Part One: Creation

The Bible opens with the news that God has made all there is: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). While the Bible doesn’t say exactly when or how God made all things, it does answer the more important questions of who and why. Who made us, and why? Who are we, and why are we here? The good news we should celebrate is that we have a Creator, who creates with purpose. We come from somewhere and someone. The opening verses of the Bible hint at, and later explicitly confirm, that this God of creation is one God, who eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Spirit. He is the God of shalom, which means peace, flourishing, and wholeness. While this doctrine of the Trinity contains mystery, it is not only mystery. The Trinity means that God always exists in relationship. He not only loves, but he is love (1 John 4:16).

Your part in the story:

The Trinity means that God is eternally in relationship and is complete in every respect. Thus, he made us and everything else not out of some deficiency in himself, but out of overflowing love. And when God created humanity in his image (Gen. 1:27), God made us like him to a degree. Love became part of our original design. Being made in God’s image means we have inherent dignity, purpose and worth. Regardless of your circumstances, ethnicity or gender. Regardless of what others think about you. Regardless of what you do, or don’t do. We are made to experience wholeness, where we are connected to God, others, ourselves and creation. In a word, we are made for flourishing.