The Word of Creation - December 1, 2021 - First Wednesday in Advent (Midweek 1) - Text: Genesis 1:1-5

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1) and so John begins his Gospel account of the life of Jesus. This year during the season of Advent through Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve we will be looking at the various nuances of “the Word.” We will be looking at the power of the Word, the person of the Word, the God of the Word, and the Word as it continues in our world today. So, as Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16). This evening we begin with the power of the Word.
 

In our text for this evening we are presented with the Trinity of God. Yes, the very first book of the Bible introduces us to the fact that we worship a God who declares Himself to us as a God who is three persons in one Godhead. Although we do not read the word “God” in the plural as such in our English Bible, when we read the word “God” which is “el” that is in the singular in Hebrew or as in our text, the word “God” is actually in the plural the word is elohim. So, right from the beginning of our Bible we read that in the beginning Gods created the heavens and the earth. But because our God is a triune God it is translated as God (singular).
 

As we continue in our text we read and hear of the Spirit of God. The word for spirit is the Hebrew word ruok which may be translated as wind or breath, but is best understood here as being the Spirit of God or better said, the Holy Spirit.
 

So, here at in the beginning, at the creation of the world we are introduced to our Creator God who reveals Himself to us as a plural, a Trinity, a God who is three persons in one Godhead. Here we have God as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
 

In the beginning God. It all begins with God. God is the prime mover. God is the one who gives and we are given too. In the beginning there was nothing. “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.” And then we have God’s creating Word. God said. God spoke and He spoke for a purpose. God spoke all things into existence.
 

Notice that God created simply with His Word. As I have said before, God’s Word effects what He says. When God speaks it is a certainty, it is a surety. God speaks and it happens. If there is one thing we can count on it is that God’s Word does what it says and God’s Word gives what He says it gives.
 

Here in the beginning God said, “Let there be light” or He may have simply said “Light” and there was light. Whatever God spoke He spoke it into being. Each day of creation God spoke another part of His creation and His creation came into being. Interestingly enough, while there are those in our world today who would doubt and cast doubt on God’s ability to create all things in six days and thus rest on the seventh day, there were those of Luther’s day who asked why did God take so long?
 

So, right here in the beginning we are introduced to God and we are introduced to His Word which is a Word with power. In our world we know that there are many books. As the preacher says in Ecclesiastes, “Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh” (Ecc. 12:12). Indeed there are many books in our world and yet, while other books may teach, some good, some not so good none is like the book of God’s Word, the Bible.
 

As I have contended many times to many groups, man’s reasoning and man’s word is unsure. The problem with man’s reasoning and man’s word is that it has been tainted, by sin. Indeed, we are all conceived and born in sin and so our reasoning is flawed. Thus, when human reason and man’s word contradicts God’s Word, I will stick with God’s Word and conclude that human reason has missed something. How often have I heard something like, “The Bible contradicts itself.” My answer is “No, the Bible complements itself. When you think there is a contradiction the problem is not with the Bible but with your understanding.” Or, “There are so many interpretations of the Bible.” To which I respond, “No, there is only one interpretation of the Bible, but there are many misinterpretations.” Thus, for me, God’s Word, not human reason, nor man’s word, always has the final say.
 

Interestingly enough, as one of my professors would say, “All words are law words until the Lord makes them Gospel Words.” When we understand that the Law demands, but the Gospel gives, then we can understand that as human beings, in and of ourselves we cannot speak Gospel words, for our words are only Law words until our Lord gives us the Gospel words to speak. Indeed, noone can create, no one can call into being, no one can give unless first given to. And so it is only as the Lord speaks His Word to us that we are given the gifts that He has to give to us.
 

And so we see that God’s Word is a Word of power. God’s Word does and gives what He says. When God speaks His Word, His Word effects or does what it says and gives the gifts He speaks. When, at our Baptism, God, using the hand of the Pastor, puts water on our head and using the voice of the Pastor speaks His name on us, He gives us faith, forgiveness and life. He puts His name on us. He writes our names in the book of life. He gives us heaven. When, at Holy Absolution, God, using the voice of the Pastor, speaks His Word of forgiveness on us, we know our sins are forgiven. When we hear the Word of God read and proclaimed by the mouth of the Pastor, we know that the Word which is read, spoke and preached is a word of certainty. When, at the Lord’s Supper, God, using the voice of the Pastor, speaks His Word of consecration on the bread and wine we know that we are being given Jesus’ body and blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins and strengthening of our faith.
 

While our words may be law words and while our words may bring uncertainty, we know that God’s Word is true, is certain and is sure. We know that we can believe and trust God’s Word because it is His Word.
 

What does this mean? As I said earlier, as I have said before and as I will continue to proclaim, we always believe God’s Word over man’s word. While human beings are fallible God’s Word is true. God’s Word never fails. God’s Word is certain because it is His Word and He is God who gives His Word. God says and that settles it, whether we get it, understand it, want to believe it or not. God is the prime mover. He is the creator. He is the giver. He is God.
 

God’s Word is efficacious. God’s Word does and gives. God’s Word works faith, forgiveness and life in us. As we witnessed in our text for this evening, God said and it was, and it was good and ultimately, before the fall into sin, it was very good, perfect because God’s Word creates perfection. God’s Word gives and we are given too.
 

And finally, God’s Word stirs in us a response of faith. As I have said many times, we get it right when we point to Jesus. We are justified, made right in God’s eyes by Jesus’ perfect life, suffering, death and resurrection. It is all God’s doing and our being done to. We are sanctified, that is we are made holy so that we live God pleasing lives, also by God’s doing. Indeed, in and of ourselves we can do no good thing. It is only as the Holy Spirit works through the means of grace that He stirs in us to be the people God would have us to be even if we are and continue to be His people imperfectly while we live in this sin tainted world. So, even our sanctification is done right only as we point to Jesus.
 

God gives and we are given to. God is the prime mover. It all starts with God. God created life in the beginning. God gives us each life at our conception. God gives us each faith, forgiveness and eternal life through the waters of Holy Baptism. God forgives us through Holy Absolution. God strengthens us and keeps us in faith through His Word. God forgives us and strengthens us through His body and blood in His Holy Supper. God gives, God does and we are given to and done to. And God stirs in us to be His people even as we are so imperfectly while we live in this world. So, we are left to rejoice and say, to God be the glory, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.