TEXT:  Gen. 1:1

INTRODUCTION:

A.  THE FIRST VERSE OF THE BIBLE SETS FORTH A MOST PROFOUND

          PROPOSITION.

          1.  It is an explanation of all that is, where it comes from, and why it’s here.

          2.  An us – what is the also the end of us.

B.  WE SHOULD STUDY THIS VERSE AND EXAMINE ITS TRUTHS.

I.      IN THE BEGINNING.

A.  THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF SOMETHING BEFORE – SOMETHING FROM ETERNITY.

          1.  Jesus and God are eternal (John 17:4;  Col. 1:16-17).

          2.  His plan for saving us is an “eternal purpose” (Eph. 3:11;  Titus 1:2).

B.  THE BEGINNING OF TIME AS WE KNOW IT (John 1:1).

          1.  Scientists acknowledge such a beginning. – Big Bang, Evolution.

          2.  Disagreement on what happened and what caused it.

II.     IN THE BEGINNING GOD … (Heb. 11:6)

A.  BELIEF IN GOD IS VITAL.

          1.  God shows himself in what he has done (Psa. 19:1;  Rom. 1:18-20).

          2.  What has he done? (Heb. 1:10;  Matt. 6:26, 28-29).  Intelligent design.

          3.  Man is different (Psa. 139:14;  8:1-5).

                   a.  The wonders of the human body.

                   b.  rational thought,  sense of morals,  conscience,  esthetic nature,  personality

B.  BELIEF THAT HE IS.

          1.  Self-existent. "WHO MADE GOD?" (John 5:26;  Acts 17:24-25;  Psa. 50:12 ).

          2.  Eternal – No beginning or end ( Rev. 1:8;  Ex. 3:14;  90:1-2;  102:25ff).

          3.  Infinite.

                    a.  In knowledge ( Psa. 139:1-2;  Dan 2:20-22 ;  John 16:30).- OMNISCIENT.

                   b.  In presence(1 Kings 8:27;  Psa. 139:7-10;  Jer. 23:23-24 ). - OMNIPRESENT

                   c.  In power (Job 42:2;  Psa. 147:5;  Jer. 32:17;  Dan. 4:35). - OMNIPOTENT.

                   d.  Righteous ( Deut. 32:4;  Psa. 45:6-7;  Psa. 89:14). – JUST.

III.    IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED … (Gen. 1:26).

A.  IT ALL BELONGS TO HIM (Psa. 50:10-12).

B.  HE CAN DO WITH AS HE WILL WITH WHAT IS HIS (Jer. 27:5).

C.  MAN IS SPECIAL WITH A SPECIAL PLACE (Psa. 8:3-9).

D.  HE ALSO HAS PURPOSE (Ecc. 12:13-14).

IV.   WHAT SHALL BE OUR RESPONSE TO GOD?

A.  WE MUST NOT BE AS THOSE WHO REJECT HIM.

          1.  Some outright (Rom. 1:28).

          2.  Some by their manner of life (Prov. 14:2;  2 Pet. 2;1-2).

B.  WE SHALL GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO GOD (Ecc. 12:14;  2 Cor. 5:10).

C.  THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS WILL BE THE STANDARD (John 12:48).

D.  WE NEED TO TURN TO GOD AND SERVE HIM (1 Thess. 1:9;  Acts 17:30-31).

V.    HOW CAN WE KEEP GOD ALIVE IN OUR HEARTS?

A.  SPEND MORE TIME IN HIS WORLD (Acts 14:15-17).

B.  SPEND MORE TIME IN HIS WORD (Psa. 1:1-3).

CONCLUSION:

A.  GOD MADE US AND WE WILL RETURN TO HIM (Ecc. 12:7).

B.  SINCE WE ARE HIS CREATION AND HE HAS A PURPOSE FOR US, WHAT SHOULD

          BE OUR AIM? (2 Cor. 5:9).