Author: Robin Fish
Note: Creation Moments exists to provide Biblically sound materials to the Church in the area of Bible and science relationships. This Bible study may be reproduced for group use.
The question of origins is the question of where we came from, which ultimately must decide how we live and from where we draw our values and our sense of meaning and purpose in life. If we understand ourselves as being rooted in divine creation, we will accept the divine norms as our own. Our purpose will be derived from God, and our value, or meaning, will be that which the Creator has placed upon us. If we accept the notion of evolution, we must recognize that the only norms which may make any claim upon us are our own, our sense of purpose must be founded in ourselves, our own desires and ambitions, and our value is purely subjective, no more than we are valued as productive or desirable. The question of origins is, therefore, more than just one of science-fact, but one of crucial importance to how we view, and live life. This study will examine the Scriptural answer to the origin of life. Scripture claims God as the origin of life.
1. Every Bible student knows this simple fact: God created life. The simple and clear statements of Genesis, chapter 1, tell us this. But is there an origin of life?
Day three of the creation week was the origin of life of which kind? Is there an uninterrupted progression from type of life to type of life?
Was day five an origin of life? What sort of life?
What about day six? Is this an origin? For what type (or types) of life?
Do you see a relationship between this and 1 Corinthians 15:39?
2. Now that we have established the Scriptural view that life did not have an origin, but several separate origins, what is the Scriptural view of the originating principle, force, or party for life?
The simple clarity of the Genesis account should leave no doubt with regard to this question. But the debate on origins intends to question the account. Did Genesis mean to report fact or fable?
Was this an account of Creation or a myth about meaning?
What the questions seek to uncover (for the skeptic) is: Did the author of Genesis know what he was saying or does later Scripture clarify this understanding into something else? Let us look and see.
3. In order to discover what Scripture has to say on the topic we check with a concordance. We look under words like “create,” “found,” “make,” and so forth. Look up Psalm 24:2. What does this say about creation? Who is responsible?
Check Psalm 89:11-12. Does it agree or disagree?
What is God cited as doing in Psalm 104:8? These have little to do with life, per se. But they have their point in this study.
Now read Isaiah 45:18. How does this tie the creation of the world, and of modern geography, with life?
4. Now look at Isaiah 45:12. Here the prophet asserts the fact that God created man. Other passages which assert a similar idea are Genesis 5:1, Deuteronomy 4:22, Isaiah 43:1, and Malachi 2:10 – just to name a few.
Turn to Psalm 104:24-30. What is God described as having created? What else does He do?
What power does v. 29-30 ascribe to God?
Discuss: does this strengthen the understanding presented in Genesis or does it weaken it or change it?
5. Some Biblical ideas are understood by the inference of the text. Job chapters 38-41 are Scriptures from which one may validly draw creationist inferences. Quickly read these chapters. How many different life forms does God speak about as Creator?
Notice how the creation of the world is always part of the understanding of the creation of life. Could you suggest a reason for this (hint: remember Isaiah 45:18 above)?
6. Finally, look at Zechariah 12:1. Here the prophet expresses an understanding of origins. What is it? Is it any different than the one in Genesis?
This is also the beginning of the reason why we even bother with the debate. God not only has created plant and animal life, birds, fish, and human life but spiritual life. God has founded this too. The foundation is mentioned briefly in Proverbs 10:25. What do you think Solomon was referring to?
7. Now read Isaiah 28:16-17. This should sound familiar, it is quoted in the New Testament. Who does this passage refer to as the founder? Who is the foundation?
Notice, too, that he who believes shall not be disturbed, but the one who does not is discussed in the last half of verse 17 and following. Here we have the gospel in the Old Testament just as clearly as in the New.
To fill out your understanding of the image, turn to Ephesians 2:20-22. This is also life which God has created, new life, eternal life in Jesus Christ.
8. This is where the central importance of the understanding of creation comes in. Without the Scriptural understanding of Genesis, how can we have the Biblical, gospel understanding of Isaiah 28, or Ephesians 2?
The same God created both, or all types of life. One may debate the creationist understanding of Genesis, but not without surrendering the plain sense of other Scriptures as well, including those which reveal the gospel to us!
Close this study with a reading of Psalm 139. Don’t skip over verses 19-22, but discuss how we can understand these words in the light of this study (for example) and still remembering to love our enemies as Christ commands us. Pray for steadfastness in the understanding and confession of the truth of God’s Word.
Footnotes:
1985 Bible Science Newsletter.
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