Sabbath: The Creation
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Psalm 100:1-3, Genesis 1:1-2:25, Exodus 20:8-11, Exodus 40:33, Matthew 25:14-30, Matthew 19:7-9.
Memory Text: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, NKJV).
The book of Genesis and, hence, the whole Bible begins with God’s acts of Creation. This fact is very important because it means that our creation marks the beginning of human and biblical history. This truth also implies that the Genesis Creation story has the same historical veracity as other events of human and biblical history.
The two Creation texts in Genesis 1:1-2:25 contain lessons about God and humanity. As we study this week, we will understand better the profound meaning of the seventh-day Sabbath. We will ponder God’s act of creating humans in His image, and out of the dust too. We will be intrigued about the purpose of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and about its connection with the tree of life.
The most important lesson of the biblical stories of the beginnings is a lesson on grace. Our existence is purely an act of grace. God created the heavens and the earth while humans were not yet present. Just as our creation was, our redemption is, too, a gift from God. And how profound it is that both concepts, creation and redemption, exist in the seventh-day Sabbath commandment.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, April 2.
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It is interesting to note that both those that believe in a supernatural creation and those who believe in an entirely mechanical creation face the same question, "Why?"
Maurice – Yes, therefore the ‘Why’ question is the most important question to be asked by people endowed with a thinking mind who sincerely endeavor to understand this question’s gravity and the implications contained in its answer.
I believe the Creator sent His Son at the end of this world's ages to present the intelligently developing mind the awareness of the vital, spiritual connection to the heart.
In my opinion, the heart is were the two paradigms can converge. No matter if man/women believes one or the other model of the beginning of matter and mankind, he can decide to be/become a good fellow citizen or not.
It appears the difference is in who teaches man's conscience right from wrong. One considers to be responsible for actions only in the now -situation ethics; the other's conscience answers to a higher, spiritual power basing life's choices in light of eternity; one could be motivated by 'expedient altruism', the other by the Creator having imparted His Truth to become the awareness for the motivation to love Him and therefore to desire to love ones fellow man.
I do not think that true, selfless love can be lived outside of acknowledging the Creator who’s kingdom domain man is offered to live in according to His Will and Purpose.
Why ?
For an inherintance in Sonship !
Ephesians chapter 1
Blessings 🙏
Just to add...
The creation is a womb were Sons of God are perfected.
Romans 8:20-30
Shalom 🙏
Larry - I appreciate the metaphore you used to express truth related to matter and spirit. Thank you for providing the Scripture passage to direct us to consider this setting of a womb in which the mortal creature's spiritual identity develops during his/her lifetime here on earth. We have one chance to get this right; this is why life is soooo precious.
I guess that's my answer (above) to WHY from the first group !
The second group have no answer to WHY !
While today's lesson proposes that "the most important lesson of the biblical stories of the beginnings is a lesson on grace", I would propose that it is instead a lesson/window into the broader concept of beneficence - other-focussed loving. Beneficence is both (a) the core of who God is and what He is about (1 John 4:8) and (b) the core principle underpinning all true life and living - living to give (Philippians 2:3-8; 1 Corinthians 13:13). Grace is one aspect that flows from beneficence.
In the beginning, God - the omni-beneficent One - as an expression of His beneficence created the heavens and the earth - investing them with the same core nature of beneficent operation... and all was, indeed, very good.
Welcome back Phil, you were missed.
Glad to have you back!
Thank you for your kind words Leilani and Heather. It is appreciated.
As you point out, the creation is an expression of God's character: Love. When I was in school, I took a course on the origins of the Hebrew religion. The professor reviewed the creation stories of the Egyptians, the Babylonians and other middle eastern civilizations.
The stories all have similar story lines, but the reasons for Hebrew God's creation of mankind are very different from the others—it is all about love. Whereas, the other versions were variations of the violent or cooperative self-interests between the gods and man, God's version is radically different—it is God's Love making a beautiful home for mankind in time and space for the sole purpose of a loving relationship with him and with each other.
Maurice, I agree. Excellent question
Don Bunker
The wonder of creation