The Created Creation

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God created the universe out of nothing; nothing but God existed before the universe was created. All things—what Genesis 1:1 calls “the heavens and the earth”—were created by God. John 1:3 affirms this: “All things were made through him.” And in Colossians 1:16 we read, “By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.” And as we saw in the previous chapter, all the members of the Trinity were involved in this process.

God spoke all of creation into existence—from land and waters to plants and animals (Gen. 1:3–25)—that is, all of creation except for man. Both man and woman were created by God’s very hands and received life from God’s very breath (Gen. 2:7, 22). This intimate, special creation is one sign of the special place God designed human beings to have within his creation. In addition, human beings are the only ones that God made “in his own image” (Gen. 1:27). To be in God’s image means to be like God and to represent God. As God’s image, man is the pinnacle of all creation, more like God than any other creature, and the only one appointed to rule over the rest of creation as God’s representative (Gen. 1:28–31).

There are many scientific theories that directly conflict with a biblical view of creation, such as the theory that all living things came into being as a result of random mutations over a long period of time, rather than as a result of God’s intelligent design and infinite power. Scientific theories that do not see God as the Creator fail to give us the dignity that is given by the biblical account. The Bible teaches that although God did not need to create anything, he chose to create us and chose to create us in his image.

On the other hand, sometimes scientific observations of the world can correct people’s misunderstandings. At one time many Christians thought that the Bible taught that the sun goes around the earth. They opposed the theories of Galileo, whose astronomical observations led him to believe that the earth rotates and also orbits the sun. Eventually the whole church recognized that the Bible never teaches that the sun goes around the earth, so they could accept Galileo’s observations. We should exercise care, then, in speaking to issues that the Bible does not clearly speak to. And when our observations of the natural world seem to conflict with our understanding of Scripture, we should look again at both, seeking to find where our limited understanding and imperfect knowledge of either could be wrong. Ultimately, a proper understanding of science and a proper understanding of Scripture will not be in conflict.

The Bible is clear: God created the earth and all that is in and on it from nothing. He created man from the dust of the world he created. Before creation, nothing existed but God. Therefore, nothing but God is eternal. Nothing but God can ultimately rule over that which he made. Therefore, nothing but God is worthy of our worship. Because we are special products of God’s creation, this fact should create great humility in us. In addition, because God created the universe from nothing, and because he didn’t need to create it, he must have created it for some purpose. Because we are special products of God’s creation, this should give us great dignity.


Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know
 
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1).

This divine record of creation, remarkable for the most perfect simplicity, has been sadly complicated and embarrassed by the human theories and speculations with which it has unhappily become entangled.

The first two chapters of Genesis tell a straightforward account of the creation of the earth, the universe, and everything in them.

People that are into the gap theory have reinterpreted Scripture to try to make it fit the idea of millions of years. But adding a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2, or any other place in Genesis, is unwarranted. It also adds death and suffering before sin and requires a recreation or restoration of the earth before Adam was created, an idea you can’t find in the text. The gap theory does not rest upon the impregnable rock of Holy Scripture; it is founded upon the shifting sands of the ideas of those who want to believe the evolutionary teaching of billions of years as the age of the universe and earth.

When we look carefully at Genesis 1 it is clear that God created everything in six literal (24-hour) days. First, we are told that he created the earth in darkness and then created light. Then he called the light “day” and he called the darkness “night.” And then we read (in the original Hebrew) “and [there] was evening and [there] was morning, one day.” The same statement is repeated at the end of the second day through the sixth day.

Many Christians say it doesn’t matter what you believe about Genesis and the question of origins or Earth’s age. The gospel, however, rests upon Genesis!

You can find much more information on this topic @

 
Excellent topic and one that is not discussed a whole lot. The creation story begins with the opening chapter of the Bible and these words: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Those are 10 words that changed everything.

We learn from the Bible that the earth was formless, empty, and dark, and God's Spirit moved over the waters preparing to perform God's creative Word. Then began the seven most creative days of all time as God spoke life into existence. A day by day account follows.

  • Day 1 - God created light and separated the light from the darkness, calling light "day" and darkness "night."
  • Day 2 - God created an expanse to separate the waters and called it "sky."
  • Day 3 - God created the dry ground and gathered the waters, calling the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters "seas." On day three, God also created vegetation (plants and trees).
  • Day 4 - God created the sun, moon, and the stars to give light to the earth and to govern and separate the day and the night. These would also serve as signs to mark seasons, days, and years.
  • Day 5 - God created every living creature of the seas and every winged bird, blessing them to multiply and fill the waters and the sky with life.
  • Day 6 - God created the animals to fill the earth. On day six, God also created man and woman (Adam and Eve) in his own image to commune with him. He blessed them and gave them every creature and the whole earth to rule over, care for, and cultivate.
  • Day 7 - God had finished his work of creation and so he rested on the seventh day, blessing it and making it holy.
The simple truth of the biblical creation story is that God is the author of creation. In Genesis 1, we are presented with the beginning of a divine drama that can only be examined and understood from the standpoint of faith. How long did it take? How did it happen, exactly? No one can answer these questions definitively. In fact, these mysteries are not the focus of the creation story. The purpose, I think is for moral and spiritual revelation.
 
God created the universe out of nothing; nothing but God existed before the universe was created. All things—what Genesis 1:1 calls “the heavens and the earth”—were created by God.
A niggle but an important niggle for some...
Since people specifically called 'ALL the sons of GOD' (not angels as the eisegetic KJV suggests), sang HIS praises when they saw HIS divinity and eternal power displayed in the creation of the physical universe, Job 38:7 with Rom 1:18-20,
it is obvious that the spirits were created and in existence before the universe was created. They were not created with the creation of the universe but long before...
 
A niggle but an important niggle for some...
Since people specifically called 'ALL the sons of GOD' (not angels as the eisegetic KJV suggests), sang HIS praises when they saw HIS divinity and eternal power displayed in the creation of the physical universe, Job 38:7 with Rom 1:18-20,
it is obvious that the spirits were created and in existence before the universe was created. They were not created with the creation of the universe but long before...
Sounds good to me. I'm by no means of expert on this and I would sure like to know more. I have read that the “sons of God.” in the Old Testament, that really refers to the members of God’s divine family, And I don't mean the Trinity. I'm talking about divine beings that existed before God creates humanity.

The Bible clearly shows us that God had a divine family that was present before humanity.

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:4–7
 
Sounds good to me. I'm by no means of expert on this and I would sure like to know more. I have read that the “sons of God.” in the Old Testament, that really refers to the members of God’s divine family, And I don't mean the Trinity. I'm talking about divine beings that existed before God creates humanity.

The Bible clearly shows us that God had a divine family that was present before humanity.

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:4–7
ERROR. the term sons of God are always referred to humans. but here the stars and the sun and moon metaphorically
Job 38:7 “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”. Here is what most people say, "see this prove that it was the angles". NO, NOT so fast, or as you said, "divine beings that existed before God creates humanity.". NO. so, who really are these “morning stars”, and the sons of God that sang, and shouted. Let’s see who and what they are.

Here in Job 38 God almighty are using metaphors. Example, Job 38:4 "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding". Job 38:5 "Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?" Job 38:6 "Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof”. We know that the earth has no foundation or corner stone. How do we know this? right in the same book of Job it states this, Job 26:7 "He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing”. God himself is what keep the earth where it is. Understand, God is giving metaphors to Job and us to understand what he did in creation, again, Job 38:8 "Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?”. We all know that there are no actual doors holding back the water of the seas, the almighty do that himself. But God is using metaphors to give Job and his friends understanding about creation. Now we will solve the “morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”. First the morning stars.101G says that the morning stars are the actual stars in the heavens.

Let’s go to the book of James. Follow and understand. James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”. The almighty is called the “Father” of lights, and lights here is plural, and is the Greek word, G5457 φῶς phos (fōs') n. which means luminousness. Now hold that thought and go to Thayer's Greek Definitions and or the blue letter bible, and look up G3962 πατήρ pater, (Father)
- Transliteration: Pater
- Phonetic: pat-ayr'
- Definition:
1. generator or male ancestor
a. either the nearest ancestor: father of the corporeal nature, natural fathers, both parents.
THIS IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK WHEN THEY HEAR THE WORD “FATHER”.

but we are interested in the 3rd definition, and here it is, listen.
3. God is called the Father
a. of the stars, the heavenly luminaries, because he is their creator, upholder, ruler


God is the Father of the “STARS”, and the heavenly luminaries. Yes, the literal stars in the sky. google the word stars, please add the “s” to the end of stars, for Job said, morning “stars” not morning “star”. A star is a luminous sphere of plasma held together by its own gravity. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked eye from Earth during the night, appearing as a multitude of fixed luminous points in the sky due to their immense distance from Earth. Again, the stars are the actual stars in the heavens. Now, go to dictionary.com, or the free dictionary, or any dictionary and look up luminaries in the plural a celestial body, as the sun or moon. Now let’s see this sun and moon and the actual stars and what they did in Job 38:7. Remember the Almighty said that they sang and shouted for joy. Let’s see this metaphor clearly. Psalms 148:1 "Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Verse 2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. 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. 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created”. Now what do the word praise mean here? It is the Hebrew word, H1984 הָלַל halal (haw-lal') v. which can be translated as “sing”, or “shine”. understand the stars, the sun and the moon sang or praised God by shining their lights. One more, Psalms 65:13 "The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys
also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing”. The pastures, and valleys also praising God? Yes, how? by shouting for joy and singing. It’s all a metaphor. Do we now understand.

101G.
 
God created the universe out of nothing
GINOLJC, to all.
the bible never says the Earth and the heavens was created out of nothing.... "Nothing". the bible says, Hebrews 11:1 " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:2 " For by it the elders obtained a good report." 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."
things, things, things, not seen? yes, the subatomic world, that is not seen/observed by the naked eye. atoms make up molecules, and molecules make up objects/matter, that we can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel.

101G
 
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