In The Beginning...

Happy Reformation Day! As you may know, on this day in 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 theses, setting the events of the Reformation in motion. It is difficult to summarize into a few words all that the Reformation meant for the world and for us, but perhaps a brief summary we can borrow from Luther himself: Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura. Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone.

Over the next two years we are going to study the Holy Bible, which alone is the source and norm for our teaching and practice (Sola Scriptura). If you were with us for all or part of the last two year journey, you know that we read a couple chapters a day from different books of the Bible. Well, we are going to read a coupe chapters a day again, but this time we are going to read them out of the same book and walk through all the books of the Bible in order. In some ways this may be harder. The Old Testament is long, and sometimes difficult to read. But there will be benefit to doing this way too. So let's begin, and rejoice in our God who has given us his very Word!

Read Genesis 1-2

We could all write chapters together on these loaded first 2 chapters of the Bible! So much rich content! So much relevance for faith and life! But, let's limit the blog to just this:

In the first 2 chapters we see how God is the Creator of all. And amazingly, God creates by speaking. It is his creative Word that has the power. It is living and active. It makes something out of nothing. It brings order out of chaos. It makes light, and life, and all things!

And then, out of created matter, God forms man, and breathes life (spirit) into him. Man, male and female, is made in the image of God. Man is righteous, holy, and perfect like God.

But you may know (and we will read tomorrow) that man fell. And that Fall into sin was terrible and deadly. What was once a perfect universe and perfect Earth is now broken and groaning because it has been subjected to the bondage of corruption (Romans 8:21). And humans, once the crown of God's creation, are now by nature blind and dead in sin, and enemies of God.

But, the first two chapters of Genesis show us something about God and his Word that will prove to be the salvation of man. Martin Franzmann, a Lutheran theologian and hymn-write, makes it clear to us:

Thy strong word did cleave the darkness;
At Thy speaking it was done.
For created light we thank Thee,
While Thine ordered seasons run.
Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send!
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end!

Thy strong Word bespeaks us righteous;
Bright with Thine own holiness,
Glorious now, we press toward glory,
And our lives our hopes confess.
Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send!
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end!

(LSB 578:1, 3)

The same creative word that created light and all things (stanza 1) is the very creative word that remakes you and I in the image of God again. You see, it is through the sacrificial life, death, and resurrection of Jesus that the whole world has full and free forgiveness offered to them. And it is through the power of the Word of God that it is received by individuals, you and me.

Think of Jesus calling forth to the dead Lazarus, "Lazarus, come out!" And the dead man came out, alive! (John 11). That's what the Word of God does.

Thanks be to our Creative God, who speaks, and it is done!

Ask Yourself:

How is the loss of the image of God through sin apparent in the world around us?

How is it apparent in your life?

What kind of creating did God do when he spoke at your baptism?

Pray:
Give us lips to sing Thy glory,
Tongues Thy mercy to proclaim,
Throats that shout the hope that fills us,
Mouths to speak Thy holy name.
Alleluia, alleluia! May the light which Thou dost send!
Fill our songs with alleluias, Alleluias without end!

(LSB 578:5)

Study with me tomorrow,

Pastor Jon

Soli Deo Gloria!