A.In Part 1, we examined the facts of creation given in Genesis and what those facts teach us about God.
B.In Part 2, let us consider the problems that arise when men neglect, alter, compromise, or deny the creation account of the Bible.
1.Some who claim to be Christians have decided for themselves that the creation account of the Bible does not matter.They believe that Christians need only to believe in Jesus.We will see that these beliefs are incompatible, for one cannot believe in Jesus without believing in creation.
2.Consider this warning for those who reject God’s explanation of creation – "Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker an earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’?” (Isa. 45:9)
II.THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION MATTER
A.Of all the various details of the Bible creation account, it is the timeframe of six days that is most often challenged.This is because of the erroneous teachings of the theory of evolution.
1.The theory (not fact) of evolution requires that millions of years passed for life to evolve on earth.Obviously, this conflicts with the Bible account of six days of creation.
2.Nothing in the Scriptures creates doubt regarding the six days of creation.It is only the theories and so-called wisdom of men that cause Bible believers to doubt the six days.
B.Alternative explanations for the six days of creation have been offered, but all of them must be rejected because of their incompatibility and conflict with the Scriptures.
1.One such explanation is called the "gap theory.”
a.This theory suggests that there was a great catastrophe after God created the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1:1.This catastrophe allegedly occurred during a gap of time in the account that corresponds to Genesis 1:2.Following this gap of time, the theory suggests that God reshaped the world according to Genesis 1:3-31.
b.This gap of time is supposed to account for the millions of years that allegedly would be required to form many of the rock formations seen in geology.
i.Of course, this assumes that millions of years are required for these formations.Such assumptions are based on other unproven theories and erroneous dating techniques devised by men.
ii.In truth, natural events such as the eruption at Mount St. Helens (May 18, 1980) have proven that geological formations that appear to be very old may actually have been created in mere hours.It is also possible that God created the earth with the appearance of age.
c.There is no room in the Genesis account for such a gap of time, and there is no evidence in Scripture of this gap.It is purely the speculation of men and is therefore to be rejected.
2.Another explanation interprets the term "day” to mean an undetermined span of time.This explanation considers the Genesis account of creation to be merely a symbolic allegory.
a.This explanation is mistakenly based on the flexible use of the word "day” in the Bible.
i.The word "day” in Scripture can describe an era (Judg. 21:25; John 8:56), and it can describe the part of the day in which the sun shines (John 11:9).Of course, the word "day” most often describes a twenty-four hour period.
ii.The meaning of the word "day” is determined by the context of the passage where it is used.In Genesis 1, a day is a twenty-four hour period (see below).
b.Some have attempted to justify this explanation by citing 2Peter 3:8, which says, "…with the Lord one day is like a thousand years…”
i.This verse also says that with the Lord "a thousand years [is] like one day.”The point of the passage is that God does not mind waiting for many years to judge the world.This point has no bearing on the creation account of Genesis.
ii.Even if one day in Genesis 1 represented one thousand years, there would still only be six thousand years in the creation account.This is far less than the millions of years required by the theory of evolution.
iii.Notice that no one attempts to interpret days as thousands or millions of years in any other passages of Scripture.It is only applied Genesis 1 in order to compromise the Bible’s creation account with the theory of evolution.
c.None of this reasoning about days is acceptable, for Genesis 1 clearly defines a day as the period of time marked by evening and morning.In every instance of Scripture where a day is associated with morning and evening, it refers to a literal twenty-four hour day.
d.Understand that there are figurative passages of Scripture, but they are found in parables and prophecies.Genesis 1 is neither a parable nor a prophecy, and its days are literal.
C.Rather than compromising the faith, accepting six days of creation is vital to the faith of every Christian.
1.If the Scripture’s account of creation can be reinterpreted to suit the wisdom of man, then any part of Scripture can likewise be reinterpreted.Notice 2Peter 1:20-21 – "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
2.Let us understand that this is not simply a matter of six days.It is a matter of Scriptural authority.
III.IF GOD DID NOT CREATE THE WORLD EXACTLY AS SCRIPTURE SAYS
A.If God did not create the world by His word, then the its inhabitants will not fear Him or be awed by Him.
1.Notice Psalm 33:6-9 – "By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses.Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.”
2.It is on the basis of God’s creation through His spoken word that the inhabitants of the earth fear Him and stand in awe of Him.Evolution does not inspire such fear and awe.
B.If God is not the Creator of the world as described in Scripture, then there is no reason to remember Him.
1.Notice Ecclesiastes 12:1 – "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth…”
2.This passage might have described God in many ways, but the Holy Spirit chose to emphasize Him as the Creator.Because God is our Creator, we also know that He is our Judge, and that inspires us to remember Him, fear Him, and keep His commandments (Eccl. 12:13-14).
C.If God did not create the world and does not sustain it by His power, then those who patiently wait on Him will not gain strength from Him.
1.In Isaiah 40:21-31, it is God’s role in creation that gives evidence of His great power and is the basis of our hope and trust in Him.Notice especially verse 28 – "Do you not know?Have you not heard?The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.His understanding is inscrutable.”
2.If God is not the maker, possessor, and sustainer of the whole earth (Ps. 104:24-30), then our reliance upon Him is vain.
D.If God did not create the world as the Scripture states, then Jesus was mistaken and is not the Christ.
1.Jesus believed in the creation account of Genesis, for He said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female…” (Matt. 19:4).
2.Of course, Jesus was there when all things were created, and in fact He was the Word through which the creation was made and is now sustained (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1-3).
3.In this way, the issue of creation is connected directly to Christ.To deny the creation account of the Bible is to deny the Creator, who is Jesus Christ (see Matt. 10:33).
E.If God did not create the world in the way Scripture describes, then our faith is in vain.
1.Notice Hebrews 11:3 – "By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”
2.Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17).If the word of God is wrong about creation, then it is likely wrong about many things, and our faith is based on a lie.
F.If the world does not exist because of the will of God, then God is not worthy to receive glory and honor and power.
1.Notice Revelation 4:11 – "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
2.To deny God’s account of creation is to deny His rightful place of glory, honor, and power.No compromised message of man’s wisdom will ever properly exalt God as He should be.
IV.CONCLUSION
A.Those who desire to cling to the wisdom and respect of men will reject, deny, or compromise the truth about creation."Do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled” (1Pet. 3:14).
B.Those who trust in the Lord will trust in His word, beginning with the very first verse of the Bible.
