Believing the Truth: Creation

Hi, I’m David Feddes, and this talk is about creation.

The Statement of Faith of Christian Leaders College and Institute says:

• God created the universe from nothing and made all things very good.

• God governs all things in accordance with His perfect character and eternal plan for His glory and the good of His people.

So two main truths are being confessed:

1. Everything originated with God.

2. God is still involved with His creation, running it according to His wisdom, His will, and for His glory and our good.

God the Creator

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” That’s how the Bible begins. It then describes the six days of creation, ending with: “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.”

Exodus 20:11, in the Ten Commandments, also says: “In six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them.” Everything originated with God in that great six-day creation.

What Kind of Story Is Genesis?

When we read Genesis, we may ask: what kind of story is this?

Think of another question: Where do babies come from?

• To a little child, a parent may say, “Mommy and Daddy loved each other very much, and their love brought you into the world.” That answer may include simplified descriptions and figures of speech.

• To a biology professor, if you answered the same way on an exam, you would fail. The professor expects an answer about conception, zygotes, fallopian tubes, and the full biological process.

• A third kind of answer—“The stork brought the baby”—is simply a myth. It’s not true or helpful.

Now, back to Genesis. Genesis is not just a myth like the stork story. But it’s also not written to provide every scientific detail. It may use some figures of speech, and at other points it may be very straightforward and literal. Sometimes it’s hard to know which is which.

For myself, my rule of thumb is: when in doubt, I’ll err on the side of taking it too literally. But when dealing with fellow Christians who see more figurative meaning, I’ll err on the side of being charitable. We may differ on details, but we agree: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He brought it all from nothing, and it was very good. That is not a myth—it is absolute truth.

Creation Ex Nihilo

By faith, we understand “the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Hebrews 11:3).

This is the doctrine of creation ex nihilo—creation out of nothing. God did not need pre-existing material. He thought it, spoke it, and it happened. God is the origin of everything, and by faith we confess it. This doctrine is absolutely essential to the Christian faith.

God the Provider (Providence)

But creation is not the whole story. Deists believed in a supreme being who made everything, but then let it run on its own. That view is false.

God is not just the Creator who set things in motion. He still governs everything. “The Lord reigns.”

Jesus said: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. Even the hairs of your head are all numbered.”

God is not distant. He knows the smallest details—sparrows falling, hair thinning, galaxies spinning. He governs all for His glory and for the good of His people.

This is the doctrine of Providence. The word itself contains “provide.” God cares for all creatures, watches over them, provides for them, and works out His plan.

Romans 8:28 states: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Ephesians 1:11 says: “All things have been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”

That is providence—God reigns, God plans, God provides, God governs all things.

Conclusion

So, Christian Leaders College and Institute confesses both:

• The doctrine of Creation: God created the universe from nothing and made all things very good.

• The doctrine of Providence: God governs all things in accordance with His perfect character and eternal plan for His glory and the good of His people.