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1. Genesis 1. TBN, Pentecostals, Arminians, Emergents, Church Growthers, Liberals and some miscellaneous observations on Genesis 1 with Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown’s “A Commentary” (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1978), 1-9.
2. This is not a commentary on Genesis 1, but a miscellany of after-thoughts in application to the battle lines.
3. The name Elohim in the glorious Godhead is put before us and that raises all the names of God that arise in the Bible. We cannot expound that, but would commend our readers to any number of excellent works on this. This much, reverence, respect, fear, caution, humility, willingness to listen to God, love and fidelity arise from these investigations. This is a reason I am a Prayer Book Anglican in worship. This is a reason why the enthusiasts’ worship does not reflect the depth of the majesty revealed in this chapter.
4. This book was penned by Moses and was the death-blow against all idolatry and for the primary instruction of Israelites in their formation as a covenanted nation to Elohim-Jehovah. This nation was called to a knowledge of God in the world with laws, promises, institutions and with the charge to a jealous and loving discharge to believe, assert, defend, preserve and advance the faith. Moses was informing, teaching and providing His Majesty before Whom all the faithful back to Adam bowed. Before Whom all Israel was to bow, believe and remain steadfast. Do you see this?
5. Without going into exegetical details, we read of galaxies, stars, vegetation, and man’s creation as distinct from creation, yet made in God’s image.
6. The Divine mind, power, and omnipotent will in its vast reaches of the heavens down to molecules are before us.
7. This much, reverence, respect, fear, caution, humility, willingness to listen to God, love and fidelity arise from these investigations. Where is this presented, asserted, defended and advanced with TBN or all the hothouse Pentecostalists? Where is this with Rick Warren or Joel Osteen? Or liberal Protestants? Or in broad, non-confessional evangelicalism? Or in this praise and chorus stuff at my mission work, a mission work in the Anglican Mission of America? Where is the fear of the LORD? Or, as this chapter puts before us, the name Elohim, the plenipotentiary who is Self-Existent and Eternal? This chapter demands kneeling and listening, like Samuel of old or all the great prophets of old.
While we "confess" our faith with the Confessions, it would be an huge mistake for new learners to think we have no Biblical or exegetical basis for our faith. Here's chapter three of the Westminster Confession. Let new learners learn. Every word and phrase is and has been very carefully considered in the light of and with a basis in the Sovereign and Sure Word of God.
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/
I. It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things therein whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days; and all very good.
II. After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal souls, endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after His own image; having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it; and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change. Beside this law written in their hearts, they received a command, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.
This chapter rebukes the cavalier presumption of the day. May we have ears to hear, affections that are malleable and reformable, and minds to receive and trust. His Majesty shall do all His good pleasure.
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