Day 2 – September 5, 2023: Genesis 1-3, John 1-3

When you read through the first three chapters of the Bible and the first three chapters of the Gospel of John there is more to address than what I am able in just one blog for one day. For example, in Genesis we could address the following because the Scripture addresses the following: Creation vs. evolution (I believe God created all things but not in 7 literal days, which allows for evolutionary processes to take place. There doesn’t have to be a conflict between creation and evolution, but there should be a marriage instead), created in God’s image (not a physical resemblance, but rather a spiritual desire to be in relationship, that is how we have been created and that is the affinity that we have with God’s image), original sin (which is not something that we inevitably bear and which makes us sinful from the time we were born, but rather which leads us inevitably to sin which is our sin and our responsibility, not Adam or Eve’s fault), God creating male and female (there is a certain order in Genesis that for me at least creates a sense of relief and blessing that God has this planned and we aren’t just winging it as we go), and more

The same can be said in the Gospel of John. Probably the most powerful of these verses is seen in John 1:14 where we read that the Word became flesh. It is here where we are told that Jesus is not just the Son of God, not just a good role model, not just someone that we can chose to follow or not, but rather is God himself. Jesus is God, there is no getting around that and it is a foundational belief. This is what we mean when we say we believe in the Trinity, that God is Jesus, God is the Father, God is the Holy Spirit. As we read the Gospel of John we are reading about the works of God in Jesus.

Also in our reading we find the well known verse of John 3:16 which reminds us that God so loved the world that he sent his only son. What a universal promise that anyone who believes in him will receive eternal life. Today just might be a highlight to underline in regards to some of the most important Scriptures, and some of the best known Scriptures, that we will ever see. I hope it sets the stage for you to continue on in your readings with enthusiasm.