CHRISTIAN EVIDENCES

THE CREATION

INTRODUCTION

The book of Genesis; by its very title, is the book of beginnings. It is set forth in a series of ten generations. The very first of these generations is the generations of the heavens and the earth (the creation).

The author of this book is Moses and it was written after the fact. It was written to the children of Israel prior to their taking possession of the Promised Land.

The book of Genesis' account of the creation is the Divine record of the absolute beginning of time, space, and matter.

There are some very important points we want to discuss prior to our study:

•  The Account of Creation is not History!

There can be no doubt that the account of creation was given to the children of Israel as a source of introduction to the Great “I AM”. However, it was not given to establish a date as to the exact day or year of the creation, except that it was “in the beginning”.

Time itself, as declared within the text had a beginning and space and matter began as did time in the beginning. This, by the introduction of the beginning of these facts of creation, excludes anything prior to them, except God!!!

•  The Account of Creation is not Science!

The account of creation does not read as a schematic, nor was it given as a pattern of terra-forming. It stands as a testimony of a Supreme Being by Whom the creation of the heavens and earth were achieved. This is not to say that some of the creation record does not coincide with what we know of science. However, the creation of something from nothing, the origin of life, etc… is the exclusive realm of God.

The fact of the matter is that if we could understand how God created the heavens and the earth instantaneously; He would not be God!!!

•  The Account of Creation is not Mythology!

Moses did not receive this information via a dream or vision. It is not poetic as the spinning of some great tale. It is pure revelation. The same power of creation revealed Himself to Moses and then to Israel by displaying His power; the same power that maintains the creation to this very day.

2 Peter 3:7 “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

The power of creation was testified of in the signs and wonders done before thousands of eye witnesses, as God brought His people out of the bondage of Egypt , led them in the wilderness, and brought them into the land He promised them.

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The facts of creation exist within the opening statement.

Time = “the beginning”.

Space = “the heavens”

Matter = “the earth”

In addition to these facts of creation, which are clearly evident in the creation story, there are additional facts that exist in the creation story that are directly given as a signature of the Divine Creator.

•  The intricacies of the physical elements of the cosmos. Which no one in their right mind can truly accept as an accident?

•  The entity of biological life, which is unique in the universe.

•  The spiritual image of God in man.

Genesis 1:26-27  “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

In the lessons to follow, we will study the creation as revealed in Genesis 1&2. It is revealed in creative days and likewise we will study it in these days.

The first creative day – God introduces and separates light from the dark chaotic mass and then names the separation (1:1-5).

The second creative day – God uplifts the atmosphere (expanse) above the waters (1:6-8).

The third creative day – God distinguishes dry land from the seas and at a later point in the day; He clothed the land in vegetation (1:9-13).

The fourth creative day – God took the light developed at the first; concentrated and permanently fixed it into the celestial luminaries (1:14-19).

The fifth creative day – God took the air and waters that were separated on the second day and filled them with their respective inhabitants (1:20-23).

The sixth creative day – God occupied the dry land with animals (everything after its own kind!) and the last work of this day was the creation of the creature in the likeness of God; Man! (1:24-2:25).

We will maintain the one lesson a month format to allow proper digestion of the information. This study will look very closely at the language God chose to reveal the facts of creation and we will learn what God wanted all those who seek Him to know concerning His Omnipotence and our origins!

Psalm 94:8-11 "Understand, you senseless among the people;
         And you fools, when will you be wise?
  9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?
         He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
  10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,
         He who teaches man knowledge?
  11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man,
         That they are futile.

Psalm 104:5-9 “You who laid the foundations of the earth,
         So that it should not be moved forever,
  6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
         The waters stood above the mountains.
  7 At Your rebuke they fled;
         At the voice of Your thunder they hastened away.
  8 They went up over the mountains;
         They went down into the valleys,
         To the place which You founded for them.
  9 You have set a boundary that they may not pass over,
         That they may not return to cover the earth.”

Psalm 95:6 “Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
         Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.”