Genesis 1:1 - In The Beginning...

  • Jeremy Erb
  • Sep 30, 2007
  • Series: Genesis

This week, we begin a study of the book of Genesis. In order to understand Genesis correctly, we need to understand not only what it is, but also what it isn't.

Genesis is NOT:
  1. A Scientific Textbook
  2. An Apologetic for the Existence of God

We have failed to:

  1. Study Genesis in it's historical context.

  2. Understand it's composition and genre

  3. Apply it to our spiritual lives.

Genesis IS:
An introduction written by Moses during a crucial transition in the life of the nation of Israel. It is written to frame a worldview for them to live by and undertand themselves, their God, and the world they find themselves in.

A worldview answers:

  1. Who are we? Identity

  2. Where are we? Environment

  3. What is wrong? Evil

  4. Where are we going? Eschatology

The book of Genesis answers these questions for the nation of Israel as they prepare to enter into the promised land after being redeemed out of Egypt. It stands in stark contrast to many prevailing worldviews of it's day, and of ours:
  1. Atheism
  2. Deism
  3. Panteism
  4. Henotheism
  5. Radical Materialism
  6. Naturalism
  7. Fatalism

One of the significant themes in the book is the goodness of God. It is demonstrated throughout the entire book and highligted in both the beginning and ending chapters.