THE FIRST AND LAST VERSES OF THE BIBLE ARE SHORT BUT PROFOUND IN SIGNIFICANCE. THAT'S OUR STUDY FOR TODAY.
1) GENESIS 1:1
A. OUR FOUNDATION - THIS VERSE IS THE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH ON WHICH THE REST OF GOD'S WORD STANDS . IT NEEDS TO START AT THE RIGHT PLACE - PRO 9:10
1. GOD IS REAL AND THE WORLD EXISTS. THERE IS SOMETHING RATHER THAN NOTHING.
2. THE FACT THAT WE ARE PERSONS POINTS TO A PERSONAL CREATOR - ACTS 17:24-29; JOHN 1:1-4
3. WE DEPEND ON GOD EVERY MOMENT OF OUR LIVES - ACTS 17:28
4. CHRIST CONTINUES TO UPHOLD THE CREATION - HEB 1:3; COL 1:17, WE UNDERSTAND THIS BY FAITH
HEB 11:1-3
5. "THIS IS MY FATHER'S WORLD"
6. IN THE WORLD THERE WERE/ARE MANY WHO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD BUT REFUSE TO HONOR HIM.
B. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE REALITY OF GOD AND THAT HE MADE THE WORLD
1. WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO HIM
2. HE HAS AUTHORITY OVER US
3. HE WILL DETERMINE OUR DESTINY
C. GOD IS REAL, RIGHT NOW
1. THEORETICALLY VS EXPERIENTIALLY - 1 KINGS 10:6,7; JOB 42:5,6
A. GOD BECOMES VERY REAL TO US WHEN WE LIE ON OUR DEATHBEDS. SUDDENLY, THE BUSY LIFE WE'VE LEAD HAS LOST IT'S IMPORTANCE.
2. THE CHALLENGE IS TO LIVE EVERYDAY IN SUCH A WAY THAT GOD IS REAL TO US. GEN 1:1 SHOULD HAVE A REAL IMPACT ON US IN THE PRESENT.
A. GOD MANIFESTED HIMSELF IN HIS CREATION. - ROM 1: 19, 20
B. WE CAN'T DENY HIM OR HIS IMPACT.
D. 2 THINGS TO DO
1. APPRECIATE THIS WORLD THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US - ACTS 14:17
2. APPRECIATE THE WORD THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US - DEUT 4:39
E. THE FIRST VERSE TEACHES US THAT WE CAME FROM GOD AND WE WILL RETURN TO HIM ECCL 12:6-7
F. CONSIDERING OUR EVENTUAL RETURN TO GOD, WE OUGHT TO LIVE EACH DAY IN PRACTICAL RECOGNITION OF OUR ACCOUNTABILITY TO HIM - WE OUGHT TO LIVE LIFE FOR GOD.
1. WHAT IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN - ECCL 12: 13-14
2. OUGHT PRIMARY THOUGHT IS TO PLEASE HIM - 2 COR 5: 9-10
G. THE GOD OF CREATION IS THE GOD OF OUR SALVATION
H. HEBREWS 2:10