Unearthing Genesis 1:1 | Part 2

The Sapphire Review Vol. 2 | No. 15 • April 11, 2025

Apr 11, 2025

Creation and Righteousness By Faith

In Part 1, the foundational principle of creation by the word of God was laid. In this article, it will be clearly evidenced how that Genesis 1 is inseparably related to the righteousness by faith message.

Primary Text

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Hebrews 11:1–3

Contextual Definition

We will now draw a scriptural definition of the word faith from our primary text supported by its marginal reading.

FAITH

[the] substance, ground, and confidence [of things hoped for]
[the] evidence [of things not seen]

The word substance is herein shown to be biblically synonymous with ground, confidence, and evidence. Furthermore, the things which are hoped for speak of the things not seen, and the things which do appear speak of the things which are seen.

Parallel Texts

Now that the scriptural definition has been established, let us look through some parallel texts from the same author that bear this same witness to our understanding.

Second Witness (from the same chapter)

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Hebrews 11:7

Third Witness (from the same author)

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18

Fourth Witness (from the same author)

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Romans 8:24–25

Fifth Witness (from the same author)

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Galatians 5:5

Exposition (Hebrews 11:1-3)

FAITH is the substance, ground, confidence, and evidence of things which are hoped for and [as yet] not seen.
By FAITH the elders (patriarchs) obtained a good report.
Through FAITH we understand that all things were FRAMED (formed; created; made; established; founded) BY the WORD OF GOD, so that…
1. TEMPORAL things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (or, which have a beginning)
2. Why? Because the things which are seen were made by JEHOVAH who is ETERNAL (or, who did not appear)

The things that are seen (the things previously fulfilled) are antithetically parallel to the things that are not seen (and are hoped for), and have as yet not appeared. So the things we HOPE FOR through FAITH are the things which are ETERNAL, and [as yet] NOT SEEN.

The worlds were not made from temporal things (that are seen), but were made by the word of God who is eternal (and unseen). We did not see JEHOVAH frame our world, but we understand through FAITH that the world was framed by HIS WORD.

Now because we understand through FAITH that the worlds were framed by THE WORD OF GOD, we can have CONFIDENCE that His (as yet) unfulfilled promises (the things not seen, yet hoped for) will also be fulfilled — just as the things that are seen. Why? Because they are BOTH brought forth by HIS WORD. For by FAITH we have assurance that we also will obtain the promises of God (the eternal things that we hope for), “if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.”1

The Foundation of our Faith

Creation by the word of God, then, becomes the FOUNDATION (ground and substance) and the CONFIDENCE of our FAITH. We say, then, that a right understanding of Genesis 1 (which is the very record of the creation; the record of the heaven and the earth being FRAMED by THE WORD OF GOD), becomes the BASIS of righteousness by faith.

So now, when we read:

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Romans 1:16-20

Paul shows us how that the invisible, eternal things (which are, as yet, not seen) are understood by the creation — the things that are made already being those things which are seen, or visible. But yet, the invisible things ARE SEEN because the visible things that God has already made testify of them. The eternal, creative power and Godhead of JEHOVAH, the Creator of heaven and earth (and even of the things which have yet to appear), are understood through His creation. That which is (seen), and that which is not yet (seen), are BOTH framed (formed) by THE WORD OF GOD.

As it is written, “I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee.”2 And again, says JEHOVAH, “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.”3‬

The just shall live by faith,4 even by faith in Him who in the beginning created the heaven and the earth by His word. It is in this beautiful truth that our faith is firmly established — by which faith we look toward, and hope for those things promised us by God which have yet to come to pass.

Let us conclude our second study with these verses:

9 Remember the former things of old: For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: Yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Isaiah 46:9–11