02.07. Creation

CREATION I. Theories of Creation Evolutionism, Deism, Dualism, Non-Dualism, Polytheism, Pantheism, Materialism, Panentheism.

II. Origin of Creation 1. The Six Days of Creation (Genesis 1:1-31, Genesis 2:1-25; Exodus 20:11)

False Views: Gap Theory, Progressive Creationism, & Theistic Evolutionism- None of them have support from traditional hermeneutical history nor explicit Biblical support (except recourse to jumble of words and out-of-conteChrist interpretations) nor authoritative support from scientific discoveries or theories.

2. Creatio ex nihilo – Creation out of nothing (Hebrews 11:3). The world, therefore, is basically nothing in itself and by itself.

3. Free Creation – God didn’t create the world out of necessity, but of His own free and sovereign will.

4. Creation of Darkness – Darkness is not co-eternal with God and, therefore, a created reality (Isaiah 45:7).

5. Creation of Space-time- God is not contained by space, neither does He move in time; space and time are physical dimensions (conditions) of material objects and are part of creation. It is, therefore, false to conceptualize a spatio-temporal God. Creation of Time (Psalms 90:2 – ’or ever thou hadst formed {Hb. Chul- to rotate, spin} the earth and the world’).

6. Creation of Life- biological (flora and fauna). Unconscious and world-conscious creation.

7. Creation of Humans- rational, moral, volitional, spiritual. Self-conscious and God-conscious.

III. Nature of Creation 1.Spatio-Temporality: Linear Time; Space & Time are physical dimensions.

2. Contingency: Dependent on God 3. Plurality

4. Finitude 5. Uniformity: The Laws Of Nature 6. Open – the universe is not a closed system but open, and so miracles are possible.

IV. Purpose of Creation (Three Views) 1. Anthropo-centricity – Man is at the center of creation and all is for him, the view of humanism.

2. Eco-centricity – Life (flora & fauna) is at the center of creation and eco-balance is necessary for sustenance of earth as habitat of life.

3. Christo-centricity – Christ is the center of creation and all is by Him, through Him, and for Him (Colossians 1:16), ’that in all things He might have the pre-eminence’ (Colossians 1:18), to bring all things under the headship of Christ (Ephesians 1:10).

V. Man’s Relation to Creation 1. Man is to have dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26; Psalms 115:16).

2. Man is steward of God’s creation (Genesis 2:5, Genesis 2:15).

3. After Fall, nature turned hostile to man (Genesis 3:18).

4. Man was to rule by fear and violence; the age of innocence had ceased (Genesis 9:2-3).

Non-biblical Relations 1. Pantheism – Man is equal to all creation.

2. Asceticism – Physical world is man’s enemy.

3. Utilitarianism – Man exploits nature.

VI. Divine Providence – The doctrine that God has not only created the world but also sustains it.

1. God is the reason behind the uniformity of the laws of nature (Job 38:1-41).

2. God rules over the world and controls its processes by wisdom and power (Job 38:41; Exodus 3:20; Job 9:10; Psalms 77:14).

VII. Problem of Evil – Theodicy – If God is both powerful and good then why is there evil in the world?

Non-dualism – Evil is an illusion.

Pantheism – Evil is part of the world.

Dualism – Good and Evil and two eternal forces.

Evolutionism – Evil is part of the struggle for existence. The Biblical Answer – Evil is the result of Adam’s disobedience, whereby sin and death entered the world, sicknesses and demonic forces ran rampant ravaging human lives. God’s answer is Christ by whom evil is conquered and the Kingdom of righteousness inaugurated. This is done through the atonement, whereby men are saved, and finalized at the second coming when salvation will be complete and justice fully dealt.