Scripture Reading: Read Genesis One and Two

Memory Verses: Genesis 1:26 or Isaiah 43:7 Isaiah

Lesson Objective: To help you better understand the origin of the Universe and Man

Introduction: Take note that in the opening declaration of the Bible it does not attempt
to prove that God exists. Nowhere does God try to prove to man that He, God, is! Man
only has to look at his surroundings, at the miracle of life itself, at the vastness of the
Universe, and deep within his heart, man knows - that GOD IS!!

Ps 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament sheweth his
handiwork.

Ps 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt,
they have done  abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

The Bible tells us of the creation of the universe, planet earth and of man. The Bible does
not claim to be a book of science, but, it has, to the unprejudiced mind found to be
scientifically correct. The Bible does not claim to be a book of history, however, it has
been found to be historically correct!

The individual  who studies the Bible and orders their life in accordance with its
teaching never has to fear the spade of the archaeologist - for time after time,
archaeologists have only served to prove the Bible to be correct, and on many
occasions have proven men's records and suppositions to be wrong..

No individual who orders their life by the Word of God, lives a futile and meaningless life.

"In the beginning . . . " of time as man tries measure time, and which none can, with
any degree of certainty accomplish, "God created the heaven and the earth". The universe
with all the galaxies, planets, the Sun, the Moon and all the starry hosts of heaven, and planet Earth
were created by God. Just think, according to some, the Galaxy in which we live is
spinning at some 490,000 miles per hour; and at that speed, it requires 200 million
years to make one rotation.  From the nothingness of nothing, God made the earth
and ALL that is in it, and did so by His spoken Word.

Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the
word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

In other words, God spoke into existence the materials that He would use to creat Planet Earth.

Answer in your own words the following questions based on your reading of the Word of God,
the Bible.

1.     On what day did "light" appear?

2.     On what day did "the sun" appear?

        (1)    In your opinion how do you reconcile the fact that light appeared before the sun?

 3.     How quickly in the process of creation did God divide "Light" from "Darkness"?
   

 4.     What is your understanding of John 1:1-13; I John 1:6-10 and Ephesians 5:1-13, with
         respect to separating light from darkness?

  
 5.    In reading Genesis 1:11-12, and verses 20-22, what did you discover about the plant
        and animal kingdom? 
       

6.     On what day during creation did God create man?


7.    What do you find significant about Gods timing in the creation of man?
                      
                
8.    Of what substance did God create man?

9.    In what way did man become "alive"?


10.   Of what substance did God create woman?
         

11.    What significance do you find in the way God created man?   
   

12.    According to Genesis 1:26-28, in what form, or likeness, did God create man?
      

Note:   The Hebrew meaning of the word "image" carries with it the idea of a
            "shadow"; hence, one can see the "outline" but not the fullness of that
             which created the shadow.

One illustration of this, is when you stand with the sun behind you on a
bright day you can see the shadow, (the image) in front of you as an outline
of yourself, but, you cannot see the color tones of your skin, or the color of
your hair reflected in your shadow. You do not see the full three-dimensional
effect.

God made man much like Himself, but without the fullness of God. However,
man is much more like God than he realizes. As you continue in your study of the
Bible, you will find that you share many of Gods attributes in your emotions,
your ability to reason, your ability to think, etc..

Now that you have been "Born Again", you will find yourself becoming more like
your Creator, all because Jesus Christ who now lives in you in His Spirit. As you
yield yourself to your Heavenly Father, you become more and more like Him
every day. (See John 1:12; II Peter 1:4 and Romans 8:28-30).

13.   In view of Isaiah 43:7, how do you personally feel that you can best fulfill that
        desire of God for you, - His child?

Conclusion: What a wonderful, loving Heavenly Father! What a wonderful God!
He created a universe, and on planet earth, He created a paradise for His prize creation
-- MAN -- in which to live. God and man, walking together, talking together, enjoying it all together.

So what happened? What went wrong? And what did God do to restore man so that once
again he could walk, talk and enjoy God, and all that He had created?