In the Beginning God

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The most important basic issue of Present Truth and for all time is to recognize and emphasize the existence of God and an understanding of His nature as He reveals it to us. The first verse of the Bible contains depths of meaning we must carefully consider.
¹ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
Even by looking at just the first three words in the English Bible, "In the beginning", we learn there was a beginning for us and our world. The atheist, who wishes to deny God and His claim on our lives, tries to claim our world has existed for untold millions of years and deny its creator. This is the first issue of basic conflict which has existed for millenia.
God vs Atheism

The fourth word in the English Bible is "God". This sets the tone and basis for all our understanding and the rest of the Bible. We are already committed believers but we must never forget the power of Satan's work to deceive us into denying the existence of God.
During thousands of years of Earth's history, man created his own gods. In the last few centuries a new twist has resulted in the widespread domination of atheism, which denies the existence of any higher authority than man himself. The side effects of this delusion permeate so many concepts, even believers in the existence of God are foolishly misled to forget the awesome power, absolute knowledge, and surrounding presence of God.
¹⁰ Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Isaiah 43:10

God has revealed Himself to us through personal revelation and His written Word. This is the first issue which must be understood and agreed.
⁷ Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7

Bible vs Humanism

In this study we will take God's Word as the ultimate infallible method He uses to communicate with us. Humanism looks to the words and philosopies of men instead of primarily looking to the Word of God. We will take the Bible literally at exactly what it says without attempting to twist it to say what we want to believe. The apostle Peter wrote about the words of the apostle Paul and addressed this very issue.
¹⁶ As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
II Peter 3:16

There is a problem we face in understanding God's Word. It was written thousands of years ago in dead languages which no longer exist as they did in antiquity. We use translations of the original text which are not perfect. This requires us to exert care and effort in our study. We are comforted to know the power of God has created and preserved the Bible for our use.
¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
II Timothy 3:16
Our Saviour has made a promise we can trust.
³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32

Our Saviour has promised the Holy Spirit to be our guide. A proper and careful study will be guided by the Holy Spirit and will see the truth in spite of any translation shortcoming.
¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 16:13
Beware of the false teaching which says some translations are good and some are bad. Some may be better for specific purposes. Some may be more accurate in certain cases. None are perfect but all are the Word of God. Part of recognizing the power of God is to respect His Word in all forms.
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11

Creation vs Evolution

We cannot leave the subject of the power of God without addressing the truth of Creation vs the error of Evolution. The Bible is very clear. God in the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit created everything. The message of Genesis chapter 1 is repeated, with expanded detail, in John chapter 1.
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.
John 1:1-5
God created the entire observable universe in six literal days of approximately 24 hours duration.
¹⁶ And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
Genesis 1:16

Do you recognize the power of God to plan everything in advance and demonstrate His power by the patterns of history and prophecy?
I pray we may all continue to seek love, peace, and unity in truth preparing for the soon coming of Iaushuo (ee-ah-oo-shoo-oh) Messiah, the Son of God.
Next: Godhead vs Trinity

Revised 2011-03-25