In The Beginning

Now that we know what happened before the beginning, we are ready to look at what happened "In the Beginning."  That of course takes us to Genesis chapter 1.

1.)  Notice as you read Genesis chapter 1 that each day of creation, the things that are created were created to support the elements of the next day's creation.  In other words, God didn't create the birds before He created the trees for the birds, etc. It is the orderliness of creation that has caused some to adopt a theory of evolution - which of course goes against the second Law of Thermo Dynamics which says that if an object is left untouched or unchanged for a period of time, then decay begins to happen.

2.)  If you are wondering who God was speaking to in Genesis 1:26 when He says "Let us make man in our own image and likeness, this goes back to what I said earlier about the "God-Head" Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which some call the "Trinity" - Three-in-one.  In the Gospel of John chapter 1 verse 1-3 it says, "In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through Him all things were made: without Him nothing was made that was made.

From this point on, it is crucial that you grasp what I am sharing because there is so much misunderstanding, or lack of understanding.  Christians all over the word don't have a proper understanding of the implications of mankind being a "created being," much less what it means to be "created in His likeness, in His image - and let me be quick to say it has absolutely nothing to do with your physical characteristics.

3.)  As I have just said, we have no idea how long it was after God created the angels, or had to deal with the rebellion in heaven ending in the expulsion of a third of the all the angels that God decided to create an entirely new realm of existence - a natural, sensory, tangible realm, but He did.

Genesis records that during the first five days of creation, everything that was created was of this realm – physical and only physical.  However, on the sixth day, God did something totally different and unique.  He created a being that was both physical – capable of functioning in the physical realm, but he was also created as a spirit being, capable of functioning in the spirit level or realm.  God called that first being “Adam” or “man.”  We later find that this “man” or “mankind” also had a soul/mind.  Someone has said that “Man is a spirit who lives in a body and has a mind or soul.”  The way I like to explain it is, “Man is like an Oreo cookie.  The one side is his body; the other side is his spirit.  The stuff in the middle is what holds the two together and allows him to function in both realms.”  That may not be great theology and it may not be totally accurate, but I do think it does paint a pretty good visual of the concept. 

So, there are two key components that separate man from animal.  Man is a spirit being and he also has a mind/soul and animals do not.  This is a key reason why an animal can’t evolve into a man – spirit and soul are not matters of evolution but matters of creation.

Since I mentioned evolution, let me make a rather startling statement of fact.  Neither creation nor evolution will ever be able to be proven scientifically.  Reason?  Because for something to be moved from a theory to a fact (among other things) it must be (1) observable, and (2) repeatable.  Since neither can happen, whatever one believes, one will have to accept it by faith, not fact.  Having said that, one should consider the results of accepting either one.  If one chooses evolution, the result will be, no sense of purpose, no sense of destiny, no sense of value.  Life has little or no meaning.  “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may die” becomes the anthem of the purposeless crowd.

On the other hand, the one who chooses creation should be full of purpose, value and a sense of worth and significance because created things don’t just happen.  They are created for a purpose.  Not only that, but the value of the something created is also increased in value not just by their purpose but by who it was that created them.  There are many artists, but not all art is valued the same.  There are many automobiles, yet a “Bentley” is of higher value than a Volkswagen. (No offense.  I love Volkswagens – have own three.)  When you think of yourself as haven’t been created by the Master Creator with a purpose, it should give you an entirely different perspective on life than if you believe you are simply an accident with no purpose.

Why would God create an entirely new realm that was natural and only natural (no spirit) and then create a being (man) who was both natural and spirit?  There are two basic reasons.  1.)  God was going to put mankind in charge of His creation as we see in Genesis 1:26, “fill the earth, subdue it, rule over it, and have dominion.”  2.)  In order for man to be able to accomplish that he would need to be able to communicate with God.  God spoke those instructions to Adam in that passage.  He also wanted to have fellowship with this part of His creation. 

Mankind could be compared with an amphibious vehicle which has the unique capacity to be driven on the street or function in the water.  Again, perhaps not the best theological explanation, but it does get the point across.

Understand, that in order for a man to be created in the likeness and image of God, he couldn't be just physical because God is not physical.  He is spirit and only spirit.  All the rest of creation was physical and only physical.  Man alone has the unique ability to function in both the spirit realm and the physical realm because he is both natural and supernatural, physical and spirit.  It is the spirit part of you that is like God.

Let me show you something else.  In Genesis 5:3 we are told that Adam live an hundred and thirty years and had a son "In his own likeness, in his own image..."  Our biological children have our family characteristics.  If there are things you don't like about your physical body or make up - color of hair, skin, eyes, etc.  you can not blame God, you will have to blame your biological parents (not suggesting that you blame anyone).

Let me say it again, that part of you that has been created in the likeness and image of God is the spirit part of you.  Also remember that the reason you (and all the rest of mankind) were created way was so that you could "have fellowship with God and enjoy Him forever."  If that is the case, then why aren't more people fulfilling their God given purpose?  There are two basic reasons.  1.) Sin, 2.) lack of knowledge.  That is why I have put this website together.  My purpose in life beside having fellowship with God and enjoying Him forever, is to help as many people and possible, to learn to know as much about God as possible, by as many ways as possible, so let's continue.

4.)  I just mentioned the factor of sin.  If people don't know anything else about God they know He has some rules and He doesn't like it at all when people break those rules.  Let me share just a couple of simple things about sin.

• First, understand that God is not trying to "rain on your parade" nor is He trying to keep you from having any fun.  The only reason He has rules is because those rules are meant to help people keep out of trouble.  Sin or the breaking of God's rules have their own punishment.  In fact, in the Book of Romans 8:23 we are told that "The wages of sin is death - separation from God."  If you smoke, your health is hampered. If you have sex outside of marriage your risk of disease is greatly increased, etc   I have been driving cars for many decades, use to work in a gas station in college and belonged to a Christian Hot Rod Club - Boltin Bishops - you heard me right.  It was a national deal.  My point is that not only have I driven cars for many years, I also have some mechanical experience behind me as well.  I remember back in the 80's when I bought my first diesel.  The salesman asked if I was familiar with the diesel engine, to which I responded - "sounds like you are going to inform me about some differences."  He then proceeded to explain "glo plugs" to me - there was and is a difference.  Then he went on to tell me some other things that I would find different from what I was use to.  He wasn't calling me dumb, he wasn't trying to be bossy by telling me I had to let the glo-plugs warm up before I started the car, he wasn't trying to oversell me as he explained that there really was a reason I needed two batteries, that I needed to use a certain fuel, that I needed to make sure I used a fuel with a certain additive in it when the weather got cold, yes, and if I did step on the gas - you know - punch it, black smoke would roll out the back - it's a diesel.  Sure, you can go out and urinate on the streets, have sex with anything that moves whenever and wherever you want, eat and drink all hours of the night, but there will be a price, even if people don't try to stop you.  In other words, God created you and knows what is best for you and the society in which you live, so there is greater harmony, health, etc when we do things God's way.
  

• Secondly, God promises to bless - reward those who obey His rules. Bbut He also warns that there will be folly for those who don't.  In one place He puts it this way.  "I set before you this day, blessings or curses, life or death - choose this day which one it will be."  You see, it is really up to you as much as it is with God to deal with your sin.
  

• When man sinned, it immediately separated man from God.  In Genesis 3:10 when God came to have fellowship with Adam and Eve, instead of looking forward to the occasion, they ran and hide.  Why?  Because they were naked.  That never bothered them before.  God asked, "Who told you that you were naked?  Have you eaten of the tree that I plainly instructed you not to eat?"  From that point on we find that they weren't much different than we are today.  Once innocence is gone and sin has been experienced it is like opening a flood gate.  Part of that is the "blame game."  It is like, "I didn't do anything wrong" and then something or someone is blamed.  Eve, the woman, blamed the Devil for deceiving her: Adam, the man, blamed his wife.  While the disobedience may have seemed innocent enough, it was major.  Disobedience shows that we don't have faith in God that what He says is really true and important.
  

• Now check this out.  The disobedience caused a curse to come to the serpent, the woman, the man and even the earth.  Along with that is the fact that when mankind sinned, the spirit part of them was separated.  The separation was so great and the significance was so far reaching that it effects every human being on the earth.  The Spirit connection was/is gone.
  

• If you were to read all the way through the Old Testament you would only find a few people who ever had that connection restored.  Periodically God would make that connect of spirit to spirit in specific people to perform a specific task - being a prophet, King, etc. but not everybody.  There is one interesting spot in the Book of Joel where we find a man named Joel who had been chosen by God to be a prophet and was "filled with the Holy Spirit" and one of the great things he prophesied was, there would be a time when all flesh would be filled with the Holy Spirit just like him.  That prophecy came true as recorded in the Book of Acts after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Soon after, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost and has been happening ever since.  The point is:  1.) Man was created to have continual fellowship with God and to enjoy Him forever as well as working as His agent in the earth.  Man is still suppose to function in that realm.  2.) Sin broke that relationship and mankind functioned as spiritually dead, under a curse.  3.)  Although God provided a partial restoration and filled a few people with His Spirit so they could accomplish a specific task, 4.)  John the Baptist was the last prophet to function in that means.  5.)  Even Jesus ministered in this realm, not relying on His deity, but rather functioned as a man in the power of the Holy Spirit.  6.) Jesus received the Holy Spirit just as believers do today.
  

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                                                                                                                                  LEARNING CENTER

Not finished - under construction

• Even Jesus ministered in this realm, with this power, from this perspective:
  

oThe Spirit of the Lord is upon me to…

oThe spirit to heal was present

• Born of the Spirit – Jesus was the one to introduce this
  

• Receive the Holy Spirit – The indwelling of the Holy Spirit
  

• Baptized by the Holy Spirit – into the body of Christ – at conversion
  

• Baptized in the Holy Spirit – by Jesus Himself
  

oReceived

oFilled with

oCame upon

• Led by the Holy Spirit
  

• Operate in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
  

• Live by the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
  

• Pray in the Spirit
  

• Sing in the Spirit
  

Preferred Term    Alternate TermReference:

Born Again

Spiritual Birth

Indwelling H.S.

Receiving HS

Baptism of H.S.

Baptism in H.S.

Under construction - not complete, but go ahead