MAKE THE RIGHT APPROACH

GENESIS 1



Pastor Rick Jackson



It was in the wee hours of the morning when he approached 1703 E. 12th Street in Chattanooga, Tn. with robbery on his mind. He and his partners had already hit several houses in the neighborhood and had quite a haul piled up on the street waiting to be loaded into their car. This house had a five foot fence around it but no big deal, they were young, stealthy, and cocky with the thrill of the successes of the night. May as well hit these last two houses on this side of the street.



Inside the house I awoke when I heard the unmistakable sound of someone slowly scaling a chain link fence. Shadow, our 80 lb. Weimaraner, had heard it too and waited as I slowly unlocked the back door and let him slide into the yard. He must have been quite a sight in the full moon as he ran down the driveway because the burglar's approach to the fence had changed drastically. Very noisy and very, very quick.



Our approach to things can change depending on our circumstances. When I read the Gainesville Sun I approach it with some skepticism. When I read an article in the Biblical Evangelist by Robert L. Sumner there is a lot more trust in what I am reading. I remain fully aware that he is human but I also know where he stands in matters of faith. When I read the Bible I know that the author is none other than God Himself and I need not judge the Book, the Book judges me!



What then should be our approach to Genesis? To hear some tell it you should approach Genesis as you would a book of myths and legends. Others say, "Nay, nay. Come seeking to understand what God is saying through parable-like stories that are intended to display deeper applications than appear on the surface." The simple truth is you should approach Genesis as you do the rest of the Bible... as the verbally inspired, inerrant and authoritative Word of God!



Approach the Bible, including Genesis, with reverence for its Author, respect for it's message, and realization for its intent.



I. APPROACH THE BIBLE WITH REVERENCE FOR ITS AUTHOR--- GOD!



"A light view of God produces a light view of sin." If you reverence His Person you will reverence:



1. HIS KNOWLEDGE



Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.



Brother Jim Johns said on June 20, 1993, "Does He know? Sure He does! Ignorant and God don't go together!"



2. HIS CHARACTER



Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?



Someone said, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it!" My friend, God said it and that settles it whether I believe it or not! When it comes to Genesis, God revealed it as fact and Moses recorded it as history.



Psalm 119:160Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.



3. HIS ABILITY



Is. 46:9-11 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.



2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:



He said it, He did it!



But not only should we approach Genesis and the rest of the Bible with reverence for its Author, but also we should:



II. APPROACH THE BIBLE WITH RESPECT FOR ITS MESSAGE



If the Bible is:



1. HEAVENLY REVEALED (which it is as indicated by the doctrines of inspiration and revelation! II Peter 1:21)



then, it is, without question,



2. HISTORICALLY CORRECT



Mt. 19:3-6 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.



3. SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE



"But the Bible's not a science textbook!" Good, then it doesn't have to be revised every few years. The Gainesville Sun isn't a science textbook either but it's generally accurate when it gives the times for sunrise and sunset. The Bible is even more scientifically accurate than any document ever written or printed.



We believe that all true discoveries, whether "in heavens above, in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth," will harmonize with that which is written in the Word of God; and if they do not thus harmonize, they are perfectly contemptible in the judgment of every true lover of Scripture. This gives great rest to the heart in a day like the present, so productive of learned speculations and high-sounding theories, which alas! in too many instances, savor of rationalism and positive infidelity. It is most needful to have the heart thoroughly established as to the fullness, the authority, the completeness, the majesty, the plenary inspiration of the Sacred Volume. This will be found to be the only effectual safeguard against the rationalism of Germany and the superstition of Rome. ...May the Lord, in His great grace, abundantly increase in our midst... accurate acquaintance with, and profound subjection to, the Word..."

- CHM



III. APPROACH THE BIBLE WITH REALIZATION FOR IT'S INTENT



Someone foolishly says "The book of Genesis... is not very much concerned with how things happened. But it is very concerned with who made them happen."



Balderdash and poppycock! That's just nonsensical gibber-jabber! The Bible clearly tells us Who created, how He created and how long He took to do it!



"But isn't Genesis 1 and 2 Hebrew poetry?", someone says.



Dr. Fred Afman told us preacher boys at Temple Baptist Theological Seminary, "Anyone who says Genesis 1 and 2 are Hebrew poetry doesn't know Hebrew and doesn't know poetry!"



God created for His glory!



Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.



God created for His pleasure!



Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.



All the Scriptures treat the Genesis creation account as pure history. When you read it the clear intent is to give a pure history. When you realize the intent of the Bible, recognizing its truth and reverencing its Author it does several things:



1. IT ALLOWS THE WORLD TO MAKE SENSE (Ps. 73:1-3, 17, 24-28)



2. IT ALLOWS THE WORD TO MAKE SALVATION KNOWN



Among many other things if you consider what He did in 6 days and what He has been doing for 2000 years (Jn. 14:1-6)



3. IT ALLOWS THE WILL TO BE SURRENDERED



Like Peter at the Sea, Luke 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.