THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF CREATION

A STUDY BY GARY RAY BRANSCOME Lesson 4

    Although God’s creation of the world in six days is an objective event which took place at a specific point in time, it has a spiritual significance that transcends the actual event. That significance stems from the fact that God’s act of creating us determined who we are, as well as our relationship to Him. In other words, the Biblical account of creation not only tells us why we are accountable to God, but also that God did not create the sin in our nature, and that sin entered the world only through man’s disobedience. It is also significant to know that all men are descended from the same parents, that all of the good things of the earth were created for our enjoyment, and that marriage was intended to be a life long union between one man and one woman. By giving us that information, the Biblical record of creation lays the groundwork for both law and gospel.

THE LAW OF GOD

    Since God created us, we are under His authority and will be judged by His exacting standard (Psalm 100:3, Matthew 5:48). Thus, His law is founded on the fact that He created us. However, the law that He created us to keep is a reflection of His own nature, not an arbitrary set of rules. In other words, He designed us to do what He would do if He were in the same situation. Adam was a son of God, not simply because God created him, but also because God imparted a certain aspect of His own nature to him (Luke 3:38, Genesis 1:27). In saying this, I am not saying that God imparted divinity to Adam. Adam was human, not divine. What I am saying is that God imparted His righteous nature to Adam. Consequently, Adam and Eve were not created with sinful urges and desires, but instead were created in God's own image. In short, their very nature was designed to be a reflection (image) of God's nature — pure and free from sin (Genesis 1:27,31, Matthew 15:19, Ephesians 4:24, James 4:1, Philippians 3:21, Romans 3:23). Therefore, when Adam sinned he not only broke fellowship with God, he also ceased to be a son of God. Sin changed his nature, and that altered nature has been passed on to all of his descendants (Genesis 5:3). As a result, our nature now reflects the rebellious image of Satan rather than the sinless image of God, and we can only regain the divine image (and be born anew as God’s children) through the forgiveness that is ours in Christ Jesus (Genesis 5:3, John 8:44, Jeremiah 17:9, James 4:1, Romans 5:12-21, 1 Peter 1:23, James 1:18, John 1:11&13). [Note: Satan could not get the best of Christ, because, unlike Adam, Christ not only had God's righteous nature but also His divine nature.]

THE ORIGIN OF LIFE

    Our view of life, the conclusions that we draw in regard to life, and ultimately the worth that we ascribe to our own life, will be determined to a great degree by our understanding of the origin of life. If we see ourselves as mere matter formed by chance, then we will tend to view our life as somewhat meaningless, and human life in general as no more valuable than the matter of which it consists. However, once we understand that we are God's special creation, our life takes on a new meaning. The fact that God, “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” gives purpose to our existence (John 3:16).

    Since God gave us life, He has every right to expect our devotion and obedience (Jeremiah 18:1-6). In fact, giving our worship to a false god would be like kicking our father out of the house while claiming that something we made is our real father. Such behavior would not only be depraved, it would be insane! Yet, without the Biblical record of creation, such foolishness can seem perfectly reasonable to the sin-darkened mind of man. Therefore, you can see that the First Commandment, “Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me,” is founded on the Genesis account of creation.

    Likewise, the fact that God has given us life gives obligates us to respect His name and use it respectfully. Such respect is nothing more than kindness and common decency, and it is only reasonable for God to expect it (Romans 12:1). Therefore, like the first commandment, the second commandment is founded on the Genesis account of creation.

    When it comes to keeping the Sabbath day, the Bible makes it clear that the seventh day was set apart because God ceased from the work of creation on that day (Genesis 2:2,3, Exodus 20:9-11). Moreover, our identification of that day with worship emphasizes the fact that we worship the God who created all things in six days.

    Just as God gave us life and provides for our needs, His plan for our individual entry into the world included parents who were intended to act in His stead, not only by giving us life but also by providing for our needs. Therefore, the respect that we owe to our parents stems from the fact that they are doing the will of God in regard to His command, “be fruitful and multiply,” and have been His instruments in giving us life and caring for our needs (Exodus 20:12).

    In regard to murder, because God has given us life, those who commit murder are attempting to override His authority. Also, since man was originally created in God’s image, murder is rooted in the satanic desire to destroy God. God’s law calls for capital punishment as an act of divine judgment (Isaiah 14:12-14, Genesis 9:6, Exodus 20:13, John 8:44).

    This also applies to the rest of the commandments. Adultery is an attack on God’s institution of marriage. Theft is an attempt to deprive a person of that which God has given him. False witness is of the devil, and was used by the devil to lead man into sin.

    However, evolution leads to the opposite conclusion. If evolution were true, man would no more be bound by rules of morality than are dogs or horses. If evolution were true, taking a person's life would be no worse than stepping on an ant, clipping a fingernail, or breaking an icicle. If evolution were true, we would have no reason to honor God, respect His name, or do His will.

    Worse still, those who claim that God used evolution are slandering Him by portraying Him (rather than Satan) as the one who brought pain, suffering, and death (the survival of the fittest) into the world. At the same time, by directing their worship to the author of pain and suffering, those who claim that God used evolution are in effect directing their worship to Satan. Therefore, I see theistic evolution as a form of idolatry.

    Going further, if we believe that God used lust and the urge to kill to produce man, then it would follow logically that lust and homicidal rage are godly and wholesome. It also would follow that any commandment forbidding the gratification of lust and homicidal rage would be a satanic interference with God's plan for advancing evolution. Therefore, the murder of unborn babies, the handicapped, and the elderly as well as the legalization of pornography, adultery, and homosexuality follow logically once theistic evolution is accepted as a basic premise. For that reason, I find it very difficult to regard those who teach theistic evolution as brothers in Christ.

THE ORIGIN OF MARRIAGE

    The knowledge that God created Adam from the dust of the ground and afterward created Eve from one of his ribs is essential to a responsible attitude toward sex, marriage, and family relationships (Genesis 2:21-24). It is also basic to a healthy society and a godly culture.

    The record that God has given us makes it clear that God intended for men and women to fulfill different roles in society (Genesis 2:18). He expects men to bear the burden of leadership and the responsibility for making many of the decisions. Nevertheless, that fact does not mean that women are inferior, any more than the fact that I cannot vote in Congress makes me inferior to those who do (Galatians 3:28). In fact, the desire on the part of some to belittle women is rooted in sin, not in God's assignment of roles (Galatians 5:19:21). Moreover, a wise leader never simply imposes his will upon others, but instead works to elicit willing cooperation on the part of those he is trying to lead (Ecclesiastes 10:12).

    Everyone has a different role to fill in life. Bakers, butchers, shoemakers, bricklayers, plumbers, and electricians all have a different role. Furthermore, just as all of those roles work together to make the world a better place, God expects a man and wife to work together as a team. On one hand, He expects the husband to lead the house and bear the primary responsibility for providing for the family's needs. On the other hand, He expects the wife to play a key role in caring for the family and training the children. Both roles are important! In fact, because women play such an important role in preparing the next generation of leaders and homemakers, how well the wives and mothers of today do that job will determine the future history of the entire nation. Therefore, Christian women have no reason to feel inferior, but instead should feel honored by the role that God has entrusted to them. They should realize that those who demean that role have a distorted view of reality.

    The Biblical view is neatly summed up by the old saying. Woman was not taken from man's head that she should rule over him, Nor was she taken from his heel that she should be trodden underfoot. Instead, she was taken from man's side, that she should be held close to a man's heart, cherished by him, and be a helpmate to him (Genesis 2:18-24, Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:18-21, Ephesians 5:22-31).

[For further reading on this topic I recommend the books, “The Way Home” and “All The Way Home,” by Mary Pride, “Domestic Tranquility” by F. Carolyn Graglia, and the books, “Earthly Images of the Heavenly Bride (Women and the Church),” and “He Her Honour and She His Glory” by Vernon Grieger.]

CHRISTIAN CULTURE

    The truth of man’s origin is not only basic to much that we believe, but also to an entire way of life that has (over the centuries) grown out of a desire to live and think in a way that is consistent with God’s Word.

    Because an artist who regards the beauty of creation as God’s handiwork will seek to produce a work of beauty, Christian art differs from much of the art in the world. In so saying, I am aware that many Renaissance artists sought to emulate the art of pagan Greece and Rome. Nevertheless, the art that is distinctively Christian tends to lift up that which is high, wholesome, pure, and praiseworthy; while pagan art is often demonic or pornographic (Philippians 4:8). Likewise, the musician who strives for beauty and seeks to honor God will produce tunes that are beautiful, and lyrics that are wholesome and uplifting rather than sensual.

    Since Christian scholars view creation as the product of intelligent design, they have historically sought to understand the divine principles that govern creation. In fact, Sir Isaac Newton felt that he was simply, “thinking God's thoughts after Him.” In contrast, the Australian Aborigines viewed themselves as a part of nature, and so tended to drift with nature rather than applying their minds to subdue it. Moreover, because evolution leads to the same belief that the Aborigines held (the belief that men are just a part of nature), it has an anti-scientific bent that is not often recognized. That bent is behind much of the “environmentalist” anti-progressive thinking, glorification of primitive lifestyles, and revival of witchcraft that we see in the world.

    Because Darwinian evolution emphasizes the survival of the fittest, it can easily lead to the might-makes-right philosophy of the communist party. In contrast, the Biblical account of man's origin leads logically to the conclusion that every man is entitled to the fruit of his labor, and that any attempt to rob him of the fruit of his labor is wrong (Genesis 3:19).

    In the same way, a Biblical knowledge of creation leads us to view marriage as a divine ordinance, while realizing that clothing should be designed to avoid stirring up lust. In contrast, evolution leads men to see marriage as a superficial social convention, while seeing nothing wrong with clothing that is designed to allure and entice.

CONCLUSION

    Because so many of the decisions that we make relate to our view of origins, the Biblical record of creation is basic not only to our view of God and morality, but also to our relations with other people. It not only determines weather we regard others as mere matter or as living souls created by God, but makes it clear that we are all accountable to God for our choices. In short, creation leaves no room for those who wish to blame their behavior on society or the environment. We are all accountable to God.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What does the Biblical account of creation tell us?
2. What is the Law of God founded upon?
3. The Law of God is a reflection of what?
4. What is determined to a great degree by our understanding of the origin of life?
5. What does the fact that God gave us life obligate us to do?
6. Evolution leads to what conclusions?
7. Why might theistic evolution be viewed as a form of Satan worship?
8. What conclusions follow logically once one accepts theistic evolution as a basic premise?
9. The historical record of creation is basic to what?
10. What saying neatly sums up the Biblical viewpoint of the roles of men and women?