Genesis 1:1

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

God Created the Heavens and the Earth

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The Bible teaches the universe was created, but God is eternal.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Are your priorities in line with the first verse of the Bible?

QUESTIONS

  1. Who was the inspired author of the Pentateuch? What is the Pentateuch?

  2. Events recorded in Genesis begin with ____________________, and end with the death of ____________________.

  3. Is the creation account
    a) a Hebrew parable with symbolic language
    b) a Hebrew poem
    c) a historical narrative?
    Why do you think so?

  4. Is it a reasonable faith to believe that the universe was created, but God is eternal? Why?

  5. It requires faith to believe Genesis 1:1. Cite at least one other Bible verse to support this.

  6. When is the word, “create,” used in the Bible?

ANSWERS

  1. Moses, who was an eyewitness to the events recorded in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Pentateuch comprises the first five books of the Bible.

  2. The events in Genesis begin with creation and end with the death of Joseph, taking place before the time of Moses. However, Moses wrote about these events. He may have had some historical documents, perhaps written by the earlier patriarchs, or God could have revealed them directly to him.

  3. c) A historical narrative.

  4. Yes. Because the only other logical option would be to believe that the universe is eternal. And a universe cannot just start out of nothing.

  5. Hebrews 11:3, and Psalm 90:1-2.

  6. The word, “create,” is the Hebrew word, “bara.” It is only used in the Bible for God’s activity, and never used for man’s activity. This emphasizes that God brought this universe into existence out of nothing. See Romans 4:17.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The second law of thermodynamics, a proven scientific law in nature, indicates that the universe is running down and becoming more disordered as time goes on. How does this relate to Genesis 1:1?

  2. The first law of thermodynamics states that matter or energy is not being created at the present time, but is only changing in form. How does this relate to Genesis 1:1?

CHALLENGE

  1. Are your priorities in line with the first verse of the Bible? Does God come first in your life? If not, list your idols. (An idol is anything that comes before God in your life; anything that comes between you and God).

  2. See Hebrews 11:3 and 11:6. In what ways do these verses describe your own faith?

KEY VERSES

  • “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

Talks, Old Testament, GenesisFaitheGenesis 1:1