Chapter 1 - The Creation Account
Everything began with God. He is the Creator of the planets and stars and He is the Administrator who organized them all into their glorious galaxies. Through spoken word all things were made out of nothing and He alone holds all things together so that they may remain as something. He is the great Creator and Sustainer. From the smallest particle to the biggest star, He governs all of creation with a firm hand. And the best part about all of this...He made it all for us! For our enjoyment! For our pleasure! He is not only our Creator and God, but He alone is to be our Great Satisfaction!
Chapter 2 - Creation and the Placement of Man
Mankind is the epitome of God's creative acts. Rather than speaking man into existence like the rest of creation, God Almighty comes down to Earth and builds us with His own hands. He made us a home of beauty and majesty where everything was provided for our enjoyment by Him. He gave mankind the right to rule over His creation and He sanctified for us the amazing gift of marriage by bringing one man and one woman together for a lifetime of love and devotion to one another in Christ Jesus.
Chapter 3 - The Fall of Man
Man rebels against God. While this chapter is referred to as the Fall of Man, it might be better stated as more of a jump on our part. You see, God brought everything into existence. This means that He is the Owner. Therefore, He is the Ultimate Authority who set the parameters and boundaries for us to live by. However, through trickery, deceit, and the lust of our own evil desires, we decided we didn't need God to tell us how to live. This is the horrific chapter in Scripture where man sticks his hand in the face of God and goes his own way. Yet at the same time, this is the absolutely incredible chapter of Scripture which shows God coming in for the rescue. Even though man turned away, God is reaching out to forgive us and it is here where He first promises to send the Savior of the world whose name is Jesus Christ!
Chapter 4 - The Effects of Sin
Sin is now prevalent in the heart of man. Cain, Adam and Eve's firstborn son, murders his brother Abel because of his jealousy. In chapter four we are presented with the effects of our sin and the outcome that it has even on other people. Sin is never private. It is always like a bomb with shrapnel flying everywhere. And even through all of Cain's wickedness stored up in this chapter, God shows His grace to this murderer by coming to him and offering Cain life. Not just physical life, but spiritual life with Christ. What was Cain's response to God's offer? The text says in verse sixteen that "Cain went away from the presence of the LORD..." Cain, like natural sinful man, wanted nothing to do with God or His grace. He walked away from the Lord and the rest of the world followed.
Chapter 5 - The Result of Sin
Adam lived 930 years, and he died. The apostle Paul says in Romans 6:23 that "the wages of sin is death..." Sin always brings death and it is here that we see the result of our disobedience. These guys may have lived a long time according to our standards, but they still suffered the same fate that all of us will face one day. The incredible truth of this passage however, is that by the end of chapter five God has raised up a man named Noah whom He will use to rescue mankind from eventually destroying themselves. Even in the midst of rampant sin all over the earth, God is lovingly, mercifully, and graciously involved in all human affairs and is always seeking for our welfare.
No comments:
Post a Comment