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The Doctrine of Creation: What It Is and Why It Matters

The Doctrine of Creation: What It Is and Why It Matters. Where We’re Going…. The Created Creation The Distinct but Dependent Creation The Glory-Giving Creation The Good Creation The God-Emanating Creation . Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning, God CREATED…”. The Created Creation.

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The Doctrine of Creation: What It Is and Why It Matters

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  1. The Doctrine of Creation: What It Is and Why It Matters

  2. Where We’re Going… • The Created Creation • The Distinct but Dependent Creation • The Glory-Giving Creation • The Good Creation • The God-Emanating Creation

  3. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God CREATED…”

  4. The Created Creation • God created the universe out of nothing; nothing but God existed before the universe created. • “ex nihilo, nihilo fit”: out of nothing, nothing comes.

  5. The Created Creation • God spoke all of creation into existence (Gen. 1:3-25)…

  6. The Created Creation • …except for man. Both man and woman were created by God’s very hands and received life from God’s breath (i.e., his Spirit). • Intimate, special creation is one indicator of human beings’ unique place in the created order. • Also, human beings are the only ones that God made “in his own image,” to be like him and to represent him. • This means that man is the pinnacle of creation, more like God than any other creature, and the only one appointed to rule over the rest of creation as God’s representatives.

  7. The Created Creation • The Bible is clear: God created the earth, and all that is in and on it, from nothing. • Before creation, nothing existed but God; therefore, God is eternal. Nothing but God can ultimately rule over that which he made. • But, what about scientific theories that declare otherwise (e.g., Darwinism, evolutionism, etc.)? • Science measures the measurable, the repeatable; creation, however, cannot be repeated. Therefore, science can only offer “theories,” not definitive proof, as to how the universe was created. • Science is God’s gift to humankind, intended to enable us to discover more of the mysteries of God. Therefore, the point at which science contradicts Scripture, God’s Word, it is science who is in error, not Scripture.

  8. The Created Creation • Although God did not need to created humankind, he did. What is more, he gave humankind a position of authority over his good creation. What does that mean for us, then? • Because we are special products of God’s creation, this should create great humility in us. • Because we are special products of a universe that God created out of nothing, not because he had to, but because he wanted to, for a specific purpose, this should give us great dignity.

  9. Where We’re Going… • The Created Creation • The Distinct but Dependent Creation • The Glory-Giving Creation • The Good Creation • The God-Emanating Creation

  10. The Distinct but Dependent Creation • As Creator, God is distinct from his creation. • He is not part of the creation. (Remember: God,as spirit, and as an infinite being, is not limited to the physical restraints of creation—time, space, and matter.) • He is greater than creation and very much independent of it.

  11. The Distinct but Dependent Creation • But God is also intimately involved in creation. • Job 12:10: “In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” • Acts 17:25, 28: “[God himself] gives to all mankind life and breath and everything,” [for] “in him we live and move and have our being.”

  12. The Distinct but Dependent Creation • So, God is both involved in and distinct from creation. He is not dependent on creation; but creation is dependent on him. • God, in other words, did not choose to leave creation to function on its own (vs. Epicureanism and, more recently, Deism.) • Instead, God chose to stay intimately involved with his creation, especially those made in his image.

  13. The Distinct but Dependent Creation • This means, then: • As Creator, nothing in creation is worthy of affection more than God. • Because God has not left us to our own devices, but has chosen to remain intimately involved in our lives, he is our hope; and if he is our hope, we have nothing to fear: God is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1).

  14. Where We’re Going… • The Created Creation • The Distinct but Dependent Creation • The Glory-Giving Creation • The Good Creation • The God-Emanating Creation

  15. The Glory-Giving Creation • All of creation was made to give glory to God—that is, to reflect his character and represent—indeed, be filled with—his nature • As a part of creation, we, too, were created for his glory (Is. 43:7). • God’s creation shows his superior power and wisdom. • Jer. 10:12: “It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.”

  16. The Glory-Giving Creation • Even a brief reflection on the complexity, diversity, and beauty in creation should cause us to praise God for his power, wisdom, and understanding. • God did not need any more glory from creation—all the glory he needs has been forever within the Trinity. • God created the universe to show his greatness, to demonstrate his excellence, and to delight in his work. • Therefore, as we take spontaneous delight in God’s creative activities, our creative activities, and the creative activities of others, we are giving glory to God by imitating the delight he takes in his creation.

  17. Where We’re Going… • The Created Creation • The Distinct but Dependent Creation • The Glory-Giving Creation • The Good Creation • The God-Emanating Creation

  18. The Good Creation • God can delight in his creation because it gives him glory. • He also delights in it because, when he looked over “everything that he had made,” it was “very good” (Gen. 1:31). • Even though the creation doesn’t always function as it is supposed to because of sin, we should also consider the material creation of God—versus Platonic dualism. • 1 Tim. 4:4: “For everything created by God is good…”

  19. The Good Creation • Therefore, we are to enjoy the good things God has created for us. • Although some things in creation can be used for sinful purposes, their potentially harmful use does not make them evil in all situations (i.e., money, work, power)—these things are morally neutral. • This means that we should joyfully use the abundant earth God has given us and seek to develop it in a way that brings glory and honor to God’s name.

  20. Where We’re Going… • The Created Creation • The Distinct but Dependent Creation • The Glory-Giving Creation • The Good Creation • The God-Emanating Creation

  21. The God-Emanating Creation • Why does the Genesis account describe God as creating the universe in seven days? • Essentially, this is temple language. • In the Old Testament, the process of sanctifying (setting apart from use) a temple would be a seven-day process. • The first six days would lead up to the seventh day, at which point the high priest would “rest”—take up residence in, sit enthroned in—the temple.

  22. The God-Emanating Creation • Why does the Genesis account describe God as creating the universe in seven days? • Essentially, this is temple language. • Remember: the Temple was the place where God’s time and space mingled with—indeed, dwelt in—man’s time and space. • Therefore, on the seventh day of creation, God was not taking a break because creating the universe exhausted him. • Instead, on the seventh day of creation, God was finalizing the process of consecrating the universe so that it emanate with himself—as a place where his time, space, and matter (heaven) would collide with, mingle with, and reside on our time, space, and matter (earth).

  23. The Doctrine of Creation: What It Is and Why It Matters

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