BASIC CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE (ENGLISH) // Module 4 // Creation and Fall //

 

Module 4 : Creation and Fall

I.                    THE CREATION

1.      Scriptural proof of creation

2.      Through the word of God (Amos 4:13; Isaiah 40:26,28)

3.      Creation is the act of the Triune God

4.      Creation is a free act of God (Ephesians 1:11)

5.      Temporal Act of God (The word tempore means with time) Matthew 19:4,8.

6.      Out of nothing God brought forth

7.      Final end of God’s creation. End with happiness of man

II.                 WHY DID GOD CREATED MAN?

A.     MAN IS THE CROWN OF THE CREATION

God does not need us or the rest of creation for anything, yet we and the rest of creation glorify him and bring him joy. Since there was perfect love and fellowship among members of the Trinity for all eternity (John 17:5, 24), God did not create us because he was lonely or because he needed fellowship with other persons—God did not need us for any reason. Nevertheless, God created us for his own glory. In our treatment of his independence we noted that God speaks of his sons and daughters from the ends of the earth as those “whom I created for my glory” (Isa. 43:7; cf. Eph. 1:11–12). Therefore, we are to “do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

 

B.     WHAT IS OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE?

Our purpose must be to fulfil the reason that God created us: to glorify him. When we are speaking with respect to God himself, that is a good summary of our purpose. But when we think of our own interests, we make the happy discovery that we are to enjoy God and take delight in him and in our relationship to him. Jesus says, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). David tells God, “In your presence there is fullness of joy, in your right hand are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16:11). He longs to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, “to behold the beauty of the LORD” (Ps. 27:4), and Asaph cries out, Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. (Ps. 73:25–26)

As we glorify God and enjoy him, Scripture tells us that he rejoices in us. We read, “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (Isa. 62:5), and Zephaniah prophesies that the Lord “will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival” (Zeph. 3:17–18).

C.  

  THE MEANING OF “IMAGE OF GOD.

 Out of all the creatures God made, only one creature, man, is said to be made “in the image of God.” What does that mean? We may use the following definition: The fact that man is in the image of God means that man is like God and represents God.  (Genesis 1:27)God created man in his own image. . .” This scriptural passage does not mean that God is in human form, but rather, that humans are in the image of God in their moral, spiritual, and intellectual nature.

III.               DEFINITION OF SIN

Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.

A.     THE ORIGIN OF SIN

Where did sin come from? How did it come into the universe?

 First, we must clearly affirm that God himself did not sin, and God is not to be blamed for sin. It was man who sinned, and it was angels who sinned, and in both cases they did so by willful, voluntary choice. To blame God for sin would be blasphemy against the character of God. “His work is perfect; for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he” (Deut. 32:4). Abraham asks with truth and force in his words, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:25). And Elihu rightly says, “Far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong” (Job 34:10). In fact, it is impossible for God even to desire to do wrong: “God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one” (James 1:13).

1.      Inherited Guilt: We Are Counted Guilty Because of Adam’s Sin.

2.      Inherited Corruption: We Have a Sinful Nature Because of Adam’s Sin.

A.     In Our Natures We Totally Lack Spiritual Good Before God.

B.     In Our Actions We Are Totally Unable to Do Spiritual Good Before God

IV.               THE NATURE OF MAN

When God created Adam, He first formed the body from the moist dust of the ground. Then He breathed into him the breath of life6 and he became a living being.”7 The Bible speaks later of the material body, an immaterial soul, and an immaterial spirit. Those who emphasize these three categories are called trichotomists.

Others take the statements of 2 Corinthians 4 and 5 to indicate there are basically two categories, the body and the inner person. Those who emphasize this dual aspect, material and immaterial, without giving special consideration to the distinction between soul and spirit, are called dichotomists.

V.                 CONSEQUENCES OF THE FALL OF MAN:

1.    

  Separation from God: The most significant consequence of the Fall of Man was the separation between humanity and God. Adam and Eve’s disobedience led to a broken relationship with their Creator.

2.      Sin entered the world: Prior to the Fall, there was no sin in the world. However, Adam and Eve’s disobedience introduced sin into the world, affecting all of humanity.

3.      Physical death: One of the consequences of the Fall was the introduction of physical death. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were meant to live forever, but sin brought death into the world.

4.      Pain and suffering: Along with physical death, the Fall also introduced pain and suffering into the world. This includes emotional, physical, and spiritual suffering.

5.      Broken relationships: The Fall not only affected humanity’s relationship with God, but also relationships between individuals. Sudden jealousy, anger, and betrayal became common.

6.      Curse on creation: As a result of the Fall, the earth itself was cursed. Thorns and thistles began to grow, making work more difficult and less productive.

7.      Need for redemption: The Fall of Man highlighted the need for a Saviour to redeem humanity from sin. Jesus Christ came to earth to die for our sins and reconcile us with God.

Overall, the consequences of the Fall of Man had a profound impact on humanity and the world as a whole, ultimately pointing to the need for salvation through Jesus Christ.