Review of Genesis 1

by Victor Fawole

Welcome to our “No Bible, No Breakfast” spiritual exercise. We are building our spiritual muscles in godly discipline, as we esteem the Word of God above our necessary food. Let us delve in Genesis 1 and glean as much as we can…

1. GOD IS THE CREATOR

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

The very first verse of the Bible is an absolute truth about creation that every believer must believe, in spite of the numerous attacks against it by philosophers, scientists, atheists, skeptics, etc. There are some false ideologies that people hold, and this verse refutes them all.

i. Atheism claims that the universe was a result of a Big Bang; the Bible says God is the Intelligent Personal Creator of the universe.

ii. Pantheism claims that the universe is God; the Bible says God is the Creator of the universe and He transcends the universe.

iii. Polytheism claims that many gods created the universe; the Bible says God is the sole Creator of the universe.

iv. Dualism claims that there are two supreme forces (God and Satan) that created and govern the universe, good for God and evil for Satan. The Bible says God was alone when He created the universe and even Satan Himself.

v. Humanism claims that man is God (the ultimate reality); the Bible says God is the Ultimate Reality that created man.

vi. Evolutionism claims that everything in the universe evolved; the Bible says God created everything in the universe.

Creation was a series of supernatural, instantaneous, unexplainable miracles. Creation didn’t just happen. It had a Designer, and this Designer is God (“Elohim” in Hebrew). Elohim is actually “plural” but it is always used with a singular verb for God. This reveals a unity and diversity in the nature of God. We know this as the doctrine of the Trinity: God is one Being and three Persons — Father, Son, and Spirit.

These three Persons in the Godhead were actively involved in creation…

• The Father is Creator — Gen. 1:1-31; Isa. 40:21-28; Isa. 43:1,7; Isa. 45:12,18; Isa. 48:13; Isa. 51:13; Acts 14:15; Acts 17:24
• The Son is Creator — John 1:3; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:3; Rev. 3:14
• The Spirit is Creator — Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; Job 33:4; Psa. 104:30; Isa. 42:5

The three Persons in the Godhead were not only involved in the creation of man (Gen. 1:26-27), they were also actively involved in the redemption of man (Eph. 1). I’ll recommend that you keenly follow our ongoing Bible Study on Ephesians. We have it during our Sunday Services. You’ll understand better, the roles they played for our Salvation.

It is possible that a believer struggles to explain the creation, but no believer should deny that God is the Creator. The revelation of Creation that we have in the Bible is inspired by the Creator God Who cannot lie (Heb. 6:18) and all other philosophies are from Satan, the father of all lies (John 8:44). Denying this doctrine is tantamount to calling God a liar, and rejecting the authority, inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible.

2. IN HIS IMAGE…

Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Man is distinct from other creatures because we are the crown of all Creations. We are made in God’s image. What exactly does this mean? Well, it can be explained biblically in different ways. It means that:

Man is capable of having God’s communicable attributes (I recommend that you attend GOG Academy to learn more about these).

• There is a clear distinction between human life and animal life. Animals were not made in the image of God; thus, they cannot have the love and fellowship we have with God.
• There is a clear distinction between human life and angelic life. Angels were not made in the image of God; thus, they cannot have the love and fellowship we have with God.
• Of all creation, only man has personality, morality, and spirituality (as earlier mentioned by Mrs. Ilufoye in her morning charge).
• Although divinity and humanity are different, they are compatible. Thus, the incarnation of Jesus is possible and true. Also, we will one day appear like Jesus in immortality.

At this point, let us take some moments to worship God for creating us in His image, and “re-creating” us in Christ Jesus…

3. DAY BY DAY… GOOD!
Here is a summary of the seven-day creation account:

Day 1: Light (Day & Night)
Day 2: Atmosphere / Sky
Day 3: Dry land and Plants
Day 4: Sun, Moon, and Stars
Day 5: Birds and Aquatic Animals
Day 6: Land Animals and Man
Day 7: Rest

After each day’s work, God saw that what He had made was “good”. What a sound judgment from the Creator Himself. Creating everything from nothing is good. Overcoming darkness with light is good. Good! Good!! Good!!! God saw that everything was good, because His works met the purpose He designed them for. In verse 31, when all works were finished, God’s testimony was…

Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Hallelujah!

Dear Gogolights, let us take this spiritual exercise seriously. It is a nourishment to our souls, and a delight to our hearts. God bless you real good. Amen.

Grace to you, Church!