A Very Simple Survey
of Genesis: Vol. II
Introduction
 This second volume in A Very Simple Survey of The Bible examines in more
detail the doctrinal content of the book of Genesis. As was stated in the brief synopsis
of Genesis in Volume I, (and reproduced on pages 6 and 7), the word "genesis"
means beginning. This tells us, therefore, that the book of Genesis is the
beginning of the written word of God. However, it tells us more than that. It tells us
that in Genesis God sets forth information about the beginning of things. Yet not just the
beginning of creation, but the beginning of some other issues as well.
In the synopsis it was pointed out that Genesis
describes 5 particular beginnings. These are:
1. The Beginning of the World (1:1-1:25)
2. The Beginning of Man (1:26-2:25)
3. The Beginning of Man’s Sin and Satan’s Dominion on the
Earth (3:1-3:24)
4. The Beginning of Man’s Devolution Under Satan’s Plan of
Evil (4:1-11:32)
5. The Beginning of the Nation of Israel (12:1-50:26)
It is easy to see from the corresponding Scripture
references that Genesis is entirely taken up with describing these 5 beginnings. Each is
essential to understand and appreciate, and will be amplified upon in this volume. The
knowledge of each is also fundamental to possessing the proper Biblical theology God has
designed for us to have.
There is, however, another special beginning that is vital to
recognize, which God does not describe in the book of Genesis. He does not describe it
because it not only did not historically begin during the time covered by Genesis, but
because God actually kept it secret since the beginning of the world and did not reveal it
until the appropriate time. This other beginning is the beginning of this present
dispensation of God’s grace in which we live, along with the formation of the
"new creation," the church the body of Christ.
We, today, live in the dispensation of God’s longsuffering and
grace. However, this dispensation of God’s grace has not always been in effect, nor
has God always been forming the church the body of Christ. Instead, God began this
dispensation when the Lord Jesus Christ unexpectedly came back from heaven, as recorded in
Acts 9, and raised up Paul as a brand new apostle. To Paul God revealed the "mystery
of Christ," which He had not made known in ages and generations past. With this
epoch-making event God began this dispensation of His grace, and He began to form what
Christians are today — His "new creation," the church the body of Christ.
Therefore, since God was keeping it a secret, this particular beginning
is not recorded in Genesis. However, now that it is revealed, Genesis helps us all the
more to appreciate both the need for this dispensation with its "new creation"
and why God had kept it secret. In fact, the very first verse of the Bible provides us
with essential insight into this very matter.
1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
Creation is composed of two main realms: the heavenly
realm and the earth. After declaring this in verse 1, the focus of attention immediately
is placed upon the earth and Genesis eventually describes the issue of the earth coming
under the dominion of an evil usurper. (Later identified as Satan, the "anointed
cherub" of the heavenly creation who himself had sinned and became God’s
adversary.) However previous to usurping dominion of the earth, the heavenly realm had
also been adversely affected by Satan. This is intimated in the opening chapters of
Genesis, and confirmed to be the case later on. Therefore, both realms of creation were
affected by him. Both realms suffered the effects of his usurpation.
In connection with His purpose for the earth, God immediately made
known His plan for contending with Satan’s usurpation of the earth in order to
repossess it. Moreover, He immediately began to put that plan into effect. However, God
said nothing about any intention of repossessing the heavenly realm. Though we now know it
was in His plan to do so, He kept completely silent about it. In so doing, God provided
for taking Satan in his own craftiness. Through Satan’s ignorance of "the
mystery of Christ," he committed an act that brought about his own destruction. He
actually did the very thing that gave God the capacity to bring in a new dispensation in
which He could form a "new creature" that He would be able to use to repossess
the heavenly realm as well. And this is what this present dispensation of grace is all
about.
All of this is now revealed to us in Paul’s epistles.
However, our ability to fully appreciate the need for this present dispensation and the
reason for formerly keeping it secret begins with what God sets forth in Genesis.
Hence, the doctrinal content of Genesis is essential to understand and
appreciate. It sets forth the fundamentals of God’s plan and purpose with creation,
for the earth in particular, and the special role for man. It also describes the account
of sin entering the world, man’s demise under sin, and the special role for the
nation of Israel. In addition, the foundation for fully understanding and appreciating
this present dispensation of God’s grace is contained therein.
"In the beginning" is how God opens up His word. In the book
of the beginning is where our education in Biblical theology starts.
* * * * *
NOTE: Much of the material contained in this Very
Simple Survey of Genesis is taken from other of the author’s writings that deal
with issues set forth in the book of Genesis. Two of these in particular are
Satan and His Plan of Evil and
Have You Ever Wondered What Heaven is Like?. Some
passages from these writings have been directly excerpted, while others have been edited
and condensed for this publication. Further treatment of many of the issues contained in
this volume can be found in these other two books. Attention is drawn to some of these
issues in the endnotes.
In addition, this volume is as its title states, A Very Simple
Survey of Genesis. It is not a verse-by-verse commentary, but a very simple survey and
overview of the general doctrinal content of Genesis.
The brief doctrinal synopsis of Genesis and the dispensational chart from Volume I is
reproduced on the following pages. |
