Knowing God pt. 9

Over the last several weeks we have looked at the biblical doctrine of God. Who He is, and and how we can know Him. Tonight we are bringing this section of our study to a close in the best way I know how, by look at God’s work in creation.

**In the future, I plan to do a series on Creation, looking directly at the first eleven chapters of Genesis, but tonight, I just want to look at one key point of creation in it’s relation to God:

1 Corinthians 14:40 KJV 1900

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

See those last two words?

“…in order.”

That is the key! Let’s look first at...

The Order of Creation

Genesis 1:1 KJV 1900

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

First, God created the heavens the word meaning not God’s dwelling place , but rather the heaven(s) meaning essentially “space”

Space

*The last time I preached in elementary chapel, I had all the grades, from 1st-5th come down to the center of the basketball court and stand as many of them as possible in the circle…it got crowded really quickly, and I sent them back to their seats. The purpose was to illustrate how uncomfortable it would be without space to spread out and expand…which is why God created space for us to exist in!

Space, outer space, has intrigued mankind from the beginning. Today there is talk of deep space exploration - scientists are convinced there “must be other intelligent life” out there....don’t you find it funny, the Bible tells us of an intelligent Creator, how we can know Him, and still the smartest people on the planet keep looking for intelligence in space?

What came next in creation, is probably not what you think! Next was...

Angels

Job 38:4–7 KJV 1900

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

The “sons of God” is a term that can, and often is, used to describe the angelic host

If the “sons of God” were witness to the laying of the foundations of creation, then they must have been created second in God’s act of creation.

Angels play an important role in the Bible, and we will look at them in their very own study, but what was created next? Job gives us a hint...

Earth

First space, then angels, finally earth...

Genesis 1:1 KJV 1900

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Really, if we wanted to get technical, in the first verse God creates all that is necessary for life - time, space, and matter. Genesis 1:2

Genesis 1:2 KJV 1900

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Without form, means empty, it was a blank canvas waiting for the Artist’s touch, and what an Artist God is! We’re not focusing on the days of cration, but the order of creation, so next in order - hierarchy - would be...

Man

Genesis 2:7 KJV 1900

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Man was created from the dust of the earth

It is important that we understand man did not just “happen” - man is a result of a direct creative act of God!

Here is a great question...

Who is Responsible for Creation?

God the Father -

Genesis 1:1 “1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

1 Corinthians 8:6 “6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

God the Son -

Colossians 1:16 “16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

John 1:1–3 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

God the Holy Spirit -

Genesis 1:2 “2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Job 26:13 “13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; His hand hath formed the crooked serpent.”

Psalm 104:30 “30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: And thou renewest the face of the earth.”

Clearly all three persons of the Trinity had a hand in creation.

Take Away

Why then is there so much confusion about creation?

1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV 1900

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

If God is not the author of confusion, then who is?

There is perhaps nothing more confusing or divisive than evolution:

Try to explain how molecules became man?

Try to explain where molecules came from?

Try to explain how matter came into existence?

Try to explain how dead matter produced life? Consciousness? Morality?

There is no logical explanation other than God is the Creator. Period.