The Book of Genesis Learning to Read the Bible Effectively

The Book of Genesis In the Beginning (Section 22, pg. 97 in Notes)

The Great Questions of Life Where have I come from? Why am I here? What is going to happen to me?

The Organization of Genesis Chapters 1-11 Primitive History The Creation The Fall of Man The Flood Tower of Babel Chapters 1-11 Primitive History The Creation The Fall of Man The Flood Tower of Babel Chapters Patriarchal History Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph Chapters Patriarchal History Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph

The 7 Days of Creation Day 1 Light Day 2 Clouds and Ocean Day 3 Dry Land and Plants Day 4 Lights Day 5 Life in Sky and Water Day 6 Life on the Land Day 7 The Sabbath

Natural and Spiritual A Spiritual Principle Notice that Spiritual things do not come first, but Natural things. Upon the Natural Events recorded in Genesis are founded many Spiritual Principles.

Creation of Man Dust + Breath of Life = A Living Soul Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Jesus Christ His Bride The Church Adam a Type of Christ

The New Creation in Christ "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Lessons For Us  Evolution and Creation cannot be harmonized  Evolution rejects the reality of God  A reading of Genesis shows it to be literal  Man and animals are a living soul but God placed man at the head of his creation being in the image and likeness of the "Elohim"  The formation of Eve out of Adam shows the same lesson of the church's (ecclesia) salvation in Christ  Marriage was instituted by God as a permanent relationship, with each partner being a help to each other

The Book of Genesis For Signs and Seasons (Section 23, pg. 103 in Notes)

For Signs and For Seasons è Solar Year (Sun) n 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 36 seconds n Longer months and leap year è Lunar Year (Moon) n 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes and 36 seconds n Extra days and months

For Signs and Seasons Acts 1:6-7 "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (7) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power."

For Signs and Seasons 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. (2) For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (3) For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape."

Break Time…

The Book of Genesis Sin Entered the World (Section 24, pg. 107 in Notes)

The Temptation Genesis 3:61 John 2:16 Good for foodThe lust of the flesh Pleasant to the eyes The lust of the eyes A tree to be desired to make one wise The pride of life

Temptation "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:14-15

Romans 5:12 1. Sin entered the world 2. And death through sin 3. And so death passed upon all men 4. For all have sinned

The Promise of Redemption Genesis 3:15 "And I (God) will put enmity between thee (the serpent) and the woman (Eve), and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

The Figurative Meaning in Genesis 3:15 è The serpent = sin è The seed of the serpent = those who display the characteristics of the serpent è The woman = the truth of God's word è The seed of the woman = Jesus Christ and those who display his characteristics

The Two Seeds The Garden of Eden The Seed of the Woman AbelSeth Seth’s Descendants Genesis 5 The Seed of the Serpent Cain Cain’s Descendants Genesis 4:16-24

Lessons For Us 1. Eve was deceived by the serpent. The pride of life, and the lusts of the flesh and eyes were inflamed. 2. The consequences of the sin were shame, mortality and a nature prone to sin. 3. Through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, sin entered the world, thus marring God's creation. 4. In Eden, God promised that the power of sin would eventually be destroyed by Christ. 5. But in destroying sin Christ would suffer death. 6. By believing God and being baptized, we are forgiven our past sins. 7. Christ will return to eradicate sin from the world.

The Book of Genesis Faith and Murder (Section 25, pg. 113 in Notes)

Faith the Key Hebrews 11:4 “By faith, Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith he is still speaking."

Spirit AND Truth John 4:23 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."

Lessons For Us 1. It is not enough to merely worship God; we must worship Him correctly. 2. Only when we honor God's way, will He extend mercy to us. 3. There will be enmity between those who do and do not worship God correctly. 4. The killing of Abel by Cain and the raising up of Seth points to the crucifixion of Jesus.