1:1-2:3
Genesis 1:1- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
In 6 days (7th day he rested) God made the creation out of nothing.
Genesis 1:31- God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
High point in our ride
Sin enters the World- Genesis 3:1-13
Genesis 2:15-17- The LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
Genesis 3:1- Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
Genesis 3:6: When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
The Fall of man was a major event that caused everything to change. Sin entered the world. Sin is when we don’t obey God’s commands. The Bible tells us that Adam and Eve were the first to sin, but all of us sin. When we sin, we are disobeying God.
Low point in our ride
A Broken World- Genesis 3:14-19
Since God is perfect, He has to punish sin. God punishes the woman, man and serpent
Woman
Genesis 3:16- I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.
Women will have pain when giving birth to children.
Women will desire to rule over their husbands. This is a breakdown in the role of authority. Mankind wants to rebel against authority whether it be human authority or God’s authority.
Man
Genesis 3:17-19- Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.
The ground is cursed. Thorns and thistles, weeds, bad stuff in nature came about. God placed a curse on the plants. The curse made the world a broken place that would now have volcano eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, and other disasters.
Work became hard. Before the Fall work was a blessing but now it is difficult and frustrating.
Most seriously, this is the point where death came about. Because of man’s disobedience, God banished man from the garden so he wouldn’t be able to eat from the Tree of Life, and God said that man would die. The animals would all die too. A fact of the corrupt world.
Serpent
A) Genesis 3:14- Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
B) This does directly apply to serpents (have some snakes this week) but it also applies in a general way to all animals. Before the Fall, all animals and people ate only plants and got along with each other. After the Fall, animals would turn against each other, eat each other and would need ways to protect themselves. God gave each animal some form of protection.
C) Stinky odor of the skunk, ink spray of an octopus, breakaway arm of starfish, hard shell of a turtle, poisonous spins of sea urchin, bad taste of monarch butterfly, etc.
This punishment also applies to the ultimate evildoer, Satan, who is the devil.
E) This is a low point in our ride on the gospel.
F) However, there is hope. Genesis 3:15- And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
Through many twists and turns, rises and falls in the OT, God prepared the way for the one talked about in Genesis 3:15.
Jesus Comes to the World- Matthew 1, 2 and Luke 1, 2
Galatians 4:4- But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son
John 3:16
High point on our ride
5. Jesus Dies for the World- Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19
At this point the ride for us and the ride for Jesus takes different directions. Kind of like the Racer rollercoaster at Kings Island- two coasters and at one point they go in different directions.
Romans 5:8-9- But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
Satan struck Jesus heel- Genesis 3:15
This was a low point for Jesus because Jesus died a cruel and painful death. He took the punishment for the wrong things we have do so we wouldn’t have to suffer hell.
This was a high point for us because this made a way for us to be forgiven and have eternal life
Jesus Resurrects back to life- Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20
1 Peter 1:3: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
Jesus crushed Satan’s head- Genesis 3:15
High point on the ride for everyone
How the ride ends- Plan of salvation
Moses said in Deuteronomy 30:19-20- I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life.
Plan of salvation
Believe- Acts 16:31- Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved
Repent- Acts 17:30- In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
Confess- Romans 10:9- That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Be baptized- Acts 2:38
Live the new life in Christ- 2 Corinthians 5:17- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
So what?
Why teach creation? We need to be teaching about Jesus not creation and Genesis. The gospel message has its foundation on creation. Without a proper understanding of creation:
1. No absolute right or wrong- Who decides what is right and what is wrong? Who decides what is sin? Is there such a thing as sin? A true concept of sin is impossible apart from the concept of creation. Only a personal God who has created all things from nothing has the right or authority to bind His laws upon us, and only in such a situation can we speak of disobedience as sin against a personal God and as deserving of punishment.
2. No value of life. If God did not create, then life is not precious and not a gift from God. We can do what we want with life. Every person should look out for himself and not care for the weaker or sicker or older or younger members of society. Abortion and euthenasia is fine
3. No purpose to life. We are here by chance and so life has no meaning. The Bible says this in Jeremiah 29:11- For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
4. We do not understand death. The evolutionary process is one of death and struggle, cruelty, brutality, and ruthlessness. Death over millions of years until the ultimate being, “man”, comes on the scene. But death is still here and it will be until the Second Coming of Christ. Revelation 21:4- He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
