Origins - Benedict Allmand-Smith

Date: Sunday 23rd March 2025

Location: Trinity Baptist Church Charlesworth

Title: Origins

Text: Genesis 1:1-2:3

Please listen to the audio of Benedict's sermon below:

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermons/32425958283028

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Origins

1. Pre-Existent God In the opening words of the Bible, "In the beginning, God," we are introduced to a profound truth about the nature of God. God was present before time itself began. While the creation of the heavens and the earth marks the beginning of time, space, and matter, God exists outside of time. The phrase "In the beginning" refers to the start of everything, but it does not apply to God Himself. God is eternal, pre-existent, and without beginning. He is the source of all things, and everything in creation owes its existence to Him.

Fulfilment: The Pre-Existent Person of Christ

In John 1:1, John echoes the opening words of Genesis, saying, "In the beginning was the Word." Here, John applies the pre-existence of God to Jesus Christ, affirming that Jesus is the eternal Word, the pre-existent Creator. The same infinite God who existed before the foundation of the world is the one who walked on earth as Jesus Christ – our Creator who became a creature. This truth should lead us to awe and reverence for Jesus, who is worthy of our praise and honour.

2. Light from Darkness In Genesis, the earth is described as "formless and void," covered in darkness. God had created the matter, but it lacked form and order. The first act of God’s forming work was to bring light into the darkness. This light was not just a physical phenomenon, but a symbol of God’s intention to bring order and purpose to the universe. The light was the first fruit of God’s creation, signalling His ultimate purpose to bring life and clarity to a chaotic world.

Fulfilment: The Light of the World

In John 1:3-5, we see a parallel to this creation narrative. Jesus is described as the life and the light, the one who came to dispel the darkness brought about by sin. Through Jesus, light and life are restored to the world. Just as God brought physical light to a dark and chaotic world, Jesus brings spiritual light to the hearts of God’s elect, offering hope and redemption to those trapped in the darkness of sin and death.

3. Creation In our modern world, many people claim that life came about by accident, through the Big Bang and evolutionary processes. Others claim that the matter around us has always existed through an infinite regress. Both of these origin stories are firmly rooted in the belief that we are mere products of chance – nothing more than fleeting beings in an impersonal universe. However, the complexity and beauty of the world around us point to something far greater than random chance. Just as a Boeing 747 cannot be assembled by a tornado blowing through a scrap yard, so the intricacy of the natural world reveals a Designer.

From the majestic lion to the delicate butterfly, from the amazing wings of a hummingbird which can beat up to 200 times per second, to the vastness of the sky, the diversity and complexity of creation demonstrate the handiwork of a Creator. The hymn "All Things Bright and Beautiful" beautifully captures this truth, reminding us that God made all things, great and small, with purpose and intention. This world is not an accident – it is the work of a Creator who deserves all our praise.

Fulfilment: First Fruits of Recreation

The Bible also tells us that creation itself is groaning, waiting to be redeemed (Romans 8:19-21). The fall of humanity marred the original creation, and now the entire world is in need of restoration. Jesus Christ, as the pre-existent Creator, is not only the source of light and life but also the prototype of the new creation. He is the "first fruits" of what God will do when He makes all things new.

When Jesus rose from the dead, He began the process of making all things new. Through Him, we have the hope of the new creation – a world where God's original intention for beauty, order, and life will be fully realized. Jesus came as a man, and he demonstrated what humanity was meant to be – reflecting God’s image perfectly. He is the model for the new humanity that God will create in the future, and all believers will one day be conformed to His image.

4. The Creation Mandate In the beginning, God gave Adam and Eve a mandate: to have dominion over creation, to fill the earth, and to subdue it. They were to carry out this task with the authority God gave them. However, humanity’s fall into sin shattered this covenant and took away Adam and Eve’s opportunity to fulfil it.

Fulfilment: New Creation Mandate

Through Jesus Christ, the mission to fill the earth with God’s glory is restored. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commissions His followers to go and make disciples of all nations. This new creation mandate extends to the Church today, calling us to spread the light of the gospel and invite others into the new creation. With the authority of Christ, we are called to fulfil this mission, knowing that Jesus, who has all dominion, is with us always. Let us take this responsibility seriously, reaching our communities and sending missionaries to share the message of hope in Christ.

5. God’s Holy Rest After completing His work of creation, God rested on the seventh day. This rest was not because He was tired, but because He was satisfied with His work. The Sabbath rest serves as an example for us. God calls us to rest, to cease from our work, and to focus on Him. Just as God took pleasure in His creation, we are called to appreciate the Creator of the world, and to spend time in His presence.

Fulfilment: Holy Rest for the Harvest

Though the Sabbath rest provides moments of refreshment and renewal, it is but a foretaste of the eternal rest that awaits believers in heaven. Hebrews 4:9-10 speaks of a future Sabbath rest that remains for the people of God. Our Savior, Jesus, has gone before us into heaven, and on the basis of His ascension, we have the promise of entering into that eternal rest with Him.

In that eternal rest, we will experience joy beyond our imagination, with Jesus at the centre of our happiness. All that we enjoy in this world – its beauty, its peace – will pale in comparison to the glory we will experience in His presence. Will you be there, sharing in that eternity?

In conclusion, the story of creation, the fall, and the redemption in Christ points us to the ultimate hope of new creation. Through Jesus Christ, we have the promise of restoration – both for ourselves and for all of creation. We are called to participate in this mission, eagerly awaiting the day when God will make all things new and we will enter into His eternal rest.