What Is Creation?

KeyPoint:

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

Discussion Questions:

In what ways do God’s acts of creation give us great humility? How do they give us great dignity?

In light of God’s work of creation, why is nothing but God worthy of our worship?

List some of the ways the earth, the animals, and you yourself can give glory to God the Creator.

Discussion:

Created Out Of Nothing:

God Created Time:

Job 36:26 “Yes, God is exalted beyond our knowledge; the number of his years cannot be counted.”

Psalm 90:4 “For in your sight a thousand years are like yesterday that passes by, like a few hours of the night.”

John 8:58 “Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.””

2 Peter 3:8 “Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.”

Revelation 1:8 ““I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.””

God Created Physical Realms:

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

Psalm 33:6–9 “The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the water of the sea into a heap; he puts the depths into storehouses. Let the whole earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spoke, and it came into being; he commanded, and it came into existence.”

John 1:3 “All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.”

Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands.”

Hebrews 11:3 “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.”

Colossians 1:16 “For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.”

Revelation 4:11 “Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.”

*By God’s Will, His desire to create is why anything exists.

Acts 4:24 “When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them.”

Acts 14:15 ““People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.”

Acts 17:24–25 “The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things.”

Romans 4:17 “As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations— in the presence of the God in whom he believed, the one who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist.”

*“If [God] calls things that do not exist as though they existed it must man that they will soon exist, irresistibly called into existence.”

Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.”

Nothing existed apart from God. To say that anything did, like say matter, is to question God’s sovereignty and independence of creation. If we say that matter existed with God, and he just formed it, what right does God have to rule over what has always existed, and how can he use it to glorify himself? Could creation at that point be worshipped as a God since it always existed? How could we say all parts of God’s creation exist to fulfill his will if some parts were not made by him?

God Created Spiritual Realms:

Heaven is a place where God’s presence is especially evident.

Revelation 10:6 “He swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, “There will no longer be a delay,”

Acts 4:24 “When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them.”

Nehemiah 9:6 “You, Lord, are the only God. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their stars, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them, and all the stars of heaven [host of heaven] worship you.”

Psalm 103:21 “Bless the Lord, all his armies, his servants who do his will.”

Psalm 148:2 “Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly armies.”

Colossians 1:16 “For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.”

God Directly Created Mankind:

Genesis 2:7 “Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.”

“formed” is like a potters activity showing personal care and attention in creating mankind.

“The source of animal life is attributed to the intermediary “ground” from which the animals came forth “in a moment.” But the man was “gradually formed,” and his fountain of life was the divine breath: God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” “Face-to-face” with God.

Genesis 1:26–27 “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.”

We were created in his image to be like him and to represent him in creation. To multiply in & subdue Creation

Created “Very Good”:

Genesis 1:4 “God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.”

Genesis 1:10 “God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of the water he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.”

Genesis 1:12 “The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.”

Genesis 1:18 “to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.”

Genesis 1:21 “So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged creature according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”

Genesis 1:25 “So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.”

Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that he had made, and it was very (exceedingly and abundantly) good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.”

Although Sin corrupted the material world was still good, it is corruptible by mankind and our sinfulness, but God’s creation is still declaring his glory and goodness.

1 Timothy 4:1–3 “Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.”

1 Timothy 4:4–5 “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.”

Created To Glorify Himself:

God is Transcendent & Immanent:

Transcendent means above, greater, and independent of all of creation. He is above all because he existed before all things, and without him nothing would exist. Only he can receive worship because only the creator can be praised for his work.

Immanent means “remaining in” or involved in creation. “he is not so removed from us that he cannot or will not be intimately involved in our lives and our struggles.”

Job 12:10 “The life of every living thing is in his hand, as well as the breath of all humanity.”

Acts 17:25 “Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things.”

Acts 17:28 “For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’”

Colossians 1:17 “He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.”

Hebrews 1:3 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Ephesians 4:6 “one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”

Creation Declares God’s Excellence, Glory, Wisdom, & Power:

Nothing needed to exist, creation was a totally free act of God done according to his will and desire. We exist because he chose to create us. As “Image bearers,” even our creative abilities display/imitate his creative nature.

Isaiah 43:7 “everyone who bears my name and is created for my glory. I have formed them; indeed, I have made them.””

Psalm 19:1–2 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.”

Revelation 4:11 “Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.”

Jeremiah 10:12 “He made the earth by his power, established the world by his wisdom, and spread out the heavens by his understanding.”