Transcript Essentials of the Christian Faith - Chapter 7: Creation

Bible Doctrine:
Essential Teachings of the
Christian Faith
Wayne Grudem
Chapter 7:
Creation
Why, how, and when did God create the universe?
Explanation and Scriptural Basis
 God created the entire universe out of nothing; it was
originally very good; and he created it to glorify himself.
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)
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)
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)
B. Creation Is Distinct From God Yet Always
Dependent on God
 God is both transcendent and immanent.
B. Creation Is Distinct From God Yet Always
Dependent on God
This view is in contrast to:
 Materialism
 Pantheism
 Dualism
 Deism
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)
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Special Terms
 asceticism
 micro-evolution theory
 creation
 natural selection
 creation ex nihilo
 “old-earth” theory
 deism
 pantheism
 dualism
 random mutation
 immanent
 theistic evolution
 intelligent design
 transcendent
 macro-evolution
 transitional types
 materialism
 young earth theory