Is Genesis History Class Notes
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Is Genesis History Class Notes Genesis Chapter 1 – The Origin of Everything Genesis – Original meaning is “Origins” Genesis forms the foundational for almost every Christian doctrine. Why are we accountable to God – because he is Creator. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth – Genesis 1:1 …here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. – Ecc. 12:13 Why does sin exist – because we rejected God’s authority. When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. – Genesis 3:6 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23 Why does death exist – because God is holy and just He cannot overlook sin, there has to be a penalty and the wages of sin is death. you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die. – Genesis 2:17 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23 Why is sexual sin and homosexuality wrong – because man and women were created to be one flesh. That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. – Genesis 2:24 "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' – Mark 10:6 Why is human life sacred – because we were created in the image of God. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image…” - Genesis 1:26-27 You shall not murder. – Exodus 20:13 Why set one day aside for rest and reflection on God. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. – Genesis 2:3 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. – Exodus 20:8 Why is modest dress appropriate for Christians – because our view of sexuality became distorted at the fall and God provided clothing to limit temptation in this area The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. – Genesis 3:21 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety… - 1Timothy 2:9 Origin for information in Genesis – Moses penned book, but where did the information come from? Adam “Heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” – Genesis 3:8 Noah’s life overlapped with that of Shem (Adam’s son) – he had 120 years to prepare for the coming flood. Moses lived less than 10 generations after the flood – he could easily have had access from documents coming directly from Adam. Two views of Genesis – History or allegory? al·le·go·ry - a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning The vast majority of denominations and Bible colleges teach that Genesis 1-11 is simply an allegory with spiritual meanings. Why? _____________________________________________________________________________ What damage is done by the allegory viewpoint? ___________________________________________________ Key scriptures dealing with this compromise position: o John 3:12: “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” o 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” o John 5:46-47: “If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?” Genesis 1:1-2 – Opening summary statements Style of Genesis 1-11 is same as Hebrew writing in historical books such as Judges, Kings, Chronicles - not poetic books such as Psalms and Song of Solomon. Starting in the early 1800’s theologians who accepted the non-Biblical, billions of year interpretation of rock layer (that ignores Noah’s flood) looked for a way to “add” this vast time-scale to Scripture. They “found” a gap of billions of years between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 and it slowly became doctrinal reality in many denominations. This puts death before Adams sin, denies a worldwide flood, and distorts dozens of other clear scriptural statements. Genesis 1:3-5 – Day 1: Creation of the entire electromagnetic spectrum and all of matter in the universe, started day and night cycle so we would know the time period involved. Lots of speculation as to exactly what was happening here God’s Word provides relevant, accurate, and understandable information but not exhaustive knowledge Every time the Word “Yom” is used in Scripture with a number, is means a normal day. Genesis 1:6-8 – Day 2: Formation and separation Earth and the heavens – starts expansion of space itself He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. – Isaiah 40:22 God is systematically preparing a perfect paradise for mankind to live The transformation of matter into Earth is beginning and Space is being stretched out. The waters above may form the edge of the universe Genesis 1:9-13 – Day 3: Enormous geological activity – Land masses form, oceans form, planet covered in plants Gathering of waters implies Earth movement – geology of the Earth testifies to this Miraculous formation of the incredible variety of plant life – grasses, herbs, trees STRONG emphasis on separate kinds of plants reproducing after their own kind (3 times) – evolution of bacteria to plants could not be true if the Bible is true – Christians need to choose who to believe Genesis 1:14-19 – Day 4: Sun, moon and stars formed Order of Creation destroys “Day/Age” theory – how could plants survive billions of years without the sun? Keeps sun from being center of mankind’s attention – it is for marking seasons, not creator of life. Both evolution and ancient culture deify the Sun 100,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars are a mere “afterthought” to God Genesis 1:20-23 – Day 5: Sea creatures and birds created Two more times it is emphasized that creature do not transform one into another kind. Only day where God does not end by saying “it was good” – creation of animal life is not finished. Genesis 1:24-31 – Day 6: Creation of land animals and mankind. No death, perfect creation, plants given for food. FIVE more times it is emphasized that creature do not transform one into another kind. Four times God states that we were made in HIS image o Creativity, Language, Freedom of choice, Moral understanding VERY clear that it was a perfect creation with no death – even animals ate vegetation Genesis Chapter 2 – Mankind’s Creation in God’s Image Genesis 2:1 – Bookend on Chapter 1 (ends overview of creation account that starts with Genesis 1:1) Genesis 2:2-3 – Creation is finished Variation of creation continues but no new matter/energy, stars, basic body structures, no increase in complexity, entropy at minimum (universe starts out wound up to maximum perfection) Creation before the fall completely different than its operation after the fall – much speculation, little known Genesis 2:4-25 is NOT a “second creation story” – focus is now on creation of mankind Vs. 4 - YOM (“Day”) used as a period of time immediately before man was created (days 3-6) – no number attached Vs. 5-6 – Rain water cycle on Earth very different (possibly a canopy protecting Earth for perfect environment) Vs. 7 – Very significant that our physical body and our soul are listed separately. The essence of who we are comes from the breath of God. Four times God previously listed how we are made in His Image. Very different from all other created life. What are some of those ways: Intelligence/Creativity Language ability Ability to Love/Empathy Free Will Vs. 8-14 – Description of area of Earth were Adam was first created Places and names would have been very familiar to mankind from 6000 – 4300 years ago. Garden of Eden is GONE. The earth was completely resurfaced by worldwide flood (“…the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.” – 2 Peter 6:6) Names of places and rivers after the flood renamed for remembrances from before the flood, i.e. Colonial America & original English names Vs. 15 – Work is NOT part of the curse. Useful work is a blessing from God. All work done to the glory of God is fulfilling. Vs. 16-17 – Without choice there can be no freedom and no love “…in the day that thou eat…you will surely die” - A time period not a specific day. Immediate spiritual separation occurred, in a sense mankind did die spiritually on that day (God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in sins—it is by grace you have been saved. – Ephesians 2:4-5) Vs. 18-25 – Creation of Woman Adam shown every basic type of living creature – none suitable for companionship Mankind’s creativity, intelligence, and language ability immediately apparent Woman is equal to man in importance, made as a partner, not a servant Interesting note – the rib is the only human bone capable of regrowing itself Implication is that man and women are meant to complete each other, implication is “to be one” is for life Sexuality was meant as a beautiful thing - sin has distorted and twisted it Strong implication of Chapter 1&2 is that had we not sinned we would live forever both physically and spiritually.