Genesis 1 and Salvation - 1.
Gen 1 is not just the story of creation but a picture of what God has planned and purposed from the beginning for us. The plan of salvation is contained in this chapter in pictures that represent what God would do as time unfolds. Before the foundations of the earth was laid, God already purposed Christ the lamb to redeem us. He also chose us before He created the worlds.
1 Pet 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, assilver and gold, from your vain conversationreceivedby tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
Eph 1:4 According as he chose us in Him before the foundations of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.
So before it all happened God planned it and He included you in his choice. He picked you first. Then he created and revealed his purpose for it all.
A. It starts off with Gen 1:1 that says: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
God’s Purpose:You must understand that God never creates chaos. Whenever HE creates, it is perfect. So this verse spells out in pictures what God’s original intend was. Heaven and earth perfectly created and fulfilling the purpose He created it for in the first place. That is what Adam and Eve would look like when God creates them.
B. Then comes Gen 1:2. And the earth was void and without form and the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the deep.
Here we see the original plan and purpose of God off track. What was perfect at first is now a mess. This was Adam and Eve after the fall. This pictures what sin would do to man when man would turn his heart away from God and accept another master. This will bring chaos and destruction but will not alter the purpose of God. Sin could never change the plan God had for us. I am so glad I am called and predestined according to his purpose – Rom 8:29-30.
C. Thirdly we see what happens in Gen 1:3. And God said: Let there be light!
God’s Provision:Here God starts to recreate the earth that were in chaos back to its original intend and purpose. We see God creating something that he would declare to be very good in the end. Dust we are and to dust we will return. Re-creation pictures how God restores us back to his plan through the light he provides through Jesus Christ. In Him was light and the light was the life of men – John 1:4. Jesus says: I am the true light that lights every man – John 1:9. I am the light of the world – John 8:12. He is also the Word of God.
Psalm 119:115 Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
When God spoke “Light BE” he was setting the standard of what things will look like when he is done. He will have a people that would look just like their Father.
D. Next we see in Gen 1:26-27 God saying: Let us make man in our image.
God’s Action:That was what He intended from the beginning, heaven and earth in perfect harmony and sync. This is how we ought to pray, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Gen 1:1 all established again.
1 Cor 5:17 states: I am a new creation, old things have passed away behold all things have become new. I no longer am a sinner but a son of God recreated in His purpose. God did not repair my old man, he replaced it. I now have his divine nature and the mind of Christ – 2 Pet 1:4 and 1 Cor 2:16
The chapter on Creation shows God intent and purpose and how He would achieve this in Jesus Christ. But what about after we are saved and put back into our original purpose?
E. In Gen 1:7 we see God separating the firmament and the waters above and beneath.
God’s intention: This speaks of how we ought to live after we are a new creation. We are called to live separately from sin and the world. We are in the world but not of the world. We are called to be a holy nation and set apart for God.
Psalm 4:3 But know that God has set apart him that is Godly for Himself, the Lord will hear when I call on Him.
We are now called to be priests and kings unto God. We are a peculiar people meaning that we are different. You are a creation that has never existed before. You are a son and a daughter of God and you are a holy(set apart) nation – 1 Pet 2:9. A people that are called out of darkness into His marvelous light.
2 Cor 6:17 Come out from amongst them and be ye separate says the Lord.
F. In Gen 1:11 God says that the earth should bring forth plants that will have its seed in itself to produce fruit and more seeds.
God’s Plan:This is a picture of us as being productive and being able to multiply and produce the Christ life that is in us. Jesus commands us to go and make disciples and he expects us to bear fruit that proves what we are.
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified that you bear much fruit, so shall you be my disciples.
The way we produce good fruit is to stay grafted into Him. He is the vine and we are the branches. A branch does not strain to produce as long as it is connected to the vine. The vine supplies all it needs to produce the fruit – John 15:4-5.
G. Lastly we see the fulfilment of God redemption purpose. Gen 1:26-27.
God’s Resolve:And God said let is make man in our image and our likeness. Gods plan is to have sons and daughters that are in His image and in His likeness. We not only have his character but we represent Him. Has anybody ever said: You are just like your mother or father. You are not them but the way you do things remind them about your parents. When people see us it reminds them of God.
You see me you see who my Papa is. That is what Jesus said on many occasions. If you see me you see the Father. A man in His image. Us in His image and likeness. See what Paul writes to the people in Colossians and Corinthians:
Col 3:10 And have put on the new man (the new you) which is renewed after the image of Him that created him.
2 Cor 3:18 But we all with open face behold as in a mirror the glory of God are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
From the very first Chapter of the Bible to the very last chapter we see one purpose. God restoring man back to His original purpose. We find the full purpose of salvation revealed in Genesis one. We see the fulfilment in Revelation 22. God has your life and purpose spelled out clearly. God will that no man be lost but all be saved.
Next time we will look at what the Spirit does in this chapter and how Jesus refers back to Gen 1 in a subtle way. Gen 1 is about recreation and redemption. I hope you join me for that as well.