Genesis 1:1-13 - A Tale of Two Fig Leafs

TOPIC: Sanctity of Life;
TITLE: A TALE OF TWO FIG LEAFS – Sanctity of Life Sunday

TEXT: Genesis 1:1-13

Life is precious – Jesus healed and raised people – He valued life.

But "value" of life and "sanctity" of life are different. Value means something has worth … and life does! But sanctity says it's sacred, holy, and related to God somehow.

God gives life and ends life ….

“GOD … GIVES LIFE TO ALL THINGS”

1 Timothy 6:13

“HE … GIVES TO ALL LIFE AND BREATH”

Acts 17:25

“IT IS THE SPIRIT WHO GIVES LIFE”

John 6:63

Jesus said the greatest gift we could give to a brother is our life … and I suppose it is even a greater gift that we can lead them to the giver of eternal life. After all, didn't He say He was "the Life"?

The sanctity of human life speaks of the issues related to life in general but more importantly to the taking of life.

The issue isn't whether we should allow abortion or euthanasia or not, or whether or not it is even right or wrong … the issue is …

WHETHER OR NOT WE KNOW THE WILL, OF GOD AS WELL, AS WHETHER OR NOT WE INTEND TO OBEY THAT WILL.

You see the issue is sin; the manifest rebellion of the creature against the creator. Peter said it all and best when he told the Sanhedrin, “It is better to fear God than man!”

You simply cannot stop the symptom of the problem unless you attack the cause of it first.

The "Evolution - Creation" controversy! The cornerstone of our faith is dependent on our view of the Word of God: IS IT INERRANT AND WHOLLY APPLICABLE TO YOUR LIFE … OR ISN'T IT?

For the believer, the Word must be the defining quality of the Rock of his faith and trust and hope. Turn to – James 1:13-16.

For the believer life begins at conception! WHY? Because the Word says it does...

What of Jeremiah, of John the Baptist?

This message is to all of us; not just to those who have taken a life. Let me speak to your hearts of three kinds of life, each threatened by unnecessary death.

The three faces of eve ... all three are rooted in "UNBELIEF"

Unbelief (as in my case) can get us to …

1. The Eve who encourages another to take a life or encourages another to disbelieve God in another area [drinking, smoking, lying, cheating, adultery, gossip, tithing, church attendance]
2. The Eve who aids in the taking of a life or aids in the committing of any number of other equally God denying sins
3. The Eve who directly causes the taking of a life or deliberately rebel in another area of sinful disobedience

But, just as Eve, I was shown a way of recovery and reconciliation with God. So too has Eve II. And so too has Eve III.

FACTS:

1. sin is sin; all sin is rooted in unbelief
2. God's never surprised or shocked by our sins
3. some sin incurs harsher judgment [Proverbs 6:27-28; Hebrews; James 3:1]
4. God desires recovery and restoration IF –

a. WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE US

1 John 1:9

b. HE WHO CONCEALS HIS SINS WILL NOT PROSPER, BUT HE WHO CONFESSES AND FORSAKES THEM WILL FIND COMPASSION

Proverbs 28:13

c. we, like David, ask to be cleansed and restored

d. we SUBMIT TO GOD, RESIST THE DEVIL FOR HE WILL FLEE FROM [US]

James 4:7

5. Satan desires to hold you ...

a. You can't undo the past, don't try … go on with life.
b. don't quit, keep trying
c. don't be an Ostrich
d. fellowship till it hurts (2 or 3 are better than one)

APPLICATION: The "rights" we hold so dear are simply our selfish and transparent loincloths, our pathetic effort at hiding from God, and our silly attempt at elevating ourselves to equality with God.

Like Adam and Eve, we are bitten by the father of lies. Like them, we deny the Creator and lust after ourselves and the puny work of our hands and minds.

But like Adam and Eve we too are offered a way out. God so loves us that He offers us a way to recover, to be restored to a right relationship, a newness of life. Christ is the Redeemer of all in all situations.

YOU ARE FORGIVEN IF YOU ASK … SO ASK! HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD YOUR MAKER.

CHALLENGE: But you know there is a greater loincloth at work in the world ... we stand by, deny the Word of God, and let the souls of thousands slide slowly and surely into hell ... what is the greater evil . . .

1. the fall in the Garden, with its contamination of the souls of all the human race; or
2. the killing of kids one at a time, knowing that heaven is filled with the sweet sounds of millions of tiny voices as a result, or
3. the one who knows the truth and stands silent as the screams of billions echoes from the canyon walls of hell?
   

You decide … come now and acknowledge the Spirit’s convicting power. Which fig leaf is your fig leaf? What are you hiding behind yours?

Christianity, Expository, Genesis,
Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching,
Sermons, Sanctity of Life

GENESIS: Full Sermons

The following are links to full sermons, preached at FBC La Verne in Southern California or at San Carlos Community Church (SCCC) in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico ...

1:1-2

TURN ON THE LIGHTS - How God's revelation chased away the darkness!

1:1-13

A TALE OF TWO FIG LEAFS - Sanctity of Life Sunday

2:18

ADAM’S DREAM - Or The World’s First & Best Dream

quick link: GENESIS Seed Archive

Genesis, Homiletics, Preaching,
Sermons, Sermon Series

Genesis 1:1, 2 - Turn on the Lights!

TOPIC: God’s watchcare; Creation; Darkness; God's works; Light; Salvation; Damnation

TITLE: God’s Spirit is Moving – Turn on the Lights!
TEXT: Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How is God’s creative work in the sinner’s heart similar to His creative work in the beginning?
CONCISE OUTLINE:

I. THEY ARE SIMILAR IN THEIR EXISTENCE!
II. THEY ARE SIMILAR IN THEIR CONDITION!
III. THEY ARE SIMILAR IN THEIR DEFICIENCY!
IV. THEY ARE SIMILAR IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP!
V. THEY ARE SIMILAR IN THEIR POTENTIAL!

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Here is the beginning of something great, something beyond comprehension! God was in a creative mood! He was about to implement the plan of the ages!

Now, in the beginning, He created two things: 1.) the earth and 2.) everything that was not the earth (“the heavens”)!

When He created the earth, it was created without form and was void! So, did God make a mistake? Of course not! He had a plan, a purpose! He made it that way on purpose!

Darkness also existed, but not in and of itself; it existed only because God the Great Electrician had not installed wiring or bulbs yet! Later, God did!

But, after the lights, darkness was not everywhere over the deep; it existed only where it was allowed to: on the backside of celestial objects (separated from the source of the light) and ultimately in a sinner’s heart (likewise separated)!

Now, before the light switch was thrown, God in the person of the Holy Spirit moved over the surface of the waters where the darkness everywhere existed!

NOTE: There was no life before the light! God is again in a creative mood … His Spirit is once more hovering over the deep and the surface of the deep is once more covered by darkness!

INQUIRY: How is God’s creative work in the sinner’s heart similar to His creative work on the earth?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. They are similar in their existence!

A. Before the lights, God had only created “the heavens and the earth” … lifeless and useless!
B. Both existed, just as the sinner’s heart exists! It’s just there … lifeless and useless!

II. They are similar in their condition!

A. The Bible says, “the earth was formless and void”!
B. Formless: without organization; no appearance of usefulness or purpose!
C. Void: empty; unfulfilled!
D. In the same way sin has entered into the sinner’s heart and made it formless and void … empty, unfulfilled!

III. They are alike in their deficiency!

A. The earth had no light and so it had no life!
B. So too the sinner’s heart! Where their is no light there is no life! [1 John 5:9-13]

IV. They are similar in their relationship!

A. The Bible says, “and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters”!
B. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is moving over the hearts of sinful/sin-filled man! [John 16:7-11]

V. They are similar in their potential!

A. EARTH: Life & fruit:

1. God look at what existed before the light and thought to Himself, “This is not good”!
2. And “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” [v.3]
3. “And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” [VV.4-5]
4. And then He created life and it filled the earth and it bore fruit!

B. HEART: Life & fruit:

1. In the same way God looks at the heart of the sinner and says through His messengers, “This is not good”!
2. In the same way He as sent the Light.
3. And God has said that the Light is good; and He separated the Light from the darkness … and He called the Light salvation, and the darkness He called damnation!
4. And He told those who lived in the light to fill the earth and bear much fruit! [Matthew 28:19,20; John 15:8]

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Oh, dear friends the Holy Spirit is moving about the surface of the earth today! He is brooding over the hearts of sinful man, desiring they receive the light He has sent!

The Bible says they will not turn on the light unless someone goes and shows them where the light switch is! [Romans 10:14, 15] Won’t you go today!

Christianity, Creation, Expository, Genesis,
Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching,
Redemption, Sermons

GENESIS - Seed Archive

Gen 1:1 [Cp. John 1:1]

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

TOPIC: Nature of God
TITLE: The Creation - What Is It All About?

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What does the creation say about God?

I. It Says God Is Mighty! (He is Omnipotent)
II. It Says God Is Loving! (He loves us)
III. It Says God Is Worthy! (He is worthy of worship)

Gen 3:7

"Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin (or girdles) coverings."

TOPIC: Sin [Obedience]
TITLE: THE GREAT FALL - How our evil eye was opened!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What was the progression in this eye opening event?

I. The Commission of Sin!
II. The Consciousness of Sin!
III. The Confrontation of Sin!

Gen 4:1-16

Topic: Unrighteousness vs. faithfulness
Title: THE FIRST UN!

[UNRIGHTEOUSNESS] In the late '70s and early '80s, Seven-Up Bottling Company promoted their product with an amusing advertising campaign around the word UnCola ... its intent was to position itself against more well known colas.

Foundational Inquiry: Why was Able favored over Cain?

I. Because Cain was unfaithful!
II. Because Cain was unrepentant!
III. Because Cain was undone!
IV. Because Cain was unsaved!

Gen 7:17

"Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased

and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth."

Topic: Last Days [Days of Noah]
Title: THE DAY THE RAINS CAME DOWN!

Foundational Inquiry: What is the significance of God's choice of the flood and the Ark?

I. They Point to A Similar Day! [Genesis 6:5-7 vs. Luke 17:26-27]

II. They Point to A Similar Judgment! [Genesis 7:23 vs. 2 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10a]

III. They Point to A Similar Escape! [Heb. 11:7 vs. Ephesians 2:8; John 10:9; 14:6]

IV. They Point to A Similar Redeemer!

Gen 8:20-9:17

Topic: Noahic Covenant

Title: THE RAINBOW COVENANT

TRUTH CLAIM: Man, created in the image of God, has shown throughout time that he is incapable of being trusted. God again and again has come to our rescue and time and time again we have frustrated Him! Shame on us!

Foundational Inquiry: What does the Noahic Covenant mean to contemporary man?

I. That we should continually sacrifice!

II. That we should never forget!

III. That it's fire next time!

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: In spite of the fact that God regretted He made man, in spite of the fact that He had every right to wipe man from the face of the earth, He offers a reprieve, an opportunity to start over ... sealing it with a beautiful and timeless sign, the rainbow.

Man is passive in this transaction; God provides all, man contributes nothing. Take this moment and consider how we ought to respond to God's reprieve, the foregoing of final judgment until the fullness of times. Certainly we should not be responding the way we have!

Gen 28:8-9 [Cp. 26:34-35; 27:46; 36:1-6]

Topic: Sin; Anger, Flesh, Pride, Rebellion, Spirit, Vengeance

Title: DIGGING OUR OWN GRAVE!

Foundational Inquiry: What three sins of pride does Esau exhibit in his choice of wives?

I. The Sin of Rebellion!

II. The Sin of Anger!

III. The Sin of Vengeance!

Genesis, Homiletics, Preaching, Sermons