God, the Creator and. His Creation

Transcription

1 Date: October 1, 2017 God, the Creator and His Creation Introduction to the Service: This morning s service will be somewhat different than normal. If you are visiting, I want you to know that, whether you like what we do this morning or not. Just know it s different from normal, so you ll need to come back for more normal. And if you are a member or regular attender, whether you like it or not, it is just for today. We are working through a series I entitled Speaking the Truth in Love, meaning by that to speak the truth of the Gospel, indeed, of the whole counsel of God, which deals with a wide range of teaching from the Scriptures, including what we are to believe about God and what he had revealed to us in the Scriptures about himself and his creation and his ways, and also about his will for us and how we are to live. We are using the Westminster Confession of Faith as a guide, because it masterfully brings together a summary of a great deal of what the Scripture teaches. And my desire is to create in the congregation an appreciation for the rich treasure we have in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms because they DO such a great job of bringing together a well-rounded summary of Biblical teaching, a summary that has stood the test of time. This morning we deal with the doctrine of Creation. I am not going to delve into the length of the 6 days of creation. We may talk about that Tuesday night when we have some opportunity to follow-up this message. But this morning my purpose is to try to show how foundational our understanding of God as Creator and of his Creation is to all of life. So what is going to be different, and what I am going to try to do, is interweave our music with portions of the message, so that WHAT we sing corresponds in some measure with the focus of some part of the message. So here we go: We sing together our Call to Worship as we, like the Psalmist in Psalm 149 call all creation to worship our God and Creator. * HYMN # 64 All Creatures of Our God and King (stzs 1 & 5) * READING FROM GENESIS 1:1-2:3 * SONG Indescribable

2 07~The Creator and Creation, p 2 I. The Creation Was a Display of the Glory and Majesty of God The Westminster Confession summarized the Doctrine of Creation as follows WCF 4.1 It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good. The apostle Paul declared:... [God s] invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made... (Rom. 1:20 ESV) A. God displayed his eternal power in both the immensity of the universe, and in its intricacies. The heavens declare the glory of God, says the Psalmist in Psalm We marvel at what we see, whether we look at the immensity of the universe or explore its tinier building blocks Power, and also beauty... Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host... 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. B. God displayed his wisdom and knowledge and understanding Jeremiah 10:10 & 12 But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. C. The Creation also shows forth his goodness, says the Confession. But Harvey and Irma hardly seem to show the goodness of God. Tracking Irma, and seeing that track move slightly West a little each time was to me a fearful possibility. Were it to skirt the southern part of

3 07~The Creator and Creation, p 3 Florida and turned up in the Gulf, possibly charging northward over warm waters and approaching as a Category 5 hurricane, Category 6 if they had had such a Category, was not a welcome thought. There would have been good reason to flea that sort of oncoming threat. Where was the goodness of God there? But in some respect it WAS there, because the word good carries with it also a moral connotation good as over against evil. Exodus 33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name The LORD. And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. When the Lord DID declare his name, he proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty,... (Exodus 34:6-7) Although God s judgment upon sin is represented by other words, just as God s goodness is expressed differently in this same declaration, nevertheless, God s righteous judgment and wrath grow out of the fact that God is absolutely good as over against evil. II. The Creation now reflects the fact that because of Adam s Fall into sin all creation, as well as mankind, stands under a curse, and so it requires God s revelation which we now have in the Scriptures to interpret the world rightly. A. It still reflects the Glory and Majesty of God, his eternal power and wisdom and understanding and goodness B. But it also reflects his holy and righteous moral response to sin, which anticipates the final judgment So sickness and death and Harvey and Irma all serve as warnings of a greater judgment to come.

4 07~The Creator and Creation, p 4 III. The Fall created the need for Redemption, which was God s purpose. A. Redemption displays the Glory of God s Grace, which is nowhere seen more clearly that when God sends his Son forth to redeem us through the Cross. The Son of God lays aside his glory, glory he had shared with the Father through all eternity, humbles himself and takes a human nature, that he may live the perfectly righteous life we can not live, and that he take upon himself our sin and bear the guilt of it to the Cross, and suffer the outpouring of the Father s wrath due our sin, that all who take refuge in him by faith, may be forgiven and reconciled to God. Romans 8:18-25 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. B. Redemption ultimately leads toward the New Heaven and Earth where righteousness will dwell when Christ returns. Until then, we and all creation often groan as Paul says as we eagerly await that day with patience or endurance. * SONG Creation Sings the Father s Song Paul wrote: I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For

5 07~The Creator and Creation, p 5 his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. Redemption is about the restoration of WORSHIP. John Piper puts is something like this: Mission exists because worship doesn t, meaning because True Worship doesn t. The Gospel calls people to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and him alone, and to the WORSHIP of the True and Living God. Genesis reveals to us our Creator that we might love him with all our hearts Solo Hear, O Israel Prayer of Adoration The Fall, of which we have spoken, created a Gospel Urgency... And we who have come to know Christ are called to remember that we Face a Task Unfinished, a task that would be hopeless were it not that we serve the Creator Paul spoke of the Ministry of the Gospel, saying: Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

6 07~The Creator and Creation, p 6... even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 4:1 ESV) * HYMN Facing a Task Unfinished OFFERTORY PRAYER, MUSIC, & OFFERING Hand Out the October Bible Reading Plan I again want to urge you to use it, but if you receive one and don t use it, pass it on to someone else... Dismissal of the Children (ages 3 thru 5 th grade at parents discretion) The Eroded Foundation and Current Issues In our country we are watching the effects of the erosion of our foundation, the belief in and dependence upon the God who created the universe, and his revelation given us in the Scriptures. The doctrine of Creation is foundational to life. One has but to look at many of the current issues before us in our nation to realize just how crucial this doctrine is. So what I want to do in the time remaining is merely to point to the foundational nature of the doctrine of Creation for life. We are seeing Romans 1:18-32 worked out before our eyes not entirely, thankfully but in a manner that may have devastating effects in our nation, unless God gracious uses it to awaken us and bring revival and reformation, for which we need to pray. Summarize or Read Romans 1:18-32

7 07~The Creator and Creation, p 7 IV. The Doctrine of Creation is foundational to Understanding the Dignity and Value of Human Life. A. The Value and Dignity of Human Life is bound up with an understanding that we are created in the image of God 1. The concept of the separation of church and state was never intended to purge God from the public square, from public life. In my opinion, the misuse of that concept has contributed to the gradual erosion of the foundation of our society, and that much of it has been done through our educational institutions, at virtually all levels. Much of it results from teaching macro evolution of man from lower animals, replacing the doctrine of Creation with a doctrine of naturalistic evolution, which makes man nothing more than a higher form of animal. So he begins to act more that way. 2. The reason things have moved so rapidly in recent years, casting aside values that have been held throughout the centuries, at least of much of Western civilization that has been under the influence of the Christian Faith, even when containing much error the reason things have moved rapidly is that the foundation had been sufficiently removed to allow a landslide. Think of pictures you have seen resulting from the storm surge from a hurricane. You see the earth being eroded underneath houses or buildings to the point that suddenly the building comes crashing down. That is what has been happening, I think. 3. Without the concept of Creation, and dependence upon the Creator, society is blindly groping as in the dark for moral direction, and it has no way to stop liberty from becoming the warrant for all types of evil. 4. Years ago Francis Schaeffer predicted the slide we are witnessing with widespread abortion and the movement toward euthanasia a. The issue behind abortion is the value of human life. It is not when that life is regarded as viable. From the point of conception it is human life...

8 07~The Creator and Creation, p 8 b. On the other end of life is the issue of euthanasia, so-called. It too allows the disregard for the protection and care of human life. The treatment of the elderly and those impacted by Alzheimer s or other things that rob them of functionality. There certainly are difficult ethical issues involved at times, but without the doctrine of Creation, the value of human life is at stake. c. There are certainly another issue human trafficking d. Capital Punishment e. Suicide, especially of those who walk in, shoot a bunch of people, and then commit suicide might that not be a result of not teaching the eternal nature and destiny of man? B. Marriage and Family 1. Creation is foundational to the definition of Marriage a. Genesis 1 & 2 makes it clear that Marriage is to be between one man and one woman b. That addresses the issue of same-sex marriages... See Romans 1, although that is not all that Romans 1 addresses c. Genesis 1 also addresses the Transgender issue. We are not defined by sex or sexual desire. We are defined by being created in the image of God. 2. But Creation also addresses the difference between men and women and roles within marriage a. It does not identify all the things a man or a woman should do But it does distinguish roles in some measure Marriage is to represent the relationship of Christ and his Church

9 07~The Creator and Creation, p 9 Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the Church Wives are to respect and encourage their husband s leadership b. The fact that marriage is to represent the relationship of Christ to his Church also speaks to Sexual ethics intimacy is for marriage, and Christians are to realize that forbids fornication and adultery, and also divorce Both the OT and NT represent idolatry as adultery, because the God s people are to be faithful to him alone HYMN # 535 A Prayer for our Homes A Christian Home 3. The Creation and command to multiply also lays the foundation for parent/child relationships... And the Fatherhood of God is important with respect to discipline of children Hebrews 12 and Proverbs But our nation has largely lost that concept in their attempt to deal with the issue of self-image, and define that unbiblically... C. Race Relations 1. The doctrine of Creation is foundational for this issue there is but one race: the human race. We are descended from one man and woman. And we are all created in the image of God. There is diversity within that human race, but not such that should create hostility between those diversities It is not that black lives matter, or white lives matter, or law enforcement lives matter, or whatever. It is that human lives matter. 2. We are a part of a new redeemed humanity in Christ, and we are to develop and nurture our unity.

10 07~The Creator and Creation, p There are complexities in these matters that require a great deal of wisdom to address, that go far beyond me. But we of all people must be committed to the truth that we are all created in God s image, and a part of one human race, and if believers, a part of one new redeemed humanity. D. In all of that, it is important that we realize that although we are in the image of God still, yet that image has been horrible morally corrupted and deformed, and that we must labor to grow more and more into the likeness of our Father and of Jesus Christ the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. We ll deal with that more in weeks ahead. But it has great implications for how we relate to one another at any level of life. * SONG All Around the World V. One Final Area The Cultural Mandate A. When God created man in his image, he commissioned him to have dominion over the world and to subdue it 1. This has often been called The Cultural Mandate, because it is be basis for all legitimate Vocations 2. Had the Fall not taken place, the way man would have lived for the glory of God would have included worship, certainly, but would have included living a righteous life, caring for the creation, developing the resources God put within the world, and specializing so that men and women would have loved one another in part by serving one another in different vocations. Given different talents and abilities, they would have gravitated to different vocations in the service of the Lord and of one another. 3. Work is honorable, and although affected by the Fall, so that we struggle with the curse resulting from Adam s sin, is nevertheless still to be done unto the Lord. And you who are young people, should seek to develop a godly perspective on work, and on your own calling what has God gifted you to do? How can you serve him, largely by serving others?

11 07~The Creator and Creation, p 11 Although making a living is a reality, your main ambition should not be just making money, and your vocation or job should not be just to serve yourself and selfish desires. B. We anticipate a New Heaven and New Earth where God will dwell with his people, and where righteousness and love will characterize all of life all the time. But what will it be like? I think it will be like the earth would have been and developed had the Fall not occurred.... * Song Before You I Kneel (A Worker s Prayer) * The Benediction