WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:21.140 I remember it clearly. 00:00:22.240 --> 00:00:24.379 The year was 1984. 00:00:25.420 --> 00:00:28.260 I was in ninth grade. 00:00:28.260 --> 00:00:37.780 And part of the church that I had been going to for the last six or seven years that my family went to. 00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:41.980 When you get to ninth grade, it was confirmation year. 00:00:42.140 --> 00:00:43.719 And so that's what we did in Sunday school. 00:00:44.579 --> 00:00:48.939 And in that spring, we went on a confirmation retreat. 00:00:50.520 --> 00:00:57.700 And on Saturday afternoon, our assignment was to sit around the table and to write a statement of faith. 00:00:58.259 --> 00:01:03.960 For the elders to approve so that we might become confirmed as members of the church. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:11.359 Now, I will tell you that in my family, going to church was important. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:14.640 But believing in Jesus was not particularly. 00:01:15.879 --> 00:01:19.680 And so I remember looking at the youth pastor at that moment and saying, 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:22.060 Well, what are we supposed to write? 00:01:23.700 --> 00:01:30.860 At that moment, for me, it was simply a test that I wanted to know the right answers to regurgitate. 00:01:31.500 --> 00:01:34.220 And not actually a real statement of faith. 00:01:35.300 --> 00:01:38.660 This is not an indictment on the process of churches that may have confirmation. 00:01:39.360 --> 00:01:40.660 I think it can be done well. 00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:44.440 It was not done well in my case and this church. 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:53.719 But at the same time, on the same retreat, that evening, I walked out of the retreat center 00:01:53.719 --> 00:02:01.099 and looked up in the clear western Pennsylvania sky on a crisp spring night 00:02:01.099 --> 00:02:05.719 and saw the amazing array of the stars in the sky. 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:10.280 And I wondered, could it be true? 00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:16.900 Is there really a God out there after all? 00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:23.659 Maybe you've had experiences like that. 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:29.000 I can think of other places that have evoked in me a similar response. 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:34.939 We're sitting by Lake Bierstadt, looking up at the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains 00:02:34.939 --> 00:02:39.379 in Rocky Mountain National Park on a beautiful July day. 00:02:40.460 --> 00:02:47.060 We're sitting on the beach in Kauai at sunset, watching the sun, the golden ball, 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:56.340 slowly lower itself into the ocean, surrounded by this beautiful array of purples and yellows 00:02:56.340 --> 00:02:57.960 and oranges and reds. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:05.680 I remember one time I was flying to China, looking down out of the airplane 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:11.699 on these incredibly craggy, snow-covered mountains 00:03:11.699 --> 00:03:17.159 as the sun came up behind the plane and the orange glow captured 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:20.159 and reflected off the tops of the mountains. 00:03:23.420 --> 00:03:25.360 Maybe that's happened to you too. 00:03:26.420 --> 00:03:28.199 It's awe-inspiring, isn't it? 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:31.780 Sometimes it makes us feel very small and insignificant. 00:03:32.740 --> 00:03:35.580 Sometimes it fills us with joy and wonder. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:42.139 Sometimes it makes us afraid as we face a transcendence that we cannot understand or control. 00:03:42.139 --> 00:03:47.179 But I think for all of us, it raises a question. 00:03:48.819 --> 00:03:50.919 Is there something more out there? 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:54.099 Does God really exist? 00:03:54.099 --> 00:04:01.919 And as we encounter these things, as we live in this amazing world that we live in, 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:02.780 it raises questions. 00:04:03.459 --> 00:04:04.579 How did it come to be? 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:06.620 What is our place in it? 00:04:07.299 --> 00:04:08.599 Where do we come from? 00:04:09.459 --> 00:04:10.620 Why are we here? 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:17.579 And as you know, there are many competing answers to that question today in our world, 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:23.240 just as there was in the ancient world that the book of Genesis was written in. 00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:28.519 But as we begin our series in Genesis this morning, in Genesis 1, 00:04:28.780 --> 00:04:33.180 we're going to see that as the book opens, 00:04:33.400 --> 00:04:37.500 in the midst of other voices at that time, just as today, 00:04:38.620 --> 00:04:45.960 we see a story that reveals God and answers some of those questions. 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:51.120 Genesis 1 invites us in, in the midst of these competing stories, 00:04:51.239 --> 00:04:58.599 to behold the God of the Bible and to see him at work in the creation of all things. 00:05:00.719 --> 00:05:04.039 Now you might be thinking, why is this important? 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:06.479 Or why was it written when it was? 00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:09.000 If you remember, and if you were here last week, 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:13.819 Pastor Greg preached a great sermon that just introduced us to the whole book. 00:05:13.819 --> 00:05:16.120 And I'm not going to repeat what he said last week. 00:05:16.259 --> 00:05:19.180 So, if you weren't here last week, 00:05:19.219 --> 00:05:21.199 and you intend to stick around for a while and listen, 00:05:21.399 --> 00:05:22.180 and even if you don't, 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:26.000 go to our website, trinity-baptist.org, 00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:27.600 and go to the sermon archive, 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:29.860 and find Pastor Greg's sermon from last week 00:05:29.860 --> 00:05:33.100 to answer all the questions you have about authorship and context 00:05:33.100 --> 00:05:35.620 and the big picture of Genesis, 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:37.360 so that you'll get to see it. 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:40.180 We won't cover those things. 00:05:40.180 --> 00:05:47.939 But as we come to this passage that attempts to answer some of these questions, 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:51.240 we recognize that the context in which it was written 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:58.000 was to the people of Israel as they were leaving Egypt and slavery 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:03.460 and heading to a promised land that they had not seen or tasted yet. 00:06:04.100 --> 00:06:06.259 And you might imagine if you were an Israelite 00:06:06.259 --> 00:06:10.060 wandering around in the wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula for 40 years, 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:12.699 you might be wondering, 00:06:13.159 --> 00:06:15.659 where is this all going? 00:06:16.579 --> 00:06:19.240 We're following a God who's not taking us anywhere. 00:06:20.219 --> 00:06:21.459 Can we trust him? 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:22.139 Is he good? 00:06:22.379 --> 00:06:24.800 Is he in control of this? 00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:25.839 What's going on? 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:32.219 And it's in that context that we see this book written. 00:06:33.599 --> 00:06:36.939 Written to tell us what happened at the very beginning. 00:06:37.179 --> 00:06:41.599 Written to assure us that the God of the Bible is in control. 00:06:42.459 --> 00:06:43.699 That he is sovereign. 00:06:45.699 --> 00:06:47.139 That he is life-giving. 00:06:47.799 --> 00:06:48.919 And that he is good. 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:53.640 And that brings us to Genesis 1. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:55.720 So we're going to read this together. 00:06:55.840 --> 00:06:56.879 You can turn in your Bibles. 00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:58.740 This time, I know what page it's on. 00:06:59.080 --> 00:07:00.020 It's on page 1. 00:07:00.780 --> 00:07:05.700 So page 1 of your Bible is Genesis 1, 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:07.439 and we're going to read this together. 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:22.600 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:07:23.220 --> 00:07:25.439 The earth was without form and void, 00:07:25.779 --> 00:07:27.779 and darkness was over the face of the deep, 00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:31.980 and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:34.279 And God said, 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:35.720 Let there be light. 00:07:35.720 --> 00:07:37.460 And there was light. 00:07:37.780 --> 00:07:40.160 And God saw that the light was good. 00:07:40.840 --> 00:07:43.280 And God separated the light from the darkness. 00:07:44.660 --> 00:07:46.520 God called the light day, 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:48.420 and the darkness he called night. 00:07:48.960 --> 00:07:50.000 And there was evening, 00:07:50.260 --> 00:07:51.300 and there was morning, 00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:52.700 the first day. 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:54.840 And God said, 00:07:55.380 --> 00:07:58.440 Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:01.100 and let it separate the waters from the waters. 00:08:01.940 --> 00:08:04.200 And God made the expanse, 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:07.659 and separated the waters that were under the expanse, 00:08:07.659 --> 00:08:10.420 from the waters that were above the expanse. 00:08:11.099 --> 00:08:12.479 And it was so. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:15.759 And God called the expanse heaven, 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:18.000 and there was evening, 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:19.360 and there was morning, 00:08:19.860 --> 00:08:20.639 the second day. 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:22.919 And God said, 00:08:23.139 --> 00:08:26.439 Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:28.439 and let the dry land appear. 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:29.600 And it was so. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:32.559 And God called the dry land earth, 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:36.539 and the waters that were gathered together he called seas. 00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:38.960 And God saw that it was good. 00:08:40.139 --> 00:08:41.139 And God said, 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:43.220 Let the earth sprout vegetation, 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:44.879 plants yielding seed, 00:08:44.980 --> 00:08:46.279 and fruit trees bearing fruit, 00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:48.559 in which is their seed, 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:50.500 each according to its kind, 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:51.340 on the earth. 00:08:51.340 --> 00:08:53.180 And it was so. 00:08:54.800 --> 00:08:57.120 The earth brought forth vegetation, 00:08:57.320 --> 00:09:00.160 plants yielding seeds according to their own kinds, 00:09:00.280 --> 00:09:01.440 and trees bearing fruit, 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:02.860 in which is their seed, 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:04.820 each according to its kind. 00:09:05.660 --> 00:09:07.460 And God saw that it was good. 00:09:08.300 --> 00:09:09.280 And there was evening, 00:09:09.680 --> 00:09:10.580 and there was morning, 00:09:11.220 --> 00:09:12.080 the third day. 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:14.780 And God said, 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:17.139 Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens, 00:09:17.280 --> 00:09:19.980 to separate the day from the night, 00:09:20.400 --> 00:09:22.320 and let there be for signs, 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:23.120 and for seasons, 00:09:23.340 --> 00:09:23.900 and for days, 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:24.680 and for years. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:28.500 And let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens, 00:09:28.700 --> 00:09:30.240 to give light upon the earth. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:32.120 And it was so. 00:09:32.780 --> 00:09:35.000 And God made the two great lights, 00:09:35.160 --> 00:09:36.820 the greater light to rule the day, 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:38.620 and the lesser light to rule the night, 00:09:39.140 --> 00:09:40.220 and the stars. 00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:43.360 God set them in the expanse of the heavens, 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:44.820 to give light on the earth, 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:46.340 to rule over the day, 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:47.180 and over the night, 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:49.540 to separate the light from the darkness. 00:09:50.560 --> 00:09:52.800 And God saw that it was good. 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:54.420 And there was evening, 00:09:54.660 --> 00:09:55.460 and there was morning, 00:09:55.540 --> 00:09:56.240 the fourth day. 00:09:57.399 --> 00:09:58.720 And God said, 00:09:59.420 --> 00:10:02.139 Let the water swarm with swarms of living creatures, 00:10:02.340 --> 00:10:04.420 and let birds fly above the earth, 00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:06.200 across the expanse of the heavens. 00:10:07.040 --> 00:10:09.360 And so God created the great sea creatures, 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:11.200 and every living creature that moves, 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:13.480 with which the waters swarm, 00:10:13.659 --> 00:10:16.180 according to their kinds. 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:17.820 And every winged bird, 00:10:17.940 --> 00:10:19.220 according to its kind. 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:21.340 And God saw that it was good. 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:23.340 God blessed them, 00:10:23.460 --> 00:10:23.700 saying, 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:24.480 Be fruitful, 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:25.399 and multiply, 00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:28.019 and fill the waters in the seas, 00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:30.779 and let birds multiply on the earth. 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:32.419 And there was evening, 00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:33.480 and there was morning, 00:10:33.920 --> 00:10:34.899 the fifth day. 00:10:34.899 --> 00:10:37.480 And God said, 00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:39.879 Let the earth bring forth living creatures, 00:10:40.019 --> 00:10:41.259 according to their kinds, 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:42.220 livestock, 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:43.299 and creeping things, 00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:44.199 and beasts of the earth, 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:45.480 according to their kinds. 00:10:46.059 --> 00:10:47.220 And it was so. 00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:49.879 And God made the beasts of the earth, 00:10:50.059 --> 00:10:51.559 according to their kinds, 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:52.340 and the livestock, 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:53.779 according to their kinds, 00:10:53.860 --> 00:10:56.039 and everything that creeps on the ground, 00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:57.399 according to its kind. 00:10:58.039 --> 00:11:00.279 And God saw that it was good. 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:02.939 Then God said, 00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:06.480 Let us make man in our image, 00:11:06.980 --> 00:11:08.319 after our likeness, 00:11:08.620 --> 00:11:11.259 and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, 00:11:11.339 --> 00:11:12.980 and over the birds of the heavens, 00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:13.980 and over the livestock, 00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:15.240 and over all the earth, 00:11:15.319 --> 00:11:17.839 and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:22.439 So God created man in his own image. 00:11:23.179 --> 00:11:24.259 In the image of God, 00:11:24.339 --> 00:11:25.319 he created him. 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:26.600 Male and female, 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:27.819 he created them. 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.959 And God blessed them, 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:31.340 And God said to them, 00:11:31.420 --> 00:11:31.960 Be fruitful, 00:11:32.180 --> 00:11:32.700 and multiply, 00:11:32.940 --> 00:11:33.860 and fill the earth, 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:34.700 and subdue it, 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:36.720 and have dominion over the fish of the sea, 00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:38.639 and over the birds of the heavens, 00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:41.340 and over every living thing that moves on the earth. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.000 And God said, 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:43.600 Behold, 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:47.139 I have given you every plant yielding seed 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:49.620 that is on the face of all the earth, 00:11:49.780 --> 00:11:52.160 and every tree with seed in its fruit, 00:11:53.100 --> 00:11:54.720 you shall have them for food. 00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:57.080 And to every beast of the earth, 00:11:57.160 --> 00:11:58.840 and to every bird of the heavens, 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:00.820 and to everything that creeps on the earth, 00:12:00.820 --> 00:12:02.940 everything that has breath of life, 00:12:03.180 --> 00:12:06.340 I have given every green plant for food. 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:08.240 And it was so. 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:12.019 And God saw everything that he had made, 00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:13.300 and behold, 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:15.639 it was very good. 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:17.480 And there was evening, 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:18.840 and there was morning, 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:20.700 the sixth day. 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:22.620 Thus, 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:24.500 the heavens and the earth were finished, 00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:26.040 and all the host of them. 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:27.620 And on the seventh day, 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:30.420 God finished his work that he had done, 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:32.759 and he rested on the seventh day 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:35.180 from all his work that he had done. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:37.820 So God blessed the seventh day, 00:12:37.920 --> 00:12:38.879 and made it holy, 00:12:39.460 --> 00:12:40.140 because on it, 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:42.220 God rested from all his work 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:44.700 that he had done in creation. 00:12:46.060 --> 00:12:47.180 Let's pray together. 00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:47.259 Father, 00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:55.399 Lord, 00:12:55.479 --> 00:12:59.120 as we come to this majestic text this morning, 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:01.000 Lord, 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:02.879 our minds are filled with 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:05.819 the wonder of it. 00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:09.399 Our minds are filled with the questions 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:12.199 that it raises in our hearts, 00:13:12.839 --> 00:13:13.679 in our lives. 00:13:14.719 --> 00:13:14.919 Lord, 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:15.879 I pray this morning 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:17.139 that you would help us 00:13:17.139 --> 00:13:18.240 this morning 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:19.740 to make your word clear 00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:21.059 that we might hear it. 00:13:21.439 --> 00:13:21.659 Lord, 00:13:21.719 --> 00:13:22.819 I pray for your help 00:13:22.819 --> 00:13:24.399 that I might speak it clearly. 00:13:25.599 --> 00:13:26.000 And Lord, 00:13:26.059 --> 00:13:28.759 that we would sit in awe and wonder 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:32.659 what a wonderful creator you are. 00:13:35.459 --> 00:13:35.899 Lord, 00:13:35.959 --> 00:13:37.219 we pray this in Jesus' name. 00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:38.299 Amen. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:43.019 So before we dive in, 00:13:43.079 --> 00:13:44.839 I simply want to say one other thing. 00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:48.399 As we approach this text, 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:50.799 we may have to ask ourselves a question, 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:52.659 what kind of writing is this? 00:13:54.839 --> 00:13:56.299 You might be asking a question, 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:57.179 is this history? 00:13:57.439 --> 00:13:59.539 Should I read this like a New York Times article 00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:01.539 about an eyewitness reporter 00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:02.679 being able to tell you 00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:04.579 the facts of what happened 00:14:04.579 --> 00:14:06.120 by observation? 00:14:07.319 --> 00:14:08.519 Some of you may be asking, 00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:09.860 is this a science textbook? 00:14:10.059 --> 00:14:11.819 Is this telling us about the processes 00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:15.480 and the means by which life was created 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:17.680 and the way that the natural world works? 00:14:18.680 --> 00:14:20.500 Some of you may be asking a question, 00:14:20.740 --> 00:14:22.720 is this primarily theology? 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:25.080 Is this to tell us about the character 00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:26.360 and nature of God 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:28.280 in systematic categories? 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:31.659 And some of you may be asking, 00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:32.819 well, 00:14:32.959 --> 00:14:34.839 there seemed to be an awful lot 00:14:34.839 --> 00:14:36.159 of repetition and structure. 00:14:36.319 --> 00:14:38.240 This sounds like poetry to me. 00:14:40.179 --> 00:14:42.059 Giving us a metaphorical sense 00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:43.740 of God and creation, 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:46.399 but maybe that glosses over the details. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:49.279 Well, 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:49.659 friends, 00:14:49.959 --> 00:14:51.679 this has been a great discussion 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:53.620 and I could spend the rest of my morning 00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:54.360 talking about this, 00:14:54.459 --> 00:14:55.360 but I'm not going to. 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:58.039 I am going to rather say this. 00:14:58.840 --> 00:14:59.100 This, 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:00.620 above all things, 00:15:00.699 --> 00:15:02.100 is a narrative account 00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:04.399 that has structure 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:05.720 and progression, 00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:08.539 but does not always answer 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.179 the questions 00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:10.679 that our modern world asks 00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:12.500 in the ways that we would ask it. 00:15:13.939 --> 00:15:15.159 It is truth. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:18.240 But it is truth 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.299 within the framework 00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.620 of God's revelation 00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:22.419 in a narrative story. 00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:25.720 Remember what I said earlier 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:26.919 about how this was written 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:28.459 so that the Israelites 00:15:28.459 --> 00:15:29.620 would understand 00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:31.500 where the world came from 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.720 that they were living in 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:34.539 and who the God was 00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:36.840 that they were following in him. 00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:39.600 Because, of course, 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:40.559 above all, 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:42.480 this passage is about God. 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:44.779 God who is mentioned 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:47.000 more than 30 times. 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:49.699 God who is the sole actor 00:15:49.699 --> 00:15:52.759 in the entire chapter. 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:55.139 God who announced 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.740 what he would do, 00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.860 commanded that it be done. 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:01.059 He who separated 00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:02.439 and organized 00:16:02.439 --> 00:16:04.279 the creation. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:06.579 He who gave it names. 00:16:07.199 --> 00:16:08.559 And he who saw it 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:09.839 and evaluated it 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:10.920 and called it good. 00:16:12.300 --> 00:16:13.720 It is about God 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:15.960 in his work of creation. 00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:17.899 And this is what we're going 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:19.100 to think about this morning 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:21.420 for the next few minutes. 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.840 We see three things 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:24.840 about God in this. 00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:26.740 That God is a sovereign creator. 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:29.500 That he is a life-giving creator. 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:32.280 And that he is a good creator. 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:35.459 So let's look at each of these 00:16:35.459 --> 00:16:36.199 in turn. 00:16:37.319 --> 00:16:37.879 First, 00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:40.059 God is a sovereign creator. 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.220 Look with me back 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:42.759 at verses 1 and 2. 00:16:43.819 --> 00:16:45.279 In the beginning, 00:16:45.959 --> 00:16:46.480 God, 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:48.120 you now know 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:49.299 the most important thing 00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:50.079 about the Bible. 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:54.500 Before all things were, 00:16:55.199 --> 00:16:55.919 God was. 00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.279 God preexisted 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:00.339 all things. 00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:01.420 and all the things 00:17:01.420 --> 00:17:01.920 that we see 00:17:01.920 --> 00:17:02.660 and all the things 00:17:02.660 --> 00:17:03.240 that we know. 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:04.880 The heavens and the earth, 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:05.860 which is meant 00:17:05.860 --> 00:17:06.700 to be descriptive 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.779 of everything, 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:08.579 inclusive 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:10.279 of the entire 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:11.039 created 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:13.079 world, 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.319 universe. 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:17.940 God was before 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:20.079 all those things. 00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:23.559 And as God began 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:24.720 to engage 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:25.779 in this process 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:26.600 of creation, 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:29.100 he engaged in, 00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:30.679 as verse 2 says, 00:17:31.459 --> 00:17:32.679 a world 00:17:32.679 --> 00:17:34.419 that was without form 00:17:34.419 --> 00:17:35.859 and void. 00:17:36.859 --> 00:17:37.799 I want you to think 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:38.899 about what that means. 00:17:39.879 --> 00:17:41.500 There was no structure. 00:17:41.959 --> 00:17:43.139 There was no order. 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.719 There was no way 00:17:44.719 --> 00:17:45.959 to wrap your hand, 00:17:46.719 --> 00:17:48.079 wrap your arms around it 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:49.379 and understand it 00:17:49.379 --> 00:17:51.000 because it was without form. 00:17:51.219 --> 00:17:52.419 And it was a void. 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:53.199 That is, 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.359 it was empty. 00:17:54.359 --> 00:18:02.259 And in those things, 00:18:02.419 --> 00:18:02.839 God 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:05.519 stepped in 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.979 to create something 00:18:06.979 --> 00:18:09.879 out of a shapeless void. 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.539 And he created, 00:18:11.719 --> 00:18:12.259 as we see, 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:13.240 as it goes on, 00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.099 all things. 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:15.519 The things in the heavens 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:16.740 and the things on earth. 00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:21.779 The things that the peoples 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:24.299 around the nation of Israel 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:25.980 would have worshipped. 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:27.059 The sun, 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:28.299 the moon, 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:29.400 the stars. 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:32.880 The lesser gods 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:33.720 that they worshipped 00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.140 who said, 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.359 I'm the God of the harvest 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:36.839 who can bring forth plants. 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:38.339 I'm the God of fertility 00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:39.160 who can help you 00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:40.359 be fruitful and multiply. 00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:45.119 This account says, 00:18:45.439 --> 00:18:47.159 all of these come 00:18:47.159 --> 00:18:49.519 from this pre-existent God. 00:18:52.959 --> 00:18:54.439 And this pre-existent God 00:18:54.439 --> 00:18:55.399 is not merely 00:18:55.399 --> 00:18:57.539 one who sits back 00:18:57.539 --> 00:19:00.419 and is distant from the God. 00:19:00.479 --> 00:19:01.799 But we see in verse 2 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.899 as it keeps going, 00:19:04.439 --> 00:19:06.179 that the Spirit of God 00:19:06.179 --> 00:19:07.779 was hovering over the face 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.379 of the waters. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:10.219 This is an image 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:11.059 that we see later 00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:11.940 in Deuteronomy 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:13.620 about God's care 00:19:13.620 --> 00:19:14.600 for his creation. 00:19:15.380 --> 00:19:16.279 It's an image 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:17.059 that evokes 00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:17.880 a picture 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:19.039 of a mother eagle 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:21.339 hovering over her nest 00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:22.759 with her fledglings, 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:23.759 urging them 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.880 to arise 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:26.000 and to fly. 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:29.039 And this is what God 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.480 is doing 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:30.559 with his creation. 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:35.039 And we see 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:35.640 that God 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:36.519 has the power 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:38.000 to create. 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:38.860 The beginning 00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:39.799 of verse 3, 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:41.940 and God said. 00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:44.880 And this is one 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:45.299 of the most 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:46.559 remarkable things 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:48.600 about this God 00:19:48.600 --> 00:19:49.920 revealed in this Bible 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.920 is that this God 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:51.779 can do whatever 00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.519 he wants 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.380 simply 00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:54.720 with the power 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.700 of his own 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.420 word. 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.200 Every day 00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:58.940 he speaks 00:19:58.940 --> 00:20:00.299 and God said 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:01.620 and it was so. 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.980 And God said 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:04.120 and it was so. 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:05.299 And God said 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.619 and it was so. 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:09.759 And as we read 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:11.299 in John 1 earlier, 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:12.799 all things 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.299 were made 00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:13.940 through him 00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:15.319 and without him 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:16.639 was not anything 00:20:16.639 --> 00:20:17.180 made 00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:18.960 that was made. 00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:23.799 And I know 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.919 you're asking 00:20:24.919 --> 00:20:25.379 what about 00:20:25.379 --> 00:20:26.159 the process? 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:27.680 Did it take 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.259 a millennia? 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.399 Six 24 hour 00:20:30.399 --> 00:20:31.639 literal days? 00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:32.440 Was it 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:33.160 ex nihilo 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:34.180 instantaneous? 00:20:35.060 --> 00:20:35.540 Did God 00:20:35.540 --> 00:20:36.380 use means? 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:41.200 It's an interesting 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:41.780 question. 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:42.780 How does 00:20:42.780 --> 00:20:43.860 this match 00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:44.320 with the 00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:45.400 scientific discoveries 00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:46.080 and theories 00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:46.880 that we live in 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:47.240 today? 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.480 Sorry, 00:20:49.540 --> 00:20:49.740 I'm going to 00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.420 punt on this one 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:50.600 too. 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:51.200 It's a great 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:51.660 question. 00:20:51.780 --> 00:20:52.380 It's an important 00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:53.000 question. 00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:55.920 But 00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:58.380 it's why 00:20:58.380 --> 00:20:59.100 rather than 00:20:59.100 --> 00:20:59.620 spending all 00:20:59.620 --> 00:21:00.080 of our time 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:00.599 in a sermon 00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:01.419 dealing the 00:21:01.419 --> 00:21:01.919 details, 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:04.299 Pastor Greg 00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:04.839 and Danielle 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:05.279 Speller, 00:21:05.399 --> 00:21:05.679 who's a 00:21:05.679 --> 00:21:06.000 physicist, 00:21:06.199 --> 00:21:06.659 will be doing 00:21:06.659 --> 00:21:07.119 a two-week 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.639 Sunday school 00:21:07.639 --> 00:21:08.819 class at the 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.519 end of September 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.899 after Tom's 00:21:10.899 --> 00:21:11.799 class on New 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.099 Testament 00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:12.740 reliability. 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.519 If you're 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:15.099 interested in 00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:15.819 those questions, 00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:16.859 plan to go. 00:21:17.179 --> 00:21:17.740 That's where 00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:18.819 many of those 00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.579 questions will be 00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:20.439 addressed as they 00:21:20.439 --> 00:21:21.659 address broadly 00:21:21.659 --> 00:21:22.399 the question of 00:21:22.399 --> 00:21:23.159 how science and 00:21:23.159 --> 00:21:24.419 faith integrate 00:21:24.419 --> 00:21:24.980 together. 00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:27.639 But just to 00:21:27.639 --> 00:21:28.559 give a little bit 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.339 of perspective on 00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:30.059 that question, 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:31.019 you know, 00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:31.460 when John 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:31.859 Calvin, 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:32.319 the great 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:32.960 reformer, 00:21:33.159 --> 00:21:33.919 wrote about 00:21:33.919 --> 00:21:34.519 creation, 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.859 this is 00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:36.419 secondhand, 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:36.779 but I 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.240 believe it's 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:37.539 true, 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:41.099 that he 00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:41.960 actually asked 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:42.619 the question 00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:43.460 not why 00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.159 did it take 00:21:44.159 --> 00:21:45.299 God so 00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.339 short in 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:46.839 this account. 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.639 We wrestle 00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:48.419 with could 00:21:48.419 --> 00:21:48.759 God have 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.379 actually done 00:21:49.379 --> 00:21:50.259 this briefly 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:51.179 because we 00:21:51.179 --> 00:21:51.639 think we 00:21:51.639 --> 00:21:52.179 live in a 00:21:52.179 --> 00:21:52.500 world that 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.019 takes long 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.480 processes. 00:21:54.639 --> 00:21:55.139 Calvin's 00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:55.679 question was 00:21:55.679 --> 00:21:56.199 why did it 00:21:56.199 --> 00:21:56.659 take a whole 00:21:56.659 --> 00:21:57.359 day or a 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:57.879 whole week 00:21:57.879 --> 00:21:58.439 for God to 00:21:58.439 --> 00:21:58.759 create? 00:21:59.079 --> 00:21:59.460 Can't he 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.319 just speak 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:00.740 and it 00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.480 happens all 00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:01.819 of it at 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:02.140 once? 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.000 God didn't 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.660 have to say 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.200 and God 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:04.720 said and God 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.240 said and God 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:05.500 said. 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:05.900 He could have 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.339 just said it 00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:07.119 once and God 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:07.879 said let it 00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:09.720 be and there 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:10.259 it was. 00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:11.339 Everything all 00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:11.839 at once. 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.960 So just as a 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.579 bit of historical 00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.460 perspective, the 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:17.140 questions that we 00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:17.839 ask of these 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.819 texts are often 00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:19.740 brought to us by 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:21.220 the context in 00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:22.140 which we live and 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:23.099 this is why history 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:24.240 is important for us 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:24.720 to read. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:26.259 Having said 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:28.920 that, the 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:29.740 Bible speaks to 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.640 many scientific 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:33.140 questions but we 00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:34.299 must see that what 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:35.319 the Bible speaks to 00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:36.720 is more than just 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:37.400 science. 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:40.180 It answers greater 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:41.460 questions as it may 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.299 answer some of the 00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:43.059 science questions 00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:44.160 along the way. 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:47.059 And what we see is 00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:48.539 that God is bringing 00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:50.940 order to his 00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:52.400 creation and he is 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:53.780 ruling over it. 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:57.440 This God who is not 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.500 a part of creation 00:22:58.500 --> 00:23:00.240 but who is engaged 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.519 with his creation, 00:23:02.100 --> 00:23:03.540 who sits above it, 00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:05.660 not as a part of it 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:07.900 but who rules over it, 00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:11.019 he has taken from 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.720 emptiness and 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:14.240 formlessness and 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:16.500 darkness and he has 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:19.340 filled it in 00:23:19.340 --> 00:23:19.880 creation. 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:24.180 Before we go on and 00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:24.800 think about that 00:23:24.800 --> 00:23:25.900 process a little more, 00:23:26.060 --> 00:23:27.120 let's think briefly 00:23:27.120 --> 00:23:27.940 about applying, 00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:30.240 if these things are 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.280 true, if God is a 00:23:31.280 --> 00:23:32.060 sovereign ruler, 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:32.940 what does it mean? 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.519 The first thing it 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.360 means is that we 00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:37.340 must cling to and 00:23:37.340 --> 00:23:38.740 understand this truth. 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:41.259 There is nothing that 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:43.300 is outside of God's 00:23:43.300 --> 00:23:44.940 sovereign rule in the 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.280 world. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:45.339 world. 00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:49.019 There is no random 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:51.019 chance over time in a 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:52.940 closed system that God 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:54.460 is not ruling over. 00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:58.019 There are no stars 00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:59.339 aligning in the heavens 00:23:59.339 --> 00:24:00.779 to determine the fate of 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:02.720 our lives that God is 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.960 not ruling over. 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:07.359 The processes that 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:09.299 mother nature produces 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:11.420 in the wonders that we 00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:12.940 see in planet earth and 00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:14.039 David Attenborough's 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:15.079 video series. 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:19.740 None of those exist 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:21.519 except that God rules 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.279 over them. 00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:24.319 In the ancient Near 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:25.700 East, they would be 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.680 struck by the fact that 00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:28.399 there is no titanic 00:24:28.399 --> 00:24:30.859 struggle between good 00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:31.480 and evil. 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.639 There is no yin and 00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:35.159 yang striving for 00:24:35.159 --> 00:24:36.619 control of the world. 00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:36.679 world. 00:24:39.159 --> 00:24:41.039 But all that we see, God 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:42.319 is ruling over it. 00:24:43.399 --> 00:24:44.559 For those of you who 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.979 are sci-fi fans, there 00:24:45.979 --> 00:24:46.779 is no force. 00:24:47.659 --> 00:24:48.159 There are no 00:24:48.159 --> 00:24:48.919 mitochondrians. 00:24:49.679 --> 00:24:52.259 There is nothing that 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:54.819 God does not rule over, 00:24:55.179 --> 00:24:56.459 whether mythical or 00:24:56.459 --> 00:24:56.739 real. 00:24:56.740 --> 00:25:02.460 So we must see that if 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.640 God is the one who 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:05.799 rules over all things, 00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:07.480 it also means that he 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:09.160 rules over all things in 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:09.920 our lives. 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:12.259 He rules over the 00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:13.839 hurricanes that swirl in 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.279 the Caribbean. 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.779 And he rules over the 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:18.220 details of our medical 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:18.819 conditions. 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:21.140 He rules over the 00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:23.200 chaos that we hear 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:25.120 reported week in and week 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:26.339 out in the news. 00:25:26.899 --> 00:25:28.319 He rules over our 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:29.599 lives from the global 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:31.000 to the minutia. 00:25:32.479 --> 00:25:33.719 He is sovereign. 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:37.099 And he calls us to 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:38.199 trust him in that. 00:25:39.379 --> 00:25:40.679 And thirdly, he calls 00:25:40.679 --> 00:25:43.000 us as his sovereign to 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:44.239 cultivate a humility 00:25:44.239 --> 00:25:45.119 before him. 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.779 For because he is the 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:48.259 creator and not simply a 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:49.159 part of the creation, 00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:50.359 because he is distinct 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.779 and over us and the 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.759 source of it, then we 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:55.079 are in fact answerable to 00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:55.399 him. 00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:58.279 We are not our own 00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.059 little gods. 00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:01.460 We are not the captains 00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:03.119 of our own ship who are 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:04.299 able to determine our 00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:05.740 destinies on our own. 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:10.539 The myth of the 00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:12.699 independent human who can 00:26:12.699 --> 00:26:16.500 do anything is humbled 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:17.619 by this account. 00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:21.500 Instead, as the apostle Paul 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:24.639 preached in Athens, it is 00:26:24.639 --> 00:26:26.239 in God that we live and 00:26:26.239 --> 00:26:27.500 move and have our being. 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:31.279 We are dependent and we 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:32.479 are accountable to him. 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.799 So we see that God is a 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:38.019 sovereign ruler who in 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:39.719 power created all things. 00:26:40.459 --> 00:26:41.859 But we see more than that. 00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:43.659 He is not just reigning 00:26:43.659 --> 00:26:45.919 over us, but he is 00:26:45.919 --> 00:26:47.699 filling his creation 00:26:47.699 --> 00:26:48.919 with life. 00:26:49.399 --> 00:26:50.839 He is a life-giving 00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:51.439 creator. 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:53.500 From formless and void 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:55.819 to form and filled, 00:26:56.179 --> 00:26:57.459 this is God's work. 00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.419 If you have a bulletin, 00:26:59.459 --> 00:27:00.199 you can pull this out. 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:01.299 This is a time to look at 00:27:01.299 --> 00:27:02.259 the little chart that is 00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:03.979 in your bulletin to give 00:27:03.979 --> 00:27:04.899 you a sense of the 00:27:04.899 --> 00:27:06.699 framework of how this 00:27:06.699 --> 00:27:08.979 passage in its, yes, 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:10.740 somewhat poetic form of 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.360 repetition. 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:13.720 And God said, and it was 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:15.099 so, let there be, and he 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:16.900 separated, and he saw 00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.799 that it was good, and 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:18.519 there was morning, and 00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:19.180 there was evening. 00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:21.039 There is this literary 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:24.220 structure that helps us 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.779 see this. 00:27:24.860 --> 00:27:25.740 And then we see that 00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:27.200 there are in three days, 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:28.480 the first three days, the 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:30.180 form is brought together. 00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:33.500 Light and darkness. 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:35.680 Sky and sea. 00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:37.039 Don't get all confused by 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:38.079 the waters above and the 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.860 waters below and 00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:40.319 expanse and firmament and 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.339 these words that you've 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:42.219 never heard before. 00:27:42.419 --> 00:27:43.379 It's very easy. 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:44.839 Skies, seas. 00:27:45.379 --> 00:27:46.399 That's what day two is 00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:46.759 about. 00:27:48.159 --> 00:27:50.979 Day three, dry land is 00:27:50.979 --> 00:27:51.439 separated. 00:27:53.459 --> 00:27:54.779 And in each of these, we 00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:56.119 see these pairings. 00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:57.500 Light and darkness. 00:27:58.139 --> 00:27:59.059 Sky and sea. 00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:01.159 Earth and water. 00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:03.159 Separated. 00:28:03.899 --> 00:28:04.719 Given boundaries. 00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:05.779 Given places. 00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.879 Given purposes. 00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:10.100 There are no rogue elements 00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:11.800 in this created world. 00:28:13.360 --> 00:28:14.520 And it would have been 00:28:14.520 --> 00:28:17.200 very comforting to the 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:20.300 Israelites at the time, as 00:28:20.300 --> 00:28:22.020 many people around them 00:28:22.020 --> 00:28:23.360 believed that these natural 00:28:23.360 --> 00:28:25.180 forces were out of control 00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:28.340 and were fearsome and 00:28:28.340 --> 00:28:29.300 overwhelmed them. 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:37.759 after God creates this form, 00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:41.319 takes what is formless and 00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:42.119 gives it form. 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.259 He then fills it. 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:44.839 The void is no longer 00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:46.379 void, but he begins to fill 00:28:46.379 --> 00:28:47.180 it with life. 00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:53.220 He creates trees that will 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:54.659 propagate themselves because 00:28:54.659 --> 00:28:56.000 they have seeds in them. 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:58.579 fruit trees and plants. 00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:01.940 The end of day three. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:03.279 And then in day four, he 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:04.759 fills them with living 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.480 beings. 00:29:06.380 --> 00:29:07.819 This is actually the word in 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.059 Hebrew. 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:09.460 It's a word for it that's 00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.960 used later in the Old 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:12.259 Testament for souls. 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:13.920 Now we know that it's 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.759 broader than that. 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:16.380 It doesn't only mean that. 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.960 But what it does mean is 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:19.400 that these living beings have 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:20.839 a unique characteristic, 00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:23.160 distinct from plants. 00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:24.279 I'll just say that. 00:29:24.360 --> 00:29:25.700 Distinct from plants in some 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:27.200 way, whereby there's this 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:28.940 life that God is now 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.120 filling it with. 00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:33.080 Now, day four goes back to 00:29:33.080 --> 00:29:34.140 the heavens, doesn't it? 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.640 And he fills. 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:39.380 He fills it with light. 00:29:40.300 --> 00:29:43.279 With the actual things that 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.040 give off light. 00:29:44.560 --> 00:29:45.779 He'd already created light and 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:47.800 now he fills it with sun and 00:29:47.800 --> 00:29:48.600 moon and stars. 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:50.100 The things that we know give 00:29:50.100 --> 00:29:50.480 light. 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:55.000 Then day five, the living 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.740 creatures. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:59.220 Each according to their kind. 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:00.920 Not random. 00:30:02.099 --> 00:30:03.360 Not haphazard. 00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:05.019 But orderly. 00:30:05.120 --> 00:30:06.019 God creates. 00:30:06.860 --> 00:30:08.360 He fills the skies with the 00:30:08.360 --> 00:30:09.120 flying things. 00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:10.819 He fills the seas with the 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.740 swimming things. 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:14.339 I love the way that this 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:16.039 translation, let the water 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:18.759 swarm with swarms of things. 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:22.000 There's this idea that life is 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.879 teeming. 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:25.079 Have you ever walked into an 00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.559 aviary? 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:28.019 You're walking outside. 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:30.379 You have normal life sounds 00:30:30.379 --> 00:30:30.980 around you. 00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:33.099 You walk into an aviary and 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:34.079 there usually, if you've ever 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:34.960 been to one, there's usually 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.779 two doors, right? 00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:36.819 So that the birds don't fly 00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:36.980 out. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.859 So you walk through the first 00:30:37.859 --> 00:30:38.740 one, you close the back door 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.859 and then you walk through the 00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:41.140 second one to get the, and 00:30:41.140 --> 00:30:43.599 then you walk in and suddenly 00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:46.160 you're in a room and all you 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:46.900 hear is chirp, chirp, chirp, 00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:47.500 chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, 00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:47.900 chirp, chirp, chirp. 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:49.740 It's almost, it's almost 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:51.119 overwhelming the amount of 00:30:51.119 --> 00:30:52.559 noise that you hear when you 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.400 walk into that. 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:55.920 And you see these little flits 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:58.440 of life as the birds move 00:30:58.440 --> 00:30:58.839 around. 00:30:59.619 --> 00:31:01.019 And the more you look, the more 00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:02.839 you see that the room is filled 00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:03.640 with birds. 00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:05.339 Some more active, some less 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:05.799 active. 00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:10.579 just a taste of what it must have 00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:11.200 looked like. 00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:14.419 Just a taste of what God was 00:31:14.419 --> 00:31:16.180 doing as he was, as he was 00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:19.079 filling the world with teeming 00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:21.579 with this life that was ever 00:31:21.579 --> 00:31:23.480 expanding and ever growing. 00:31:24.619 --> 00:31:26.159 Because just like the plants, 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:29.180 these were set, were told to be 00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:31.339 fruitful and multiply and fill the 00:31:31.339 --> 00:31:31.740 earth. 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:34.140 God's creation of life was not 00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:35.720 terminal but abundant and 00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:38.660 expansive and expounding. 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:42.859 And the pinnacle of it all, of 00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:46.359 course, the end of day six, he 00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:47.640 creates human beings. 00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:51.400 Man, male and female. 00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:54.120 In God's image. 00:31:54.320 --> 00:31:56.220 Distinct from and yet still 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:59.019 created beings who have a role 00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:01.320 to rule over all of this life 00:32:01.320 --> 00:32:04.120 that he has filled the world with. 00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:09.320 And their rule, which has been 00:32:09.320 --> 00:32:11.580 sorely abused, we'll get to that 00:32:11.580 --> 00:32:12.700 in the next couple of weeks, I 00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:12.980 believe. 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:15.000 But the rule that has been 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:16.740 sorely abused, the rule was that 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:19.280 they might cultivate it and care for 00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:22.160 it so that it might have more life. 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:24.720 That human beings would come and 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:27.299 bring greater order so that life 00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:28.539 would flourish more. 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:31.319 This was God's intention in creating. 00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:39.539 And this is the life-giving God that 00:32:39.539 --> 00:32:42.099 we see in Genesis 1. 00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:49.179 Do you believe this is true? 00:32:51.219 --> 00:32:53.879 That life really does come from God? 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:57.599 More importantly, that God is able to 00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:58.279 bring life. 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:03.639 We can get so distracted by means and 00:33:03.639 --> 00:33:07.319 timelines and forget again what John 1 00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:07.839 says. 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:11.000 That in him was life. 00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:13.839 And that life was the light of men. 00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:20.639 Scientists keep working to create life. 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:22.099 They're getting closer. 00:33:23.779 --> 00:33:25.819 I did a little bit of research this 00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:25.980 week. 00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:26.799 I'm not a scientist. 00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:28.879 I'm not really equipped to do this. 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:31.399 They're getting closer. 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:33.259 But it was interesting to see how the 00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:35.659 articles even now describe they created 00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:38.580 something like or getting closer to. 00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:43.759 And you know, even if human beings do 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:46.660 begin to create life, wouldn't that be 00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:48.500 fitting that we who are in the image of 00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:51.019 God would be able to follow in his 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:53.420 footsteps and take the creation that he 00:33:53.420 --> 00:33:55.759 has made and learn how to be life 00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.279 producers? 00:33:57.620 --> 00:33:58.900 There are all sorts of ethical questions. 00:33:59.019 --> 00:34:00.019 I'm not talking about that. 00:34:00.080 --> 00:34:02.500 I'm just talking about the fact that God 00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:07.519 created this world to abound in life. 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:09.420 And it comes from him. 00:34:09.780 --> 00:34:11.579 He is the life-giving creator. 00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:13.079 He is the source of life. 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:17.960 Without him, there would not be any life. 00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:23.300 What are the applications of this for us? 00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:25.159 Well, we could be here all day. 00:34:25.300 --> 00:34:27.559 But the one that I want to focus on this 00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:29.500 morning for a minute is just that because 00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:31.519 because of this, we have hope. 00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:36.360 We have hope that the darkness that 00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:40.880 covered the earth is not the final end. 00:34:41.260 --> 00:34:43.579 But it is out of darkness that God created 00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.039 light. 00:34:44.260 --> 00:34:47.079 And in the darkness, God brings life. 00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:53.159 Means that there is hope for those who are 00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:54.440 facing death. 00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:58.659 Many of you are young. 00:34:59.400 --> 00:35:00.200 Not all of you. 00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.720 But many of you are young. 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:05.820 Haven't thought much about that yet. 00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:07.840 Some of you are young and have already 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:09.179 thought about it far too much. 00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:15.860 But when you are facing death, to know 00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:18.079 the God who is the author of life, who is 00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:22.039 the life-giving creator, gives us great hope. 00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:27.440 The fact that God created form and filled it 00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:30.019 with life gives us hope when we feel like our 00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:34.199 life is chaos without form and void. 00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:39.679 When we feel like that's true externally, 00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:42.599 whether that's true internally in our hearts. 00:35:44.679 --> 00:35:47.519 God is a life-giving creator and it is his 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:50.559 delight to not only create the world, 00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:53.000 but to continue to cultivate 00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:55.699 and to expand that life 00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:56.739 in this world 00:35:56.739 --> 00:35:57.940 for his glory. 00:36:00.460 --> 00:36:02.360 Think of the words that the apostle Paul 00:36:02.360 --> 00:36:03.619 write in Ephesians 2. 00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:06.199 But you who were dead 00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:08.679 in your sins and trespasses, 00:36:09.779 --> 00:36:12.179 God made you alive 00:36:12.179 --> 00:36:14.199 in Christ and raised you up 00:36:14.199 --> 00:36:14.659 with him. 00:36:14.659 --> 00:36:20.899 This is our hope. 00:36:22.199 --> 00:36:23.679 That God is a life-giving God. 00:36:26.379 --> 00:36:28.219 Not only is he the sovereign ruler, 00:36:29.259 --> 00:36:31.559 not only is he a life-giving creator, 00:36:32.099 --> 00:36:35.159 but he is a good creator. 00:36:35.619 --> 00:36:37.000 He does all things well. 00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:40.839 This point is very simple. 00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:43.600 We don't need to spend a lot of time expounding on it, 00:36:43.660 --> 00:36:45.039 but simply to say 00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:47.000 that God looked at his creation 00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:48.320 and as he did it, 00:36:48.460 --> 00:36:50.320 as he created the form 00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:51.960 and as he filled it with life, 00:36:52.120 --> 00:36:54.300 he saw it and it was good. 00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:56.260 And he saw it and it was good. 00:36:56.440 --> 00:36:58.180 And he saw it and it was good. 00:36:58.360 --> 00:36:59.860 And he saw it and it was good. 00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:01.200 And he saw it and it was good. 00:37:01.260 --> 00:37:02.539 And he saw it and it was good. 00:37:02.740 --> 00:37:04.140 And when he was finished, 00:37:04.220 --> 00:37:04.600 he saw it and it was 00:37:04.600 --> 00:37:07.200 and it was very good. 00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:21.279 and friends I think we live with a serious case of forgetfulness about how good that was 00:37:21.279 --> 00:37:27.119 and of course we would because we don't live in a world that doesn't express that goodness 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:31.719 one commentator Tremper Longman who wrote a great book on how to read the book of Genesis 00:37:31.719 --> 00:37:37.159 if you ever want that it's a short accessible introduction to the book says this this 00:37:37.159 --> 00:37:41.899 is important because the early Israelites the original readers of this creation account 00:37:41.899 --> 00:37:49.480 would not have experienced the world as entirely good and the same is true today the creation 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:57.119 account informs and ensure assures us that the world as created by God was good 00:37:57.119 --> 00:38:07.119 and friends though we experience the world is not always good today yet we still do don't we 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:15.839 we still taste the goodness of it we taste it in those moments where we interact with creation and we are 00:38:15.839 --> 00:38:21.119 awed and overwhelmed by its beauty and its majesty and its splendor 00:38:21.119 --> 00:38:27.519 we taste it when and I know many of you are scientists in this room when you look through 00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:34.059 the microscope and you see the amazing thing that God created and the incredible intricacy 00:38:34.059 --> 00:38:36.920 and delicacy of how God made that work 00:38:36.920 --> 00:38:50.619 you see it in the creativity of human beings who in God's image make art and music and literature 00:38:50.619 --> 00:39:00.059 who act and perform and sing who do these things in reflection of this original goodness 00:39:00.059 --> 00:39:09.500 goodness and though it is not as good as it was we can still taste it and remember that it is true 00:39:09.500 --> 00:39:21.119 and friends we see his goodness in the final day don't we after having said it was very good 00:39:21.119 --> 00:39:27.440 God then rested he rested from all his work 00:39:27.440 --> 00:39:41.219 now we need to see that in the greater picture of this and when God gave the law in Sinai book of 00:39:41.219 --> 00:39:47.139 Exodus the creation story was because God rested from his works in the seventh day we too are to 00:39:47.139 --> 00:39:56.420 observe a Sabbath and to rest from our works recognize that this is again a counter story 00:39:56.420 --> 00:40:01.739 against some of the ancient near eastern stories where human beings in the form of creation as the 00:40:01.739 --> 00:40:07.739 gods were taking control of the world were seeking to do so so that they could enslave human beings 00:40:07.739 --> 00:40:35.739 and make them work for them all the time that is not a life-giving God and it is not good but here we see God's goodness in his life-giving gift of this seventh day where he rested from his work rest so that we can enjoy God's creation and its goodness rest so that we can enjoy God himself 00:40:35.739 --> 00:40:44.879 God did not rest because he was tired or because he was bored or because he was bored or because he was out of ideas 00:40:44.879 --> 00:40:51.219 God rested so that he might enjoy the works that he created 00:40:51.219 --> 00:41:01.279 and to model for us and to set a pattern for us to live that we too might find rest in him 00:41:01.280 --> 00:41:04.880 and that rest that he invites us into 00:41:04.880 --> 00:41:09.040 the rest of enjoying his creation is something that 00:41:09.040 --> 00:41:13.440 then as the Bible plays itself out will be a beautiful rest 00:41:13.440 --> 00:41:15.140 with God forever 00:41:15.140 --> 00:41:18.540 in his presence and in his good creation 00:41:18.540 --> 00:41:22.760 when he redeems and recreates the world for himself 00:41:22.760 --> 00:41:31.660 we know this is true we see it see it and we've read it in John 00:41:31.660 --> 00:41:34.360 already but let me remind you again 00:41:34.360 --> 00:41:40.860 it's going to memorize just quote it but I might mess it up so I'll just read it so we don't mess it 00:41:40.860 --> 00:41:44.180 in the beginning was the word 00:41:44.180 --> 00:41:47.800 and the word was with God and the word was God 00:41:47.800 --> 00:41:54.120 he was in the beginning with God all things were made through him and without him was not anything made that was made 00:41:54.120 --> 00:41:56.080 in him was life 00:41:56.080 --> 00:41:58.660 and the life was the light of men 00:41:58.660 --> 00:42:01.560 and the light shines in the darkness 00:42:01.560 --> 00:42:03.300 and the darkness 00:42:03.300 --> 00:42:05.800 has not overcome it 00:42:05.800 --> 00:42:11.019 friends this is the good news 00:42:11.019 --> 00:42:12.960 is that God who created the world 00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:16.019 that we might see and enjoy his goodness 00:42:16.019 --> 00:42:18.679 has come as the redeemer of the world 00:42:18.679 --> 00:42:21.460 so that he might restore it to its goodness 00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:23.539 to a greater glory 00:42:23.539 --> 00:42:24.240 in fact 00:42:24.240 --> 00:42:25.340 in heaven 00:42:25.340 --> 00:42:27.320 through this one Jesus 00:42:27.320 --> 00:42:29.760 the light who has come 00:42:29.760 --> 00:42:32.059 to banish the darkness of sin and death 00:42:32.059 --> 00:42:34.139 and the one who will 00:42:34.139 --> 00:42:35.539 in eternity 00:42:35.539 --> 00:42:36.559 be our light 00:42:36.559 --> 00:42:38.400 and be our life 00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:42.539 the sovereign ruler 00:42:42.539 --> 00:42:44.960 bridges the gap 00:42:44.960 --> 00:42:46.139 between him and us 00:42:46.139 --> 00:42:47.420 by entering in 00:42:47.420 --> 00:42:49.199 to his creation 00:42:49.199 --> 00:42:50.320 in the incarnation 00:42:50.320 --> 00:42:51.619 of Jesus Christ 00:42:51.619 --> 00:42:54.079 he comes so that he might be 00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:54.840 a life 00:42:54.840 --> 00:42:56.099 giving savior 00:42:56.099 --> 00:42:57.880 to all who believe in him 00:42:57.880 --> 00:42:59.420 that we might be rescued 00:42:59.420 --> 00:43:00.559 from the death 00:43:00.559 --> 00:43:01.340 of our sin 00:43:01.340 --> 00:43:02.519 and our rebellion 00:43:02.519 --> 00:43:03.460 against God 00:43:03.460 --> 00:43:06.800 and he comes so that 00:43:06.800 --> 00:43:07.980 as we are raised 00:43:07.980 --> 00:43:09.039 to new life with him 00:43:09.039 --> 00:43:11.099 we may know his goodness 00:43:11.099 --> 00:43:12.880 now 00:43:12.880 --> 00:43:15.079 and for all eternity 00:43:15.079 --> 00:43:17.219 this is the gospel 00:43:17.219 --> 00:43:20.059 this is the good news 00:43:20.059 --> 00:43:21.659 of Jesus Christ 00:43:21.659 --> 00:43:23.659 this is the end of the story 00:43:23.659 --> 00:43:26.319 that Genesis 1 begins 00:43:26.320 --> 00:43:30.240 let's pray 00:43:30.240 --> 00:43:41.280 Lord I pray 00:43:41.280 --> 00:43:42.120 this morning 00:43:42.120 --> 00:43:42.760 that you would 00:43:42.760 --> 00:43:44.280 capture us 00:43:44.280 --> 00:43:45.140 with the awe 00:43:45.140 --> 00:43:45.780 of 00:43:45.780 --> 00:43:48.160 what a creator 00:43:48.160 --> 00:43:49.120 God you are 00:43:49.120 --> 00:43:50.380 and that this world 00:43:50.380 --> 00:43:51.420 that you have made 00:43:51.420 --> 00:43:52.519 Lord 00:43:52.519 --> 00:43:52.940 is 00:43:52.940 --> 00:43:53.980 Lord 00:43:53.980 --> 00:43:54.900 an expression 00:43:54.900 --> 00:43:56.260 of your creative 00:43:56.260 --> 00:43:57.700 sovereignty 00:43:57.700 --> 00:43:59.079 and your creative 00:43:59.079 --> 00:44:01.380 life giving power 00:44:01.380 --> 00:44:02.400 and your creative 00:44:02.400 --> 00:44:03.079 goodness 00:44:03.079 --> 00:44:05.579 Lord I pray 00:44:05.579 --> 00:44:06.440 that we might 00:44:06.440 --> 00:44:08.340 have assurance 00:44:08.340 --> 00:44:09.300 and confidence 00:44:09.300 --> 00:44:10.619 in you today 00:44:10.619 --> 00:44:12.800 in whatever we are facing 00:44:12.800 --> 00:44:14.320 in whatever we are walking through 00:44:14.320 --> 00:44:16.300 that this is the God 00:44:16.300 --> 00:44:17.380 who rules and reigns 00:44:17.380 --> 00:44:18.340 over all things 00:44:18.340 --> 00:44:19.440 and over our lives 00:44:19.440 --> 00:44:21.820 for your glory 00:44:21.820 --> 00:44:22.579 and for our good 00:44:22.579 --> 00:44:23.119 we pray 00:44:23.119 --> 00:44:24.720 in Jesus name 00:44:24.720 --> 00:44:25.960 Amen 00:44:25.960 --> 00:44:29.179 well friends 00:44:29.179 --> 00:44:30.200 it would be fitting 00:44:30.200 --> 00:44:30.900 for us 00:44:30.900 --> 00:44:31.900 as we 00:44:31.900 --> 00:44:35.599 as we close 00:44:35.599 --> 00:44:36.960 to observe 00:44:36.960 --> 00:44:38.019 communion 00:44:38.019 --> 00:44:39.920 the Lord's Supper 00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:41.780 we come to this table 00:44:41.780 --> 00:44:44.159 in order to remember 00:44:44.159 --> 00:44:44.860 what it is 00:44:44.860 --> 00:44:45.880 that God did 00:44:45.880 --> 00:44:47.760 to redeem us 00:44:47.760 --> 00:44:49.119 how it is 00:44:49.119 --> 00:44:50.079 that he has come 00:44:50.079 --> 00:44:50.720 ultimately 00:44:50.720 --> 00:44:51.960 to be our life giving 00:44:51.960 --> 00:44:52.420 savior 00:44:52.420 --> 00:44:55.660 we celebrate 00:44:55.660 --> 00:44:56.380 by drinking 00:44:56.380 --> 00:44:57.140 by eating 00:44:57.140 --> 00:44:58.140 a cracker 00:44:58.139 --> 00:45:00.480 at that 00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:00.960 tolerated 00:45:00.960 --> 00:45:01.539 by eating 00:45:01.539 --> 00:45:01.900 a cracker 00:45:01.900 --> 00:45:03.239 O 00:45:03.539 --> 00:45:04.500 to be 00:45:04.500 --> 00:45:05.319 SD 00:45:05.319 --> 00:45:06.259 can 00:45:06.319 --> 00:45:06.819 expose 00:45:06.819 --> 00:45:07.099 a cracker 00:45:07.099 --> 00:45:07.739 and 00:45:07.739 --> 00:45:08.559 over 00:45:08.559 --> 00:45:22.359 to be 00:45:22.759 --> 00:45:23.460 have