Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/Sermons/zz20031228.htm

HOLDING TO THE TRUE ORIGINS OF THE UNIVERSE
Part III: Appreciating The Value Of God's Creation WORDS
(Genesis 1-2; Hebrews 1:3)

Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

As we come to the end of our mini-series on Genesis 1-2 in this sermon, we may be asking the question, "What is the value of WHY God created the universe the way He did -- namely, by His speaking things into existence? Of what benefit is that method of creating to us TODAY so many thousands of years after creation?!"

This question can arise from considering the following facts we have learned in this series:

(1) In previous messages, we learned we need to support the special creation stance of Genesis 1-2 to defend our faith; after all, our Savior, Jesus Christ alluded to Genesis 1 and 2 as God's account of the creation, implying these passages were true, cf. Matthew 19:3-8. Since Christ has to be sinless to be our qualified Sin Bearer on the cross, meaning He can not lie as a sinner, then for our salvation to be valid, then Christ's implication that the Genesis 1-2 account of creation by way of divine special creation must be true.

(2) We have also learned that we can show from Scripture and evidences in nature that special creation is supportable as the means of origins.



However, the Christian may wonder, "I understand I should believe that the many times Genesis 1 reads, And God said . . . and it was so . . ,' instead of allowing for ANY kind of evolution, I must believe God made the entity involved by His special creative power apart from evolutionary processes; however, WHY did God create by means of speaking WORDS and NOT by just WILLING everything into existence -- WHY did He FOCUS so much on His WORDS?"



(We turn to the sermon "Need" section . . . )



Need: "I know we must defend our faith in backing special creation in Genesis 1-2 versus tolerating any evolution. Yet, I need to know WHY God made the universe by SPEAKING it all into existence!"
  1. In CONTRAST to his pagan world's beliefs, the author of Genesis pictured a sovereign God Who made the universe by His WORDS:
    1. The ancient pagan accounts of origins contemporary to the Genesis 1-2 account pictured a hero god slaying a monster that had repressed creation to release life-giving forces that produce the universe, cf. Mary K. Waken, God's Battle with the monster: A Study in Biblical Imagery, pp. 4-6 as cited in Bruce Waltke, Creation and Chaos , p. 6.
    2. However, in CONTRAST to these pagan accounts, Genesis pictures God sovereignly hovering over an inanimate ocean to begin creating the entire universe by speaking commands to that end, Genesis 1:2 with 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24 and 26 with Bib. Kno. Com., O.T., p. 28.
  2. SINCE Genesis 1-2 shows God made His WORD the CAUSE of the EXISTENCE of the ENTIRE UNIVERSE, God thus implied we are to RESPECT and FULLY OBEY His WORD (as follows):
    1. Since Genesis 1 reveals God's Word is the CAUSE of creation, when we observe the universe, we can value the POWER of God's Word :
      1. As an example of the power of God's Word, the spacecraft, Voyager revealed Saturn's 2 moons, Janus and Epimetheus, orbit so closely and with such close precision in relation to each other that about every 4 years, they revolve around each other and trade orbits (Creation Ex Nihilo, June-Aug., 97, p. 27).
      2. As another example of the power of God's Word, Professor Werner Gitt, director of the German Federal Institute of Physics writes the data stored in a "pinhead volume" of DNA, if written in "paperback books," would "make a pile of such books 500 times higher than from here to the moon!" (Ibid., Dec. 97-Feb. 98, p. 6)
      3. Hence, we respect the power of God's Word that set up Saturn's orbit-swapping moons and packed so much information into DNA!
    2. As Genesis 1 reveals God's Word is the CAUSE of creation, and we see it is old, we can value the FAITHFULNESS of God's Word :
      1. Hebrews 1:3 tells us Christ holds the universe together by the spoken Word He said in Genesis 1, Ibid., B.K.C., N.T., p. 781.
      2. As creation has existed for many generations, we value the faithfulness of God's Word!
    3. Since Genesis 1 reveals God's Word is the CAUSE of creation, when we note only on earth does an environment naturally exist fit for US to LIVE here, we can value the GRACE of God to us in His Word:
      1. The earth's surface is the only known place in the universe where the temperature range allows water naturally to exist in a liquid form, Creation Ex Nihilo, Dec. 1997-Feb. 1998, p. 44.
      2. When we consider the coldest temperature in the universe is -454 degrees F. and the hottest is tens of millions of degrees F., we can appreciate the grace of God's Word spoken to care for us by arranging an environment of the right temperature for us! (Ibid.)
    4. Since Genesis 1-2 reveals God's Word is the CAUSE of creation, as we read God's FIRST creative act was to make LIGHT immediately followed by His SEPARATING it from darkness to show our need to distinguish good from evil and truth from error, we value God's HOLINESS, Gen. 1:3f; Jn. 1:1-5; Ibid., Bib. Kno. Com., O.T., p. 29.
    5. Since Genesis 1 reveals God's Word is the CAUSE of the universe, when we read in Genesis 2-3 about the temptation of Adam and Eve where Satan questioned if God had said what He did shows us God planned to make us value His Word by how He made the universe so we would USE His Word for victory over Satan's wiles:
      1. God's emphasis on His spoken words in making the creation (Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24 & 26) sets the stage for us to value His words that warn Adam not to eat of the wrong tree, Gen. 2:16-17.
      2. Yet, in tempting Eve, Satan questioned IF God had actually SAID what He did about the forbidden tree in Genesis 3:1-4.
      3. When Adam had sinned and hidden himself, God asked Adam if he had disobeyed His Genesis 2:16-17 words warning of the tree!
      4. Hence, God put a heavy emphasis on the VALUE of His WORD in creating the universe in Genesis 1 so man might VALUE so as to heed His Word in overcoming Satan's wiles, cf. 1 John 2:14b!
Application: (1) In noting the VALUE of God's Word as seen in the Genesis 1-2 account in view of what we see in the universe and read elsewhere in the Bible, (2) may we OBEY God's call to TRUST in Christ for salvation unto eternal life, Acts 17:30; John 3:16. (3) Then, may we (a) READ, (b) TRUST and (c) FULLY APPLY His WRITTEN Word for blessing in the universe where GOD is our Creator and Sustainer BY WAY OF HIS WORD!

Lesson: Reading in Genesis 1 that the universe came into existence by God's spoken WORD, and noting what is REVEALED of God in creation and in God's written Word, the Bible urges us to VALUE His written SCRIPTURE so that we will USE and HEED it to the FULL for blessing!

Conclusion: (To illustrate the sermon lesson . . . )

 (1) At the suggestion of Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost, when I first pastored in O'Neill, Nebraska 27 years ago, I began to study the Bible apart from studies done for sermons. I began that study at Genesis 1:1.

In the process, I became intrigued by what Genesis 1:2-4 said of God's making light and calling IT "good" only to separate it from the darkness that God did not call "good." In tracing references to light and darkness in Scripture, I found light typified what is good and true and darkness what is evil and errant. So, in separating light from darkness in Genesis 1, God was signaling from the beginning we were to aim for what is true and right versus what is false and wrong!

I had just finished studying Genesis 1:4 when a knock came at the front door. The pastor of the town's main church and the head of the minister's association had come to invite me to join his association!

I knew this minister believed salvation was by faith plus works, so were I to join, I would fellowship with those of a different gospel versus what Galatians 1:8-9 taught. That meant I would also "fudge" on what Genesis 1:3-4 taught! Thus, I declined to join the association!

What he said in reply caught me off guard! He reported, "I'm not surprised! Your church's former pastor also refused to join us!"

His words made me GLAD I had decided not to join: I had thus not only protected my own conscience but also upheld my reputation before the Church and town as being consistent with my predecessor!

Since then, God has let me face situations where I have had to stand for the truth in accord with a growing series of such precedents!

[(2) This sermon and its introduction and conclusion notes were first planned for December 7th but were postponed until today due to a snow storm. Then, tonight's message was first planned for December 14th but was postponed until tonight due to a second snow storm!

Well, both messages address the need to respect God's Word as it applies to holiness, or the need to separate from sin and error and be righteous and true, a fact this closing illustration which was typed the first week of December also clarifies; thus, TODAY, God is strongly urging us to HEED His Word on holiness!]

God's WORD is IMPORTANT to GOD -- He CREATED and SUSTAINS the universe by His Word. May we then READ, HEED and FULLY OBEY SCRIPTURE in keeping with His will!