Alpha and Omega, Part 6
God’s finished work of Creation
Genesis 1:26 – 2:4
Introduction
- We’ve begun the year with “one purpose”: Knowing there is a God!
-- Just as a building requires a builder, a creation must have a Creator
- Continuing our series, “Alpha and Omega”; looking at the beginning to the end
-- Been studying 2 critical questions: How did we get here? How does it end?
- Last week’s big ideas (re: v26)
1. God’s sovereignty is always on display
-- He created in His own image, for His glory, so we can see Him in everything
2. God had a clear purpose for creating mankind (to reign & worship)
-- Even though He knew we would sin … He still chose to create us for Himself
-- Even (big) in our rebellion, He still provides a way for us to know Him (Jesus)
3. God’s creation of mankind was deliberate
-- Mind blowing: He discussed our creation with The Son and The Spirit
-- He desired that we would know Him, working & praising & fellowshipping
-- APP: Our response is what demonstrates who He is in our life (action & words)
- Let’s look at our passage for today … Read Genesis 1:26 – 2:4 / Pray
- TR: Touched on this last week – want to ensure we have a clear understanding
-- Our were placed on this earth for one primary purpose …
Point 1 – Humans were created to reflect God
- First, we see God’s decision to create; and then it was done by His word
-- However, what God has created is not just something that looks like Him
-- What he’s created is something that contains His own attributes
- What man has that animals do not is critical thinking – the ability to reason
-- Animals realize their environment; but for them it is an instinctive realization
- Mankind not only realizes creation, but we interact and directly affect it
-- Specifically, we are given dominion over it (to care for it: nourish, etc.)
-- Hebrew: radah; to have dominion; rule; dominate
-- EX: We can appreciate beauty & consider when/how to do right or wrong
- Analogy: We would not chew our shoes due to the consequences; puppy would
- They act on instinct, we are given a choice and can change our course of action
- Being created in His image ALSO gives us the ability to reflect God’s emotions
-- It’s given so we’d mirror Him to those we encounter; (ex) to show love of God
-- HUGE example of God reacting to us: Romans 5:8 says, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
-- Don’t miss: How we react to others shows how this verse applies to us (grace)
- It’s in this that shows we were created to respond, or go to, to God for guidance
-- Why? So we’d live our life in worship and adoration of Him – and Him alone
-- It’s a gift from God to have his characteristics, to reflect Him in how we live
-- It’s what separates us from the animals; and what we must grasp in this series
- TR: So, in our reflection of Him, we are also given a blessing …
Point 2 – Humanity is blessed to populate the Earth
- God gives us a blessing in how we should continue to live (v28)
-- It is critical to comprehend this: be fruitful and multiply (or, make more of)
-- Look let’s just say it: This is a GOOD thing given by God!
- However, it comes with a specific direction and the words are clear:
-- Hebrew: parah; to bear fruit (multiply)
-- Hebrew: barak; to bless
-- Obvious: We cannot reproduce without each of these: a man and a woman
- Chris Bruno, Crossway Magazine writes, “When we think about the message of the Bible, we have a story that can be summarized by creation, fall, redemption, and new creation. The God who creates is also the God who redeems!”
- And in that, God has graciously given us everything on this Earth to govern
-- The discipleship challenge is … will we live our lives to reflect this?
- Here’s the tough challenge for us today:
-- Will we act in a way that reflects everything that God has done for us?
-- For example, even in the simplest things the bible gives very clear instructions
-- 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
- Paul is not telling us how to eat a hamburger or how to drink a cup of coffee
-- He is also not browbeating us because we over-indulge (diff message)
- But, by living the way we were created to act …
-- God directs us to interact w/ Him in everything we do! To reflect Him to all!
-- Again (challenge): Will we allow God to be echoed in everything that we do?
- God calls all of these things He has created to our attention, and says …
-- Read verses 29-30 – emphasize the simplicity: “Look!” (Heb: hinneh; behold)
- (v31) And when God had finished … He said that is was VERY good
-- Hebrew meod; force or abundance
-- Hebrew towb; pleasant; good
-- All other things were good; but His finished product is “very good” (emphasis)
- TR: So here we are, Day 6 comes to an end and something marvelous happens
Point 3 – God finishes His work, and then He rests
- Creation comes to a close with a defining moment in history: God rests
-- This day, more than any other day, is to give honor to the Lord
- The seventh day is a special day - it is a day of restoration and comfort
-- It is a day glorified by God; something for us to realize and apply here
- Hebrew shabath; to cease, rest (where we get the word Sabbath)
-- It is the seventh day of the Jewish week and reflected as a day of comfort
-- It does not to imply any kind of weariness; again, simply a day honored by God
- The Jews recognized the day as sacred, held to it religiously, but often in error
-- Instead of honor, they used religious things as a manner of judgment of others
-- REM: What is our calling? To take care of the Earth.
-- Be fruitful and multiply. Reflect God and His attributes to others.
- But, in our arrogance, even Jesus was reprimanded for working on the Sabbath
-- Turn to and read Mark 3:1-6
-- SEE THIS: Jesus was doing God’s work, on God’s Holy Day, in His house!
-- And in its simplest application, the religious (Pharisees) completely missed it
-- APP: We can do religious stuff but STILL miss experiencing God – how?
- We can miss God because we are interested in own control (in our rebellion)
-- See: God calls us to exemplify Him, to show Him to others; to lead by example
-- Yet, even in something so simple as a day of rest, we find ways to mess it up
- For us today: it is not that God was worn out after a “tough work week”
-- There is nothing in scripture that says God needed a break
-- Psalm 121:4, “Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.”
- God is not a slacker (as some are today) … He hasn’t stopped working
-- IMP: The DAY is sanctified – it is a day to remember and worship God
-- APP: If we needed a command to spend time with Him, we can start here!
- Perhaps an opportunity for each of us to look back at our work, and honor God
-- BIG: What is our work? Simple: to reflect God and take care of his creation
- TR: So, as we draw today to a close, what do we need to see?
Big Ideas
1. The events surrounding Creation are not mystifying mysteries
-- God created to bring glory to Himself and even made us in His own image
-- Why? So that we could in turn show Him to others through how we live
2. God’s completion of creation puts an exclamation mark on everything
-- vv. 1:31 merely says, "… and he saw that it was very good!"
-- REM: Previously said things were good … but this time it is ALL very good
- Why is this declaration important? It is a finished work, a completed effort
-- On Feb 5, 2023, you and I are not finished works … we still have work to do!
3. In order to effectively move forward, we have to see & believe God’s actions
-- First, see that even timeline is revealed to us – there are no hidden years
-- He said this, He did this, and then he called it a day … period!
-- REM: Again (earlier messages) Hebrew: ereb is evening and boqer is morning
- It is when man rebels and inserts himself as wiser than God that we get in trouble
-- EX: We inserted “millions of years” as a theory when God said “7 days”
- Consider this … 35 verses give us a complete insight into the mind of God
-- As author, creator, sovereign, all-powerful, and later even as redeemer
-- In 35 verses we can see Him and all that He is, and worship Him in His glory
- And somehow, in our arrogance, we place our knowledge in front of His
-- This is the challenge of our life – to see Him, to worship Him, to honor Him!
- So, how do we respond to God? How do we adore and glorify His work?
-- This is our challenge today … what say you?
- Pray for:
• Clarity to understand creation – God said it, then He did it
• The willingness to believe on faith He will do what he said (rescue)
• Maybe today you are looking for a church to belong, love to welcome you
