TOPIC 04 OF 47
Creation
The world is God’s good creation, entrusted to our care.
THE MAIN TRUTH
At the beginning of time, God created heaven and earth with all creatures.
Watch this topic
Infographic
Explore the biblical teaching of creation in this visual overview. Select the image to open it at full size.
The teaching
From the book · pages 10–12
At the beginning of time, God created heaven and earth with all creatures. He did this in the six days described in Genesis 1. God the Father spoke his almighty Word, through whom he created all things in the life-giving breath of his Spirit. He made everything out of nothing. God made man and woman as the crowning glory of his creation to represent him as his image-bearers.
The Creator God is distinct from and transcends his creation, while also being present everywhere within it. We live, move, and have our being in him. We reject atheistic evolution and any religious view that sees God as part of or identical with the universe. Science can describe the created world but cannot explain how God created it. God created the physical, material world good. And he created human beings as inspirited bodies—a union of spirit and physical body.
Mankind was made to experience perfect harmony and peace with God, with one another, and with the entire creation. God created all things to display his goodness and glory.
Scripture foundations
All Scripture excerpts from this topic are presented below in the book’s order. Ellipses and bracketed explanations follow the manuscript. Select a reference to read the surrounding passage in the EHV.
Reading these passages together
These passages confess God as the source of all life and distinguish the Creator from his creation. They also give human beings a place of responsibility within the world he calls good.
13 Scripture excerpt groups
SCRIPTURE 01
Genesis 1:1-3 ↗
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was undeveloped and empty. Darkness covered the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
Book page 11
SCRIPTURE 02
Psalm 33:6,9 ↗
“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made. By the breath [‘Spirit’] of his mouth he made the whole army of stars . . . For he said, ‘Let it be,’ and it was! He gave a command, and there it stood.”
Book page 11
SCRIPTURE 03
John 1:1-4 ↗
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him everything was made . . . In him was life. . .”
Book page 11
SCRIPTURE 04
Genesis 1:31 ↗
“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning—the sixth day.”
Book page 11
SCRIPTURE 05
Exodus 20:11 ↗
“. . . for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.”
Book page 11
SCRIPTURE 06
Isaiah 40:28 ↗
“The LORD is the eternal God. He is the Creator of the ends of the earth.”
Book page 11
SCRIPTURE 07
Psalm 90:2 ↗
“Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity you are God.”
Book page 12
SCRIPTURE 08
2 Chronicles 2:6 ↗
“But who is able to build a house for him? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain him.”
Book page 12
SCRIPTURE 09
Genesis 1:27 ↗
“God created the man in his own image. In the image of God he created him. Male and female he created them.”
Book page 12
SCRIPTURE 10
Genesis 2:7 ↗
“The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Book page 12
SCRIPTURE 11
Hebrews 11:3 ↗
“By faith we know that the universe was created by God’s word, so that what is seen did not come from visible things.”
Book page 12
SCRIPTURE 12
Acts 17:24-25, 28 ↗
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made with hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, since he himself gives all people life and breath and everything they have . . . ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’”
Book page 12
SCRIPTURE 13
Genesis 2:1-2; Psalm 19:1 ↗
“The heavens and the earth were finished . . . On the seventh day God . . . rested . . .” “The heavens tell about the glory of God. The expanse of the sky proclaims the work of his hands.”
Book page 12
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission, as noted in the manuscript.
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
45-Minute Study Guide: Creation
A printable study that weaves the doctrinal statement together with all of its supporting Scripture passages, plus opening discussion, application questions, and prayers.
Download the Complete Bible Study (PDF)PERSONAL REFLECTION OR GROUP DISCUSSION
Reflect and pray
How does creation as God’s gift change the way you view the material world?
What does bearing God’s image mean for our responsibility toward creation?
Where could gratitude for creation become a concrete act of care?
A prayer
Creator of heaven and earth, thank you for your good gifts. Teach us to receive them gratefully and care for what you have entrusted to us. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.