The most important issue at hand when studying the Bible is to remember that the Bible is nothing other than God’ inspired, inerrant, infallible and authoritative Word. That is foundational. This mean that all opposition to and every attack on the Bible is not opposition to and attacks against the Christian Church and Christians in the first instance. It is a direct onslaught against God … against Almighty God. Yesterday we considered some people denying the existence of God and declaring Genesis chapters 1 to 11 as mythology. Both these we found to be false because God exists and all of Genesis is equal to the rest of the Bible … it is God’s Word. Today we shall consider …
1) The Bible versus evolution. As one who believes the Bible to be authentically God’s out breathed Word, I cannot accept evolution because in itself it is an attack on the Word of God and God Himself. It is man designed, thought through and birthed. Not only has Darwin discredited his theory by the fake diagrams he provided, the Bible rejects his theory with utter contempt. An interesting point to consider for those struggling with God creating because of their secular education being largely from an evolutionist’s base, the Lord Jesus, who is King of the Church and God’s Kingdom never rejected the account of Genesis. Without wasting time and energy on proving the theory of evolution wrong, I’ll rather draw from Scripture to prove creation true.
(1) A standalone verse.
Ge 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Although we shall get to the text of Genesis chapter one in time, verse one is what the theologians call an “Independent Clause”. By this is meant that verse 1 is a prelude or even a preamble to what follows. In this verse Moses under inspiration states that God and God alone created the heavens and the earth. This verse rejects the theory offered by evolution. The inspired Word informs us that by Himself, God created everything that exists, whether seen with the naked eye, the space travels and journeys, the camera on the Hubble Space Craft and the unseen to the end of all creation. Is it not phenomenal that the Bible, which is really all about God’s rescue plan for man, starts of by saying God created everything? More than this, before anything exists … in the beginning … God created everything.
(2) The Word created.
Jn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Likely the apostle John drew from Genesis one verse one as he, under inspiration wrote his Gospel. Like Moses says “In the beginning God created”, proving God and God’s creativity in bringing everything into existence … John says … “In the beginning was the Word.” He explains that the “Word” as a being, a personal being, who is actually God Himself. What is exciting is that in Genesis chapter one verse one we find God mentioned as the Sovereign. In verse 3 we are introduced to God the Holy Spirit … “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” and in John chapter one verse one we find the Lord Jesus, God the Son being present at creation with God the Father. As an aside, Genesis one provides the first hints of God been Triune. Then John tells us that everything that has been made has been made through the Word, Jesus, God the Son. Genesis affirms God as Creator as does the Gospel of John.
(3) Creation has a King.
Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Paul under inspiration informs us that is …
(i) Jesus is the image of the invisible God.
(ii) Jesus was the firstborn over all creation. These two phrases must be taken together to find the correct meaning. The first born over all creations does not refer to “birth order”. It refers to rank. Jesus as the invisible God is sovereign over all creation. He is both Lord and King of all creation. Notice what he created for Himself … “all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities”. As the Creator He is Lord and King over all creation as well as all leaders on the planet and by implication, over the devil and his demonic legion. He created everything. He rules over everything and He sustains everything. This is so amazing. The forces that hold creation together, be it the suns, the moons, the magnetic fields or other forces are all controlled by the Lord Jesus Christ. He is Lord of All.
(4) The Creator upon the Throne of Glory.
Heb 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Under inspiration, the writer to the Hebrews starts his letter by pointing to the divinity of the Lord Jesus. These verses are to me undoubtedly the most majestic explanation of whom Jesus is. Though for our purpose, please notice that Jesus is the Creator (verse 3); Jesus is the sustainer of all creation (verse 4) and that Jesus is seated on the Throne of Glory from where He reigns over His creation (verse 4).
(5) Believing God created is a matter of faith.
Heb 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
This faith is not “faith that it will or will not rain tomorrow or that Nelson Mandela was a real man, incarcerated for 27 years, split between Robben Island, Pollsmoor Prison and Victor Verster Prison.” This faith is saving faith. It is believing God is; believing you are a sinner; believing Jesus died to save you from eternal damnation and surrendering to His Lordship through trust and repentance. In other words, you cannot truly believe God created unless you have saving faith. In other words, how can you believe God is and that He created and that the message of the Bible is all about Jesus if you are not saved by grace through faith? Faith outside of saving faith is intellectual faith and intellectual faith cannot save. Only once you believe whom God truly is through Jesus Christ can you truly believe He is the Creator of everything.
Father, thank You for giving us the Bible where You clearly and categorically inform us that You are the Creator. Thank You Holy Spirit for enabling faith within us. Thank You Lord Jesus for sacrificing Yourself so that we might be saved and through salvation start to understand more and more who You are … Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.