(Genesis) Genesis 1:3-5
The creation story in Genesis 1 shows God's power and authority over the world, and reminds us of our place in His creation.
In this sermon, the speaker discusses the six days of renovation as described in the Bible. The first day focuses on the creation of light, with God speaking and light instantly appearing. The speaker emphasizes that this must be a 24-hour day. Throughout the chapter, God repeatedly says 'let there be,' which is likened to the Ten Commandments of Creation. The speaker also highlights that God is not creating from nothing, but rather recreating and shaping the existing matter. The sermon emphasizes the importance of this story for humanity, as God created life and man on Earth.
Full Transcript
Now, something happened to the earth. You have here the six days of renovation, or I've divided it like this. Verse 1, creation of the universe.
Verse 2, convulsion of the earth. And then construction of the earth in six days, verses 3 through 31. And I believe that what you have here is that development.
Now, there are several things here we'd like to call attention to. It says in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and that is Exodus 20, 11. And there is nothing there in that word about creating.
It's really making. And God is taking that which is already formed here, and in these six days he is not creating, but he's recreating, if you please. He's making out of that which already exists, the matter that he probably called into existence billions of years before.
Now, he created life and put it on the earth. And he also created for the earth man. And that's the creature that you and I happen to be one of them today.
And that makes this story intensely important for us today. Now, you'll notice something else here. It says that God said, that's verse 3, and we come now to day one, and that's light.
God said, let there be light, and there was light. Just like that, my friend. God saw the light, that it was good, and God divided the light from the darkness.
And God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. And my friend, that must be a 24-hour day.
I don't see how you could get anything else out of that. But the important thing is, as we move down in here, God said, let there be light. Ten times in this chapter, it's let there be.
If you go down to verse 6, let there be affirmament. Verse 9, let the waters. We'll call attention to the others.
Ten times in this chapter, we have let there be. And as someone has called this, the Ten Commandments of Creation, this is a divine decalogue that you have here. First, let there be light.
There was light. And God called the light day, the darkness he called night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
This is the first time, by the way, that God spoke. This is something to note. God said, let there be light.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the Six Days of Renovation
- A. Creation of the universe (Genesis 1:1)
- B. Convulsion of the earth (Genesis 1:2)
- C. Construction of the earth in six days (Genesis 1:3-31)
- II. God's Creative Process
- A. God's use of existing matter
- B. God's creation of life and man
- III. The Importance of the Creation Story
- A. Its relevance to us today
- B. The significance of God's creative power
Key Quotes
“God said, let there be light, and there was light.” — J. Vernon McGee
“This is the first time, by the way, that God spoke.” — J. Vernon McGee
“It's really making. And God is taking that which is already formed here, and in these six days he is not creating, but he's recreating, if you please.” — J. Vernon McGee
Application Points
- We should recognize God's authority and power over the world.
- We should understand our place in God's creation and live accordingly.
- We should be reminded of the importance of God's creative power in our lives.