IN THE BEGINNING
Monday – August 27, 2018, Elul 16, 5778
Greetings and welcome to the beginning of a new Bible Study from the Book of John. I suspect that some of you may be grinning or chuckling about the title of this study because I commonly refer back to the beginning, generally speaking of the Book of Genesis. The Book of John starts with the same three words as the Book of Genesis, “In the beginning”. I believe we can safely believe they are both referring to the same time. Many years ago, the Lord spoke to me as loudly as He ever has before that day or after that day. He said: “If you will understand the Book of Genesis you will understand all things”. I believed Him and I testify that His Word is True. Notice how the Lord phrased what He said to me. He said: “If you will understand”, do you see how the understanding is my choice. That is true for all believers, it is our choice to understand and when we chose to understand He will teach us all things.
Before I proceed further please know that if at any time you have a prayer request or Bible question please do not hesitate to make them known. Ministry contact information is at the end of each day’s study.
I just finished teaching through the Book of Hebrews and what a wonderful study that was and I don’t expect this study to be any less exciting or faith building. Let us be sober, vigilant, and diligent to practice our faith so that our Lord can say of us that we have great faith. We are designed to be mountain movers (Mark 11:22-25), we are not mountain climbers, we are mountain movers. A mountain is nothing when confronted by faith in God and His Word, in love, led by Holy Spirit. Confronted with faith mountains are a facade, an illusion, that fads and disappears as we speak (decree). Now, let’s turn our attention to this wonderful beginning Scripture text from the Book of John. Remember, let us read it aloud so that it is in our eyes, our mouth, and our ears. Faith comes by hearing, and real spiritual hearing and the subsequent strengthening of the faith of God in us comes only by the Word of God.
John 1:1-5 (KJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
The first three words of this beautiful and wonderful Book starts just as the Book of Genesis starts with, “In the beginning”. The Book of Genesis is written in Hebrew and John in Greek but none the less the meaning of the word “beginning” is very much the same. The word “chief” is a part of the definition of both words so I believe we can think of it this way. The chief thing in the beginning was the Word. We need to pause for just a moment and meditate on this, let it marinate so to speak, and as we do it will become even more clear where we are to focus. Our focus is to be on the Word, and the One who is the Word, Christ Jesus. Before we move forward let me be clear that the One called the Word in eternity past is the One we call Christ Jesus today. As we prepare to move forward let’s take a moment to read and reflect upon the following Scripture.
Genesis 1:1 (KJV)
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
As I sure you know that in the body of Christ there are those who ascribe to a young earth theory and those who believe the earth is very old. The young earth folks believe that the earth is about six thousand years old. This belief says that Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:3 are all the same time-frame. The old earth folks, of which I am one, believe that the earth, all of creation, is in the billions of years old. The physical archeological record is abundantly clear on this point and does not establish or prove an evolutionary model but supports a creation model, the Bible record. The chaos (confusion) we find in Genesis 1:2 should be sufficient to dissuade the young earth point of view but it does not and so that belief persists. Our God is not a God of chaos which is confusion. But guess who is? The chaos of Genesis 1:2 is the result of the sin. The rebellion of Lucifer and his being thrown to earth with one third of the angels caused a cataclysmic change in the earth seen In Genesis 1:2. Lucifer renamed Satan, the Serpent, the old dragon, the devil and so on was left to roam the earth and the angels who followed him in the rebellion against God were put in chains in Hell awaiting judgment.
It is my belief that the beginning referred to by Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 are the same point in time (eternity) which is the creation of the earth upon which we walk. In the creation of Genesis of 1:1 there were heavens and earth but in Genesis 1:2 and following until the fourth day of this creation the heavens are absent. This is not unprecedented, we see a similar thing happen at the end of the Millennial Reign of Christ when the devil and all associated with him are dealt with for the last time forever. At that time the earth is cleansed by fire as are the heavens and a new earth and a new heaven are created. I will pickup right here tomorrow Lord willing as we push forward in this wonderful Word.
PRAYERS AND QUESTIONS – please, anytime you have an issue that you want me, this ministry to pray for you, a person you love or a situation contact me. Accordingly, if you should have a question about the Bible, please do not hesitate to ask it. Contact information is at the end of this and every study.
Until our next publication, I speak this Scriptural prayer for your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Colossians 1:9-10 (KJV)
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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