Genesis - Introduction
Genesis is foundational to our understanding of reality. Genesis explains how we got here, where stars, oceans, animals, and trees come from. It tells us why there is sin and death in the world, why there are immense fossil beds, and why there are different languages and people groups with different characteristics. Genesis also establishes the basic parameters of living on God’s earth according to the precepts in his Word. It sets forth the Creator’s design and instruction for all that is, including humanity.
All major biblical doctrines are founded in Genesis. The first 11 chapters are foundational to the Christian worldview—including the saving gospel Genesis 3:15. Here is a partial list of doctrines initially grounded in the book of Genesis:
- The doctrine of sin is founded in Genesis where the first man and first woman rebelled against God and ate from the forbidden tree.
- Genesis records God’s plan for gender. God made humans male and female from the beginning, as recorded in the Bible’s first book. God, not a politician or a panel of social engineers, laid the foundation for a correct approach to gender and sexuality.
- The doctrine of marriage, defined as one man for one woman, is founded in Genesis. God, not a panel of judges, invented and defines marriage.
- The gospel is founded in Genesis. We need a Savior because Adam (the father/head of the human race) sinned and brought literal death into creation (Genesis 3). That’s why Jesus had to come and literally die a physical death to take our place.