The Word “God” in Genesis 1:1 and throughout the entire Bible at times refers to the Godhead (Col. 2:9/ Acts 17:29/ Rom. 1:20)–the divine entity composed of God and the Word (Logos–Spokesman). The English word “God” in Hebrew is “Elohim,” which is plural in meaning but singular in usage like the word “family” or “team”–one entity having multiply parts. We know from Bible study that God communicated with the Word, Who spoke God’s wish and it came into being by the power of the Holy Spirit. John 1:1-4,14 tells us that the Word created everything that was created. In Psalms 6-9 we are told that the Word (the Lord Who became Jesus of Nazareth) created the universe “by the breath of His mouth” (the Holy Spirit)–“He spoke and it was (done by the Spirit); He commanded and it stood (fast).” In the Hebrew language the word “spirit” is ruah, meaning breath or wind. This explains why, when casting out demons or healing the sick, words to that point are normally spoken.

But God cannot be limited. I once cast out a demon of drunkenness with a thought. No one was more surprised than the now-totally sober man. We were in a crowded place and I assumed that God’s Holy Spirit in me could not be limited by situation, so I mentally commanded the demon to come out and it did/ The man instantly went from total drunkenness to total sobriety, which enabled him to understand what I was saying to him. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OR POSSIBILITY OF THE LORD WHO SAYS THAT TO THE TRUE, OBEDIENT BELIEVER that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE and ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE (Mk. 9:23;10:27).

From this point on the Word “God” will refer to the Father of Jesus Christ and “Lord” will refer to the Son of God–the Word Who became the man Jesus of Nazareth. When it is unknown which noun to use, or when referring to the Godhead I will use the words God, Lord or Godhead. Then there is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the power of the Godhead by which They do what They do either corporately or individually. In Scripture the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of life, the Spirit of Power, the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of grace. Now back to the main theme of this series.

In order to fully understand God’s perfect will for all of mankind, we must return to the creation of the first man (Heb.–ADAM). Bear in mind that God is no respecter of persons, meaning that what He does for one He will do for all–IF THEY MEET HIS REQUIREMENT–OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDMENTS. Genesis 1:1 refers to the original creation of the universe. We do not know how many years, perhaps millions, elapsed between verses one and two. Verse two picks up with the re-creation of the earth, sun, moon, stars, etc. (Ch. 1) following the war in heaven in which not only the earth but assumably everything else was made “without (good) form and void.” In the original Hebrew language, the words “without” and “void” are tohu and bohu, meaning waste and empty (Jer. 4:23). Originally the universe was not created tohu and bohu. The Prophet Isaiah tells us that the Godhead created nothing tohu and bohu (45:18). Creation became that way during the war that was fought between God and His angels and Lucifer (Satan) and his angels for control of the whole of creation.

Having restored the universe to perfect condition (Gen. 1:1-25), the Godhead set about creating mankind (vs 26). Notice what They intended for the human species to BE, to HAVE and to CONTROL. Man was created in the image and likeness (physical shape) of the members of the Godhead. We know from the New Testament that man has been given the opportunity to have the same mind (heart) as Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). In Genesis 1:26, Adam, along with his new mate–Eve, (vs 27/ 2:21-25), was given a specially created GARDEN in Eden where they were to live and from which they were to replenish the earth (1:28) which had become populated with animals, fish, fowl, etc. of every sort which were given to Adam to name and to CONTROL–have dominion (domination) over). This control extended to “every living thing that moved upon the earth, in the sea and in the sky (vss 24,28). They were also given the entire earth which Adam, Eve and their descendants were to subdue–to make it produce for them.

In Genesis chapter two we find the creation story basically retold. This time additional information is provided, specifically concerning the rivers that were in the area, along with gold, bdellium and the onyx stone. In 1:31 it is written that God saw everything that He had created through the Word using the Holy Spirit and declared the universe and everything in it “VERY GOOD.” In summary, Adam and Eve were created like the Godhead in physical form and were given the opportunity to be like them mentally and spiritually. We learn later on that Adam, Eve and their descendants (us included) could have been given the Holy Spirit and lived in a world like that earthly paradise forever if our original parents had had chosen to eat of the “Tree of Life.” As we see, man’s rejection of God’s Law has a long, and disastrous history.

In 2:16 we find God telling Adam that he and his descendants could eat of every tree of the garden–except one–the tree of “the knowledge of (able to determine) good and evil” (3:5), exactly as could the Godhead as noted by Them in 3:22-24. Having created all things, God rested (refreshed Himself–Exo. 31:17) on the 7th day, blessed it, sanctified it (set it aside from all other days) and said of it: “The Sabbath (day of rest) is My Holy Day, the Holy of the Lord” (Isa. 58:13). Nowhere do we find Them changing His Holy Sabbath Day or authorizing anyone else to change it. Satan would later convince a very powerful man (Pope Sylvester I) to change the Sabbath from the 7th day of the week to the first day of the week in order to please the sun worshipers who had been forced into the Catholic Church by the Roman Empire. Read the series concerning God’s Commanded Sabbath using the key word–Sabbath. There are several series about God’s Sabbath.

The above Biblical information reveals what God had in mind for all of mankind. Notice that He said nothing about future generations being treated any differently than Adam and Eve. He intended for all of their descendants to live FOREVER IN A PLANET PARADISE. Every promise in the Bible is available for those who will OBEY THE LAW OF GOD AND REJECT THE LAWS OF SATAN. For man to obey God and not receive the promised blessings makes the Godhead liars. Conversely, to disobey Them while expecting Them to fulfill Their promised blessings makes man a member of the Catholic/Protestant Religious System known as “the church.” L.J.