Creation and the Gospel

John 1:3
“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

What does the Bible’s teaching on creation have to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Are these just two separate and unrelated biblical teachings? Christians often ask us, “Shouldn’t we just worry about the basics? Why worry about a teaching like creation?” Indeed, we should be concerned with basics.

But what happens to Christ’s work of salvation if creation is not true? If evolution is true, then death came into the world long before the first humans and their sin. If death is not a result of sin, why did Christ have to receive the penalty of sin – death on a cross? So in challenging human origins, evolution challenges the origin of sin and its effect on humanity. And in challenging this, evolution challenges the very reason Christ came to Earth! He becomes just a misguided being on the wrong planet! The Bible tells us that all Scripture was given to make us wise unto salvation. That includes Genesis. The first chapter of John’s Gospel tells us that all things were created through the Word – the Word who became flesh.

We see that Word in action in Genesis 1 when we read, “And God said…” That Word who made us and everything is the very same Word who came and purchased our salvation.

So Genesis, beginning with the first chapter, is actually the beginning of God’s revelation to us of the Person and work of the Son of God – our Savior, Jesus Christ. If we reject God’s revelation about our Savior in Genesis 1, we have only part of a Savior – and only part of Christ is no Christ at all!

Prayer:
Lord, many in our world today attack You by denying Your work of creation, hoping through that to deny Your wonderful saving work for sinful mankind. This even happens in the Church. Give Your people eyes to clearly see the truth and not be led into error and left with a powerless word of man in place of the Gospel. Amen.

Notes:
Painting: Pietro Perugino’s depiction of the crucifixion, 1482.

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