I. Creation Demonstrates the Position of Man

Before examining what the doctrine of creation proves about God, consider what it proves about man.

A. Man Was Created in the Image of God, a Little Lower than the Angels.

The teaching of creation

Genesis 1:26,27 - Man was created by God in the likeness and image of God.

Psalm 8:3-5 - God made man a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor.

Failure to appreciate this leads to mistreatment of other people.

Genesis 9:5,6 - Murder of humans is forbidden, because humans were made in the image of God.
James 3:9,10 - Cursing man is wrong, because men were made in the likeness of God.
The reason is it wrong to mistreat another human is because they are in the image of God. They are just as important to God as we are. To mistreat them is to mistreat one who is like God.
This is why Jesus often said that how we treat other people is how we treat Him (Matt. 25:31-46).

Failure to understand this leads to practicing such evolutionary concepts as "survival of the fittest," so "might makes right." People believe if they are able to overpower others, then they have the right to do so: they are more "fit." Extreme manifestations of this were the holocaust and Communist massacres: eliminate those who are "unfit"!

When we understand the Bible doctrine of creation, we learn why it is wrong to mistreat other humans. We did not make them. They don't belong to us. They belong to God - the same God who made us and to whom we belong. In many ways they partake of His nature, so we must not mistreat them.

[Malachi 2:10; Job 31:13-15; Prov. 14:31; 17:5; 22:2]

B. Man Was Created to Have Authority over the Animals and the Earth.

The teaching of creation

Genesis 2:7 - Contrary to evolution, man was not made from the animals. We are fundamentally different from animals. We were made directly from the earth in the image of God.
Genesis 1:26,28 - God created man to have dominion over all other living things and to subdue the earth.

Psalm 8:6-8 - God made man to have dominion over the things God made. All livings things are under our feet (subject to us).

Psalm 115:14-16 - The God who made heaven and earth then gave the earth to man. That is, it is subject to our control to use for our purposes. God had the right to give us this control, because He made both us and the earth.

Failure to understand this leads to devaluing people and overvaluing animals and the earth.
Evolutionists, animal rights groups, the New Age Movement, and pagans all fail to see the proper dominion of man over animals and the earth.

Some view the earth as a living thing, a goddess named Gaia, so we must try to please it and take care of it. Some even worship the earth.

Others view killing animals as morally similar to killing people, so we should not eat meat or wear fur clothing, etc. An Internet student recently said his wife objects to his hunting, because she doesn't want him to kill animals. She wants to buy meat at the store!

Genesis 9:2-6 - Animals are given into our hand (control) and can be used for food. Animals were not made in God's image, but people were.

1 Timothy 4:3,4 - Some people forbid eating meats, but God created them to be received with thanksgiving.

Killing an animal is not the moral equivalent of killing a man. Why? Because of the doctrine of creation! Animals and the earth were made by God to be subject to our control. This does not justify cruelty or waste or other forms of poor stewardship, but it does justify using them for our good.

Failure to understand and believe the Bible doctrine of creation leads to failure to understand our own position in the universe. What could be more basic than that?!

The Bible Doctrine of Creation:How Essential Is It to the Faith of a Christian?

How important is the doctrine of creation to the Christian faith? May a believer accept theistic or organic evolution? Is the Genesis account of creation literal history and fact, or is it figurative myth and legend? May we believe the days of creation were long ages, or must we accept them as literal days? How does creation relate to the wisdom, power, Deity, and eternal nature of God? How fundamental is creation as evidence for the existence of the one true God and for the Bible as God's word?

Introduction:

Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The Bible clearly and repeatedly claims that God made the heavens and the earth and everything in nature.

Some doubt the significance of this doctrine to the faith of a Christian.

Some teach that the days of creation may be long ages of thousands or millions of years, or that such long ages may have occurred between the days of Genesis 1. In attempting to defend such folks, other people have said that we should tolerate such beliefs, because creation is not a fundamental doctrine anyway. Some see significance in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection and our baptism and imitation of Him. They say the creation account is not so essential, so it should not be viewed as fundamental to our faith.

The purpose of this study is to consider the significance and importance of the doctrine of Creation to Christianity.

Is it really essential to believe it? Why or why not?

We will see that understanding and accepting creation is fundamental to our faith that God exists and the Bible is His will.

These issues must be resolved before we even consider the significance of Jesus' death. If we do not believe in God and the Bible, why would we even consider believing in Jesus' sacrifice?
New Testament teachers sometimes dealt with idol worshippers, who did not believe in the true God. Before they ever discussed Jesus' death, they began by giving evidence that such folks should believe in God (Acts 14 & 17). This evidence included the doctrine of creation. Creation is definitely fundamental to a Christians' faith.

Any belief that undermines, belittles, or weakens the Bible doctrine of creation thereby undermines, belittles, or weakens faith in the existence and nature of God and the Bible as God's word.

This is true, not just of evolution, but of any view that weakens the doctrine of creation.
Consider the Bible evidence for the importance of the doctrine of creation to our faith in God and His word.