The Doctrine Of Creation: Ex Nihilo Series

- One last way to organize the information in Genesis is to divide the book into what Moses calls generations or in Hebrew תוֹלְד֧וֹת. There are ten generations, so to speak. The first is found in 2:4 where Moses says “These are the generations of the heavens and the earth...” From there you read similar statements throughout the book: “These are the generations of Adam, Noah, etc.” As I said, we are going to use a combination of these methods, so just try to keep some of these things in mind as we study.

- Now, there is much more that could be introduced here, but I think that will provide for us an adequate foundation as we seek to understand Genesis. So let’s look at Genesis chapter 1 as we start our look at antediluvian (pre-flood) history. As you know, this chapter informs us of the doctrine of Creation. Today we will look at vv.1-5, as these verses will jump start our discussion.

[READ GENESIS 1:1-5]

- Our goal today is going to be to present an overview of the different biblical views of Creation. Before we get into the day by day description of what happened during the Creation week, we need to decide what framework we are going to use to understand what we read. And we’re going to start with this fundamental principle:

GOD IS THE CREATOR OF EVERYTHING...FROM NOTHING

- No matter how we decide to view this chapter, we must admit that it clearly teaches us that God made this entire universe, and that he did so without using anything. The theological term is ex nihilo which is Latin for “out of nothing”. Before this physical universe existed, nothing physical existed. And once God, in his sovereign power, decided to create a physical universe, the universe came into being. That is the meaning of the simple phrase: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

- This does not refer to the beginning of God, because God has no beginning. This probably doesn’t even refer to the creation of the spiritual world – angels, and eventually Satan, and his demons. Because when we move into chapter 3 Satan is already there. He is an assumed foe. The Bible here clearly speaks of everything we see around us on this earth, and everything we’ve discovered in this universe as being created by the hand and power of God.

- And Scripture repeats this point in various places. In Job 38:4-7 God, speaking to Job says: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Here we see a picture of the angels in heaven, who had already been created, singing for joy as they saw the physical creation of God.

- In the familiar words of John 1:1-3, the gospel writer says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. This speaks of Jesus Christ being the Creator of all things. In fact, these verses would include angelic and demonic beings – the spiritual realm – because it says without him was not any thing made that was made. So not just the heavens and the earth, but everything except God himself owes its existence to him.