Connect 1 Timothy 4:5 with Genesis 1:31 regarding God's creation being good. Setting the Stage: Two Verses, One Message • Genesis 1:31 — “And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good.” • 1 Timothy 4:4-5 — “For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” Together these passages bookend Scripture’s declaration that all God creates is intrinsically good. The first verse announces the goodness at the dawn of time; the second reaffirms it in the era of the church. Genesis 1:31—The Original Pronouncement • Six times in Genesis 1 God calls His work “good,” then caps the week with “very good.” • “Very good” means complete, flawless, perfectly suited to His purpose. • Moral goodness and functional goodness are both present: creation lines up with God’s character and accomplishes His intended function (Psalm 19:1). 1 Timothy 4:5—Goodness Reaffirmed in Christ • Paul addresses concerns about ascetic teachers who labeled certain foods and marriage “unclean” (1 Timothy 4:3). • By quoting “every creation of God is good,” Paul echoes Genesis 1:31, sweeping the whole material world under God’s original verdict. • Thanksgiving acknowledges the Giver; the Word and prayer set apart ordinary items for holy use, bringing Genesis’ goodness into the believer’s daily routine. The Word and Prayer: How Sanctification Works • “Sanctified by the word of God” – God’s spoken word in Genesis that called creation into being still defines it as good. – Written Scripture (e.g., Psalm 24:1) declares, “The earth is the LORD’s.” Reading, reciting, and believing this truth consecrates what we receive. • “Sanctified by…prayer” – Prayer adds conscious dependence and gratitude (Colossians 3:17). – It aligns the heart with God’s verdict, preventing abuse and prompting stewardship. Other Passages Echoing the Theme • Acts 10:15—“What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” • Romans 14:14—“Nothing is unclean in itself.” • James 1:17—“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” • Psalm 145:9—“The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made.” Implications for Daily Life • Receive all lawful created things—food, work, marriage, rest—with gratitude. • Reject legalistic prohibitions that contradict Scripture’s verdict of goodness. • Practice stewardship: because creation is good, it deserves care (Genesis 2:15). • Let thanksgiving be your continual response, keeping Genesis 1:31 and 1 Timothy 4:5 in view whenever you enjoy God’s gifts. |
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