CREATION

Howard Taylor.

20 Q. Has the universe always existed or did it have a beginning?

A. Most scientists believe that the universe did begin with a big bang of light seemingly coming from nothing. Their theories may change but the universe gives a very clear indication that it is finite. The Bible tells us that 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth;... he said "Let there be light and there was light."'

21 Q. Would it be true to say that the Father created the world, the Son came to save it, and the Holy Spirit came to apply that salvation to us?

A. No, because Father, Son and Holy Spirit in unity both created the world and saved the world.

22. Q. How were Christ and the Holy Spirit involved in creation?

A. The Bible tells us that through Christ God created everything in heaven and on earth. God created the whole universe through him and for him. He is the foundation of the beauty and wonderful order of nature. He was the divine Word spoken by God  in creation. It was the Spirit of God who was the breath of God, breathing order and life into nature.

23.Q. What is the significance of this?

A. It means that all of nature is bound together in relationship with the being of God. God is not just a super-mechanic who makes the universe and then leaves it to run by itself. The universe is not just a very complex machine but in relationship with God has a real freedom. We now know that nature cannot be understood by merely breaking it down into isolated bits. The very smallest parts of nature exist only in relationship with one another and seem to be bound together in profound ways that go beyond space and time. This is a great  mystery  but  we  must acknowledge that we only live and move and have our being by the grace of God. Human beings are not meant to be just workers employed by God in his world, as if it were a super-factory. We can never earn God's favour as an employee earns wages.

24. Q. Does this mean that we have no responsibility?

A. No. We have the responsibility through the Holy Spirit to believe in God and trust him fully. A little child does nothing to earn or deserve its father's love and care which are freely given to it. But the child responds to its father's care in absolute faith and trust. It is on the basis of this that the father expects his little child to obey him. Our obedience comes from

our faith.

25. Q. What is the difference between humans and the other animals that God has created?

A. Humans and the animals both belong to nature. But humans are also above nature in that God has breathed into us his eternal Spirit. Humans can reason universally and abstractly. That is we not only think about this or that cat but we can wonder what it is like to be a cat. We can think universally. We can also think about things that don't exist like unicorns. We can think abstractly.This  abilility yo 'reason' means we belong to heaven as well as to earth. We are part of creation and yet are made in the image of God the creator.

26. Q. What does the Bible mean when it says we are made in the image of God?

A. God really has given us freedom, authority and responsibility. He has even given us a creative instinct to create and fill the earth with even more beauty in art, literature and music . He has given us a task to use our authority and freedom to explore and care for the world of nature and fill it with even more beauty. The purpose of pure science should be to explore the wonders of nature to the glory of God. The purpose of technology should be to apply our God-given abilities to harness nature for greater and greater good. All this can be accomplished only if we reflect the holiness, love and truth of God himself, acknowledging his authority over our lives. It surely is a wonderful thing to be human beings created to be God's children in Christ.

27. Q. Does our relationship with one another reflect anything of the being of God?

A. Yes, God did not create us merely as individuals. The most fundamental relationship of human society is the family. The apostle Paul speaks of the 'Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name'. Later we will see how the husband-wife relationship reflects God's relationship with his people. Family life is not just a human custom. It comes to us from the being of God.

REFERENCES

20.       Gen. 1:1-3; Is. 40:26, 41:20, 42:5,45:7,12,18; Rev. 4:11, 10:6; Col.1:15.

21.-23. John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15; Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; 33:4; Acts 17:24-28.

24.       Rom. 1:16; 4:5; Gen. 15:16; 26:5; Rom. 1:5.

25.       Ps. 49:12; Gen. 1:26-29; Ps. 8, 104:27-30.

26.       Gen. 1:26-31; Ps. 8:5; Heb. 1:3; Matt. 5:48; Lev. 11:44; Luke 6:36.

27.       Gen. 2:20-24; Eph. 3:14-15.