Today, I want to examine with you, the Doctrine of Creation. As a fundamental doctrine of the Faith, we should understand what the Bible says about this topic. When we know this, we will distinguish between the true origin of the earth and humanity, while contrasting it with secular narratives. Today we will deal only with the biblical Doctrine of Creation.
Doctrine of Creation
Simply put…
The doctrine of Creation reveals that God created the world and everything in it.
I have several points that will elaborate on that simple statement.
First, I want you to understand…
1. The beginning of heaven and earth.
The Doctrine of Creation specifies all things began at one point of origin. God formed them from nothing, not from any preexisting substance.
Colossians 1:16-17 – “By him – – THAT’S JESUS – – were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
This passage emphasizes that everything was created through Christ, suggesting a single origin for all creation.
Next, look at…
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.”
This implies that a single creative act created the visible universe from nothing visible at one point.
Then we see in…
Psalm 33:6, 9 – “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.”
These verses describe creation as resulting from a direct command of God, suggesting an instant of creation rather than ongoing or multiple processes.
In Isaiah Chapter 46, God testifies more about the beginning of creation:
Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
God, eternal, was present at the beginning of time. Incidentally, He will also oversee the end of time:
Look at Revelation Chapter 10, Verse 6…
…And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: Revelation 10:6
Let’s go back to the “beginning” in Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 and we discover absolute statements.
First, in John Chapter 1:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3
And then in Genesis Chapter 1…
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1
As Ewald and Bunsen note, we do not find the Bible saying:
“In the beginning when God created …, the earth was,” etc., or “in the beginning when God created…(but the earth was then a chaos, etc.)
(Ewald and Bunsen via Keil & Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary)
In other words, the Bible leaves no room for a so-called “gap” between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.
We should also note that
The world is not eternal, as in always existing. It has a definite beginning. This is the beginning of time.
Now…
When we regard the next verse, Genesis 1:2, we see that the initial state of the world was in a simple form which would soon become an ordered system.
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2
Similar to the beginning of the world is the beginning of the (creation of) man. Using the same word structure from Genesis 1:1 and 1:2, we see…
Genesis 1:27 God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
…and we also see in Genesis Chapter 5
Genesis 5:1-2 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
Now that we’ve looked at the beginning, let’s reinforce the doctrine of creation by asserting (along with scripture) that God is the sole creator.
2. The Sole Creator – God
Text: Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Exegesis: This Establishes God’s role as the primary and only creator, emphasizing His existence before creation and His power to create eks NEE-hi-loh (out of nothing).
Exodus Chapter 20 says:
11 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. Exodus 20:11
Then, again, in Exodus Chapter 31:
17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. Exodus 31:17
Other scripture that assert God as the sole creator include:
- Isaiah 44:24 – “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;”
- Here, God claims the act of creation as His alone, emphasizing “by myself.”
- Nehemiah 9:6 – “Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.”
- This verse acknowledges God as the sole maker of everything in existence.
- Psalm 96:5 – “For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.”
- Contrasting other deities with the true God, who alone created the heavens.
- Revelation 4:11 – “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
- This verse from the book of Revelation credits God with the creation of all things for His own pleasure.
The Doctrine of Creation also sees…
3. The Trinity Involved in Creation.
Before I speak of the role of the Trinity in creation, I want to make sure you understand the Doctrine of the Trinity. Afterward, we can together move forward.
Jesus affirms the Triune nature of God as He instructs His disciples regarding baptism:
Matthew 28:19 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
Apostle Paul invokes blessings from each person of the Trinity:
2 Corinthians 13:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”
God is the Three-in-One:
1 John 5:7 – “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
This same Trinity was present during creation:
In Genesis 1:1, we see God:
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1
In Genesis 1:2, we see the Spirit of God:
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2
Of course, Jesus was there too:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. [Jhn 1:1-3 KJV]
Just so you know, each person of the Trinity is 100% equal with God.
Soon, I’ll speak of the Creation of Man, but right now, let’s see the plurality of God in…
Genesis 1:26 – “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”
Exegesis: The use of “us” suggests a plurality within the Godhead, interpreted as an early hint of the Trinity’s involvement in creation.
4. Creation by Divine Word
Text: Genesis 1:3 – “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”
Exegesis: God’s creative acts are spoken into existence, showcasing His authority and the power of His word to bring about reality.
God speaks, and creation follows His command, illustrating the power of His word in bringing the universe into existence. Subsequent verses in Genesis 1 continue this theme, with God speaking various elements of creation into being.
Before moving on, I’d like you to notice that light existed before God created the source of light.
On Day One, God said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3).
The SOURCE of Light wasn’t created until the 4th day:
Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
As we continue studying the Doctrine of Creation, I want you to notice the…
5. Systematic Order of Creation
Genesis 1:3-31 contains the detailed account of the six days of creation.
These verses highlight God’s methodical approach to creation, organizing it into distinct stages, reflecting divine wisdom and order.
Day 1: God created light and darkness, separating day from night. He named the light “day” and the darkness “night.”
Day 2: God created an expanse to separate the waters below from the waters above, calling it “sky” or “heaven.”
Day 3: God gathered the waters under the sky into one place, allowing dry land to appear, which He called “earth.” He then commanded the earth to produce vegetation: plants bearing seed and trees bearing fruit.
Day 4: God created lights in the sky to separate day from night and to mark seasons, days, and years. He made the sun to govern the day and the moon and stars to govern the night.
Day 5: God filled the waters with living creatures and made birds to fly across the sky. He blessed them to be fruitful and multiply.
Day 6: God created the animals of the earth, including livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals. Finally, He created humans in His own image, both male and female, giving them dominion over all living things on earth. He blessed them and told them to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it.
Now, let’s consider…
6. The Goodness of Creation
Text: Genesis 1:31 – “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.”
The repeated declaration of creation being “good” underscores the moral and material perfection of God’s work.
The Doctrine of Creation also requires us to understand…
7. Humanity’s Unique Creation.
Text: Genesis 2:7 – “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Exegesis: Man is uniquely formed by God, with the breath of life, signifying a special relationship and purpose, distinguishing humans from other creatures.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27
He answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, Matthew 19:4
8. Creation and Sabbath
Text: Genesis 2:2-3 – “On the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.”
Exegesis: This introduces the concept of rest, sanctifying one day for rest and reflection, establishing a pattern for human life and worship.
9. Human Dominance of the Earth
God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
- Genesis 1:28
Exegesis: Humanity is given the mandate to subdue the earth and establish dominance over the rest of created life.
Psalm Chapter 115 says:
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. Psalms 115:16
Finally, let’s pay attention to…
10. Creation’s Testimony to God.
Text: Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
Exegesis: Creation itself speaks of God’s glory and existence, serving as an ongoing revelation of His nature, power, and creativity.
In Psalms Chapter 148, we read:
3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. 4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Psalms 148:3-4
Today, I have provided you with a brief but comprehensive look at the doctrine of creation. We covered aspects from the act of creation to its implications for human life and theology. Each point is grounded in scriptural text, offering a framework – – – for understanding this fundamental Christian doctrine.
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