Creation

God created the universe and all things in it in six days (Gen. 1,2; Ex. 20:11). The things that are now physically visible were made out of things unseen (Heb. 11:3); in other words, out of nothing. God did not create the world out of necessity but of His own free and sovereign will and for His pleasure (Rev. 4:11). Both darkness and light were created by God (Isa. 45:7; Gen. 1:3) – both are physical, the former an absence of the latter. God created space and time (Ps. 90:2 – ‘or ever thou hadst formed {Heb. Chul- to rotate, spin} the earth and the world’). God created the universe for Jesus Christ, who is the heir of all things (Col. 1:16-18; Eph. 1:10).

Notes from Outline of Theology
Origin of Creation
1. The Six Days of Creation (Gen. 1, 2; Exo. 20:11)
False Views: Gap Theory, Progressive Creationism, & Theistic Evolutionism- None of them have support from traditional hermeneutical history nor explicit Biblical support (except recourse to jumble of words and out-of-context interpretations) nor authoritative support from scientific discoveries or theories.
2. Creatio ex nihilo – Creation out of nothing (Heb. 11:3). The world, therefore, is basically nothing in itself and by itself.
3. Free Creation – God didn’t create the world out of necessity, but of His own free and sovereign will.
4. Creation of Darkness – Darkness is not co-eternal with God and, therefore, a created reality (Isa. 45:7).
5. Creation of Space-time- God is not contained by space, neither does He move in time; space and time are physical dimensions (conditions) of material objects and are part of creation. It is, therefore, false to conceptualize a temporal God. Creation of Time (Psa. 90:2 – ‘or ever thou hadst formed {Hb. Chul- to rotate, spin} the earth and the world’).
6. Creation of Life- biological (flora and fauna). Unconscious and world-conscious creation.
7. Creation of Humans- rational, moral, volitional, spiritual. Self-conscious and God-conscious.

Nature of Creation
1. Spatio-Temporality: Linear Time; Space & Time are physical dimensions.
2. Contingency: Dependent on God
3. Plurality
4. Finitude
5. Uniformity: The Laws Of Nature
6. Open – the universe is not a closed system but open, and so miracles are possible.

Purpose of Creation (Three Views)
1. Anthropo-centricity – Man is at the center of creation and all is for him, the view of humanism.
2. Eco-centricity – Life (flora & fauna) is at the center of creation and eco-balance is necessary for sustenance of earth as habitat of life.
3. Christo-centricity – Christ is the center of creation and all is by Him, through Him, and for Him (Col. 1:16), ‘that in all things He might have  the pre-eminence’ (Col. 1:18), to bring all things under the headship of Christ (Eph. 1:10).

Man’s Relation to Creation
1. Man is to have dominion over the earth (Gen. 1:26; Psa. 115:16).
2. Man is steward of God’s creation (Gen. 2:5,15).
3. After Fall, nature turned hostile to man (Gen. 3:18).
4. Man was to rule by fear and violence; the age of innocence had ceased (Gen. 9:2-3).

Non-biblical  Relations
1. Pantheism – Man is equal to all creation.
2. Asceticism – Physical world is man’s enemy.
3. Utilitarianism – Man exploits nature.

Divine Providence – The doctrine that God has not only created the world but also sustains it.
1. God is the reason behind the uniformity of the laws of nature (Job 38).
2. God rules over the world and controls its processes by wisdom and power (Job. 38:41; 39; Exo. 3:20; Job. 9:10; Psa. 77:14).