Genesis

1. Genesis "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation 22: 13

2. Our Goal for Today Be amazed at the completeness of the creation through the literary structure of the first “toledoth”! Observe four things in chapter one of Genesis. Answer the question, “Is the Christ seen here?” in each observation. Talk about applications to that truth.

3. Genesis chapters 1-3 Investigating 2 of the 10 Sections, or Toledoth In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth 1:1-2:3 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth 2:4-4:26

4. Completeness of the Creation The Number 7 This number is used to represent God’s complete provision both in Christ and in His dealings with men. The seven days make a perfect week. The seven colors make a perfect spectrum. The seven notes on the piano make a perfect scale. The seven articles of furniture in the tabernacle make a perfect picture of the Christian life. The seven “eyes” describe the perfect omniscience of the Hoy Spirit (Zech. 3:9). The number seven occurs very frequently throughout the book of revelation, and in each case it indicates the perfect character of God, His perfect integrity, equity and justice in all His dealings with men. Wilson’s Dictionary of Bible Types

5. Completeness of the Creation • The correspondence of the first paragraph, Genesis 1:2 with 2:1-3, is underscored by the number of Hebrew words in both being multiples of seven. • Genesis 1:1 consists of seven (7X1) Hebrew words, Genesis 1:2 consists of fourteen (7x2) words, and Genesis 2:1-3 thirty-five (7x5) words. • In addition, “God” is mentioned thirty-five (7X5) times, earth occurs twenty-one (7x3) times and “heaven/firmament” lso twenty-one (7x3) times.

6. Completeness of the Creation • The number “seven” also dominates Genesis 1:1-2:3 in a startling way, not only in the number of words in a particular section, but also in the number of times a specific word or phrase recurs, which in all comprises the sevenfold patterning of this section: • The arrangement of Genesis 1:1-2:3 consists of an introduction and seven paragraphs.The introduction identifies the Creator and creation (Genesis 1:1-2); six paragraphs corresponds to the six creation days (1:3-21). The seventh paragraph marks the climactic seventh day, the day of consecration (2:1-3)

7. Completeness of the Creation Be sure and look at your handout: Although there are ten commandments of the divine word (#1) and eight commands actually cited (#2), the formulae are grouped in sevens.

8. Completeness of the Creation Be sure and look at your handout: The intentional sevenfold patterning of Genesis 1:1-2:3 is only maintained by our author skillfully and intentionally omitting some of the formulae: the fulfillment formula is omitted in Genesis 1:5 (Day 5), the description of the act in Genesis 1:9 (Day 3), and the approval formula in Genesis 1:6-8 (Day 2).

9. Completeness of the Creation Be sure and look at your handout: Whereas in each case the Septuagint (LXX: the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures by seventy men) mistakenly adds the appropriate formula, these additions obscure the original sevenfold pattern of this section.

10. What do we observe? He, God, was alone the force and power of creation. God spoke the creation into being by the power of His Word. Light was first created, which separated it from the darkness. God chose the forms and animated them with life.

11. Is the Christ seen here? He, God, was alone the force and power of creation John 1: 1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Christ - He defines all things!

12. Christ - He defines all things He, God, was alone the force and power of creation His Word and His word alone defines what is true. His character is true character to be sought after. All things created reflect the glory of Him. No idols are to be before Him.

13. What do we observe? He, God, was alone the force and power of creation. God spoke the creation into being by the power of His Word.

14. Is the Christ seen here? God spoke the creation into being by the power of His Word. Colossians 1: 16-7 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Christ - the agent of creation!

15. Christ - the agent of Creation God spoke the creation into being by the power of His Word. We owe Him our worship and praise - Psa. 148 We are to stand in fear and awe of Him - Heb. 12:28-29 We are accountable to Him - Gen. 3

16. What do we observe? He, God, was alone the force and power of creation. God spoke the creation into being by the power of His Word. Light was first created, which separated it from the darkness.

17. Is the Christ seen here? Light was first created, which separated it from the darkness. John 1: 4-5 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

18. Is the Christ seen here? Light was first created, which separated it from the darkness. 1 John 1: 1a; 5-7 What was from the beginning This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. Christ - reveals all things

19. Christ - reveals all things Light was first created, which separated it from the darkness Walking outside of Him is walking in the darkness. There is no gray zone. Fellowship with one another is dependent upon a walk in the light. He reveals all things as we walk in the light.

20. What do we observe? He, God, was alone the force and power of creation. God spoke the creation into being by the power of His Word. Light was first created, which separated it from the darkness. God chose the forms and animated them with life.

21. Is the Christ seen here? God chose the forms and animated them with life Ephesians 2:1-7 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

22. Is the Christ seen here? God chose the forms and animated them with life Romans 8:29-30 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Christ - the only lifegiver

23. Christ - the only lifegiver God chose the forms and animated them with life It is His choice to create, call and develop me as He desires. This is the absolute best. The animation force is not man, but the breath of life from God. I am fully owned and accountable to the one who gives life and sustains it.

24. Is the Christ seen here? The definer of all things The Agent of Creation The revealer of all things The only lifegiver

25. Genesis "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation 22: 13