IN THE BEGINNING

In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth. -Genesis 1:1

I was born in 1968. I’m a child of the 70’s. I grew up watching shows like Happy Days with Henry Winkler as Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli, aka “The Fonz.” I mention that only to highlight the pic and quote associated with today’s post.

“Assumptions are the termites of relationships.” -Henry Winkler

When we open the Bible and read Genesis 1:1, “In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” we unwittingly formulate assumptions. Those formulated assumptions from the very first word (בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית) of the very first verse of the very first chapter in the very first book of the Bible dictate the trajectory of everything that follows.

As world renown Hebrew (OT) Bible scholar John H. Walton notes in his book, The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate, “The truest meaning of the text is found in what the author intended and hearers would have thought (p.42).” Walton’s proposition is that creation (בָּרָ֣א) is exclusively a divine act and one of existence concerning function - not material origins. Furthermore, a functional origins emphasis is what God intended and, therefore, what His audience should see and understand.

If our assumptions regarding the Beginning in Genesis is that of material origins, then the debate becomes focused wrongly on “How?” (e.g. ex nihilo - from nothing?) and “When?” (e.g. old earth vs. young earth) rather than on what the author (God) intended - existence being functional.

Those assumptions influence our theology, which in turn dictate all else. Most importantly our assumptions determine the foundation of our relationships with God, with others, with creation and with self.

I realize that I’ve already lost the majority of my audience. When it came to words like “cosmogony” and terms like “ex nihilo” the entertainment switch is bypassed and they tune out to watch “epic fail” videos on YouTube. But you, the student of the Word and investigator of truth, are still here. The Holy Spirit is alive and well.

Walton’s proposition regarding the Beginning, Creation, and existence defined as functional, rather than material, is key. In an effort to paraphrase: Walton’s argument is that God’s intent was to create a functional universe. It certainly is a material one (stars, planets, waters, plants, animals, and humanity), but more importantly, it was created to function with purpose. Walton summarizes this in his statement:

The most central truth to the creation account is that this world is a place for God’s presence. Though all of the functions are anthropocentric (meeting the needs of humanity) the cosmic temple (universe) is theocentric, with God’s presence serving as the defining element of existence. (p.84)

It’s not until day seven when all the work is complete and when God sabbaths (rests) that anything has truly exists, i.e. functioning, according to Scripture.

All relationships are perfect. The sun, moon, stars, waters, plants, animals, and humanity are all functioning relationally exactly as the Creator intended. That’s Sabbath rest. That's existence.

When Genesis Three comes along the Sabbath rest is shattered. The functional relationships of the Creator’s cosmic temple are wrecked by a meddling serpent, a negligent man, and an autonomous woman. It seems the Almighty’s utopia rested ever so precariously on the edge of the abyss. All it took was the gentle breeze of a seemingly innocuous question, “Did God really say…?”

Oddly, God doesn’t seem phased. We find no mad scramble in Scripture. The reset button isn’t pressed. God doesn’t become frantic or worried. The Almighty is unflappable. But why?

In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Walton is correct. God’s creative activity goes far beyond material existence to functional relationships defining existence. But that’s not the entire picture either. The questions of “How?” and “When?” are subordinate to the question “Who?” One we've never thought to ask, but one the Word answers anyway.

Creation and existence are not merely about material creation or even establishing functional relationships. Rather existence is the tangible expression of the eternal Son, Christ Jesus. Jesus refers to Himself in Scripture as “The Beginning” (Rev 22:13).

Therefore, when we read Genesis 1:1, “In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” God isn’t attempting to communicate what existence is. Nor is Scripture attempting to communicate the how or the when, but rather the Who. The Beginning means the universe, the cosmic temple, Eden, nature, their functions and existence are all source in, and the expression of, Christ Jesus.

The entire work of creation, the establishment of spheres (space, waters, air, land), functionaries (stars, fish, birds, animals), relationships, the establishment of cosmic temple, and God’s residence therein (Immanuel) is the inherent tangible expression of eternal Holy Trinity: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The crafty serpent was able to wreck the material universe: Eden was scorched, death inaugurated, etc. The serpent was even able to destroy divinely ordained functional relationships and terminate our existence: dominion was lost, pains in childbirth, the sweat of man’s brow, expulsion from Eden, separation, death, worry, idolatry, adultery, murder…

But what the serpent never could -and never will- touch (despite meddling, temptation, denial, distraction, and destruction) is this: “In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Why? Because not only is our existence rooted in Christ, but as Rev 13:8 tells us, "The Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the cosmos."

If our assumptions are that Genesis means to convey the idea of mere material existence - then our conception of God is wrongly trivialized to novel Deism or utter theistic incompetence leading to functional atheism. If our assumption is that Genesis means to simply convey functional origins as the determining factor for existence - the trajectory is different, but ultimately an epic failure as well.

But if Scripture, rather than assumptions, informs our theology, i.e. view and understanding of God, then we realize that where we exist, when we exist, how we exist, why we exist, and most importantly in Whom we exist, are all found “In the Beginning,” i.e. Christ Jesus, Who was slain for us before the when, where, and what - ever happened.

Genesis One is God’s written testimony of Christ’s love for the Father, for humanity, for His Bride, and for you. Ephesians 2:10 confirms this in revealing, “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We weren’t created in Christ Jesus after our material origins. We were created in the Beginning. We are present in Genesis 1:1. You are present in Genesis 1:1.

God’s love isn’t seen most emphatically at the Cross, at Advent / Christmas, the Rapture, the Eschaton, the Wedding Banquet, the Law or Prophets, in the earthly tabernacle or temple, the pillar of cloud/fire, the Millennial Kingdom, in the Exodus, the call of Abram, in Eden, or in the creation of a material or functional universe.

God’s love is seen and experienced most definitively in the eternal Son, Jesus Christ, Himself - in the Beginning.

Scripture (e.g. HERE) is pregnant with creation as the expression and revelation of Jesus. That’s why Paul wrote, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

So what does all this mean? What’s the application? What does one do with all this info?

Understand that life isn’t about the material world, so stop acting like it is. See Matthew 6:19-21.

Understand that life isn’t even about self-determined relationships or existence, so stop worshipping and chasing them. See Matthew 20:25-28.

Being born-again of God means that you are created anew in Christ Jesus. The material universe, the here-and-now, and every God-ordained relationship thus become your platform for establishing functional, God-honoring, Christ-revealing relationships. Existence is in Him.

Seeing Christ Jesus as “The Beginning” determines how you approach all of life and all of Scripture. The Bible ceases to be a self-help book of cut-n-paste bliss, security, and comfort. Instead, it becomes the authoritative revelation of who God is and what God intended - a testimony of love, expectations, challenges, testing, perseverance, grace, purpose and hope.

It allows us, like Paul (see 2 Cor 4:17-18), to see this life as a gift to be passionately and relentlessly leveraged and poured out for Him, the Savior, the Redeemer, the Eternal King. In Whom we exist. In Whom is the Beginning. It allows us to die to self, pick up our cross and follow Him. It manifests as indomitable assurance because we have remained in Him and He in us. Therefore, by His promise and power, we can ask for anything and know with 100% certainty it will be done.

Is Christ merely life’s pain-killer? Is He merely your Savior? Is He merely your promise of material or eternal blessings? Are your assumptions about Jesus the termites of that relationship or is He truly your King?

Are you found and existing in Him alone?

Is He, as He said, truly “the Beginning and the End?”

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com