One of the great issues facing the Christian Church today has to
do with the arguments between creation and evolution. Ever since Charles
Darwin published his ideas in his book, On The Origin Of Species,
in 1859, the story of creation as recorded in the book of Genesis is being
challenged, even within the Church.
This controversy is more than a scientific problem and definitively
affects our understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Why is this so?
Because, according to the good news of salvation, when Christ comes the
second time to take the believers to heaven, the dead in Christ will be
raised instantly with perfect glorified bodies (see 1Corinthians 15:51,52).
This truth flies in the face of what evolution teaches. If it took millions
of years for man to develop to his present stage, then, obviously, it is
impossible for man to be raised from the dust with a perfect body in an
instant. Yet this is the clear teaching of the Bible.
While creation cannot be proven, neither has the scientific method demonstrated
evolution. It is still a theory or idea awaiting confirmation. Therefore,
both creation and evolution are today accepted by faith—the former
by faith in God’s Word and the latter by faith in the opinions of scientific
man.
In this study we will examine what the Bible says about the creation
of the world, especially of mankind. We must keep in mind that every heresy
that has crept into the Christian church is ultimately an attack on the
gospel of Jesus Christ. This includes the theory of evolution which denies
the creative power of God. Therefore, we will study the truth about creation
in the light of the gospel hope.
1. According to the Bible, who created our universe?
Genesis 1:1 __________________________________________________
2. How long did it take God to create the heaven and the earth?
Exodus 20:11 __________________________________________________
Note: Scripture clearly teaches that God created this world in
six days. He spoke and it happened. It is hard for our finite minds to understand
how God could speak and things come into existence, but the Bible declares
it so and we accept it by faith (read Genesis chapter one).
3. How did Paul distinguish the true and living God from the false
ones?
Acts 14:15 __________________________________________________
Note: All through the Bible, the true and living God is distinguished
from all false gods by the fact that He alone created all living things.
He only is the source of life. In contrast, evolution teaches that life
came into existence by chance.
4. According to David, what do the heavens declare?
Psalms 19:1 __________________________________________________
5. What evidence does Paul give that the invisible God does exist?
Romans 1:20 __________________________________________________
Note: While God may not be seen, one of the greatest proofs of
His existence is creation. To believe that this highly complex world of
ours came about by chance, as do the evolutionists, requires more faith
than belief in an all-powerful God who created our universe.
6. How does Paul describe those who change the glory of the incorruptible
God into man-made images?
Romans 1:21-23 __________________________________________________
Note: While those who turn their backs on God today no longer
worship graven images, they have created their own gods according to their
own foolish reasoning. Evolution is based on man’s ideas contrary to
what the Bible teaches. Therefore, the theory of evolution is a false, man-made
god.
7. According to the New Testament, who actually created our world?
John 1:1-3 __________________________________________________
Note: The Word is none other than Jesus Christ, who was made flesh
in order to redeem fallen mankind (see verse 14). While all three members
of the Godhead were involved in creation, it was Christ who spoke and brought
our world into existence.
8. For how much of creation is Christ responsible?
Colossians 1:16 __________________________________________________
Note: Not only is Christ the one by whom God created our universe,
but He is also our redeemer, intercessor, and, finally, will be our restorer.
If we deny His act of creation, how can we accept Him as our Saviour?
9. On what grounds do we Christians believe Christ created this world
without the use of pre-existing matter?
Hebrews 11:3 __________________________________________________
Note: Faith is taking God at His word, even though what He says
in Scripture disagrees with our experience, our rationale, or the scientific
method. Without this faith we cannot please God. In the Bible, Abraham is
the father of all true believers. His faith is set as an example of what
our faith must be (read Romans 4:16-22).
10. In order to have faith in God, what must we believe?
Hebrews 11:6 __________________________________________________
11. According to the following text, do you think Jesus believed in
the Genesis account of the creation of Adam and Eve?
Mark 10:6 __________________________________________________
Note: Reading through the four gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke,
and John — it becomes clear that Jesus understood the Genesis account
of creation as being a historical fact. Never once did He even hint or imply
that the human race was the result of millions of years of the evolutionary
process.
12. Through whom did sin and death enter the world?
Romans 5:12 __________________________________________________
Note: The one man who brought sin and death into this world was
Adam. Sin is not the leftovers of our animal nature, as the evolutionists
teach, but the result of the Fall. According to Scripture, mankind is not
getting better and better but is going from bad to worse. The history of
this world and today’s news media clearly reveals this Biblical fact.
13. Who are the two men, one responsible for death and the other for
the resurrection to life?
1 Corinthians 15:21,22 __________________________________________________
Note: Unlike the theory of evolution, the Bible teaches that Adam
was created perfect, in the image of God (see Genesis 1:26,27). But by the
Fall, Adam ruined the whole human race. If we deny this Biblical fact then
we have to deny the reverse, which is that God redeemed all men in one man,
Jesus Christ.
14. Who is used by Paul as a pattern or type of Adam?
Romans 5:14 __________________________________________________
Note: The one to come is none other than Jesus Christ. In an earlier study
(Lesson #1)
we discovered that God created
all men in one man (see Acts 17:26). That man was named Adam because the
name means mankind. Likewise, Christ is called the second or last Adam because
he represented all humanity in His work of redemption.
15. In what sense was Adam a type or pattern of Christ?
Romans 5:15 __________________________________________________
Note: The reason why Adam’s and Christ’s actions affected
“the many” (i.e., the human race) is because all of humanity was
in each of these two men — in Adam by creation and in Christ by the
incarnation.
16. How many stand condemned because of Adam’s sin, and how many
were justified to life by Christ’s obedience?
Romans 5:18 __________________________________________________
Note: It would be impossible for these two facts to have taken
place if the theory of evolution is correct. That is why anyone who denies
the truth about creation, as revealed in Scripture, must deny the truth
about the two Adams. Once that is done, the whole foundation of the gospel
message is destroyed.
17. What blessed hope did Job express in the face of death and being
eaten by worms?
Job 19:25-27 __________________________________________________
Note: This blessed hope of seeing our redeemer with our resurrected
physical bodies can only become a reality because of the creative power
of Christ. Deny this power and we have to deny the blessed hope.
18. What will Christ do to our sinful bodies when He comes again?
Philippians 3:20,21 __________________________________________________
19. How long will it take Christ to change our bodies from corruption
to incorruption?
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 __________________________________________________
Note: This wonderful change becomes impossible if the only power
God has is to create us through the process of evolution. Not only is it
necessary to believe in the six-day creation story to uphold the gospel
truth, but the blessed hope becomes impossible if we deny the creative power
of God.
20. What admonition does Paul give to believers who have lost a loved
one?
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ________________________________________________
Note: As Christians, we look at death as a sleep because we have
the hope of the resurrection. Therefore, when a believer dies, even though
it brings us grief, we do not have to mourn as the unbelievers do. The Christ
who created us is also the Christ who has redeemed us and conquered the
grave for us. Remember, dear friend, science has no solution for the death
problem, but Christ does!