I. Introduction and Review
A. We are studying the Book of Genesis, verse by verse
- Moses is writing Genesis as an inspired record of what happened at the beginning of everything
- We are in Chapter 2
B. Started off with God resting on the Seventh day and setting it above all other days
- We learned how important rest is for us, so God rested as a pattern to follow, and as a lesson to learn at least three things:
- That we need physical rest, every evening, and every 7 days
- That we need a rest deep in our souls - not religion but a rest only Jesus can give you
- That there is a rest coming to this world that will last 1,000 years - the Millennium
C. This morning, we will watch God as he shows off the creation of the first man, Adam
D. This is not a children’s story book - this is the word of God - true from the beginning!
II. Background
A. The Beginnings of Genealogy (Genesis 2:4-6)
“These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” - Genesis 2:4-6
- We use the word “generation” to mean “family history” - tells us who we came from
- We always research our genealogies going backwards in time
- Most people know their grandparents, and maybe their great grandparents
- Some of you can research and find out 6 or 7 generations back
- But God shows us where genealogies all began
- They started in Genesis chapter 1 and 2
- And we all can trace our ancestry back to TWO people, named Adam, and Eve
- So, the Book you hold in your hands describes the generations/originations of:
- The start of the entire universe
- The start of life
- The start of mankind
B. No Rain Yet (Genesis 2:5,6)
- It had not rained upon the earth yet
- A mist came up from the ground and watered everything
- This would continue until the flood of Noah
III. Message
A. God Formed Man from Dust (Genesis 2:7)
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” - Genesis 2:7
- Man was formed - not evolved, not accidental
- From the dust of the ground - humble beginnings
- All the elements of our bodies are found in the earth
- We are literally made of dust
- God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life
- This is what separates man from animals
- We have the breath of God in us
- And man became a living soul
- Not just a body, but a soul
- We are spirit, soul, and body
B. God Planted a Garden in Eden (Genesis 2:8-14)
“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.” - Genesis 2:8
- A perfect environment for man
- Filled with beautiful trees
- Including the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil
C. God Gave Adam Purpose (Genesis 2:15)
“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” - Genesis 2:15
- To dress it - to cultivate and care for the garden
- To keep it - to guard and protect it
D. God Gave Adam One Prohibition (Genesis 2:16,17)
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” - Genesis 2:16,17
- God gave freedom - eat of EVERY tree freely
- But one limitation - the tree of knowledge of good and evil
- With a clear consequence - death
IV. Conclusion
A. You are not an accident - God formed you
B. You have purpose - God made you for a reason
C. You have a soul - you are more than just a body
D. You have free will - but choices have consequences
E. Like Adam, we have all sinned and need a Saviour
For more information, contact Bible Baptist Church of Ballincollig at www.biblebc.com