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-62-
The God Who Is
Creation
Christians are "People of the Book." They believe the Bible. What then does the Bible say about the origin of the heavens and of the earth? of the animals, and of man? "In the beginning God," or "Elohim"—"The Strong and Mighty One," "created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).
The Creator
All three persons in the Godhead were active in the work of creation. In I Corinthians chapter 8, Paul wrote in verse 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 in him." Note that all things are "of" the Father, yet "by" the Son.
John declares all things were made by the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us as the Lord Jesus Christ. "And without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3).
In Colossians chapter 1, note verse 16: having declared that the Lord Jesus Christ is "the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature;" He says "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: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist," or "hold together." Therefore, not only God the Father, but God the Son is spoken of as being involved in the work of creation.
In Hebrews chapter 1, we read, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" (verses 1,2).
Moses wrote, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 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" (Genesis 1:1,2). The Spirit of God was active in the work of creation. In Job we read, "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life" (Job 33:4). The Bible declares the Creator is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; yet, the Son was the principal agent in the work of creation.
THE ORGANIC WORD OF GOD
"By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast" (Psalm 33:6-9). Note that the Scripture says, "God said." Atomic scientists say there is a strange force in an atom that resembles the force that is produced when one speaks a word. The Bible says, "And God said."
THE DAYS OF CREATION
On the first day, God said, "Let there be light:" and there was light. He "divided the light from the darkness" and called the light "Day," and the darkness "Night." "And the evening and the morning were the first day" (Genesis 1:3-5). On the second day God created a "firmament," or "expanse" in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. He called the firmament `Heaven.' And the evening and the morning were the second day" (verses 6-8).
On the third day He caused dry land to appear, and gathered the waters together into Seas. Then He caused grass and trees to grow. This forms the first triad of the days of creation.
On days 4-6, God filled up the corresponding first 3 days of creation. On the fourth day he filled up the first day by creating the sun and the moon and the stars. Note, however, there was light before there was the sun or moon or stars to bear that light. On the fifth day, He filled up the second day. He put birds in the air and He put fish in the sea.
Then, on the 6th day, God filled up the third day, creating animals and man. On the seventh day, He rested.