Every so often, someone asks: what exactly is the Free Church of Scotland? Why does it exist? And why is it called free? The light-hearted answer is, “because we don’t charge for the biscuits.” But the real answer takes us back to 1843 and the Great Disruption. To understand something, you have to understand where it came from—its beginnings.
That’s true not just of churches, but of everything. As we get older, many of us grow more interested in history for that very reason. It’s also true of ourselves. If you want to understand who you are—what shapes you, what drives you—it helps to look back. Where did you grow up? What values formed you? Who influenced you?
And it’s no less true of the Bible. If we want to understand it, we must begin at the beginning. That’s why we’re turning to Genesis 1. These are not just the first words of Scripture—they are the first words about the entire universe.
What we believe about the beginning of everything will shape how we understand life now—and how we live it. So this isn’t abstract or academic. It’s deeply practical.
As we come to Genesis, we bring many questions—about science, origins, evolution, and the age of the earth. But often, we ask the wrong questions. Because while we want to examine Genesis, Genesis is actually examining us. It asks deeper questions about meaning, purpose, identity, relationships, and how we live.
Get creation right, and you lay a foundation for life itself.
1. God
“In the beginning God…”
That’s where the Bible starts, and it tells us immediately what matters most: God is central. The chapter is not primarily about the universe—it’s about God. He creates, speaks, names, orders, and evaluates. The repeated focus is unmistakable: God, God, God.
We so easily place ourselves at the centre. But Genesis reminds us that life is not about us—it’s about Him.
a) God the Creator of All
Genesis declares something simple but profound: God made everything, from nothing. There was no pre-existing material. No raw ingredients. Just God.
We never see something come from nothing in everyday life. Everything has a cause. If the universe had a beginning—as science itself affirms—then it must have a cause. Genesis tells us that cause is God.
That means we are not meaningless accidents. We are created, purposeful beings.
b) God the Ruler of All
If God is Creator, He is also Ruler. The Bible consistently links these truths. The One who made everything has authority over everything.
That’s not a threat—it’s a comfort. It means nothing in life is outside His control.
c) God’s Word Over All
In Genesis 1, everything happens through God’s word. “God said… and it was.” Light, land, stars, animals—all come into being because God speaks.
His word is powerful and authoritative. And if His word brought the universe into existence, it should carry authority in our lives too. How we live, what we believe, how we think—all must be shaped by His word, not by culture or personal opinion.
d) God Worshipped Above All
Genesis also exposes the foolishness of idolatry. Creation is good—but it is not God. The sun, moon, and stars are His handiwork, not His rivals.
Yet people still worship created things—whether stars, success, relationships, or money. Even good things become destructive when they take God’s place.
God alone deserves our worship.
2. Creation
a) Creation is Good
Again and again, Genesis tells us: “God saw that it was good.” The world is not an accident or a mistake—it is a good, ordered, beautiful creation.
It is also precise. The fine-tuning of the universe—from planetary motion to physical constants—points to careful design. This goodness means the physical world matters. Our bodies matter. How we treat creation matters.
And it also helps us make sense of suffering. If we don’t begin with a good creation, we’ll struggle to believe in a good God when we encounter pain. Genesis 3 will explain what went wrong—but Genesis 1 establishes that the original world was good.
b) Creation is Not God
At the same time, creation is not divine. God made the world, but He is separate from it. This guards us from two errors: worshipping creation or dismissing it.
The Bible’s view is balanced—creation is good, to be enjoyed and cared for, but it is not God.
3. People
a) We Are Made by God
Human beings are not self-made—we are created.
i) Accountability
If we are made by God, we belong to Him. We are accountable to Him. Our lives are not ultimately our own.
ii) Meaning
But this also gives us purpose. If we are created, then we are created for something. Without God, meaning collapses into personal preference. With God, life has real, objective purpose.
b) We Are Made in God’s Image
i) Value
Human life has intrinsic worth. Not because of ability, wealth, or status—but because we bear God’s image.
ii) Equality
“Male and female he created them.” Both are equally made in God’s image. There is no room for sexism or racism. Humanity is one race, equally valuable before God.
iii) Role
We are called to rule under God—to steward creation, reflect His character, and exercise responsibility in the world.
The Beginning—and Beyond
Genesis begins with God’s word bringing creation into existence. And when we turn to the New Testament, we find something remarkable: that Word is a person.
Jesus Christ is the Word through whom all things were made. He was there at the beginning—and He stepped into creation. He spoke with authority, bringing healing and life. And ultimately, He came to restore us to the God who made us.
The God of Genesis is not distant. He is known in Jesus.
And that means the beginning of the story is also an invitation—to know Him, trust Him, and live as we were created to live.
“I remember reading in John 10 where Jesus says, ‘you are gods,’ and although I now understand He wasn’t saying people are literally divine, that verse still sticks in my mind when we talk about creation not being divine. I feel like I still need to unpack that passage a bit more—what exactly Jesus meant by it, and how it fits with the difference between God and creation. It feels like a whole sermon in its own right.”
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