In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day (Genesis 1:1-5, KJV).

The Battle For The Beginning

Let’s go over the truth about how the universe actually came to be, and by Whom it was created. Another time, we will go into more of the details about it; but for now we focus on the first verse of the Book of Genesis, and specifically the phrase In the beginning. And this is what the word Greek word genesis means – beginning. Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. I want to point out to you that the Hebrew here for In the beginning – bereshith – means “before anything came into existence.” And so, God already was. You need to understand that the Bible nowhere ever argues for the existence of God, it always speaks from the position that He is. That incontrovertible fact alone makes the Bible totally unique in all other religious writings.

In his very insightful book concerning the origin of our universe, The Battle For The Beginning, the great Bible teacher Dr. John MacArthur, correctly points out:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” It would be hard to state an answer to the great cosmic question any more simply or directly than that…[these words] are precise and concise beyond mere human composiiton. They account for everything evolution cannot explain. Evolutionary philosopher Dr. Herbert Spencer, one of Darwin’s earliest and most enthusiastic advocates, outlined five “ultimate scientific ideas”: time, force, action, space, and matter. These are the categories that (according to Spencer) comprise everything that is usseptible to scientific examination. That simple taxonomy, Spencer believed [as most evolutionists still believe], encompasses all that truly exists in the universe. Everything that can be known or observed by science fits into one of those categories,…

Spencer’s materialistic world-view is immediately evident in the fact that his categories leave room for nothing spiritual. But set aside for a moment the rather obvious fact that something as obvious as human intellect and emotion do not quite fit into any of Spencer’s categories… But Genesis 1:1 accounts for all of Spencer’s categories. “In the beginning” – that’s time. “God” – that’s force. “Created” – that’s action. “The heavens” – that’s space. “And the earth” – that’s matter. In the first verse of the Bible God laid out plainly what no scientist or philosopher ever cataloged until the nineteenth century. Moreover, what evolution still cannot possibly explain–the actual origin of everything that science can observe–the Bible explains in a few succinct words in the very first verse of Genesis (pp.40,41).

Don’t you just love God’s sense of humor! And further in his classic commentary The Genesis Record, which I highly recommend, scientist, and Christian, Dr. Henry Morris shows us, [concerning the origin of the universe]

Origin of the universe
The Book of Genesis stands alone in accounting for the actual creation of the space-mass-time continuum which constitutes our physical universe. Genesis 1:1 is unique in all literature, science, and philosophy. Every other system cosmogony, whether in ancient religious myth, or modern scientific models, starts with eternal matter or energy in some form, from which other entities were supposedly gradually derived by some process.

Only the Book of Genesis even attempts to account for the ultimate origin of matter, space, and time; and it does so uniquely in terms of special creation (p.18).

Noted Old Testament scholar Dr. Ronald Youngblood also confirms that – “The Bible always assumes, and never argues, God’s existence. Although everything else had a beginning, God has always been (Ps.90:2) [As far as the words] In the beginning – John 1:1-10, which stresses the work of Christ in creation, opens with the same phrase” (The NIV Study Bible, 1985 ed., p.6).

Why don’t we turn there to John chapter 1; I want to cut to the “heart” of a most important matter, and the issue is this: The Bible is the Self-revelation of the only, true, and living God. This is Who Created this universe; and, if He hadn’t decided to reveal Who He is–and how He can be known–all we could know about Him, as human beings is, that there is a God, and that the universe did not create itself. Romans chapter 1 tells us in no uncertain terms that God’s Creation itself reveals enough to us–even in our sin-darkened state–to know that God exists. Now I want to help you to understand where we need to go from here as far as helping our fellow man to come to a saving relationship with the God Who Created the heavens and the earth. And to do this we’ll need to look at exactly Who this Jesus of Nazareth really is.

In The Beginning Christ Already Was

The time has now arrived in the “twilight’s last gleaming” of our rapidly fading nation–the moment of truth has come where the Church of Jesus Christ that He bought with His Own blood on “the old rugged cross” must take a stand! We who would dare call ourselves Christians, must begin to fight against the evil world system eating away like a cancer at the very fabric of these United States and devouring everything that was once good in this nation. Either we take that stand now or risk the Lord’s wrath–and might I remind you that it is written: it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God. (1 Peter 4:17, NASB)

We’ve all sung “Onward Christian Soldiers”, one of the great old hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ and the line – “with the Cross of Jesus, going on before.” I tell you in the Lord, either the Christian Church in this once great country moves out – with the Cross of Jesus – to war against all those evil parasites eating our young, or we risk watching America fade away into the obscurity of yet another fallen empire. Greece fell; Rome fell; and you know; they had one thing in common–the practice of, and the tolerance for, the homosexual lifestyle. If you don’t believe me check the history books. And it is interesting that the very powerful homosexual lobby in Washington has now forced this same-sex marriage issue to the point that even traditionally conservative states like New Hampshire are having to consider this abomination before our Holy Creator. He who has an ear, let him hear.

We turn now to John 1:1. New Testament translator Dr. Edwin Blum is correct when he says:

[John’s Gospel] begins…as if the Apostle had said, “I want you to consider Jesus in His teachings and deeds. But you will not understand the Good News of Jesus in its fullest sense unless you view Him from this point of view. Jesus is God [Himself] manifest in human] flesh, and His Words and Deeds are those of the God-Man.”

With this in mind then, here’s John 1:1–and you will see a very interesting parallel to the opening words of our opening text in the Book of Genesis. In the beginning was the Word. En arche en ho Logos. Literally in the Greek this passage means – “Before anything ever was; the Word already was.” And of course we know that the Word mentioned here is Jesus of Nazareth, Whom we refer to at times as the living Word of God. The Greek word Logos is used here for “Word”; and it essentially means, “speaking a message,” as in a “word” spoken that reveals something. In this case you can see why John chose to use it; as the Man, Jesus, the Carpenter from Nazareth, is the very revelation of the Creator God–Who has now become a Man and has walked into His Own Creation!

The term Logos was actually quite common to John’s first century readers and would easily have been understood by anyone reading this Book at the time it was originally written. This would be expected as John was himself a fisherman by trade; a “common” man so to speak. It makes sense then, since Jesus didn’t choose any “scholars” among His disciples–but rather selected “everyday” people–so that for the most part the writings in the New Testament don’t really require a doctorate in theology to be understood. The meaning is obvious to anyone who wants to see, and who wants to hear God.

The Enemy’s Scholars of Confusion

Today we have a glut of “scholars” on the scene, a vast legion of people Satan has sent out to confuse the beauty of God’s Word, and to try and hide its plain and simple meaning. A majority of these so-called biblical critics and professors of empty words – “having a form of our religion, but denying its power” – should take an honest look at what their teachings do to cause people to stumble and serve to cripple the faith of others. The Lord would say to them: Get your head out of the false security of your books, your classrooms, and your campus libraries for awhile; go walk among My people in the real world for a change. That will wake you from your slumber.

Jesus also warns us about these false teachers – “[Woe to those modern hypocrites; they] tie up heavy loads [with their worldly teachings of mankind’s philosophies] and put them on [other] men’s shoulders… Everything [they] do is done for [other so-called ‘scholars’] to see (Matthew 23:2,4,5)…on the outside [they] appear to people, as righteous, but on the inside [they] are full of hypocrisy and [the truth is that they love their standing in the scholastic community more than they love Me]” (Matthew 23:28).

As we conclude our look at our true beginning allow me to make two other real quick points. First we turn to 1 John chapter 1 and verse 1. I’d like to show you something that should help you grasp just how God reveals–or better yet–just what God reveals of Himself in Jesus of Nazareth. 1 John 1:1 – That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – [if you are reading the King James Version it will say our hands have handled] – this we claim concerning the Word of Life.

Christ Is Life

Dr. Walter Martin gives us some great insight into this passage when he says – “there are two words in New Testament Greek translated “life.” One is bios–from which we get our word “biology”; and the other is zoe. Bios refers to “physical existence.” However zoe, is the actual quality of life itself. Jesus Christ is life of God–literally His life essence in human flesh. And that’s why John could write in his first Epistle–we have seen, we’ve heard, we’ve handled, the Word of zoe – Life! Jesus Christ was incarnate life’s very quality itself! That’s why death had no power over Him. His Body could die, but He in His essential being is everlasting and eternal Life.”

Now let’s bring this understanding of the true Nature of Jesus of Nazareth back with us to John chapter 1. You will see–from the testimony of a man who lived with Jesus for three years–who knew the Master personally, that Christ isn’t really just a good Man, He is not just a life–He is the very Source of life; Jesus of Nazareth is Life in human form. With this in mind, now look at what John tells us in verse 1 – In the beginning was the Word – [Christ Jesus] – and the Word was with God – [the Greek here for with – pros – means “face to face.” And now the last part of verse 1] – and the Word – [Jesus] – was God. Verse 2 – He was with God in the beginning. Through Him – verse 3 – all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him – [Jesus] – In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.

Hopefully you’re coming to see why Jesus of Nazareth is so important; now you should be to understand that the question: Where did God come from is really meaningless. Christ Jesus is the very Source of life itself! God is the infinite originator of life as we comprehend it with our finite minds. So had He not created us, then we wouldn’t be in existence to even ask such a foolish question in the first place. The very Source of life itself–the very Creator of this universe–the Originator of our life walked among us as a Man in His Own Creation! That’s Who this Carpenter, Jesus of Nazareth, actually is!

And further, if you are a Christian, that very Source of life now lives in you! So what could possibly happen to you that He can’t see you through? Think about this for a moment, why do you think that Jesus did things like walking on the water; or changing water into wine, which is a completely different substance? Well, He didn’t do it to show off; the Master did it to demonstrate for us that He has total control over everything in His creation!

Christ The Creator Of All Things

We go now to the Book of Colossians chapter 1 and verses 15-20. If you use the New International Version of the Bible, it has a heading that reads: The Supremacy of Christ. Here you will also see that Jesus of Nazareth–Who is the Christ–is the Creator of everything in this universe. And further, everything is subject to Him–whether they like it or not!

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

For my final point we return to chapter 14 in the Book of John; now verse 6 should come through to you as clearly as the stars in the heavens on a warm and cloudless summer night. Jesus of Nazareth; the zoe of God–the very force of God’s life says – I AM the Way and – [I AM] – the Truth – [because I AM] – Life. Satan could never have killed Jesus because it was the very life force of God–the Origin of life itself–Who was hanging on the Cross of Calvary! Christ Jesus willingly went to that cross to take upon Himself the punishment that we mere creatures deserve for our utter mockery of, and rebellion against our Holy Creator.

O I pray for you to really get to understand this; Jesus gave us life once when He created us! And, we rejected God. But men and women, there’s something more that Jesus did as well. Yes, He willingly–He lovingly–sacrificed Himself by dying that horrific; painful, and terribly gruesome death on that cross. But did you ever stop and wonder: Why a crucifixion? Jesus could have died any type of death you know; but God came into His creation at this exact time in history, and He chose to let Himself be crucified. Christ Jesus of Nazareth underwent the single most vicious and sadistic, cruel and inhuman form of execution that His creatures–you and me–has ever devised.

God’s Own Love

The Lord chose this type of tortuous death to show us, that even this kind of cruelty wouldn’t stop God from loving His Church! Even as we mercilessly tortured our own Creator–God still loves us. And the Lord of Glory also chose crucifixion to demonstrate to us that His love–God’s love–is nothing like the shallow kind of conditional love we human beings exhibit. It is written: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

With a love that we selfish creatures can just barely imagine, Jesus of Nazareth, our Creator–the actual life of God–knowing full well He would be rejected once again by His creation–by most of mankind–even then our Lord was willing to go to that cross for those of us who would believe. And in doing so, Jesus has freely given you, and me, what cost Him such agony and unspeakable suffering. Christ has given us life–for a second time; if you’ll just believe Him! And that’s Who Jesus of Nazareth really is, and that’s how this universe got here.

I leave with these now classic words:

“I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Jesus. ‘Well, I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said, would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on the level with a man who says that he’s a poached egg–or else he would be the devil of Hell. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him, and you can [try and] kill Him as a demon–or you can fall at His feet and call Him, ‘Lord and God.’ But let us not come up with any more patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us, He did not intend to.”