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Welcome! www.SunsetChurchofChrist.net
Bibles and copies of sermons are available Please silence your cell phones Sunday Bible Classes 9:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM 5:30 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM
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Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
Psalm 107:22 Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell of His works with joyful singing. Hymns Invitation Red Songbook - Supplemental
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Studying Genesis Genesis 1: Creation
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In the Beginning Genesis 1 corresponds to John 1 Six days God created the world Unique points: Light Formation of the earth Ultimate creation: HUMANITY Duty: Subjugation of the earth and all life
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In the Beginning Genesis 1 - A controversial part of our faith - Is this record symbolic or literal? - Are “days” 24 hours or ages?
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A Matter of Salvation Identified with Faith By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3 Oru first question often it: does it matter? Is it an article of faith that I must believe the literal account of Genesis? This is not an easy question to answer, but there are some statements made that we ought to consider: Heb. 11:3 identifies the creation from nothing ( creaiton ex nihilio) as a matter of faith;
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A Matter of Salvation Identified with Christ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. John 1:3 (God) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; Hebrews 1:2 Oru first question often it: does it matter? Is it an article of faith that I must believe the literal account of Genesis? This is not an easy question to answer, but there are some statements made that we ought to consider: John 1:3, Heb 1:2 identify Christ as partaker of the mechanism of creation
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A Matter of Salvation Identified with God’s Law on Marriage "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,‘ and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.“ Matthew 19:4-6 Oru first question often it: does it matter? Is it an article of faith that I must believe the literal account of Genesis? This is not an easy question to answer, but there are some statements made that we ought to consider: Matthew 19 ties God’s law on marriage to the creation
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Why Would We Question This?
Does the text suggest symbolism? Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. Revelation 4:2 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts. Daniel 7:1 Could it be symbolic? Sometimes texts confirm that the language they use is symbolic. Examples are in Daniel and Revelation. Typically, they pertain to prophetic statements. However, Gen 1 does not fit either as a prophetic statement, or as identified as a prophecy
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Why Would We Question This?
Do other texts suggest symbolism? "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ….. I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.” Acts 2:16,19-20 Sometimes other references could suggest something is symbolic. Peter makes it clear that Joel’s prophecy of blood, fire, etc were symbolic. Since all references in the Bible to the creation suggest that the writers/speakers saw it as literal, this too does not work, and in fact contradicts it being symbolic
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Why Would We Question This?
Do other texts suggest symbolism? Moses believed it: Exodus 31:17 Jesus believed it: Mark 10:5-6 Paul believed it: I Corinthians 15:7 Sometimes other references could suggest something is symbolic. Peter makes it clear that Joel’s prophecy of blood, fire, etc were symbolic. Since all references in the Bible to the creation suggest that the writers/speakers saw it as literal, this too does not work, and in fact contradicts it being symbolic
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Why Would We Question This?
Listening to the World! “We believe that the theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth, one that has stood up to rigorous scrutiny and upon which much of human knowledge and achievement rests. To reject this truth or to treat it as ‘one theory among others’ is to deliberately embrace scientific ignorance and transmit such ignorance to our children” Clergy Letter Project A movement known as the, signed by 10,000 ordained ministers and priests in America, stated
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The Bible and the Creation
Could “days” mean something else? But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8 Some suggest that day could have another meaning, such as age. The word for day in Hebrew is used several times for the idea of an age (unspecified amount of time). As well Peter quotes David to say that to the Lord, time is of limited relevance. However…….
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The Bible and the Creation
The days of creation are specific: God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. Genesis 1:5 The days are clearly established in Genesis as the night/day we know. In fact, it is repeated throughout the text, specifying that the day is a solar day. There is NOTHING that could be construed any other way
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The Bible and the Creation
The days of creation cannot be ages: On the third day God created plants (vs. 11) On the fourth day God created the Sun (vs. 14) The days are clearly established in Genesis as the night/day we know. In fact, it is repeated throughout the text, specifying that the day is a solar day. There is NOTHING that could be construed any other way
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The Bible and the Creation
The days of creation cannot be ages: The Sabbath Day was based on a six-day process "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy” Exodus 20:11 The days are clearly established in Genesis as the night/day we know. In fact, it is repeated throughout the text, specifying that the day is a solar day. There is NOTHING that could be construed any other way
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Genesis 1: The Creation All evidence points to a literal creation All evidence points to it happening in six days Denial of these truths are by worldly wisdom The days are clearly established in Genesis as the night/day we know. In fact, it is repeated throughout the text, specifying that the day is a solar day. There is NOTHING that could be construed any other way
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We Are Called To Believe Extraordinary Things
That the world was created in six days That the world was flooded and destroyed That a nation was decimated by plagues That a man was born of a virgin That a man died but then came back to life That sin can be removed by obedience That the dead shall live again
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We Are Called To Believe Extraordinary Things
Human logic contradicts divine power every time Job 38:4-10 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8 Job 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, 5 Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? 6 "On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 "Or who enclosed the sea with doors When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb; 9 When I made a cloud its garment And thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 And I placed boundaries on it And set a bolt and doors,
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We WANT To Believe Extraordinary Things
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies” John 11:25 Believing and Confession in Jesus Turning away from sin Being baptized into Christ Walking in the Light Trying to rationalize human logic and divine action is impossible. We are called to believe in extraordinary things, beyond our understanding
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