1Sa 3:1 “ … And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; …”

INTRODUCTION:

Is our existence simply an accident with no real purpose, design or meaning behind it?  Or are we created beings designed to fulfill a specific purpose?  If we are created beings, then who created us?  The answers we get will differ based upon who is asked these questions.

If we go to the world of science to try to find answers to these questions, we find much debate.  The majority of scientists are slow to say that we have been created.  Among those who say we are created beings, they differ as to the identity of our creator.

Sadly, if we go to the world of religion, we still find a great deal of debate about these things.  Among many theologians we find unity of opinion that we are created beings.  However, widely ranging opinions exist when they are asked to specifically identify the creator.

We may have a tendency to say, “The answers to these questions lie in the very distant past.  The only real issue of importance for us is the fact that we exist.   Why, or how, we have come into existence is really a very insignificant subject.” The Bible not only identifies our Creator, but it also explains to us why, for all mankind, this is a very important subject that we all must have clarified in our minds.   In this lesson, we will be focusing on the Word of God’s teachings concerning our creation.  We will be finding answers to the question “Who has created us?” and also “Why is this issue so important for us to understand?”.

SCRIPTURES:

Isa 45:18

(KJV) For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

(ESV) For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Acts 17:27-29

(KJV) That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:  (28)  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  (29)  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

(ESV) (27) that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,  (28) for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ (29) Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.

1Co 8:5-6

(KJV) For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)  (6)  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

(ESV)  (5) For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— (6) yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Isa 45:8-10

(KJV)  … I the LORD have created it.  (9)  Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?  (10)  Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

(ESV) …I the LORD have created it.  (9) “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?  (10) Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’ or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’”

THE STUDY:

To begin our study let’s turn to Isa 45:18….

“For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.”

In answer to our question, Is our world, and everything in it, the result of a creative act?” the Bible proclaims a resounding “YES!”  First, we are told that our world was ….

1. Created – to create, feed, develop
2. Formed – to mold, to fashion, to shape
3. Made – to make, to accomplish, to dress, to keep
4. Established – to fix, to secure, to support

Based upon the Word, we can clearly, undoubtedly see that we are living on a world that was created.

Also please note we are told the purpose of this world’s creation.  The globe was created for the purpose of being inhabited by mankind.  He had us in His mind as He was bringing into existence, forming, shaping, and upholding this world. Our world was the result of a meaningful creation process with a specific purpose in mind… to be a habitation for mankind!

Finally, let’s notice that our text clearly tells us the identity of our Creator.  It was Jehovah, the “LORD”. He alone, as the Creator, has made the world in which we live. This creative act of Jehovah, is one of the ways that He is set apart from all the other “gods” of this world (Acts 17:22-29).

Not only is Jehovah the Creator of the world in which we live, the Bible is equally as clear that He is our Creator as well.  This is clearly seen in Acts 17:27-29….

“That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:  (28)  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  (29)  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.”

Peter, in his message on Mars Hill, plainly declares that it is in our Creator, our God, our Lord, Jehovah, that we find our existence and our life…. “in him (God) we live, move and have our being” (vs 28).  This great Creator is not far from man, but is accessible, through His grace and the work of His Son, that allows us to have access to Him (vs 27).

Once again, Peter then reminds us that His Creatorship is one way, of many, that He is set apart from all the gods of this world (vs 29).   This principle is emphasized in 1 Cor 8:5-6…

For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)  (6)  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Here, we find Paul, writing to the church at Corinth (a center for idol worship in the NT era) reminding the church that the creatorship of God sets Him apart from all others.  But interestingly, he does not stop there.  Paul then proceeds to explain that Christ, as the second person of the Godhead, should also be attributed with the creation of this world (John 1:1-4, 14; Col 1:13-17).  By implication He, too, should be set apart from all other false gods as our Creator and the Creator of the world in which we live.  He is truly Jehovah God, come to the earth that He created, to save members of His creation from the ravages of sin (John 1:10-14).

Being our Creator, God possess authority over us. We see this principle in Isaiah 45:8-10…

…I the LORD have created it.  (9)  Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?  (10)  Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

We are His creation, He has the authority to make us as He pleases and use us as He pleases. It also implies His authority to reveal His desires for our lives and our need to be in submission to those desires.  There is no room for questioning His wisdom or His judgment or His desires   for the lives of men (Rom 9:14-26).

THE APPLICATION:

Why is God’s Word precious to us?  It reveals clearly that we are a creation of our Almighty Lord.  It explains to us that, as the creation of Jehovah, we have the privilege of serving the one true God over all.  As our Creator, He has a purpose for our lives, He has a plan that is to be fulfilled and has revealed His desires for us in His Word.

This is reason why knowledge of our creation is so important for our daily lives. We are not simply the result of chance or a random occurrence taking place as a natural act.  We are the Creation of our Lord, brought into existence through a miraculous act of His Sovereign power. Our creation explains to us that we have a purpose behind our existence.  It clearly shows to us that we have a responsibility to serve our Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, for we are under His authority.

As we come to a greater understanding of His Creatorship, we also come an understanding of the need for submission to His desires for our lives…

Rev 4:10-11  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,    Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

For a free copy of the Teacher/Student Handbook for this series pdf version: please go to: http://settledinheaven.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/tpw-1-teacherstudentmanual.pdf

For a free copy of the Teacher/Student Handbook for this series doc version: please go to:  http://settledinheaven.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/tpw-1-teacherstudentmanual1.docx

Settled In Heaven Ministries Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com