The Principles of Creation

What is the purpose of life? What is God like?

Method of analogy Artist Painting

God Creation

Romans 1:20 Law of resemblence “Ever since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen…from what has been made.”

So what is the world like? Every entity possesses the dual characteristics of yang/masculinity/positivity and yin/femininity/negativity These dual characteristics are complementary and mutually attractive

All Beings MasculinityFemininity HumansManWomanAnimalsMaleFemale PlantsStamenPistil Molecules Atoms Particles + –+ –+ –+ – + –+ –+ –+ – + –+ –+ –+ – Dual characteristics in creation

First CauseUniverse CauseEffect Masculinity Femininity Masculinity Femininity If all things in the universe have masculine and feminine aspects, the Ultimate Cause or Creator of the universe must also possess the dual characteristics of masculinity and femininity. Within God these characteristics are harmonised into oneness. –+ + –

So what is the world like? Everything has two aspects: an outer form and an inner quality The visible outer form resembles the invisible inner quality The inner quality has a structure which is manifested in the outer form Palm reading These two aspects are called “Dual characteristics of internal nature and external form”

Examples All Things Internal nature External form SignIdea/signifiedWord/signifier MechanicSkill, knowledgeBody WatchDesignMetal Diamond Coal Molecular structure Carbon BaptismGraceWater TearSorrow, joyWater, salt

All Beings Internal nature External form Humans Heart, mind & spirit/soul BodyAnimalsInstinctBody PlantsTaxisBody Molecules Directive nature Energy & matter Atoms Directive nature Energy & matter Particles Directive nature Energy & matter Dual characteristics

First causeUniverse CauseResult Internal nature External form External form Internal nature If all things in the universe have inner and outer aspects, the Ultimate Cause or Creator of the universe must also possess the dual characteristics of internal nature and external form.

“ Know yourself. He who knows himself will know God. He who knows God will become like God.” St. Clement of Alexandria

But the word is very near to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it. Deuteronomy 30: 11-14

One God “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” Deuteronomy 6:4

God is the Creator “Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.” Jeremiah 32:17

God is all knowing For the Lord is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed.” I Samuel 2:3

God is Just "For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4

God is Love “God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:16

God is our Parent “Our Father who art in heaven...” Jesus called God “Abba”

God is Heart “What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him.” Job 7:17 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man.” Genesis 8:21 Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. Deuteronomy 10:15

Why did God create?

God Creation Joy And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. Genesis 1:31

How is joy produced? In relationships

And God said, “Let us make man after our own image, after our likeness”. Genesis 1:26

“I say, ‘You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you.” Psalm 82:6 “I say, ‘You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you.” Psalm 82:6 “God became man so that man might become God.” Athanasius “God became man so that man might become God.” Athanasius “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Ephesians 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Ephesians 5:1

How are we to become like God?

The Three Great Blessings And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.” Genesis 1:28

The first blessing: Be fruitful True Person Mind Body God “You are the temple of God and God’s spirit dwells in you.” 1 Corinthians 3:16 The ability to create and complete our character Unity of mind and body Words and deeds are one Sensitivity to the heart of God Joy Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48 SubjectObject “And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind.” I Samuel 2:35

Mind - Body unity Mind Body True Person Subject Object Beauty Truth Goodness Food Sleep Shelter Sex God

The second blessing: Multiply Society Nation World True Family Man God Woman The ability to create an ideal family Joy Four Great Realms of Heart If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. I John 4:12

“Become like God” When husband and wife are united in marriage, they are no longer seen as something earthly, but as the image of God Himself. St John Chrysostom The love of God and the love of man are not two loves, but aspects of the same unifying love. St Maximus the Confessor

Third blessing: Take dominion Beautiful World Person Creation God Right of dominion over the creation Joy Inherit God’s creativity Lords of Creation Whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. Genesis 2:19 Microcosm Harmony with nature God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. Genesis 2:15 The creation waits for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8:19

What was God’s original ideal? Mature Person Mind Body God Society Nation World Happy Family Adam God Eve Beautiful World Person Creation God

How do things grow?

How do living things grow? Completion Growth Formation Tree Sapling Seed Adult Youth Child Indirect Dominion Direct Dominion God Man “God unites Himself only with gods.” St Symeon the New Theologian God guides people through his Word God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. I Jn. 4:16

Principles of Growth Living things automatically reach perfection through the laws of nature Living things automatically reach perfection through the laws of nature Human beings only reach perfection through the laws of nature AND by fulfilling their responsibility Human beings only reach perfection through the laws of nature AND by fulfilling their responsibility “And the child grew strong, filled with wisdom and the favour of God was upon him.” Luke 2:40 “And the child grew strong, filled with wisdom and the favour of God was upon him.” Luke 2:40

The role of human responsibility “Your faith has made you well.” Mark 5:34 “Your faith has made you well.” Mark 5:34 “The prayer of faith will save the sick man.” “The prayer of faith will save the sick man.” James 5:15 “Behold I stand at the door and knock.” “Behold I stand at the door and knock.” Revelation 3:20 “Ask and you will receive.” Matthew 7:8 “Ask and you will receive.” Matthew 7:8 Divine Grace + Human Will → God’s Will

Freedom and responsibility “Behold I set before you this day, a blessing and a curse: the blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God... And the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God...” Deuteronomy 11:26-28

Examples of freedom If Adam and Eve had not eaten the fruit there would be no sin If Adam and Eve had not eaten the fruit there would be no sin If Abraham had not been willing to sacrifice Isaac.... If Abraham had not been willing to sacrifice Isaac.... If the people of Ninevah had not repented If the people of Ninevah had not repented If Jesus had been accepted.... If Jesus had been accepted....

Why did God give people freedom and responsibility? To give us creativity so that we could become co-creators and children of God To give us creativity so that we could become co-creators and children of God So that we could become Lords of Creation and rule creation in our own right So that we could become Lords of Creation and rule creation in our own right

What is the relationship between the spiritual world and the physical world?

Like dying SPIRITUAL WORLD final destination EARTH preparation of the spirit self WOMBpreparation of the physical self of the physical self Placenta Mind Spirit self Body Physical self Spirit Mind Spirit Body 40 weeks80 yearsEternity Unborn child It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. I Cor.15:44 What are the stages of life?

Physical Body Spiritual Body Spiritual Mind Physical Mind What is the position of human beings? Spiritual World Physical World Angels Spirits Ancestors Minerals Plants Animals Mediator between spiritual and physical worlds Jesus spoke to Elijah and Moses Human beings are a microcosm of the cosmos

What is the relationship between spirit and body? + Air Food, water - Vitality elements Life elements ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me.’ John 4:34 Light Warmth Physical Self Spiritual Self Spirit elements + - “… as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead”. James 2:14-26 Love Truth + Atmosphere of freedom God

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