What Else Did God Create?
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Series: Christian Principles
Series: Christian Principles
Title: What else did God create?
Title: What else did God create?
Text: Genesis 1:31
Text: Genesis 1:31
Opening Questions:
What is one thing that Genesis 1:31 tells us about God?
What does this verse tell us about the original condition of all creation?
How does Genesis 1:31 teach us to consider the material world today?
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Answer: God created all things and all his creation was very good.
Since in our last question, we looked at God as the Creator, let’s take a look at what this verse (Genesis 1:31) is emphasizing — that all which God made was very good.
The phrase very good communicates the idea of perfection or lacking nothing. In addition, the word means pleasant or beautiful.
So, how should we consider this verse?
We should consider the Source
Who is the Person that is making this determination? God is making this determination that all his creation is very good. Since God is the One who is seeing all that he made as very good, we must consider that he is the One who can discern what is good and determine what is good.
Illustration of “Very Good”
God can discern what is good. This means that if anyone can rightly inspect something for its full integrity and perfection it would be God.
[Illustration: much like an inspector…]
God can determine what is good. By determination it is meant that God can make things to be very good. God has the power to accomplish or create something that is perfect — lacking nothing.
Illustration: like someone making something out of clay...
Who is the Person that is making this determination? God is making this determination that all his creation is very good. This not only tells us what he can discern and determine but this also tells us something about his nature. Since God can make something that is perfect, lacking nothing, we must consider that God is perfect in his nature — since this goodness or this good-making ability proceeds from him.
God is good in his a statement about His nature. Listen to the words of Jesus in Matthew 19:17
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
God is good is also a statement about the goodness of God. The goodness of God is commonly referred to as an attribute of God. Wayne Grudem says,
“The goodness of God means that God is the final standard of good, and that all that God is and does is worthy of approval.” (Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 197). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.)
We should consider the original state of God’s creation
What was the state of everything that God created?
Everything that God created was perfect. The implication here is that there was nothing in it that was contrary to the nature of God. There was no sin.
Everything that God created was in harmony. When you see the phrase very good you also must consider the moral nature of that phrase. The moral nature of that phrase has two components: (1) all created things were in harmony with God and (2) all created things were in harmony with one another.
What is the state of everything now?
All creation is experiencing great pain. Romans 8:22 is a good reference to show us the state of creation currently.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
How did all things become as they are now?
God established a choice that included good and evil. Genesis 2:16-17
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
An imposter attempted to determine what was good. Genesis 3:5-6
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
We should consider that all material creation is good now
How should I consider created things now? I Timothy 4:1-3 is a passage where Paul is pointing out how false religious teachers teach asceticism. In other words, God’s material creation, though cursed under sin, is still good for the purpose of enjoyment.
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Quote. Grudem says, “Though the created order can be used in sinful or selfish ways and can turn our affections away from God, nonetheless we must not let the danger of the abuse of God’s creation keep us from a positive, thankful, joyful use of it for our own enjoyment and for the good of his kingdom. (Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 272). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.)
Applications:
Christian Application:
(1) Jesus Christ is the good One who came to be the Substitute for evil people. Psalm 14:1-3, Romans 3:10-12, 3:24-25.
(1) Jesus Christ is the good One who came to be the Substitute for evil people. Psalm 14:1-3, Romans 3:10-12, 3:24-25.
[ill: picture substitute]
(2) There are two extreme responses when we don’t rightly understand that God created all things and all his creation was very good.
(2) There are two extreme responses when we don’t rightly understand that God created all things and all his creation was very good.
(i) Ascetic practices which we trust help make us to have favor with God.
(ii) Abuse of God’s good creation because of selfishness or unbridled lusts.
(3) Point people to the exclusive goodness of Jesus.
(3) Point people to the exclusive goodness of Jesus.
Matthew 19 passage is a good story to do so.
Ill: Cartoon with boy carrying items
(4) Steward God’s creation well. Enjoy it in a way that leads you to praise Him.
(4) Steward God’s creation well. Enjoy it in a way that leads you to praise Him.