Our last twelve lessons have been designed to show that Creationism is not just a subject of Genesis. Is Creation clearly taught in every book of the Bible? (No, it is not.) There are some single chapter books, for example, where the subject doesn’t come up. But if Paul doesn’t mention creation to Philemon, does that prove that Paul wasn’t a Creationist? Was John a Creationist even though he doesn’t mention it in his Third Epistle?
In any of the scriptures that we have looked at over the last few weeks, or in any other that you can think of, is there a hint that the New Testament thinks that the creation history of Genesis is an allegory? Is the story of Adam’s sin an allegory or a childish explanation of man’s weakness in temptation? Is the Genesis account of the Flood to be trusted? Is there a single place in the New Testament, where these things are considered anything less than historical events?
Can someone give me a Biblical reference which suggests that the act of creation can be explained in evolutionary terms? Could that be because evolution was something unfamiliar to people 2,000 or 4,000 years ago? Is there Biblical evidence, or even suggestions, that the world is 4 or 5 billions years old? (No.) Furthermore, all the evolutionary evidence for an old universe, can be scientifically debated. There really isn’t any definitive proof that the world is over 6,000, 8,000 or 10,000 years old.
This lesson is just a summary of what we have been studying for the last few weeks. If you think that it’s too simple or silly, I will forgive you. This is a critical doctrine, elemental to our faith. It must be iterated and reiterated.
GOD is the Creator of all things.
The Creator is not “Mother Earth” or some impersonal, unintelligible force. What do people mean when they speak of “Mother Earth”? What do we mean when we say that GOD is the Creator? Why might I sometimes say that God is the Creator, and then that Jehovah, or Elohim or even Christ is the Creator?
How does I Timothy 1:17 relate to Creation? “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.” What is God’s relationship to time? What is His relationship to immortality and life? What kind of King is He? What is God’s relationship to light? (“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”) What is the meaning of Acts 17:28 – “For in him we live, and move, and have our being”?
Do the Muslims teach that Allah is another name for Jesus Christ? (No.) Do they believe that a man named Jesus Christ was once a prophet of God? (Yes.) Do they believe that Jesus Christ is the Creator? (No.) Are there any Bible scriptures which teach that Jesus Christ is the Creator? (John 1; Colossians 1; Hebrews 1.)
What are some non-Biblical proofs that the universe has had a Creator?
The PROCESS of creation.
Is the word “process” a very good one to use when talking about Creation? Define “process” for us: (“A series of actions, changes or functions which bring about a specific result.”) It might be argued even by Bible-believing Christians that Creation took place over a six-day period. And they might say that there was a series of steps taken to produce the universe. Could the Lord have created the complete universe in a single day? Hour? Millisecond?
If we insist on using the word, they by what “process” did God create the universe? (He spoke.) Some have called this the “fiat of creation;” what does that mean? (By an order or decree.) Is Genesis the only Scripture which declares that God spoke and matter existed? (No.) Psalm 33 – “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 148 – “Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.” Hebrews 11:3 – “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.”
Does the Bible ever use the verb “create” or “creating” in the present tense? Yes it does, but within some strict limitations. For example, the Bible talks about God creating joy and peace. But there isn’t a single reference which suggests that God is still creating as He did in Genesis 1. A notable exception is Isaiah 65:17 – “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” The thing to keep in mind with this verse is that despite the verb tense, it is talking about a future creation.
Is the Hebrew word “create” (“bara”) ever applied to any creator other than God? The reason for this is that the Biblical use of the word “create” demands what special ingredient? To create is to do something miraculous. In the six days of creation, God both “created” and “made” certain things. When God “made” the firmament and the two great lights of the heavens, weren’t these thing miraculous? Is it possible that Satan or someone else might be able to “form a man of the dust of the ground?” Can someone other than God actually give some non-living thing life?
In Genesis 1 and 2, which describe God as creating, making and forming things, is there the slightest hint of the slow process of evolution? Can atheistic science produce a single example of evolution going on today – either slowly or quickly? Is the producing of a new breed of dog an example of evolution? The dogs which came off the ark, possessed all the genes which are seen in every breed of dog today. And there are very likely a lot more genes which might be selected, isolated and accentuated to produce more dog breeds in the future. Creation, per se, is over – it is complete.
The TIME and DURATION of creation.
Are there any evangelical Christians who believe that the universe is 4.6 billion years old? Can you think of any Biblical evidence for that theory? Are there any fundamental Baptists who believe that the creation process took 4.6 billion years?
What is the meaning of the Hebrew word “yom”? What is “Yom Kippur?” Even though the celebration surrounding Yom Kippur lasts for 7 or 8 days, how long is the Day of Atonement? What Hebrew word was used to describe each of the six days of creation? Is there any Biblical reason to think that those days were longer than 24 hour periods? (Just the opposite.) Genesis 1:4-5 – “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” What is the significance of this reference to evening and morning? Is there any Biblical corroboration, outside Genesis 1, for thinking that a day then was just a long as a day today? Keeping Exodus 20:8-11 in mind, isn’t it interesting that nearly the whole world follows a seven-day weekly cycle? “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
According to the average evolutionary theory, at what point in evolutionary years, did man appear on earth? According to the Bible how long as man been on the earth? (Since the beginning.) According to the Bible who was the first man, and when was he here? Who are some of the Bible people to declare that Adam was a true human being or the first human being? (Moses, Job, the historian of Chronicles, Paul, Luke and Jude.) Did the Lord Jesus ever refer to Adam as being an historical figure? Not only did he refer to Adam and Eve, he even declared that they were created by God (Mark 10:5-7).
Why is there such a passionate love for evolution in the world today? Even though modern versions of evolution obviously can’t be found in the Bible, does the Bible condemn evolutionary principles? Listen once again to Jeremiah 2:26-27 – “As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.” Romans 1:21-24 – “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts.” There are a great many reasons why God is going to cast aside North America. It’s love of homosexuality is one of those reasons; abortion might be another. But depending on the emphasis that we place on Romans 1:21-24, society’s growing love of evolution might be another.
The FALL of man.
How important is God’s revelation about creation to what the Bible teaches about the coming of sin? What sort of things directly tie these two together? (Adam, Eden, etc.) If there was no such person as Adam, could we honestly believe Paul’s explanation of salvation in Romans?
What sort of relationships do Adam and Christ have? (Creator/creature; Saviour/sinner; fatherhood.) If Bible Creation is not true, would that diminish the importance of Biblical salvation?
The worldwide FLOOD.
Why have I been so adamant that the Flood is vitally connected to creation? The Flood is the way that the original physical creation became what it is today. It also silences the scoffers who argue that “all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” Furthermore it assures us that God is gracious and merciful.
Was the flood of Genesis 6-9 worldwide or local? Is the Biblical evidence to that idea confined to Genesis? Is there any physical or geological evidence of a worldwide flood? Is there any cultural or sociological evidence of a worldwide flood?
Could Noah’s Ark, as described in Genesis, have been large enough to secure the safety of all the animals? Were there any Pomeranian dogs, Siamese cats or Shetland ponies on the ark? Was there anything miraculous in the safekeeping of those animals?
Once again: Biblical Creation is vitally important to the whole fabric of the Christian faith.