Genesis: The Beginning and End
The sermon explores the theme of the beginning and end of all things, pointing to Christ as the central figure in the book of Genesis and the source of life and power for believers.
H.J. Vine preaches about the parallel between the first man, Adam, and Joseph in the book of Genesis, both experiencing rejection, suffering, and ultimately rising to honor and exaltation. He draws a comparison to Christ as the true Joseph, rejected and crucified, but raised from the dead to become the Lord and Savior, settling His people in the true promised land. Christ is portrayed as the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, with pre-eminence in all things, offering life and power through the Holy Spirit.
Text
The first man, Adam, appears at the beginning. He sinned, and was shut out from Paradise and the tree of life. At the end of Genesis another is raised up; Joseph is divinely marked out for supremacy; and, through rejection, defamation, suffering, imprisonment and faithfulness, he rises to be lord of all Egypt, and the saviour in time of famine. From humiliation he rose to honour and exaltation, securing salvation for others, and special blessing for his own people in the chosen land of Goshen.
The new beginning is found in Christ, the true Joseph, who was rejected: and crucified, but being actually raised from the tomb--from among the dead--He is the Lord of all, the Saviour of sinners, the Messiah of Israel (who will settle them in the true Goshen), and the Head of the Assembly. "Who is the BEGINNING, the Firstborn from the dead" (Col. 1:15), that in all things the pre-eminence might be His. He is "the First and the Last, who became dead, and lived" (Rev. 2:8).
The last Adam--not the second, for there is not another to follow--is found also in the risen Lord, as it says, "THE LAST ADAM a quickening Spirit" (1 Cor. 15:45). It was after He had put away the sinner's sins--after having died for us--after He had left the grave--after He had spoken peace to His own--He breathed on them, and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (John 20:22). He gave the Spirit as life then, and as power later (Acts 1:8; 2:4), when He had ascended on high.
All the inspired Volume points to Christ, He is the language of God to men--"THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA." Before Him none can be discovered, neither is there any to come after Him, for He is "THE BEGINNING AND THE END" (Rev. 21:6).
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to Genesis and the Beginning
- A. The first man, Adam, and his sin
- B. The new beginning in Christ
- II. The Story of Joseph
- A. His rise to supremacy
- B. His faithfulness in the face of rejection
- III. The True Joseph - Christ
- A. His rejection and crucifixion
- B. His resurrection and exaltation
- IV. The Last Adam - Christ
- A. His quickening Spirit
- B. His gift of the Holy Spirit
- V. Conclusion - Christ as the Beginning and End
- A. His preeminence over all
- B. His role as the language of God to men
Key Quotes
“Who is the BEGINNING, the Firstborn from the dead” — H.J. Vine
“He is the First and the Last, who became dead, and lived” — H.J. Vine
“THE LAST ADAM a quickening Spirit” — H.J. Vine
Application Points
- Believers can rise from humiliation to honour and exaltation through faithfulness and perseverance, just like Joseph.
- Christ is the source of life and power for believers, and His Spirit is the quickening Spirit that gives us new life.
- We should look to Christ as the language of God to men, and recognize His preeminence over all things.