Southside Baptist Church JC
2026_10_11
  • To God be the Glory

      • Exodus 33:14NKJV

  • Praise Him! Praise Him!
  • The Majesty of Elohim: Our Strong Creator
    Genesis 1:1–27 ESV
    In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
    Introduction
    Names matter. In ancient Hebrew culture, a name did not just identify someone; it revealed their character, power, and nature. In the very first verse of the Bible, God introduces Himself to us not by His personal covenant name (Yahweh), but by His title of supreme power: Elohim. Appearing over 2,500 times in the Old Testament, the name Elohim comes from the root El, meaning "strong" or "mighty," combined with a plural suffix (-im) indicating majesty, fullness, and absolute sovereignty.
    When we start our journey through Scripture, Elohim demands our attention. Today, we look at three fundamental truths revealed by this glorious name.
    The basic meaning behind the name Elohim is one of strength or power of effect. Elohim is the infinite, all-powerful God who shows by His works that He is the creator, sustainer, and supreme judge of the world.
    Psalm 7:9 ESV
    Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!
    When Jesus cried out from the cross, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (Mark 15:34), He addressed the Father with a form of Elohim, Eloi. Mark translates Jesus’ statement for us: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
    Interestingly, the word Elohim is grammatically plural rather than singular (the -im suffix in Hebrew indicates the plural form). The singular form of Elohim is probably Eloah. What are we to make of the plural? Does the plural form of Elohim imply polytheism? No, the Torah makes clear that God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). Polytheism is expressly forbidden in the Old Testament.
    Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV
    “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
    What about Trinitarianism? Does the fact that Elohim is plural suggest the triune nature of God? It is best to understand the word construction as a plural of majesty; that is, writing “Elohim” is a stylistic way of emphasizing greatness, power, and prestige. With that said, and in light of the overall teaching of the Bible, the plural form of Elohim certainly allows for the further revelation of God’s triune nature; the Old Testament hints at the Trinity in order to prepare people for the Messiah who would be much more than a human prophet. When Jesus appeared, He more fully revealed mysteries hinted at in the Old Testament. At Jesus’ baptism we have all three Persons of Elohim present: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16–17).
    Matthew 3:16–17 ESV
    And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
    Our God is great and mighty. His power is on display every day and night in the universe He has made. “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:17). This great power that no one can restrain is the characteristic of God basic to His name Elohim.
    Jeremiah 32:17 ESV
    ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
    1. Elohim Is the All-Powerful Creator
    The Scripture: "In the beginning, God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)
    The Theology: Elohim acts ex nihilo—creating everything out of absolutely nothing. As Baptists committed to the authority of God's Word, we reject the notion that the universe is a cosmic accident. Elohim spoke, and galaxies flashed into existence (Psalm 33:9). The name reminds us that He is the architect of intelligent design. Because the root word means "strength," this name underscores His unlimited authority over physical laws, time, and space.
    Psalm 33:9 ESV
    For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
    The Application: If Elohim has the power to bring order out of cosmic chaos, He has the power to bring peace and order to the chaos in your life. The God who spoke physical light into the darkness can speak spiritual light and new life into a broken human heart.
    2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV
    For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
    John 1:1–3 ESV
    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
    2. Elohim Exists in Perfect Triune Community
    The Scripture: "Then God (Elohim) said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...'" (Genesis 1:26)
    The Theology: One of the most unique aspects of the word Elohim is that it is grammatically plural, yet it consistently takes singular verbs in the Hebrew language. This "plural of majesty" hints from the very first page of Scripture at what will be explicitly revealed later: the Doctrine of the Trinity. We see Elohim the Father decreeing creation, the Spirit hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2), and the Word—Jesus Christ—executing the design (John 1:1-3). Our God is One God in substance and essence, eternally existing in three distinct Persons.
    The Application: Because Elohim exists in perfect, eternal community, He created us for relationship. Humans were made to mirror His triune image—living in harmony with Him and with one another. We are never more like our Creator than when we love, fellowship, and serve together in the local body of Christ.
    3. Elohim Claims Absolute Sovereignty and Ownership
    The Scripture: "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:27)
    The Theology: Because Elohim created all things, everything belongs to Him (Psalm 24:1). He is the supreme authority. When He fashioned humanity, He stamped His divine image upon us, giving every human life—from the moment of conception—inherent dignity, value, and purpose. As the sovereign Potter, He has the right to rule over the clay. He sets the boundaries, defines absolute truth, and determines our ultimate destiny.
    Psalm 24:1 ESV
    The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
    The Application: Recognizing God as Elohim requires our total surrender. If He owns the universe, He owns our time, our talents, our families, and our resources. It challenges us to step off the throne of our own lives and submit to His perfect lordship, trusting that the Strong Creator completes exactly what He sets out to accomplish.
    Philippians 1:6 ESV
    And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
    Conclusion & Invitation
    The staggering good news of the Gospel is that the transcendent, universe-breathing Elohim did not remain distant. The Mighty Creator took on human flesh and blood in the person of Jesus Christ to redeem His fallen creation.
    Today, if you are carrying burdens you were never meant to bear, remember who your God is. Turn away from self-reliance, repent of trying to be the creator of your own destiny, and place your faith in the One who holds the cosmos together. Come to Elohim, the strong tower, and find absolute security for your soul.

      • Genesis 1:1-4NKJV

      • Genesis 1:5-6NKJV

      • Genesis 1:7-8NKJV

      • Genesis 1:9-10NKJV

      • Genesis 1:11NKJV

      • Genesis 1:12-13NKJV

      • Genesis 1:14-15NKJV

      • Genesis 1:16-18NKJV

      • Genesis 1:19-20NKJV

      • Genesis 1:21-22NKJV

      • Genesis 1:23-24NKJV

      • Genesis 1:25NKJV

      • Genesis 1:26NKJV

      • Genesis 1:27NKJV

      • Genesis 1:1–27NKJV

      • Psalm 7:9NKJV

      • Deuteronomy 6:4NKJV

      • Matthew 3:16–17NKJV

      • Jeremiah 32:17NKJV

      • Jeremiah 32:17NKJV

      • Psalm 33:9NKJV

      • 2 Corinthians 4:6NKJV

      • John 1:1–3NKJV

      • Psalm 24:1NKJV

      • Philippians 1:6NKJV

  • Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Southside Baptist Church JC
2 members