The Creation of the Universe

  

Text: Gen. 1:1-2; Ps. 33:6, 9; John 1:1-3; Hebrews 11:3

Memory Verses: Rev. 4:11   

Theme: We believe God created the universe out of nothing; it was originally very good and He created it for His glory.

Aims: I hope to deepen your convictions, fuel your worship, and enlarge your appreciation for God as Creator. I pray each of us will respond appropriately to Him as grateful and responsible creatures.

Relevance: It is in the context of creation that the Christian concept of service to God and worship of Him are best understood. By our very nature as creatures we owe all that we are and have to the good hands of the Creator. Failure to acknowledge this is ultimate ungratefulness (Rom. 1:21; Rev. 4:11; 1Chron. 29:14).—Norman Geisler

Introduction:

How did God create the world?  Did He create every different kind of plant and animal directly, or did he use some kind of evolutionary process, guiding the development of living things from the simplest to the most complex? And how quickly did God bring about creation? Was it all completed in six twenty-four-hour days, or did he use thousands or perhaps millions of years? How old is the earth and how old is the human race? These questions face us when we deal with the doctrine of creation.—Wayne Grudem

We define the doctrine of creation as follows: God created the entire universe out of nothing; it was originally very good; and he created it to glorify Himself.

Lesson:

I.                   God Created the Universe Out of Nothing—What and How did God Create?

A.     Consider the Biblical Evidence for Creation (Gen. 1:1; Ps. 33:6, 9; John 1:3; Acts 4:24; Heb. 11:3).

B.     Consider the Creation of the Spiritual Universe—this includes angelic creatures and the heavens themselves (Job. 38:4, 7;  Rev. 10:6; Acts 4:24; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 103:19-22; 148:2-5).

C.     Consider the Direct and Special Creation of Adam and Eve (Gen 2:7, 21-23; 1Cor. 11:8-9).

D.     Consider the Creation of Time (Gen. 1:1-5; Ex. 20:11; John 17:5).  “The study of physics tells us that matter and time and space must all occur together: if there is no matter, there can be no space or time either. Thus before God created the universe there was no time….”—Wayne Grudem

E.      Consider the Work of Christ and the Holy Spirit in Creation (1Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16; Job 33:4; 26:13).

II.                God’s Creation is Distinct from Himself, yet always Dependent upon Him—What is God’s relationship to His Creation?

A.     God is much Greater than Creation—Transcendent (Eph. 4:6).

B.     God is also very Involved with Creation—Immanent (Job 12:10; Acts 17:25, 28); Col.1:17; Heb. 1:3).

C.     “Christianity holds that God created out of nothing: God brought the universe into existence, and He sustains it in existence. Thus, he is in sovereign control of it. God is infinite, necessary and eternal; the creation is finite, contingent, and temporal. Hence there is a real and radical difference between the uncreated Creator and the created creation.”—Norman Geisler

III.             God Created the Universe to Show His Glory—Why did God create?

A.     All of Creation is Intended to Glorify God (Isa. 43:7; Ps. 19:1-2; Rev. 4:11).

B.     Creation shows God’s great power and wisdom (Jer. 10:12, 16).

C.     Creation demonstrates the goodness of God (Gen.1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31).  God desired to share His goodness with His creatures. We should acknowledge His goodness and frequently give thanks for it in worship and praise.

D.     God created for His pleasure and not because He needed to (Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11).

IV.              God Declared the Universe He Created “Very Good”—Has Creation fulfilled its Purpose?

A.     God Delighted in His Creation as He Purposed to do (Gen. 1:31; 1Tim. 4:4, 5).

B.     God Encourages Believers to Enjoy His Creation, but to live for Eternity (1Tim. 6:17-19)

Conclusion:

How should you respond to God as your Creator? Can you worship, praise, and thank Him with deeper conviction?