1. Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith Wayne Grudem

2. Chapter 7: Creation Why, how, and when did God create the universe?

3. Explanation and Scriptural Basis God created the entire universe out of nothing; it was originally very good; and he created it to glorify himself.

4. A. God Created the Universe Out of Nothing 1. Biblical Evidence for Creation Out of Nothing. Gen 1:1: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (ESV) Jn 1:3: All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (ESV) Col 1:16: For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (ESV) Rom 4:17b:...the God in whom he believed, who...calls into existence the things that do not exist. (ESV)

5. A. God Created the Universe Out of Nothing 2. The Direct Creation of Adam and Eve. Gen 2:7: then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (ESV) Gen 2:21-22: So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. (ESV)

6. A. God Created the Universe Out of Nothing 3. The Work of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in Creation. Jn 1:3: All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (ESV) Gen 1:2: The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (ESV)

7. B. Creation Is Distinct From God Yet Always Dependent on God God is both transcendent and immanent.

8. B. Creation Is Distinct From God Yet Always Dependent on God Materialism Dualism This view is in contrast to: Pantheism Deism

9. C. God Created the Universe to Show His Glory It was a totally free act of God. Rev 4:11: “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (ESV) Isa 43:7: everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (ESV)

10. D. The Universe God Created Was “Very Good” Gen 1:31: And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (ESV) 1 Tim 4:4-5: For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. (ESV)

11. E. The Relationship Between Scripture and the Findings of Modern Science 1. When All the Facts Are Rightly Understood, There Will Be “No Final Conflict” Between Scripture and Natural Science.

12. E. The Relationship Between Scripture and the Findings of Modern Science 2. Some Theories About Creation Seem Clearly Inconsistent With the Teachings of Scripture. a. Secular Theories: We should reject out of hand any theory of the origin of the universe that denies an infinite-personal God. b. Theistic Evolution: Scripture teaches that God was purposeful about creation, and that it was “very good” from the beginning. God was the driving force, not randomness or mutation.

13. E. The Relationship Between Scripture and the Findings of Modern Science 2. Some Theories About Creation Seem Clearly Inconsistent With the Teachings of Scripture. c. Notes on the Darwinian Theory of Evolution: (1) Current Challenges to Evolution: (a) Animals have a very limited range of genetic variability. (b) Irreducibly complex systems exist in nature which could not evolve in a single generation but which cannot function with the loss of any single component.

14. E. The Relationship Between Scripture and the Findings of Modern Science 2. Some Theories About Creation Seem Clearly Inconsistent With the Teachings of Scripture. c. Notes on the Darwinian Theory of Evolution: (1) Current Challenges to Evolution: (c) The fossil record lacks any “intermediate types.” (d) No explanation has been given for the incredible complexity of even the simplest of organisms. (e) No explanation of how life might have begun in the first place—or anything, for that matter.

15. E. The Relationship Between Scripture and the Findings of Modern Science 2. Some Theories About Creation Seem Clearly Inconsistent With the Teachings of Scripture. c. Notes on the Darwinian Theory of Evolution: (2) The Destructive Influences of Evolutionary Theory in Modern Thought: If existence is the result of chance and random occurrence, then we have no meaning If there is no God, there is no right and wrong If natural selection is a reality, we ought to practice euthanasia against persons who are elderly, sick, handicapped, or otherwise unable to strengthen humanity

16. E. The Relationship Between Scripture and the Findings of Modern Science 3. The Age of the Earth. “Old Earth” Proponents argue: The Hebrew yom could indicate a much longer period of time than 24 hours (cf. Gen 2:4). The genealogies of the Bible contain gaps and cannot help us calculate the age of the earth. The evidence from general revelation points to a very old earth.

17. E. The Relationship Between Scripture and the Findings of Modern Science 3. The Age of the Earth. “Young Earth” Proponents argue: Yom in Genesis 1 is most likely indicating literal, twenty-four hour days (cf. Ex 20:8-11). The original creation had an “appearance of age” from the first day. Noah’s flood could account for the current geological evidence.

18. E. The Relationship Between Scripture and the Findings of Modern Science 3. The Age of the Earth. Some Conclusions: Scripture seems to suggest (but not to require) a young earth view, while the observable facts in nature seem to favor an old earth view. We must continue in gracious discussion and the charitable pursuit of truth.

19. F. Application We should seek to be like the early Christians who enjoyed God’s good creation. (Acts 2:46) We should recognize that scientific and technological study glorifies God. (Ps 111:2) We should have confidence in God’s sovereign power. We can wholeheartedly enjoy creative activities.

20. Special Terms asceticism creation creation ex nihilo deism dualism immanent intelligent design macro-evolution materialism micro-evolution theory natural selection “old-earth” theory pantheism random mutation theistic evolution transcendent transitional types young earth theory