Series Introduction: 

This morning we are beginning a new sermon series in the book of Genesis. Appropriately, we will begin “in the beginning” with Genesis chapter one. This first chapter is a wonderful introduction, not only to the book of Genesis as a whole but also to the Bible as a whole. We are presented with an account of the origins of the world and the first human beings to dwell upon the earth. More importantly, God’s Word introduces us to God as eternal, sovereign, and good. This foundational understanding of God helps us see the world and the people around us not as products of chaos or chance but as a purposeful act of divine creation. We see that God created human beings in His image, with inherent value and dignity, to live in right relationship with God and care for the earth He made. Each of these truths provides a foundation for the Christian worldview that impacts everything we believe about how we should live in this world. So, without further ado, let us read from the book of Genesis.  

Scripture Reading: 

Genesis 1:1-2:3 – In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Opening Prayer: 

Father God, as we gather here today to reflect on your word and your mighty act of creation, we thank you for the gift of life and the beauty of the world around us. We thank you for the privilege of studying your word and the opportunity to learn more about you and your ways. Please help us to see the depth and richness of your scriptures and to discern the truths you have revealed. Open our hearts and minds to your Holy Spirit so that we may be transformed and renewed through your word. May this time of reflection and study deepen our understanding of your love and your purposes, and may it inspire us to live lives that reflect your grace and truth. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.

Introduction: 

The Bible begins with the powerful statement, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, ESV). God’s Word declares that before anything began, there was God. He stands in eternity without equals or rivals. The word translated as “created” in the Hebrew text is a term that is only ever used to describe God’s act of creation. A skilled carpenter can create a beautiful podium from wood. Still, the carpenter can only make a podium with wood to work with. To have wood, you first need a tree; to have a tree, you first need a seed, good soil, clean water, sunlight, and an atmosphere appropriate for growth. Hopefully, you see my point. God alone is truly self-sufficient. He needs nothing, but everything we have is given to us by Him. The phrase “God created the heavens and the earth” could accurately be translated as “From nothing, God created everything.” We can take what God has created and form it into something new, but no matter how advanced our tools and technology become, we remain utterly dependent on God. 

As the radio host Paul Harvey once famously quipped, 

“Man – despite his artistic pretensions, his sophistication, and his many accomplishments – owes his existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.”

Paul Harvey, ABC News Radio.

To which the Psalmist would add, 

“[Yes, and The Lord] covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.”

Psalm 147:8, ESV

Everything we enjoy and hold dear is a gift from God. Only God is eternal. There was a time when this beautiful world and the vast universe it inhabits did not exist. Then God willed it to be, and it was so. And one day, when the oldest things in the universe wear down and fade away, God remains as unchanging as the day he spoke them into existence. 

And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”

Hebrews 1:10-12, ESV

The universe was not an accident. It was carefully planned out in the mind of God before it ever came into existence. Therefore, there is a purpose to the universe. Life has meaning and value. It was not brought about by accident or by chance. God created us so that he might delight in us and so that we might glorify God and enjoy him forever. 

As the apostle Paul preached to the philosophers at Areogapas;

“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.'”

Acts 17:24-28, ESV

God created with a purpose. Therefore our lives have meaning, purpose, and significance. God created you and me to live our days in joyful fellowship with our Creator. Even those who have never seen a Bible or heard the name of Jesus can come to this understanding if they would only seek after God. 

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse”.

Romans 1:20, ESV

Creating A Perfect World: 

As we look at how God created the earth, we should note how this unfolds stage by stage. In the first verse, God creates the entirety of the heavens and the earth. The rest of the creation account is God taking the world, which is still dark, formless, and void, and transforming it into a paradise where life can thrive and flourish. I cannot help but be reminded that God is still taking what is dark and dead in the souls of men and, through His Holy Spirit, bringing new life into the old. As Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers; 

“… if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV

This process begins with the declaration, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3, ESV). The phrase “Let there be” is one word in Hebrew. In English, this phrase sounds passive and permissive, but that is a language problem. In Hebrew, the verb is strong, active, and imperative. God is telling light to manifest into existence, and light obeys. From here on out, the scriptures would use “light” to symbolize God’s presence, goodness, and truth. This imagery is why Jesus describes himself as both “the light of men” (John 1:4) and the “light of the world” (John 3:19). Those who oppose Jesus are said to “love darkness” (John 3:19) and “walk in darkness” (John 8:12). In contrast, those who follow Jesus are called “children of the light (John 12:36) who “have the light of life” (John 8:12). Light is a perfect metaphor for God’s presence because light illuminates our path. We can see beauty and truth only when God’s presence lights our way; in darkness, we stumble and fall as we wander aimlessly down dark and dreary paths. 

Seven times in this chapter, scripture tells us, “God saw… and [it] was good.” I picture a great artist stepping back from his creation to admire the work he has done. The scriptures tell us that God then separated the light from the darkness, which reminds us that darkness and light cannot coexist. The darkness vanishes if I enter a dark room and flip a light switch. It must hide away in shadows because so long as the light shines, it has nowhere else to go. So it is with the light of God’s presence in us. As Jesus said to his followers, 

 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16, ESV

 With the first day of creation complete, God declares, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters” (Genesis 1:6, ESV). Your Bible may refer to this expanse as a “firmament.” The idea is that God caused some of the water to leave the earth and enter the sky as clouds, beginning an early form of the water cycle. This act of creation allowed for the formation of an atmosphere where breathable air could exist, and weather patterns could begin to form. All of this was necessary for the life that would soon fill the earth on the land, sea, and sky. The second day of creation is complete, and looking upon  His creation, God saw that it was good. 

Just as the light that came before it, water would become a recurring symbol of God’s goodness and renewal. Without rain and morning dew, crops could not grow, and rivers could not flow. We would not have access to clean water, which is essential to life. Jesus understood this, which is why he referred to himself as “living water” (John 4:10) and his gospel as “springs of everlasting life” (John 4:14). Just as our bodies need water to live, so do our souls need drink often from the wellspring of Christ and his gospel. 

On the third day of creation, God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so (Genesis 1:9, ESV). It is hard to imagine the force it would take to reshape a planet like this. Whole continents emerged from the sea, lava exploding from the earth’s core as land masses, too big to imagine, rose and fell. I once read about a volcanic eruption in Tonga that was large enough to create a tsunami. Scientists believe that the geological force of that eruption was hundreds of times more force than the atomic bomb the US dropped on Hiroshima during World War Two. That force would be nothing compared to what we read about in Genesis 1:9. While we might marvel at the power of man-made weapons, we should remember how small they seem when compared to the awesome power of God. When Jesus told his disciples that God would move mountains for those who have even a mustard seed of faith (Matthew 17:20-21) they marveled, but is it that surprising that the God who pulled the mountains from the sees would move those same mountains for those who follow Him?

Once the land had settled, God declared, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so (Genesis 1:11, ESV). Back in Mississippi, there was a joke that the Mississippi soil was so fertile that if you dropped a seed, you needed to step aside; otherwise, the plant would knock you down as it sprung up from the ground. Now I can testify that the soil wasn’t quite that good, but that’s the image I see when I read this account. Trees, grasses, bushes, and ferns all burst forth from the ground in an explosion of life. Now there was land for us to dwell on, food for us to eat, and plant life to purify the air we breathe and maintain the climate we needed to thrive. The third day was complete, and then looking upon His creation, God saw that it was good. 

On the fourth day, God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. (Genesis 1:14-15, ESV). On this day, the earth found its perfect rotation around the sun so that it would never lack warmth or light. God gave the earth a slight tilt to experience seasons, which would help mark the passing of time and the cycle of life and rebirth. God also gave our planet a moon to reflect the sun’s light and illuminate the nights and create tides and the movement of the seas necessary for ocean life to exist. The fourth day was complete, and looking upon His creation, God saw that it was good. 

On the fifth day, God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens” (Genesis 1:20, ESV). Then we are told, “God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.'” (Genesis 1:22, ESV). Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. (Genesis 1:24, ESV). Creatures of the land, air, and sea came into existence on the fifth day. God created every species with different forms and features, but each species has others of its kind to which it belongs. Every species has a purpose and a beauty to them, and all reflect the creative glory of their creator.

“It wasn’t simply for our use that he produced all these things; it was also for our benefit in the sense that we might see the overflowing abundance of his creatures and be overwhelmed at the Creator’s power, and be in a position to know that all these things were produced by a certain wisdom and inefable love out of regard for the human being that was destined to come into being.”

Chrysostom, Homilies on Genesis 7:13

  The fifth day was complete, and looking upon His creation, God saw that it was good.

Again and again, we see that every detail of creation is purposeful and meaningful, with each day progressing into the next. Even the early church fathers noticed that “the Deity proceeded by a sort of graduated and ordered advance to the creation of man” (Gregory of Nyssa, On The Soul and The Resurrection). They noted, and rightly so, that “it is humanity, the greatest and most marvelous of living beings, and the creation most worthy of honor before God” (Chrysostom, Sermons on Genesis 2:1). As we will see, human beings are a unique creation, above all things which came before, created with an exceptional level of care. 

Creating A People In His Image:

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:26-27, ESV

Every day of creation begins with God declaring, “Let there be… and there was,” but here, on the sixth day, God says, “Let us make man in our image… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” In Genesis 2, which retells the events of Genesis 1 with a more specific focus, we see God forming man from the earth and breathing life into him. Likewise, the woman was made by the hand of God using a rib from the side of the man. God did not merely speak man or woman into existence; we were uniquely formed and molded. In our creation, we bore the fingerprints of God. While all of creation reflects God’s glory, human beings (both male and female) reflect his image and likeness. We are the crown of creation and the only creature to receive God’s Spirit and breath. 

Humanity’s unique role in creation as divine image bearers is a reality we must never forget. From the moment that human life is conceived, it bears the image of God and is a sacred thing. Human beings are always valuable and never disposable. Regardless of race, gender, class, physical or mental development, or any arbitrary factor someone might use to distinguish one person from another; human life is sacred, purposeful, and immeasurably valuable in the eyes of God. 

Our modern age has come to see human life as disposable. Unwanted children are killed in the womb, and our unwanted elderly are put away out of sight and out of mind, which is better than other countries that will medically assist in committing suicide if you seem like too much of a drain on the system. Would we allow these things to happen if we valued human life the way God intended? It scares me how little we seem to value human life and how willing we are to sacrifice it to achieve some objective or end that is always somehow just out of reach. Any movement, agenda, or ideology that would paint your neighbors as anything less than worthy of love and respect is satanic and should be discarded like the garbage that it is. 

God delights in His creation, especially in the human beings who are reflections of His Image. God blessed the man and the woman and gave them this command, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28, ESV). In blessing the man and woman, God placed his favor upon them and established a close and intimate union built on love, trust, and loyalty. This sacred union would later be called marriage and would be the foundation of what would come to be known as the family. As families grew in number, they would form communities, and those communities would fill the earth with people who all bore God’s image in their own unique way. These peoples would learn to care for and cultivate the land, always having an abundance of food from the earth to fill their bellies, and in their own way, they would come to add their creations onto their heavenly Father’s creation in an unbroken fellowship with God and their fellow man. This was God’s good command and would have been our destiny had sin not entered the picture, but that is a topic we will address next week. With the beginning and blessing of the first man and woman, God brings the sixth day of creation to a conclusion. 

Our passage ends simply by stating, 

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Genesis 2:1-3, ESV

When we read that God rested on the seventh day, we should note that “rest” here does not mean that God was tired because God never grows weary, nor does He sleep. This word means that God concluded His work of creation because there was no more creation to create. It is the same word from which we get the word “Sabbath” and the practice that Jews and Christians still observe of taking one day a week to cease our labors. God had made a perfect world for his image bearers to dwell in and had created and commissioned his beloved human beings to care for the beautiful and abundant world he gave them. 

Wouldn’t it be nice if the story ended here? Sadly this is not where the story ends, and next week we will examine where everything went wrong and what God has done to make things right again. For now, let us depart from this place; let us remember to take time to rest from our own labors and thank God for the amazing creation he has given us. Let us take some time this week to stop and notice the beauty of creation that springtime affords us. Let us count our blessings, realizing just how many wonderful things we take for granted every day. Most of all, as we encounter people this week in our comings and goings, let us remember to try to see them how their Heavenly Father sees them. Let us give them the honor and dignity they are due, and perhaps in doing so, reminding them that God has a glorious plan and purpose for their life. 

Perhaps this morning, you want to know more about this God who loves us so much. If so, I would love to talk to you during our time of decision, after the service, or at some other time in the week. There is so much more to say about God’s love, but only so much time on a Sunday morning. So let us not let it end here, but take it with us wherever we go this week. Let us pray. 

Prayer of Decision:

Father God, I pray that you would help us see the glory you display in your creation. Help us to look for your creativity and attention to detail, which is evident in every facet of the world that surrounds us. May we be reminded of your sovereignty and your love for us. Help us to be good stewards of the world that you have entrusted to us, and may we use our resources to bring glory to your name. Help us to love, honor, and serve one another so that we can glorify you by valuing those who bear your image. Most of all, we thank you for Jesus, in whom we have hope and assurance that this good world will one day be restored and that those who have lost their way can be found. Bless us as we enter this time of decision. Amen.