Creation Narrative

Over the past month I have been teaching through the compelling book of Genesis. There are so many fascinating and pivotal narratives that reveal God's covenantal faithfulness to His people. The Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) is instrumental in displaying the major themes and motifs of Scripture. As a matter of fact, I believe that its absolutely essential that Christians have a thorough knowledge of these inspired texts. This would definitely clear away much confusion regarding the methodology of missions and evangelism. If we are truly "baptized into Christ" according to the Apostle Paul then we share in the glorious inheritance and promise of Abraham (Galatians 3:27-29). I must say that I have always come away with a renewed understanding and appreciation for God's redemptive purposes when I read through Genesis.

In the next couple of posts I just want to briefly touch on the Creation narrative and discuss some of the implications that are derived from these texts. The posts in this series will certainly not be exhaustive in their scope. Right now I want to focus specifically on the first verse and what it means in the context of Christianity.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"

In the very first phrase of the Bible, the author (traditionally ascribed to Moses) states that only God is the agent of Creation for both the heavens and the earth. God alone is to receive our praise and adoration for His marvelous work and design. The reader can also discover in this verse that before there was a vast material universe God eternally existed. It is simply amazing that God would choose to create a world that could be inhabited by His specially designed creatures. In the New Testament we also discover that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God"(John 1:1-2). Jesus Christ is proclaimed as the Word before the grand act of creation. Christians can be confident that Jesus has the power to save and to atone for sins because He is truly God in the flesh. This gives the Christian a good apologetic for the deity of Christ and His equality with God the Father.