Lord's Day 4
Devotion
It is not socially acceptable today to say you believe that God created the universe, to claim that you accept the Genesis account of creation as true. Most would say the notion is archaic, mythical, and anti-intellectual.
Even within the church there is a wide variety of teachings on what is actually meant by “day” in the creation account of Genesis 1. Some assert that God created the world in six twenty-four hour days, others that the universe is millions of years old, necessitating that the events of Gen 1 took much longer. Still, others consider the creation story as a theological work rather than an actual account of creation.
It should be noted that the Hebrew word for day (yom) always stands for a twenty-four hour day when preceded by numbers, as is the case in Gen. 1. Moreover, God’s pattern of work and rest could hardly serve as an example for our own if God took longer than a week to complete his work. These are but two reasons why the church has and continues to teach a literal six day creation.
Most importantly, the Doctrine of Creation teaches us something about the God whom we worship. Primarily, creation teaches us that God exists, and that we cannot explain the universe without Him. Secondly, we learn that God is sovereign. God has created everything, and therefore has ultimate power over everything. Nothing is out of God’s hands, nothing beyond His control, nothing that God cannot redeem.
We also find in this doctrine something about ourselves. Scripture teaches that we were created in the image of God, something that is never said about any else in creation. Being created in God’s image, we are set apart, and are given the privilege of understanding God’s revelation, to have fellowship with God, and to reflect God’s attributes. This is the foundation for our human dignity, our self-worth. We were created special, in God’s image.
Prayer
Almighty and Sovereign God, we thank you for your good work of creation, and for the blessing of being created in your image. By your grace may we live to reflect your image in a way that brings you honor and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Question 9
Q. 9. What is the work of creation?
A. The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.
Scripture Proofs
Gen. 1:1;
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Ps. 33:6;
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
Ps. 33:9;
For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
Heb 11:3;
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Gen. 1:31.
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Question 10
Q. 10. How did God create man?
A. God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.
Scripture Proofs
Gen 1:27;
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Col. 3:10;
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Eph. 4:24;
and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Gen 1:28;
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Ps. 8;
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!