Bible Basics

A Study in Systematic Theology

Doctrine of Creation

Review and Wrap-Up

National Geographic,November 1999

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

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

Creationists Who founded Modern Science

• Kepler—Astronomy

• Pascal—Hydrostatics

• Boyle—Chemistry

• Newton—Physics

• Kelvin—Thermodynamics…

How Did God Create?

• Ex Nihilo— “Out of nothing.” Two phrases speak of how God created:

1. By the word of the Lord (Psalm 33:6; Psalm 148:5)…

Psalm 33:6Psalm 33:6

By the word of the LORD the By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,heavens were made,

And all the host of them by the And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.breath of His mouth.

Psalm 148:5Psalm 148:5

Let them praise the name of the Let them praise the name of the LORD,LORD,

For He commanded and they For He commanded and they were created.were created.

Why Did God Create?

• Not because He needed to create:

1. Not because He was lonely

(Note: God desires our love; He does not depend on our Love)

2. Not because He was imperfect (God is perfect in His attributes)…

So Why Did God Create?

• Because He wanted to create (freely)

• Two Purposes:

1. For God’s Glory

2. For Our Good

Why Did God Create?

1. To declare His glory (Psalm 19:1; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11).

Psalm 19:1Psalm 19:1

““The heavens declare the The heavens declare the glory of God; glory of God;

And the firmament shows And the firmament shows His handiwork”His handiwork”

Colossians 1:16Colossians 1:16

““For by Him all things were created that For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, are in heaven and that are on earth,

visible and invisible, whether thrones visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created powers. All things were created

through Him and through Him and forfor HimHim.”.”

Revelation 4:11Revelation 4:11

““You are worthy, O Lord,You are worthy, O Lord,

To receive glory and honor and To receive glory and honor and power;power;

For You created all things,For You created all things,

And by Your will they exist and And by Your will they exist and were created.”were created.”

Why Did God Create?

1. To declare His glory (Psalm 19:1; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11).

2. To provide our good (1 Tim. 6:17; James 1:17)…

1 Timothy 6:171 Timothy 6:17

““Command those who are rich in Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”richly all things to enjoy.”

James 1:17James 1:17

““Every good gift and every perfect Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”shadow of turning.”

Problems with Evolution• The theory contradicts the Bible

(microevolution is okay; macroevolution is not)

• Jesus in Matthew 19:4 and Mark 13:19

• There are philosophical & scientific reasons, too:

• Physics (2nd Law of Thermodynamics)

• Inconsistency of dating methods

• The fossil record (no transitional forms)…

Questions/Discussion

• What about the dinosaurs? • Did they in fact “rule the earth” for

140 million years, dying out about 65 million years ago?

• Other questions?

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.