Paragraph one of both creeds summarizes the monotheism (belief in one God) that is carried over from the Old Testament. This is a clear rejection of the ancient pagan idea that there are many gods. Genesis 1, the creation narrative in the Bible, is actually an attack on ancient polytheism, or belief in many gods. Genesis teaches that God spoke into existence the very aspects of nature that the pagans believed were divine. There are other spiritual beings (i.e. angels) who were created by God but there is only one God. God is the only eternal being. Every thing else, visible and invisible, was created by him.
The Bible teaches us that God was motivated by love when He created the world. The word used to describe the Holy Ghost “hovering” or “moving” over the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2 is a word that elsewhere describes a mother bird hovering over her young. This contrasts with ancient pagan notions that the world was created by angry, warring deities and the modern notion that the creation of the world was a random occurrence, without meaning or purpose.
Our view of life is defined by our view of the origin of the world. If we think the world was created by forces that are hostile to us, we will live with a certain fear, not being able to trust that things will work out for our good. If we think the world is merely the product of random occurrences, then we will be uncertain about the present and future. But if we believe the world was created and is sustained by a loving, all powerful God, we can trust that He intends things to work out for our good.
The Bible also teaches that the creation is “good” (Genesis 1:10, 12, 31). The problems in the creation result from man’s decision to disobey God (Genesis 3). Sin causes man to take the good things God made and use them for evil. This contrasts with the teaching of some religions that physical bodies and physical things are inherently bad. Some religions teach that to be saved we have to be freed from the physical creation.
The Bible teaches us that the Son of God became a part of the creation and that the creation itself will be saved (Romans 8:21)
Write a comment: