Genesis 1 – The God of creation

The first 11 chapters of Genesis lay the foundation of the Christian faith. The description is factual and about the real world. There are 64 geographical terms, 88 personal names, 48 generic names, and at least 21 identifiable cultural items, such as gold, bdellium, onyx, brass, iron, etc. These references help to establish the reliability of the accounts.

Christianity begins with God. In fact, everything begins with God and fulfills His purposes. It did not start at some point in mankind’s history. Jesus did not found a religion called Christianity. If so, then how were people saved before Jesus? Salvation has always been by faith in God right from man’s creation.

God gave names to His creation. We need to see this world the way God calls it. God divided the light from the darkness, dry land from the waters, and the waters under the expanse from the waters above it. He separates Abraham from Ur, and His church from the world. He wants His people to separate themselves from sin, the flesh, and the world.

The days of creation are literal 24-hour days. Some interpret “day” to mean a long period lasting millions of years. Some even believe that evolution took place over these millions of years. This philosophy is called theistic evolution (there are variants of this view), that is, God created the cells but He allowed them to evolve into humans and animals. This view is unscriptural. The words “evening and morning” point to 24-hour days. There was vegetation on the third day and they will not last if the sun only came into being after a few million years.

Man was created in the image of God – man was created in the moral likeness of God, that is, man has knowledge, righteousness, holiness, intellect like God, but he lost this likeness in the Fall.

Thought: Do we admire and respect the power of the God of creation? This same God who created you, wants to walk and talk with you. Do you acknowledge Him as your Creator? Do you have fellowship with Him each day and throughout the day?