April 14, 2002

CREATION and THE GOSPEL

   There can be no question that the cross of Christ is the center and focus of the gospel of the grace of God. But we must give God credit for creation for it is vital to the gospel and stand uncompromising. Failure to do this will erode the whole message of the Bible.

   In Genesis we first read how God created heaven and earth and all that is in them, including the angelic hosts, in six days. But creation is mentioned by every New Testament writer is a fact often over-looked. "Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female..." (Mt. 19:4; Mk. 10:6). Luke gives the genealogy of Christ and ends with "Adam, which was the son of God" (Luke 3:38). John's gospel begins, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (1:1-3). Acts 17:24 tells of "God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth..."

   Paul wrote, "the invisible things of him (God) from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead," so men are without excuse (Rom. 1:20). Colossians 1:16 reads, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him."

   And James wrote of "men...made after the similitude of God" ( 3:9). Finally in the Revelation, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (4:11). An angel "sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein" (10:6), and "Fear God, and give glory to him...and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (14:7). Thank God for His almighty power creating everything and finally making us in His image!

Ivan L. Burgener