The Genesis.
Genesis 1:1.
1 In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 does not leave room for speculation. It is a definitive statement. What insight was God giving to us?
Quote - Desire of Ages Ch.1 pg.20-21. In the beginning, God was revealed in all the works of creation. It was Christ that spread the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth. It was His hand that hung the worlds in space, and fashioned the flowers of the field.
His strength setteth fast the mountains.” “The sea is His, and He made it.” Psalm 65:6; 95:5. It was He that filled the earth with beauty, and the air with song. And upon all things in earth, and air, and sky, He wrote the message of the Father's love.
But turning from all lesser representations, we behold God in Jesus. Looking unto Jesus we see that it is the glory of our God to give. “I do nothing of Myself,” said Christ; “the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father.”
I seek not Mine own glory,” but the glory of Him that sent Me. John 8:28; 6:57; 8:50; 7:18. In these words is set forth the great principle which is the law of life for the universe.
All things Christ received from God, but He took to give. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father's life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life.
2 Corinthians 5:19.
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Isaiah 44:24.
24 Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Quote - Patriarchs and Prophets Ch.4 pg.64 p.3 - The angels prostrated themselves at the feet of their Commander and offered to become a sacrifice for man. But an angel's life could not pay the debt; only He who created man had power to redeem him.
Question - Was Christ the redeemer before the earth was created or after the earth was created?
1 Peter 1:18-20.
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Why is this important?
Without the creator there can be no redeemer. If we remove the redeemer there is no creator, without him we are nothing and that equals death. Evolution is a death trap.
I want to state it plain. If we do not believe that God created all things through Christ, then there is no redeemer for us. If we do not accept the fact that "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself "( 2 Corinthians 5:19), we have embraced evolution whether we believe it or not.
Creation and Redemption
The same way God created the world is the same way he redeemed the world. Through His Son. In creation we see the redemptive power of God. In redemption we see the creative power of God.
Genesis 1:2.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Quote - The Desire of Ages Ch.1 pg.21,22 - Because God is a God of justice and terrible majesty, Satan caused them to look upon Him as severe and unforgiving. Thus he drew men to join him in rebellion against God, and the night of woe settled down upon the world. The earth was dark through misapprehension of God.
A Revelation of God
God through the creation of this world has told us a lot about himself. Are we paying attention. Is nature speaking to us about its God or are the scientist and experts doing all the talking?
Romans 1:20.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Genesis 1:3-5.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light..
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
In this creative process, was God revealing a redemptive process. Remember our creator is our redeemer.
2 Corinthians 4:6.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Bible Science - Is God creating light for the first time?
1 Timothy 6:16.
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Psalm 104:2.
2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
Why Light First ?
The earth was dark, and in the darkness there is no life. Where ever God's presence is there is light. God's creative power always reflects his character on everything he makes. The most visible aspect of himself is his clothing, his covering with which he now chooses to clothe the earth, light. He bestows upon the earth a part of himself, his light. He did not now create light but has given the earth the ability to be clothed in it.
Such is the redemptive process. A heart that is in darkness must be clothed in light in order to breathe life. That is why our darkened world had to receive the light of life.
John 1:4-9.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
2 Peter 1:19.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2 Corinthians 4:4.
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Quote - Bible Echo August 26, 1895, p.10 - There are periods which are turning points in the history of nations and of the church. In the providence of God, when these different crises arrive, the light for that time is given.
If it is received, there is spiritual progress; if it is rejected, spiritual declension and shipwreck follow.
Light always bring physical life and spiritual life.
God also demonstrated that there must always be a distinct separation between light and darkness. They cannot co-exist, one will displace the other. Either we will accept light or we will accept darkness.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Genesis 1:6-8.
6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day
Bible Science
God expanded a fluid in a fluid. Is Air a Fluid? Yes. A Fluid is any substance that flows.
https://howthingsfly.si.edu/ask-an-explainer/air-fluid
https://www.windows2universe.org/teacher_resources/air_fluid.html
Air is different to water as light is to darkness, and yet God cause air to expand in water. In the midst of the water he created something new, something different and what he created was to sustain life. Is there a redemptive process hidden in this creative process.
2 Corinthians 5:17.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ezekiel 11:19.
19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Ezekiel 36:26.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Romans 12:2.
22 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We can't change ourselves.
Jeremiah 13:23.
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
Quote - The Review and Herald, November 27, 1900 - It is discipline of spirit, cleanness of heart and thought that is needed. This is of more value than brilliant talent, tact, or knowledge. An ordinary mind, trained to obey a “Thus saith the Lord,” is better qualified for God's work than are those who have capabilities but do not employ them rightly.
It is true that we cannot change ourselves, but, if our creator is our redeemer, and he is, then the same way that he brought forth air, in the midst of water, it is the same way he can cause a new heart to exist in our sinful bodies. He has demonstrated his power to do this, we have to give him the opportunity to do it.
I pray that as we look deeper into the creative process that the redemptive process will become clearer. Join us again for part 2 as we continue this epic journey.
