GENESIS: Creation Story

Creation Story

text: Genesis 1:1 – 2:24

Outline:
1^st story, 1:1 – 2:3, 7 day of creation

2^nd story, 2:4 – 2:24, creation of man

Comments: Isn't it interesting and intriguing that Bible begins with the creation account. Not 10 commandments, not the Fall. The Flood could've been a great beginning – while Noah is in the Arks, God tells him the story of creation and fall – which led ultimately to the Flood. No, Bible starts from the very beginning. It tells you something – that God is the creator. No simply the One who put everything in its place, but the One who constantly creates – old things do not suffice, they have to be transformed (Isaiah 43:18-19; Isaiah 65:17 and 2 Corinthians 5:17; Revelation 21:5).

Therefore, the creation account is not simply a sequence of disconnected acts or events – it is a profound pattern we always need to return to. Fulfilling our life vocations, doing church work, or anything else – being the bearers of God's image we are bound to mimic His initial action of creation.

PSALM 24

Psalm 24

Three main parts:

A. vv. 1-2, Creation

B. vv. 3-6, Godly man

C. vv. 7-10, Ultimate King

A. Creation

Earth, seas, and rivers were created and established by the LORD. Note that the LORD is a personal name. It’s not just a force or abstract deity – it is YHWH whose name is Living One. Therefore, He is the source of live for the universe!

 

B. We had a similar double question in psalm 15 – who can?

“Requirements”:

1. Clean hands

2. Pure heart

3. Does not life up his soul to what is false – doesn’t participate in idolatry

4. Does not swear deceitfully

Lord’s response:

1. Blessing

2. Righteousness

3. Generational establishment

 

C. Ultimate King

Military commander of the [angelic] armies (cp. Joshua 5:13-15 and Luke 2:13-14).

He comes through the gates and doors – why gates first?

See the promise of God to Abraham, Gen. 22:17

And its fulfilment, Matthew 16:16-18

 

ROMANS 8. Part 2

ROMANS 8 (part 2, vv. 18-39)

the structure of the chapter as a whole can be found here.  

Part A’, vv. 18-30

St. Paul concludes the previous part with the claim of our heirloom in Christ, as long as we suffer with Him to be glorified with Him. Latin saying: “per aspera ad astra.” Through perils to stars…

Then he goes into a consideration of suffering and glory. Two things: (1) the level of suffering is not compatible to the “amount” of glory we will receive in Christ, example of groaning creation (vv. 19-25). 

(2) the Spirit (v. 26) helps us! For even do not know how to pray, but Spirit intercedes for us in our groaning…

For God knows us, predestined us, called us, being justified, and glorified! (vv. 29-30).

Conclusion (vv. 31-39). It begins like the other famous parts of Romans – 4:1, 6:1, 7:7. Later he will use it twice more in the next block (9:14, 30).

This paragraph can be an answer/conclusion to

Chapter 8, compare 8:1 reinforced by 8:38-39.  

Chapters 5-8, the name and the title if Jesus is the same in 5:1 and 8:39 (5:11, 21; 6:23; 7:25). So, it is the end of many-side discussion of the assurance we have in our LORD Jesus Christ. 

Chapters 1-8, it can be a answer to righteousness/faithfulness of God (1:17) set at the beginning and “challenged” in 3:1-8 (set of rhetorical question).  

God’s love shown in the sacrifice of Jesus is a proof and guarantee of our heirloom (v. 32):

Death and life

Angels or rulers

Things present or things to come (future)

Powers

Height or depth

ANYTHING in the created world – total 10 “units”

Can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our LORD.       

Psalm 93

PSALM 93

Dr. Luther said that the psalm is about the kingdom and the waters are trying to rage against it (Psalms with introductions by Martin Luther, CPH, 1973, p. 122). It is a possible reading – sometimes waters are raging attempting a resistance (Job 38:8-11). On the other hand, we know that the creation proclaims the glory of the LORD (Ps. 8). Also, St. Paul says that all creation groans for the full restoration, being reconciled with the Creator (cp. Rom 8:22; 2 Cor. 5:19).

Therefore, I would dare to propose another understanding. The rivers – literal reading of “the floods” (3 times in v. 3) – lift up their voices and roaring as supportive background of the majesty of the LORD. If this is a possible interpretation, then I can suggest a three-fold development.

ACTS: Paul in Athens

Paul in Athens  

The Passage: Acts 17:16-34

Structure:

a. 17:16-21, Response of Athenians

 b. 17:22-23, Unknowing worship

  c. 17:24-25, God the creator doesn’t live in the places made by hands

   d. 17:26-28, that people might seek God,

  c’. 17:29, Divine is not made of silver and gold by human hands

 b’. 17:30-31, God overlooked the times of ignorance 

a’. 17:32-34, Response of Athenians  

Historical and geographical context:

Athens was a cultural center of civilization. On the other hand, Paul first goes to the local synagogue (v. 17). While most often this passage is read as an evangelism attempt among highly intellectual Greeks (cp. 1 Cor. 1:22), we need to notice regular paradigm of Paul – synagogue first (cp. Rom 1:16).  

Areopagus – lit. Hill of Ares (or Mars hill, a god of war) a place in Athenes that might resemble our “city hall.”   

Peter reports to Jerusalem Church

Peter reports to Jerusalem Church

The Passage: Acts 11:1-18

Structure:

A. 11:1-3, a complain of circumcision party

  B. 11:4-10, Peter’s report A: his vision – symbolic unity

    C. 11:11-12, Peter’s report B: timely arrival of messengers

  B’. 11:13-17, Peter’s report A’: realization of the vision – the real unity

A’. 11:18, silence and then praise   

Historical and geographical context:

St. Peter comes back to Jerusalem. Prior his arrival apostles and brothers heard about full unity with Gentiles. Therefore, by the time he came back from his “mission trip”, the circumcision party had prepared a set of complaints. This is a familiar Biblical paradigm – when the rumors travel faster than people (Gen. 50:16-17). Also, the way St. Peter responds we’ll discuss in Theology.      

Theology:

Receiving the Word of God. Two things: there are two terms that Bible use translated as “word” – Logos and Rhema. Logos is a conceptual Word – John 1:1. While Rhema is a preaching word – the word delivered in a sermon or proclamation. So, they received the Word – Jesus Christ. It is interesting to see how the accents begin to shift – from the theology of the Name we are moving to theology of the Word. Psalmist – king David – in a crisis appeals to the Word rather than to the Name (Ps. 138:1-2, lit. You have exalted Your Word above Your Name). Later in the Book of Acts we’ll see an even stronger accent on the Word (cp. Acts 17:11, note that they received the Word examining the Scriptures).    

Unity through eating. We already talked about the unity of believers as the heme for these three stories (see more, lesson 22: Visions of Cornelius and Peter, theology: Unity of believers). Here I just want to point out the parallel between the complaints of the circumcision party and the promotion of the [very] Closed Communion (11:3). For circumcision party the houses were micro-temples – eating together is a sharing of thanksgiving meal which should be dedicated to the only God the Creator and Redeemer.       

Pentecost as the beginning. Note how St. Peter draws a connection between the event of Pentecost and his current situation, using the reference to the beginning. It is interesting on a few levels. First, the refence to the beginning should direct us to the creation story – B’reshit, In the beginning (Gen. 1:1). For sure, both stories talk about the presence of the Spirit and Water (Gen. 1:2 and Acts 2:38). The new world/new creation came into existence with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and emergence of the Church (cp, 2 Cor. 5:17).

On the other hand, the beginning of a new creation can be associated with the Incarnation (John 1:1, Mk. 1:1). This is one of the examples of two stage development of God’s plan – Moses then Joshua, David then Solomon, John the Baptizer then Jesus, Jesus then the Church (cp. Acts 1:1).         

Gift of the Holy Spirit. It is important to reiterate the difference between the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Here, the gift means forgiveness of sins (salvation). See more lesson 6, “other themes”.

Hard decisions – accepted through silence. The circumcision party came to the meeting with very heavy accusations. Yet, when St. Peter tells them the story of outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles and reminds them of the words of Jesus, they had nothing to back up their understanding of the Law. Also, note how the apostle leads the discussion – in order (Heb. be-seder) and humility or, as he will put it later, with gentleness and respect (1 Pet. 3:15). 

Repentance [that leads] to life. Lutherans stress justification by grace through faith. It doesn’t mean that after baptism or conversion a believer can relax thinking “once saved – always saved”. Justification opens the doors to the path of sanctification.  

Other themes:

Interconnectedness of Scripture. St. Peter states that he remembered the words of the Lord (11:16). One can find these words in the Book of Acts 1:5. Right before His Ascension Jesus promises to the apostles that they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. This promise is based on the teaching of John the Baptizer (Lk. 3:16).

LET THERE BE LIGHT

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Everyone of us knows this verse from the very beginning of Creation account (Gen. 1:3). God provided illuminated His world. He spoke the light into the world - connecting forever the light and the word. No wonder psalmist exclaims: Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to path (Ps. 119:105). 

We are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26). Therefore, the light has vital importance for us. Light in the house, lights on the road, industrial lights, or the huge light over a stadium where your favorite team plays and wins. 

Yet, there is a special place on earth where the forgiveness of God shines forth, where the Word is read, and Christ Himself comes to us illuminating our way - the local church chancel. We just got our lights fixed! Now, let it shine! Let it shine!! Let it shine!!!        

VISIT with NICODEMUS - John 3

VISIT with NICODEMUS – John 3

I was getting ready for the Trinity Sunday sermon (2024). Interesting choice of the Gospel reading – John 3:1-17. For starters, the passage should have been extended to v. 21 of chapter 3. But this is not my main point for this post. As prep I consulted William C. Weinrich, John 1:1 – 7:1(Concordia Commentary, CPH: 2015). On page 382… Let me pause here: just think about it, almost 900 pages for the first 6 chapters (!), and, obviously, by the middle – 380s – he approaches chapter 3…  

Mark ch. 1 and the Seven days of Creation

 

Some people can call me obsessed with the creation story. I am not even going to object – I full heartedly believe that the God created the world, but I also believe that creation activities did not stop at the sunset of the sixth day, with the beginning of the first Shabbat ever. God continued to create and re-create. Yet not His creational activities include people, societies and whole countries. What is most amazing is the fact that creation account – creation-pattern story – can be seen within other lives, novels or developments.

So, Mark chapter 1. What caught my attention was the fact that Jesus + 4 other men ended up in a room with a woman. She was Peter’s mother-in-law. Actually, his name at the time was still Simon, but it is a different story. If we exclude these four men – they were not doing anything important – we’ll end up with Jesus and Simon’s mother-in-law. A Man and a woman being of re-created. Obviously, 6^th day theme. That’s vv.29-31.

Interestingly enough v. 32 begins with “that evening at sundown” – new day. The whole block goes 32 – 45 is a one-day story (it might help to know that in the Bible day goes from sunset to next sunset). During this day he heals people, releases them of demons, therefore he provided them with THE REST – Shabbat story.

Then I started to count back. The story that precedes the healing of the Simon’s in-law is contained within the verses 21-28. What triggered me there was the fact that a demon says to Jesus “WE know who you are”. “We” – plural. It can be understood in a variety of ways. One of them that further down the road Jesus will meet other demon-possessed people (3;11, 5:7). On every occasion demons knew exactly who Jesus is. So, THEY know. During fifth day of creation story God made fish of the sea and birds of the air. And they were made in swarms – plural.

1:1-8 – definitely the story of beginning. Even starts like Gen. 1:1! Another fact that in Gen. 1:2 we have three features of the newly created earth. John the baptizer is also described (v.6) with three verbs (was clothed, wore and ate). The whole passage ends with the mentioning of the Holy Spirit, while Gen 1:2 tells us the the Spirit of God was hovering over the “face of the deep”.  

Second part is vv. 9-11 – the story of the Jesus’s baptism. The parallels to the second day of creation would be – water and the voice from above. It was on the second day when God separated the waters above from waters below.

Then third part would be vv. 12-13 – the wilderness experience. If we remember that it was on the third day that God created the dry land out of the water that parallel presents itself.

The final connection is the passage of vv. 14 to 20 and the fourth day of creation. This is, actually, an easy one. The fourth day of creation tells us about placing sun, moon and stars into the firmament to rule over the earth (Gen. 1:14-16). Therefore, the very fact that the moon of the Gospel account (John the baptizer) was arrested (vv. 14-15), and the Sun of Righteousness – Jesus – gathers up new stars to rule – Simon and Andrew, James and John (vv. 16-20) – make the parallel perfect.

Overall:  Day 1 – vv. 1-8                                                

Day 2 – vv. 9-11                                                                 Day 5 – vv. 21-28

Day 3 – vv. 12-13                                                              Day 6 – vv. 29-31

Day 4 – vv. 14-20                                                              Day 7 – vv. 32-45