22. Creation: Not All Religions Are the Same

Episode Summary

The Bible’s description of creation and the later New Testament commentary on it suggests that God created time, which began when God created. This reminds us of God's lordship over time and our obligation to use it for His glory.

The whole Triune God participated in creation: God the Father was the primary agent in initiating the act of creation, while Jesus, the Son, carried out the creative act, and the Holy Spirit gave life to creation.

The Bible claims that God is transcendent, distinct from and independent of creation, yet creation is always dependent upon Him. God being present in and supporting creation, but not being part of creation or the sum of creation.

There are several views of creation found in other world religions, which are incompatible with what Scripture teaches. Pantheism, which says the whole universe is God or part of God, is also different from the scriptural account of God in relation to His creation, and it has problems such as God having no distinct personality and being constantly changing. Deism, which suggests God created the universe but is not directly involved in it, is also ruled out by the Bible as it contradicts the scriptural account of God's intimate involvement in the universe.

God created for his own glory, and that this is a good thing because God is the source of all that is good in the universe.