Bible Seminars

from Four Soils Ministry

Genesis

Genesis Bible Seminar In the beginning God .. created

As we study Genesis we will dicover that most if not all of our key Bible Doctrines find their origin in the book of Genesis.

Genesis is the “book of beginnings” and is much more than a record of the origins of things. Genesis lays the bedrock upon which the great themes of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments are constructed. Genesis introduces the principal truths of theology as it introduces the relationship between God and mankind, the nature and origin of sin, the concept of covenant, of grace, of redemption, of judgement, and the promise of a Messiah who fulfills the plan of God.

Genesis, “the book of beginnings”, is the foundation upon which the rest of God's revelation rests. If the foundation is weak and cracks, we should not be surprised when the building collapses. The book of Genesis is very relevant for today. Genesis not only talks about our origins, but it lays the foundation for the relationship between the Creator and the created.

The first words of the book of Genesis immediately sets God’s Word diametrically opposed to many human philosophies, such as atheism and evolution. Genesis starts out by declaring there is a God and He created all things by stating “In the beginning God created” (not that things evolved). Genesis later states God created “each after its own kind."

Genesis is full of metaphors. Both the Old and New Testament uses words to draw pictures. Jesus with His parables are a good examples of how the Bible uses figures of speech. The Old Testament defines God as living water, or a high tower, or a safe refuge. God is not literally water or a tower. However, God is indeed the giver and sustainer of life (living water), and He is indeed the protector of His people (a high tower or refuge). A statement, therefore, can be metaphorical, but also accurate.

Starting in Genesis, but more so as we move on through the Old Testament we will find heavy use of typology. How the Word of God uses Israel as living parables are powerful figures of speech. God’s Word uses metaphors, parables, and other figures of speech to draw images in our minds that are never erased.

All of this is God’s attemp to reval Himself to man. God’s ultimate revelation of Himself is in the person of Jesus Christ. Not only did God describe Himself in human terms in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament He actually took on human form as Jesus Christ and lived among us, being fully God and fully man at the same time.

The Bible says, Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. But now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he made the universe and everything in it. The Son reflects God's own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. He sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command. After he died to cleanse us from the stain of sin, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God of heaven. (Heb 1:1-3)

Genesis, after a very brief introduction about the creation of all things, immediately launches into the story of God's covenant revelations through Adam, Noah, and then Abraham, Isaac and finally Jacob, the father of the tribes of Israel. Not only did He reveal His covenant relationship to Adam, Noah, and Abraham, He later reveals His covenant nature to Moses, David, and later the new covenant in His Son Jesus Christ. God is faithful to His covenant relationship that is revealed in Genesis.

Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love him and obey his commands. (Deut 7:9)