Creation Lesson #1 (Genesis 1:1-2)

In this series we are going to be studying the subject of creation. These lessons will take us through the first eleven chapters of Genesis. The reason for going this far in Genesis with creation is because there are some changes made concerning the earth and man resulting from the flood in Genesis 6-8, and the languages are given in chapter 11. After that God calls Abram and begins to deal primarily with the Jews.

In Genesis 1:1 we have a definitive verse on Creation. From this verse we see that God has always been here. Also, it is shown that there is a beginning when it comes to creation and that God himself was the one who created everything.

As Genesis 1:1 states we know that God is the creator of all things. For a moment let us just look at creation from a rational standpoint. Dr Peter S. Ruckman taught that there are only 4 possibilities for the earth being here. (Theses are listed below)

1. It came from nothing accidentally. (This plainly breaks the 1^st law of Thermodynamics)
2. It has always been here. (This plainly breaks the 2^nd law of Thermodynamics)
3. It is an illusion. (If this is right then what is the point of anything)
4. It came from nothing supernaturally. (And this is exactly what God did in creation)

When we look at these it makes perfect sense. Both one and two break a law of science, number three will lead to insanity, so number four is the only one that will work. God created the world supernaturally from nothing. Jesus even verifies this in the New Testament for us (Matthew 19:4 and Mark 13:19).

Genesis 1:1-2 :

First off let us say that it is evident that something had to have happened between Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:2. In verse1 we see that God created the heaven and the earth. Now in verse 2 we see that the earth is without form and void, it is also under water. Now many will tell you that God created the earth in that condition. But when we examine the scriptures, we will see that God did not create it that way. Something happened that caused the earth to be without form and void. Let us look at some scriptures.

Isaiah 45:18 (According to this verse God did not create the earth in vain, but to be inhabited)

Psalm 95:5 (According to this verse God formed the dry land with his hand, therefore when he made it was not without form)

Now the most logical question is what happened between Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:2 that would have caused the world to be without form and void? For the answer we must go to 2 Peter 3:4-7.

In this passage we see a flood and the common teaching is that it is Noah’s flood from Genesis 6-8.  But it cannot be that flood when one looks at it very closely. Note the following:

            Verse 4  “from the beginning of creation” The context is creation.

Verse 5  “the earth standing out of the water and in the water” In the flood of Noah’s day the whole earth was covered. (Genesis 7:18-20)

Verse 6   “the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished” In Noah’s flood the earth did not perish, Noah and his family got of the ark on the earth plus God spared the animals on the ark.

So, what we see here is plainly a different flood from the one in Genesis 6-8. This is the reason that the word “floods” is plural in Psalm 24:1-2.

Now let us look at 2 Peter3:4-7 and see what really happened.

Verse 5  This has to be a reference to Genesis 1:1. Therefore in the original creation the earth was standing in the water and out of the water.

Verse 6  This is a reference to Genesis 1:2 where God took the earth and submerged it in to the deep (body of water that is now above outer space see next lesson).

 Verse 7 This is a reference to the recreated earth from Genesis 1:3 to Genesis 2:3

Therefore, we see how that God destroyed the original earth from Genesis 1:1 with a flood and recreated it in Genesis 1:3 through 2:3. Now this is also why God tells Adam to replenish the earth in Genesis 1:28, something was obviously here before Adam. Notice that this is also why the word generations is plural in Genesis 2:4.

One might ask why would God destroy the original earth with a flood? The answer is connected with the fall of Satan. If nothing happened between verse 1 and verse 2 as many teach then when did Satan fall?

In Ezekiel 28:12-19 we see that Satan was created as the anointed Cherub that covereth, and that he fell through his pride.

In Isaiah 14:12-17 we see a detailed account of his fall. Notice the following:

Verse 13 Satan said that he would ascend into heaven. Therefore, he is somewhere besides heaven. He must be on the original earth from Genesis 1:1.

Verse 13   Satan is said to have a throne. Therefore, he must be in charge of something on this original earth. Now from Ezekiel 28:13 we see that Satan was created with musical instruments. And in Job 38:4-7 the morning stars sang together, and the sons of God shouted for joy when God created the earth. So, Satan in his original position before he fell was most likely leading these groups in praising God.

From these verse that deal with Satan before his fall, we see that he was somewhere other than Heaven and had a throne. If nothing happened between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 as many teach, then when did Satan fall? Many will say that he fell after Adam and Eve were created. But if this is the case then he would have been on earth with his throne before Adam and Eve sinned. You see it doesn’t make sense for nothing to have happened between verses 1 and 2.

In Genesis 1:1 we have the original creation with Lucifer being connected with the earth. But through his pride he sinned, and God destroyed that earth in Genesis 1:2 and then in Genesis 1:3-2:3 we see God recreate the earth.

Creation Lesson #1 (Genesis 1:1-2)

Handout

1)  What are some basic truths that we learn in Genesis 1:1?

2)  List four possibilities from a rational standpoint of how the earth got here.

3)  List two scriptures for Jesus verifying creation.

4)  How do we know something happened between verse 1 and 2 in Genesis 1?

5)  What caused God to destroy the original creation between verse 1 and 2?