The answer to that question determines how the salvation seeker relates to the One Who has the power to award the seeker what he seeks or to withhold it. Incredibly, there are thousands, possibly tens of thousands of self-professing Christians who agree with Charles Darwin relative to the origin of mankind and everything else on earth. The question is, how does one handle Genesis chapter one in which we are told that God (the Word Who later came to earth as Jesus of Nazareth–Jn. 1:1-4,14) created everything in the universe, including man, and that everything He created was “very good.” But what He created as recorded in chapter one was not all He spoke into existence at that time. Following the first six days of creating “very good” things He created the day of rest, called the Sabbath. This day was so special to Him that blessed it, sanctified it and called it “My holy day” (Isa. 58:13). This day was so special that He COMMANDED His people to “REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY AND KEEP IT HOLY.” Jesus declared in Matthew 4:4 that His people would live by every Word of God. Nowhere in that Word did He change His holy day to another day, nor did He give anyone else the authority to do so. However, Pope Sylvester I made that change for the Catholic Church on May 7, 364 A.D. at the Council of Laodicea. Because the so-called “Protestants” (protesters) retained nearly all of Catholicism’s heathen beliefs and customs when they departed, the entirety of professing Christendom is, by Biblical definition, heathen. Having rejected God’s command to “Learn not the ways of the heathen” for “the ways of the wicked are an abomination unto Me” (Jer. 10:2/ Prov. 15:9), the Laodicean (final) era church is “… wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked” (Rev. 3:14-17 ). Pardon the side-step. Now back to the subject at hand–CREATION OR EVOLUTION?

In Genesis 1:1 the Bible explains the foundations of our existence: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The Word “God” in Hebrew is “Elohim,” meaning Gods (plural). There are two, not three, divine Gods: Yahweh and Adonai, also known as “God” “the Word” Who would later come to earth as Jesus of Nazareth. Read The God of the Old Testament. The Word “God” is used so as to simplify the narrative and make it easier to read. Genesis 1:1 presents God as the master planner of ALL THAT EXISTS. As we are told in Psalms 33:6-9 that God (the Word) spoke and the heavens, the seas, the earth and everything on it were created. The One Who became Jesus of Nazareth spoke and everything He said came into existence. I do not believe that He spoke over thousands of years and caused earth’s creations to evolve from tiny, shapeless forms into that which exists today.

Romans 1:19,20 gives us evidence of a divine Creator: “because what may be known of God is manifested in them (men), for God has shown it to them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they (men) are without excuse.” We have all the evidence we need of an intelligent Master Designer every time we look at the stars or observe other natural wonders of the earth. And yet, a large percentage of humanity believe that what exists today was the result of an explosion in the heavens. This is known as the Big Bang Theory. Darwin’s theory of a slow, methodical development of all that is meets man’s need to explain creation without benefit of a Creator.

God was directly involved in the creation of man as Genesis 1:27 tells us: “God created man in His own (physical) image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. We owe our existence to the personal activity of God Who made us not only in His physical image, but also in His mental and spiritual likeness so that we cannot only commune with Him, but so that we could also walk in the holiness in which He walks, Jesus being out example. We are told that we can have the same mind as the man Jesus and do the same works as did He, and even greater things (Jn. 14:12).

Yahweh (God) was not alone in the creation of all that is. In John 1:1-4,14 we are told that: “In the beginning was the Word (Adonai), and the Word was with God and the Word was (a) God. He (the Word) was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.” It was this God that spoke everything that exists naturally into existence.

John 1:14 explains exactly Who the Word was and what part He played, and still plays, in the man’s existence on earth to this day. God the eternal Word Who became incarnate as Jesus of Nazareth was a partner in the glorious creation of earth. Upon spiritually impregnating a young virgin named Mary, God became the Father of her offspring. On the day of Christ’s conception God declared: “You are My Son, this day I have begotten You” (Ps. 2:7). In the word “begotten” means conception, this proves that human life begins with conception. In John 1:14 we are told: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the begotten (Son) of the Father, full of grace and Truth.”

God the Word (family Spokesman) who came to earth as the incarnate Son Jesus of Nazareth was the God Who spoke the earth into existence and was co-equally involved in the creation of mankind. The Father’s begotten Son dwelled among other men as a co-equal man for 31 years. Everything He did while on earth He did through the power of the Holy Spirit–the same Holy Spirit available to true believers now. Through His death He made possible for man to have a personal relationship with Himself and the Father through Their Holy Spirit. Those who have such a relationship are co-equal heirs with Christ now and will be co-equal inheritors in the coming kingdom (Rom; 8:17). Their inheritance will include the governorship of the entire universe. Read God’s Very Elect: Future Caretakers of the Universe. Key word–Caretakers. Jesus died in order that we might live eternally with Him and the Father in the earthly Kingdom of God from whence we will have access to the entire universe. Read The Kingdom of God. Key word–Kingdom.

Perhaps the most convincing Bible verse relative to accepting the Godhead as man’s creator is Hebrews 11:3: “By faith we understand that the worlds were created by the Word of God. We know that things that are now seen were not made of material things,” but rather of Words voiced by the Word (Adonai/Jesus). He spoke and His Words became physical objects. To believe in God is to believe that He is the divine Creator of every wonder this world has to offer. To reject the evidences of creation is to reject the very Ones Who invite us to seek, find and join Them. L.J.