Bible Basics for the FamilyBible Basics for the Family

The Doctrine of Creation

Next Week . . .

Handout . . .Handout . . .

““Perspectives on Perspectives on Genesis One”Genesis One”

BIBLICAL BASISBIBLICAL BASIS

For the Doctrine of For the Doctrine of CreationCreation

The “How” and “Why”The “How” and “Why”

HowHow Did God Create? 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.

HowHow Did God Create? 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)

2. “God said” (Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, etc., 2 Corinthians 4:6)

Genesis 1:3, 6, 9Genesis 1:3, 6, 9 … …

““Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.”there was light.”

““Then God said, ‘Let there be a Then God said, ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters...’”firmament in the midst of the waters...’”

““Then God said, ‘Let the waters under Then God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into the heavens be gathered together into one place . . .’”one place . . .’”

2 Corinthians 4:62 Corinthians 4:6

““For it is the God who commanded For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”the face of Jesus Christ.”

WhyWhy Did God Create? 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 So Why DidDid God Create? God Create?

• Because He wanted to create (freely)

• Two Purposes:

1. For God’s Glory

2. For Our Good

Why Did God Create?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?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.”

What Difference does it Make?

• Every difference in the world!

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

• It makes a difference with the way we view ourselves

If God is the Creator He must be:

1. Infinitely powerful2. Immeasurably wise (to create this whole

universe and all its parts, including its design, laws and structures)

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

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

If God is Creator then:

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

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

3. Our existence is meaningful.

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, when My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully 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 Your eyes saw my substance, being

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

17.17. How precious also are Your thoughts How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!of 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; more in number than the sand;