Bible Basics for the FamilyBible Basics for the Family

The Doctrine of Creation

Genesis 1:1-5“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without from,

and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering

over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God

divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He

called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.”

Light Air & Water Land Lights Birds Animals Vegetation Stars Fish Humankind

What is the age of the What is the age of the earth?earth?

According to the majority of According to the majority of modern scientists . . .modern scientists . . .

4.5 Billion Years Old4.5 Billion Years Old

According to the Bible, how According to the Bible, how old is the earth?old is the earth?

Somewhere between 6,000-Somewhere between 6,000-20,000 years old.20,000 years old.

When did the dinosaurs live?When did the dinosaurs live?

According to the majority of According to the majority of scientists, dinosaurs lived scientists, dinosaurs lived throughout the Mesozoic Era, throughout the Mesozoic Era, which began 245 million years which began 245 million years ago and lasted for 180 million ago and lasted for 180 million years.years.

What’s the deal with evolution and What’s the deal with evolution and creation?creation?

The Prevailing View Worldview in The Prevailing View Worldview in our Present Culture . . . our Present Culture . . .

Some kind of Darwinian Evolution . . .Some kind of Darwinian Evolution . . .

. . . Which continues to “evolve” through . . . Which continues to “evolve” through time.time.

Five (5) Major Views of CreationFive (5) Major Views of Creation

1.1. Atheistic EvolutionAtheistic Evolution

2.2. Theistic EvolutionTheistic Evolution

3.3. Progressive Creation (Day-Age Progressive Creation (Day-Age Theory)Theory)

4.4. Gap TheoryGap Theory

5.5. Six-Day CreationSix-Day Creation

National Geographic,November 1999

The Courier Journal,April 9, 2001

The Courier JournalMonday, April 30, 2001

The Courier JournalJune 3, 2001

The Courier JournalJune 26, 2001

The Courier JournalJuly 9, 2001

The GleanerWeek of March 21, 2004

NationalGeographic,March 2000

Creationists Who founded Creationists Who founded Modern ScienceModern Science

Kepler—AstronomyKepler—Astronomy

Pascal—HydrostaticsPascal—Hydrostatics

Boyle—ChemistryBoyle—Chemistry

Newton—PhysicsNewton—Physics

Kelvin—ThermodynamicsKelvin—Thermodynamics

Johann Kepler (1571-1630):Johann Kepler (1571-1630):

At the end of his life his prayer was,At the end of his life his prayer was,

““I give you thanks, Creator and God, I give you thanks, Creator and God, that you have given me this joy in thy that you have given me this joy in thy creation, and I rejoice in the works of creation, and I rejoice in the works of your hands. See I have now completed your hands. See I have now completed the work to which I was called. In it I the work to which I was called. In it I have used all the talents you have lent have used all the talents you have lent to my spirit.”to my spirit.”

What Difference does it Make?What Difference does it Make?

Every difference in the world!Every difference in the world!

It makes a difference with respect to our It makes a difference with respect to our concept of Godconcept of God

It makes a difference with the way we view It makes a difference with the way we view ourselves ourselves

If God is the Creator He must be:If God is the Creator He must be:1.1. Infinitely powerfulInfinitely powerful

2.2. Immeasurably wise (to create this whole Immeasurably wise (to create this whole universe and all its parts, including its universe and all its parts, including its design, laws and structures)design, laws and structures)

3.3. A great artist (“Poems are made by fools A great artist (“Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree”);like me, but only God can make a tree”);

4.4. Totally generous, since the all-sufficient, Totally generous, since the all-sufficient, perfect Being couldn’t have created out perfect Being couldn’t have created out of a need (e.g., boredom or loneliness).of a need (e.g., boredom or loneliness).

If God is Creator then:If God is Creator then:

1.1. We owe our very existence to God which We owe our very existence to God which means we have no rights over against means we have no rights over against God.God.

2.2. Our existence is meaningful.Our existence is meaningful.

3.3. We owe God everything. Nothing is our We owe God everything. Nothing is our own—no part of our time, or our money, own—no part of our time, or our money, or even our thoughts.or even our thoughts.

Psalm 139:13-18Psalm 139:13-18

13.13. For You formed my inward parts; You For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.covered me in my mother’s womb.

14.14. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.works, and that my soul knows very well.

15.15. My frame was not hidden from You, My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Psalm 139:13-18Psalm 139:13-1816.16. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet Your eyes saw my substance, being yet

unformed. And in Your book they all unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.when as yet there were none of them.

17.17. How precious also are Your thoughts to How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of me, O God! How great is the sum of them!them!

18.18. If I should count them, they would be If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.awake, I am still with You.