2. God Created the Heavens and the Earth There are 5 phrases in Genesis 1 that God repeats several times that clearly refutes the false theories and speculations of man. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Paul warned Timothy, “Guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge" -- which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.” (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

3. “Then God Said” (9X) Every day begins this way. (Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 29) God chose to speak through words which His Son communicated to mankind to save the world. (John 1:1-5, 14-18; 12:44-50) Everyone who speaks about God’s will should quote exactly what the Scripture says and not add to or take away from it. (1 Peter 4:11; Rev. 22:18-19)

4. “God Saw that it was Good” (6X) “God saw all that He had made and behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). A person is not born evil, but chooses to disobey God (Genesis 8:21; James 1:13-16). The devil is responsible for the evil in this world and the only way we can overcome is through Christ (Hebrews 2:14-15). All things work together for good to those who love God and do His will (Romans 8:28).

5. “There Was Evening and Morning” (6X) Does God want us to know the difference between billions of years and a 24 hour day? The day is defined by the evening and the morning (1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31). God made a difference between seasons, days, and years (1:14). God reaffirms that He created the heavens & the earth in six days (Exodus 20:8-11). Christ taught- male & female were made in the beginning (Mk. 10:6). No room for long ages.

6. “Now I think we run into a problem when we say ‘must’. One of these views must be correct. And I’ve got a good brother friend who said one place that these “must be long ages”. And I can’t say that. But on the other hand, I can’t say that they ‘must be 24 hour ages’. There were some arguments made for that (like Exodus 20 and others) that I didn’t have time to deal with” (“Making Sense of the Days of Creation” Lecture at Florida College 2/8/2000) http://bibleworld.com/daysgen1.pdf http://bibleworld.com/daysgen1.pdf By Ferrell Jenkins (unchanged for over 10 years)

7. “After their kind” (8X) God wants us to understand that everything reproduces after its own kind! An apple tree produces apples (Gen. 1:13), birds produce birds (1:20-21), and apes will never produce humans or become humans (1:26-27). Jesus believed and taught these principles. (Matthew 7:16ff) Jesus taught that the seed sown in a good and honest heart will bear fruit (Luke 8:11, 15). The word of God will produce only Christians. (Acts 11:26)

8. “And it was so” (6X) Whatever God has said and promised, He will fulfill, which gives us hope (Hebrews 6:13ff). God has promised that we will all die and face the judgment (Hebrews 9:27; 2 Cor. 5:10) God has promised that Christ will come back again and the earth and its works will be burned up (Hebrews 9:28; 2 Peter 3:10). God has promised that those who obey Jesus will have eternal life while those who don’t will be condemned (Hebrews 5:8-9; 2 Thess. 1:7-8).

9. Conclusion There were 5 phrases repeated in Genesis 1. “’Then God said’, ‘God saw that it was good’, ‘evening and the morning’, ‘after their kind’, and ‘it was so’.” Don’t be deceived by the theories of men which will destroy your faith but be on your guard so that you will grow spiritually and go to heaven (2 Peter 3:16-18)! If someone contends that believing that the creation account in the book of Genesis has nothing to do with your salvation think about the words of Jesus in John 5:46-47.