Genesis – Foundational Elements
(Obedience – Worship – Service – Promises)
-Introduction
-The Book of Genesis – a book of beginnings (creation, sin, marriage, Hebrew family,
plan of redemption, etc.)
-Genesis provides a foundation upon which the rest of the scriptures build.
-Let’s notice some of the foundation elements – and applications for our lives – that are
established quickly in Genesis.
1. There is a God
-Gen. 1:1 – There is a God. He is good and He is powerful.
-The next logical question – a question that probably motivates many atheists to remain
atheists – What is man’s responsibility to the God of Heaven?
-He is the potter. We are the clay. (Isaiah 64:8) We must allow ourselves to be
molded by God through His word.
-That means pride must be set aside and self must not be placed before God.
2. We Must Follow God’s Instructions
-Adam & Eve – Gen. 2:15-17
-Genesis 3 – Sin entered into the world; hence, its dire consequences entered and have
remained.
-From Adam and Eve, and from the remained of the scriptures, we find that there are
serious consequences – in this life and especially in the life to come – for not following
God’s instructions.
3. Worship is Very Important
-Consider Cain and Abel – Gen. 4:1-5.
-Necessary Inference – God had communicated instructions/requirements for worship.
-Abel abided by God’s instructions – followed His rules. Cain did not. Therefore, Abel’s
worship was acceptable while Cain’s was not.
-We cannot take worship lightly. In today’s society of self-service and entertainment,
worship has been minimized far too much.
-We are to worship in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24) – proper attitude/devotion and
by His rules.
4. Noah – Faithful Living
-Gen. 6:8-9 – Noah walked with God. He led a life of faithfulness.
-Properly serving God isn’t only about times of worship. It is also about daily living.
-It isn’t just about avoiding wrong. It’s also about doing that which is right.
-Of course, there are lessons to be learned about Noah’s construction of the ark. I’ll
reserve some of those thoughts, Lord willing, for next week.
-Yet, when considering the days of Noah, we can see the serious dangers and damages of
sin.
-Sin is not to be taken lightly. Therefore, we are to strive to avoid it in our daily lives.
We, like Noah, are to walk with God.
5. Abraham – Recipient of Promises
-Of course, another example of faithfulness is found in Abraham. (See Rom. 4, Gal. 3,
James 2.)
-Abraham was a man who worshipped God. He was a man who faithfully served God.
He was a man who placed faith at the center of his life. Everything centered around his
faith in God. (Hebrews 11:8-10)
-In these traits in Abraham’s life, we find valuable lessons for our own lives.
-Gen. 22:15-18 - (context: Abraham’s willingness to offer Isaac – Heb. 11:17-19)
-Gen. 26:2-5
-Due to His obedience, Abraham became the recipient of precious promises from God.
-Closing & Invitation
-Consider these foundational elements and their applications for today:
1. There is a God.
2. We must following His instructions and there are serious consequences for not
doing so.
3. It is important that we properly worship Him.
4. It is important that we properly walk with God by serving Him faithfully.
5. We, too, as obedient children of God are recipients of precious promises. (1 Jn 2:25)
-We are now approximately 6,000 years removed from Genesis 1 and approximately 4,000
years removed from Abraham, yet these same principles remain today.
-Truly, the Book of Genesis provides a foundation for the rest of the scriptures and
for humanity.
-What about you? Are you following these principles? We begin the process by obeying
the Gospel of Christ – Believe in Jesus (John 3:16, 8:24), Confess that faith (Matt. 10:32,
Rom. 10:9-10), Repent of Sin (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), Be Baptized into Christ (Mark
16:16, Acts 2:38).
-If you have obeyed the Gospel, are you continuing your walk with God? If not, won’t you
correct that by acknowledging your shortcomings, repenting of them and seeking
forgiveness through prayer? (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24)