In the Beginning God Genesis 1 1 Romans
In the Beginning: God (Genesis 1: 1; Romans 1: 18 -32)
There it stands in all its naked force; the opening statement of Scripture. No attempt is made to water it down, to apologize to a skeptical age, even to prove God is. The Holy Spirit simply deems certain truths to be self-evident, the first and foremost, that God is. In one sublime statement He sweeps aside atheism by asserting His existence, polytheism by declaring Himself to be one, and pantheism by separating Himself from matter. (John Philips, Exploring Genesis, An Expository Commentary).
Romans 1: 18 -32 * God reveals His existence to all through creation. * People willfully become ignorant of God because of sin. * The world is corrupt and dark because of this willful ignorance.
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 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: 19 -20)
1. God is independent.
God is self-existent and does not need us or the rest of creation for anything. Yet, we and the rest of creation can glorify him and bring him joy.
* God needs nothing from us, but he uses us anyway.
24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (Acts 17: 24 -25)
13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2: 13)
* God needs nothing from us, but he uses us anyway. * God did not need to create us, but he wanted to.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works (Psalm 104: 31)
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. (Psalm 149: 4)
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, 11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Psalm 147: 10 -11)
1. God is independent. 2. God is transcendent.
God is separate and distinct from creation. He is far greater and more infinite than creation.
Materialism. The material universe is all there is and there is no God.
Pantheism. All is God. Or creation is an emanation from God.
* God is holy, separate, and utterly different. * God is not limited by the laws of the material universe. * God is not limited by your circumstances.
8 “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, 9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose, ’ 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. (Isaiah 46: 8 -11)
1. God is independent. 2. God is transcendent. 3. God is imminent.
God is present and involved in all of creation, while remaining distinct from it. His sovereign control extends everywhere simultaneously and there is no place where God is not.
Deism. The idea that God created the universe, but because he is so transcendent, he is no longer directly involved in his creation.
Dualism. The idea that both God and the material universe have eternally existed side by side. Thus, God and matter are the two equal forces in the universe.
Balance of transcendence and immanence.
* God is actively sovereign and involved in the universe.
5 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. 7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. (Psalm 135: 5 -7)
* God is actively sovereign and involved in the universe. * God is actively sovereign and involved in your life.
26 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, 27 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, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17: 26 -28)
1. God is independent. 2. God is transcendent. 3. God is imminent. 4. God is eternal.
God has no beginning, end, or succession of moments in his own being, and he sees and is in all time equally, yet God sees events in time and acts in time.
* God is not constrained by time.
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3: 8 -9)
* God is not constrained by time. * God is perfect and unchanging.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1: 17)
* God is not constrained by time. * God is perfect and unchanging. * God is in still in your past, with you in the present, and already in your tomorrow.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8: 28)
1. God is independent. 2. God is transcendent. 3. God is imminent. 4. God is eternal. 5. God is omnipotent.
God has all-power and is able to do all his holy will. - The universe was created ex nihilo, “out of nothing”. - The universe was created by holy decree. God spoke and it was so.
* God wins.
10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20: 10)
* God wins. * God will always fulfill his word.
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55: 10 -11)
* God wins. * God will always fulfill his word. * God wants to show himself powerful in your life.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3: 20 -21)
1. God is independent. 2. God is transcendent. 3. God is imminent. 4. God is eternal. 5. God is omnipotent. 6. God is omnipresent.
God does not have size or spatial dimensions and is present at every point of space with his whole being yet can act differently in different places.
* God is not limited to a location.
6 But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? (2 Chronicles 2: 6)
* God is not limited to a location. * God can always be fully involved in every one of our lives.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night, ” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. (Psalm 139: 7 -12)
1. God is independent. 2. God is transcendent. 3. God is imminent. 4. God is eternal. 5. God is omnipotent. 6. God is omnipresent. 7. God is omniscient.
God fully knows himself and all things actual and possible in one simple eternal act.
* God is never surprised.
I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done (Isaiah 46: 9 -10)
* God is never surprised. * God knows everything about you.
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. (Psalm 139: 1 -5)
1. God is independent. 2. God is transcendent. 3. God is imminent. 4. God is eternal. 5. God is omnipotent. 6. God is omnipresent. 7. God is omniscient. 8. God is relational.
God is personal and therefore can have a relationship within himself and with his creation.
* God wants a relationship with you.
26 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, 27 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, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17: 26 -28)
* God wants a relationship with you. * God made a way for that relationship through Christ.
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them (2 Corinthians 5: 18)
* Come to Christ for a restored relationship to God. * Do not make a god in your own image, rather learn who God as revealed in the Bible is. * Develop a higher theology because it results in a higher view of God.
- Slides: 65