Genesis Chapter 1

Introduction: The Purpose of Scripture

We begin our journey through Genesis by understanding why God gave us His written Word. In II Timothy 3:16-17, we read: 'All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.'  The Greek word used here—theopneustos—literally means 'God-breathed.' The scriptures came straight from the mouth of God! Just as God breathed life into Adam, transforming dust into a living being, God breathed His Spirit into these words. Any book into which God has not breathed remains just a collection of pages, but the Bible is alive with divine purpose.  God's Word was given to us for specific reasons: to teach us the path of righteousness, to rebuke us when necessary, to correct us when we've strayed, and to train us in justice. Through Scripture, our character is transformed—we become complete, like a full glass of water. We become equipped for every good work God has prepared for us.

Background: Approaching Scripture with the Right Heart

Many approach the Bible for the wrong reasons—to gain knowledge for its own sake or merely to teach others. But Scripture must be approached with humility and a desire for personal transformation.  I began studying the Bible at a young age, not to teach others, but to hear what God wanted to say to me. I studied at the feet of Jesus and His Church, asking the Holy Spirit to guide me. Remember how Jesus walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus and 'opened the scriptures to them'? Their hearts burned within them as He revealed the truth. This is how we should experience Scripture—with Jesus walking alongside us, illuminating His Word through both our reading and the teaching of His Holy Church, confirmed by His Spirit.  God hasn't written Scripture for the lazy heart. Psalm 1:2-3 tells us that the blessed person 'delights in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.' This doesn't mean reading the Bible constantly, but rather carrying its truths with you, pondering them throughout your day and even in the quiet moments of night. Such a person will always be green, always fruitful, even in seasons when others are withering.  Proverbs 25:2 reminds us: 'It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.' Like precious metals hidden deep beneath the earth's surface, the richest treasures of Scripture aren't found in superficial reading. They require diligent seeking. And Jesus said in Matthew 11:25, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.' Understanding Scripture isn't about intellectual capacity but heart condition—a humble heart and clean conscience are what God honors.

Beginning: Genesis - The Book of Beginnings

'Genesis' means 'beginning,' and this book records many firsts: the beginning of creation, of humanity, of sin, of redemption, and the beginning of two spiritual paths—one leading to true relationship with God and one leading away.  The Scriptures open with these profound words: 'In the beginning God.' This must be our life's foundation—God at the beginning of everything we do, every decision we make, every relationship we form. When God is truly first, there's no limit to what He can do in and through us.

Middle Stages: Understanding Creation and Recreation

Genesis 1 introduces us to two distinct divine actions: creating and making. To create is to bring something into existence from nothing. To make is to form something from existing materials. God created the heavens and earth from nothing, but He made man from the dust of the ground, breathing life into him.  'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth' (Genesis 1:1). When first created, they were perfect—God creates nothing imperfect. Yet verse 2 describes the earth as 'without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.' What happened? I believe something occurred between verses 1 and 2—the fall of Lucifer. Sin entered the universe, corrupting God's perfect creation. The Bible doesn't mention this explicitly here because Scripture was written primarily for humanity, not angels.  What follows in Genesis 1 is the re-making of a corrupted, spoiled creation. By chapter's end, Earth has been transformed into something so beautiful that God declares it 'very good.' This pattern reveals God's heart toward us. Sin has similarly corrupted humanity, making us empty, dark, and shapeless—far from God's original design. Yet God is in the business of remaking what sin has ruined.  How did God transform chaos into beauty? Through two powerful agents: His Word and His Spirit. 'The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters' (Genesis 1:2), and then God spoke. Each day, God's creative word brought new order and life. This is how transformation happens in our lives too—through the combined work of God's Word and Spirit.  The Church today needs this balance. Some emphasize studying Scripture but neglect dependence on the Holy Spirit, resulting in dry, lifeless religion. Others focus exclusively on the Spirit while neglecting God's Word, leading to emotional experiences without solid foundation. True transformation requires both.

Climax: The Creation of Humanity and Divine Separation

One of the most significant principles in Genesis 1 appears in verse 4: 'And God separated the light from the darkness.' This divine separation is so important that it's repeated in verse 18. When God created light, He established a fundamental boundary between light and darkness—they cannot coexist.  Many mistakenly believe all division must be negative, but the first one to make a division was God Himself. When light enters our hearts, God immediately begins separating us from darkness. As 2 Corinthians 6:14 asks, 'What partnership has light with darkness?' Without this separation, confusion reigns. Only when we're separated from darkness can God declare over our lives, 'It is good.'  On the sixth day, God created both animals and humans from the same dust. What distinguished Adam from the beasts? God 'breathed into his nostrils the breath of life' (Genesis 2:7). It's the Spirit of God in us that elevates us above animal existence. If we cease living by God's Spirit, we quickly descend to base instincts. God formed us from dust to teach us our complete dependence on His breath.  God created humanity with specific purposes: to bear His image, to be fruitful and multiply, to exercise dominion over creation. When God created man, 'God blessed them' (Genesis 1:28) and commissioned them to 'subdue it, and have dominion over' all creation. God created us to be rulers, not slaves—overcomers who have everything beneath our feet. This remains God's desire for us: to overcome sin, anger, lust, and every destructive passion, putting them all under our feet through His power.

Resolution: The Pattern of Rest and Reflection

God established the seventh day as a day of rest, but notice: while it was God's seventh day, it was Adam's first day. Created at the end of day six, Adam's very first full day was spent in rest and communion with God. This establishes a divine pattern: fellowship before service, relationship before work.  God was teaching humanity to prioritize communion with Him before attempting to work for Him. Adam and Eve were to tend the garden only after spending time in God's presence. This principle remains: 'So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God' (Hebrews 4:9). Our effectiveness in God's work flows from our fellowship with Him.  Another pattern emerges at creation's end: reflection and evaluation. God examined each day's work and certified it as good. Similarly, we should allow God to examine our lives daily, to assess whether our actions, thoughts, and attitudes meet His approval. As St. Francis de Sales wisely counseled, we should end each day by thanking God for His preservation, examining our conduct, celebrating good done, repenting of failures, and committing ourselves to God's care before rest.

Conclusion: Living as New Creations

Genesis 1 isn't merely about how the world began—it reveals how God works in our lives today. The same God who spoke light into darkness, who transformed chaos into beauty, who breathed life into dust, is at work in us. Through His Word and Spirit, He's remaking us into His image.  As we journey through Scripture together, let's approach it with humble, teachable hearts. Let's allow God's Word to teach us, rebuke us, correct us, and train us in righteousness. Let's submit to the Holy Spirit's transforming power. Let's separate ourselves from darkness and walk in light. Let's embrace our identity as rulers rather than slaves, as overcomers rather than victims.  And let's remember that God's assessment of His completed creation—'very good'—is what He desires to say about each of us when His work in us is complete. The God who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6). That's the promise and hope we find in these opening words of Scripture: 'In the beginning, God.'