In The Beginning God

Now let's go back to the book of Genesis. And this will be sort of an introduction to the book of Genesis and to our study. And what I want us to focus on as we study through the book of Genesis is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I want us to see in creation the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now Genesis chapter 1 verse 1, in the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. God created, he said, and it was so. He made, and it was so. And he said it was good, very good, very good. Now, the title's going to be, in the beginning, God. And that's the title and subject.

The word Genesis means beginning, beginnings, the origin of all things. Genesis is the beginning and origin of all things. Someone said, preacher of the past said, the book of Genesis is the seed plot, the seed plot to the whole Bible. For it contains the seed of all great doctrine and truths revealed in the scripture. If you can have a good foundation laid in the book of Genesis, you can understand and see the gospel throughout the word of God. Our great God is the eternal everlasting God. He has no beginning. He has no end. He is the eternal, everlasting. He says in Psalm 90, from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Beside him there is no other. He's the eternal, everlasting God. Many times we read in the book of Isaiah, he said, I am God. Beside me, there is no savior. I am God. Beside me, there is no other, the only just God and savior.

Our great God, as he's revealed himself in scripture, and that's the only way we can know anything about God, who is God, as he's pleased to reveal himself in the word of God. God has no beginning and he has no end. It just says, in the beginning, God. He answers to no one. He's dependent upon no one.

He's the all-sufficient, eternal God, all-sufficient in all things. As God, he's the absolute sovereign and ruler over all things. He's the Lord over all things. He's working all things after the counsel of his own will. He's working all things after his purpose and grace.

He asks no one for help. No one for advice. He doesn't need our help, does he? Did God ask anyone? Did He ask for any help when He created all things by the word of His power? He needed no help. He needed no assistance. He needed no information from someone else. He's the all-sufficient, eternal God. He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. Now, don't turn. Let me just read this to you.

We studied this in the book of Romans, remember, where it says, oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, Romans 11.33. How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counselor, or who first Hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. All things are of God in creation. All things are of God in salvation. He worketh all things according to his own will. I like the confession of Nebuchadnezzar.

He said, all the inhabitants of the earth are imputed as nothing and God doeth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of this earth and no one can stay his hand or say unto him, Lord God Almighty, what doest thou? The only place a sinner will truly bow and submit and worship is that the sovereign throne of a thrice holy God, we studied that in Isaiah chapter 6, didn't we? Wednesday night, last Wednesday. Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty. And what did Isaiah say? Woe is me, I'm undone. I'm a man of unclean lips.

Our God, you remember the heathen asked David. Those Philistines and Amalekites and Hittites, they said to David, David, where is your God? Where is your God? Remember David's answer, our God's in the heavens and he has done whatsoever he has pleased. God who is God is sovereign over all things. We don't need a God that's dependent upon anything, do we? We need a God upon whom we can depend for all things. He's the eternal, everlasting, all-providing for his people, the eternal God.

Genesis is a book of beginnings, and in this book of beginnings, everything speaks As we study through this, I want us to see everything speaks of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. When he talks about creation, the Lord Jesus Christ is the creator. We see all through the book of Genesis. Here's what we're going to study.

In Genesis chapter 2 verse 9, we see Christ is the tree of life in the midst of the garden. In Genesis chapter 3 verse 15, we're going to see that Christ is that promised seed of woman that will crush the serpent's head. In Genesis chapter 4, we're going to see that Christ is the lamb whose blood, the blood of Abel's lamb represented that sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Genesis chapter 5, we're going to see that Christ is the one that Enoch believed and walked with and God took him to glory. In Genesis chapter 6, we're going to see that Christ is that ark. The Lord Jesus Christ is that ark. That ark is a type and picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Genesis chapter 15, we're going to see that Christ is the seed promised who came from Abraham's loins and whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed. In Isaac, and that's a picture of Christ. In Genesis 22, we'll see that Christ is the Lamb of sacrifice whom God provided to die in the place of Isaac Remember Isaac said to Abraham, where is the lamb? Remember what Abraham said, God will provide himself a lamb. And the Lord Jesus Christ is that lamb provided of God. Behold the lamb of God that takes away our sin.

In Genesis 28, we're going to see that Christ is the ladder that Jacob saw by whom the blessings of God come down to men and by whom men ascend up to God. Christ is that ladder. Christ is that all-sufficient Savior. In Genesis chapter 24, we're gonna see, or Genesis chapter 14, we're gonna see that the Lord Jesus Christ is the priest after the order of Melchizedek, by whom God's elect are blessed.

In Genesis 41, we're gonna see that Christ is our Joseph. Remember, Joseph was sold out by his brothers and sold into Egyptian bondage, and God raised him up and put him on the throne to be a blessing unto his people. And Joseph is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. So we're going to see that in Genesis 41.

And then in Genesis 43, we're going to see that Christ is a surety portrayed in Judah, who is the surety for Benjamin. Remember Joseph said, you go back and get my little brother. Benjamin, you bring him to me. Reuben stood up and said, I'll be surety for him. And old Jacob said, uh-uh, that ain't going to work. But Judah stood up and said, I'll be surety for him. If I don't bring him back, require that of me. Judah is a type and picture of Christ, our surety. You see, everything is about the Lord Jesus Christ. Joseph and Judah are both personal types of the Lord Jesus Christ.

All through the Old Testament, we see Christ in instituted types, that whole Levitical law and that whole Levitical priesthood are instituted types typifying and picturing, foreshadowing the Lord Jesus Christ. And then we see all through the Old Testament providential types, personal types, instituted type, and providential types of Christ in the gospel. That smitten rock, that brazen serpent lifted up, that manna from heaven, that's all a gospel of the Lord, a picture of the gospel, gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, what I want us to see and understand in the book of Genesis is the gospel of Christ. As I've already said, and putting an emphasis upon, the book of Genesis is like every other book in the Holy Bible.

It's all about the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, how he by himself purged our sin, how he by himself purposed and brought in everlasting righteousness, how he by himself purposed and brought in salvation for his people to the glory of his great name. The Lord Jesus Christ is God our Savior. This whole book is about him. It's all about him. Now I want us to hold your place there in Genesis and I want you to find Matthew chapter one. Matthew chapter 1, and notice this.

I'm saying that the Lord Jesus Christ is God our Savior. Paul often refers to him as God our Savior. If you look at Matthew chapter 1, verse 21, and she shall bring forth a son, this is the angel declaring to Joseph, Thou son of David, fear not to take thee, marry thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is the Holy Ghost, verse 20, and she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, call his name Savior. All this was done. which was spoken by the prophet, that's Isaiah 14, 7, 14. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is what? God with us. So he's the Savior who is God with us. God with us.

Now, I want you to turn to Luke 24, Luke chapter 24. Luke 24, this is the risen Lord drawing near to two men, and he said unto them, verse 25, Luke 24, verse 25, then he said unto them, O fools, slow of heart, to believe all that the prophets have spoken, ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses, You see verse 27, beginning of Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them and all the scriptures, the things concerning himself. And all the scripture. Again in Luke 24, verse 44, he said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets and in the psalm concerning me. It's all about Christ, isn't it?

Now, I want you to turn to John chapter five. John chapter five. John chapter five, verse 39. John 5, 39. He's speaking to those Pharisees, the self-righteous Jews, and he's saying to them in verse 39, search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, but they are they which testify of me.

And you will not come to me that you might have life. I receive not honor from men, but I know you that you have not the love of God in you. I'm come in my Father's name and you receive me not. If another shall come in his own name, him you receive. How can you believe which receive honor one over another and seek not the honor that come from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father.

There is one that accuseth you, even Moses, whom you trust. Now watch this. Well, had you believed Moses, you would have believed me. Moses wrote about me. That's pretty clear, isn't it? The book of Genesis is about Christ. But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?

Look just across the page in John 5 verse 22. The father judged no man, but committed all judgment unto the son. that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father, which hath sent him. So we worship the Lord Jesus Christ, and we honor Him as we honor God, because He is God, our Savior. Now, I was gonna have you turn, but let me just turn and read it for you. In Acts chapter 10, Acts chapter 10, verse 42, He commanded us to preach unto the people and to testify that it was he which was ordained of God to be the judge of the living and the dead. This is Peter preaching to Cornelius in his house.

To him give all the prophets witness that through his name, whosoever believes in him shall receive the remission of sins. So all the prophets, Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah, all the prophets, they speak of the glory and the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, as we understand creation and a total and complete work of eternal God, the eternal God creating all things by the word of his power, as we understand that God created all things, so too in salvation all things are of God by his will, purpose, and power. The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. Now, as we often have repeated over the years, and by God's grace, I hope to, until these stammering lips lie silent in the grave, that salvation's of the Lord. that salvation is of the Lord.

It's God, creation, work alone. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus. So as we see in creation, God said, and it was so. God said, and it was good, even too in salvation. It's all of the Lord. It's all He's doing, just as it was in creation.

Now, verse one. Verse 1, in the beginning God created the heaven and God created the earth. The earth and the heaven, God created all things. Now the Bible makes no attempt to prove that God is or to explain God. in His eternal existence, but rather as a fact of declaration that God is God, beside Him there is no other. In the beginning, God.

Now, listen to Scripture, and you know, we've read this over the years, but when we think about In the beginning, God created. Hear, O Israel, this is Deuteronomy 6, 4. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. One Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ quotes that in Mark 12, 29. He quotes that. He said there's just one Lord. There is just one Lord. There is just one God.

But did you know, and some of you know this, but in Genesis chapter one, verse one, that word God, G-O-D, is actually, in the Hebrew, it's Elohim, Elohim. And that word Elohim is a plural word, a plural word. Here, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God, one God, but he is Elohim, which implies the plurality of persons in the Godhead. For example, if you look down to verse 26, Genesis 1 verse 26, the Lord said, let us, now who's he talking about? Father, Son, Holy Spirit. The plurality of the Godhead. One God manifest in three distinct persons. Let us make man in our image and in our likeness.

Now, for example, this same word, look at Genesis chapter 3 verse 5. Genesis chapter 3 verse 5. For God doth know, and that's the same word Elohim, God doth know in the day that you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and you shall be as, notice that word there, gods, knowing good and evil. Now it's the same word, Elohim, Elohim. And what I'm saying is that God is one God manifest in three distinct persons.

In Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verse one, and here's another example of that, where it says, remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth. And that word there really can be rendered creators. Let us make man in our image, in our likeness. Remember now thy creators in the day of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.

Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one, almighty, eternal God, manifest in three distinct persons in the eternal Godhead. Now, there's a word for that called the Trinity. The Trinity of the Godhead. While it's not a Bible word, it is a Bible truth. You know the word sovereignty is not in the Bible either. but the word sovereignty is all through the scripture where God does reign and rule over all things.

So we see the eternal God is manifested in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. One God in three distinct persons, as I've repeated, one in unity of divine essence, one in divine purpose, all eternal, and absolutely sovereign over all things.

Co-equal. Co-equal. Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Now, in 1 John 5, we studied this when we went through our Bible study in 1 John 5. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. That's capital W, speaking of Christ. There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one, are one. There are three that bear witness in the earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood.

These agree in one. Now let me give you some examples how this is seen in scripture. If you turn back to the book of Matthew again, chapter three, Matthew chapter three. We see this demonstrated all through the Word of God. Just in Genesis chapter 1 there, we see the Father, the Spirit, and the Light. That's the three in the Godhead. But in Matthew chapter 3, let's begin reading at verse 13. Here we see an example of this.

Matthew 3 verse 13, Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him. This is John the Baptist. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee. Comest thou to me? And Jesus answered and said unto him, suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Notice, becometh us. He's doing this as a representative man for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went straight up out of the water, and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, lighting on him, and lo, a voice from heaven sang, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. So there we see the Son, who was obedient under baptism, obedient unto death, fulfilling righteousness for us.

We see the Spirit of God in the form of a dove, identifying Him as the Lamb of God. And then we hear the Father speaking from heaven. We read of this twice in Scripture, down on the Mount of Transfiguration and here, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. So there we see the Father. We see the Son, and we see the Holy Spirit, but it's all through Scripture.

Let me give you one more example. In the book of Matthew, remember Matthew 28, turn over there. Matthew 28, when we concluded our study in the book of Matthew, Matthew 28, the risen Lord said in verse 18, Matthew 28, 18, all powers given unto me in heaven and in earth Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. One God, hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the earth. God, our great God, declares all things From the beginning, from the beginning.

Oftentimes, when the religious people got so upset with the Lord Jesus Christ, they got most upset with him when he declared, when you've seen me, you've seen my Father. I and the Father are one. What was their response? They picked up stones to stone him. You make yourself equal with God. He is God.

He thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He thought it not robbery to be equal with God, because he is God. Now that's the hope we have. that the Lord Jesus Christ as God bought us with His own blood. Doesn't it say that in Acts chapter 20, that God bought the church with His own blood?

That's what it says, Acts 20, 28. Now, God declares all things from the beginning. He said, I am God, beside me there is no other. You can turn with me if you want to. We've read this so many times, but I'm going to turn to Isaiah 46, and you can turn with me if you want to, but if not, just sit and I'll read it to you. In Isaiah 46, 9, he said, Remember the former things of old, I am God and there is none else. I am God, there is none like me. Now watch this, declares the end from the beginning. How could he do that? How can He declare the end of all things from the beginning?

God has decreed all things. His foreknowledge is not based upon Him foreseeing what would happen. His foreknowledge of all things is based upon His decree. that all things come to pass. I've known and regarded all of his works from the beginning. Declaring the end from the beginning, from ancient times of things that are not yet done, saying my counsel shall stand, I'll do all my pleasure, calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executes my counsel from a far country, I've spoken it, I also bring it to pass, I purposed it, I will also do it. Do all things. Known unto God all his work from the beginning, all true doctrine and all true theology and true religion begins with God. Begins with God. All false doctrine, false religion begins with the wicked thoughts of men, does it not?

The man who believes in evolution, the evolutionist, says, look how far man has evolved. He started as an amoeba, and look how far we have progressed. Now we're a man walking upright. They say, look how far we've come. The Bible says, look how far man has fallen. who is created in the image of God, Adam sinned against God, now he's running and hiding behind fig leaves. And he blames, really he blames God for his own trouble. It's a woman you gave me. So the Bible said, look how far man has fallen from the creation of God into a defiled, guilty sinner before God, running and hiding from God.

The evolutionary theory says, the evolution is the theory of wicked men who deny that God is God. Even what they call themselves, atheists. Theist is God. Atheist is against God. That's what an atheist is. He's against God. He says, no God. Do you know what the scriptures say about that man? Psalm 53 verse 1, the fool, the fool have said in his heart, no God. That's what an atheist is, he's a fool. He's a fool because he said there is no God.

Salvation is not a theory but a Bible fact. That God is the author and finisher of salvation. That he saves his people with an everlasting salvation. God said and it was so. God created it and it was so, and it was good. Salvation is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is the creation of God. Just as the creation in its original pristine estate was all the work of God, so too is salvation. And that's what we see. Our Lord said, I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life.

No man comes to the Father but by and through me. I love what Peter said to those who were about to put him in prison and have him executed for preaching the gospel. He said, neither is there salvation in any other, for there's no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. As Paul said, I count all things lost, dung, and ruined that I may win Christ and be found in him. As all things in creation are of God, so too all things in salvation are of God. Plan. purposed before sin ever entered into this world.

Now, we know what happened in Genesis chapter 3. In Genesis chapter 2, God said, in the day you eat of that tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you're going to die. Now, did that sneak up on God? He didn't say, now, if you eat of that tree. He said, in the day that you do. He said, you're going to die. Die spiritually, die physically, and the day you eat thereof you shall die. Well, we see in chapter 3 what happened.

Adam was tempted, Eve was tempted, and they disobeyed God and it plunged all of us into sin. But here's a point I'm trying to make. Salvation was planned and purposed before sin ever entered into the world. before Satan ever sinned against God. We're going to see that next week. And brought in sin into God's creation.

The Lord Jesus Christ, before Adam fell, the Lord Jesus Christ stood as a surety of the everlasting covenant. Right? Because we read in Revelation chapter 13 verse 8 that the Lord Jesus Christ is a lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Before Adam's sin, Christ stood.

He stood as the everlasting surety for the covenant people. He's called that. In Hebrews chapter 22, He's the surety of the everlasting covenant. He's a better surety. He's a better priest, with a better sacrifice, with a better covenant. An everlasting covenant that God made within the Trinity of His sacred person.

All things were purposed and planned by God from eternity, purchased in time by the blood of the Lamb in the fullness of the time God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, typified by the blood of Abel's Lamb. God said, and He still says this today, when I see the blood, I'll pass over you. I'll pass over you. So in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have everlasting salvation.

God Almighty created, prepared, informed, and fashioned all things out of nothing. He spoke all things into existence by the word of his power, by the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the creator of all things. I want you to turn to Psalm 33, and I'll let you go with these readings. Psalm 33. I'm saying that what it says in John chapter one, you turn to Psalm 33. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him. Without Him was not anything made that was made. He made all things just in salvation. All things revolve and are in and through the Lord Jesus Christ and with the Lord Jesus Christ in creation, so too in salvation.

I said Psalm 33, didn't I? Verse six. Psalm 33, verse six. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made by the word of the Lord. Now, who's the word? The word was with God, the word was God. And the host of them by the breath of his mouth, he gathered the waters of a sea together as a heap. He laid up the depth in storehouses that all the earth's fear of the Lord, that all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him for he spake. And it was done. He commanded, and it stood fast. God said, let there be light, and there was light. Now turn to a couple more places, and I'll let you go.

Colossians chapter 1. I'm saying that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator God. God the Father created all things through and in and by the Lord Jesus Christ. just as in salvation is all things of him, through him, and to him. Colossians chapter 1, look at verse 12. Colossians chapter 1 verse 12, giving thanks unto the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light in Christ who is the light. who had delivered us from the power of darkness and had translated us into the kingdom of his dear son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, for by him were all things created that are in heaven, that are in earth, visible, invisible, whether they be thrones or dominion, principalities or powers, all things were created by him, And for him, he is before all things, and by him all things consist, all things are held together by him.

He is the head of the body of the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. For pleased the Father, that in him should all fullness dwell, having made peace to the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself. By him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven. And you hath he reconciled who were dead in sin. Now I want you to turn to one more place.

The book of Hebrews, chapter, find the book of Hebrews, chapter one, first of all. I'm saying that the Lord Jesus Christ, as God our Savior, God the Creator, God the Justifier, He created all things by the word of His power. Hebrews chapter 1. Verse 1, God who in sundry times and diverse manners spake in the time passed unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, by whom he also made the worlds. who being in the brightness of his glory, the expressed image of his person, upholding all things by the word of his power, when he by himself purged our sin, he sat down on the right hand of God." Now, in that same chapter, Hebrews chapter 1, look at verse 8. He made his angels ministering spirits. But unto the Son, Hebrews 1 verse 8, unto the Son he saith, unto the Son he saith, what does he say? Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever a scepter of righteousness, is a scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity. Therefore thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. One more, I'll let you go home.

Hebrews chapter 11. Hebrews chapter 11. I'm saying that the Lord Jesus Christ as He's all and in all in creation and in salvation and in providence. This is what faith believes. The faith of God's elect. Hebrews 11 verse 1. Hebrews 11 verse 1. Now faith is the substance or ground or confidence of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen, for by it the elders obtained a good report.

Through faith we understand the world were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." The heavens declare the glory of God. The whole creation declares that God is God. over all things. So in the beginning, God. He's the God of creation. He's the God of salvation in all things.

In The Beginning God

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In The Beginning God

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