Lesson 4

God Created and Cares for His World

What is a Creed? A statement telling what we

believe or trust

The Three Main Christian Creeds

1. Apostles:

2. Nicene:

3. Athanasian:

Written to give a brief summary of main Bible teachings

Written to defend the teaching that Jesus is God

Written to defend the teaching of the Triune God

Genesis 1-2 1:1 In the beginning God created

the heavens and the earth. 1:3 And God said, “Let there be

light,” and there was light. 1:31 And God saw all that he had

made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

God created all things From nothing By his almighty Word In six normal days All things were “very good”

What is evolution? The hypothesis that all things all things

came into being by chance, came into being by chance, developing (evolving) from developing (evolving) from lower to higher forms.lower to higher forms.

Creation and Evolution Compared

Creation Evolution

Time 6 days 4-6 billion years

Method God’s Word and decree

Chance or accident

Man A special creature

A higher animal

Man’s purpose

To glorify God

No special purpose

Man’s responsibility

To God Only to himself

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the

universe was formed at God’s command so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his own

image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

God gave mankind special blessings

1. The image of God (holiness, sinlessness)

2. Authority and rule over other creatures

Genesis 2:18-25 The LORD God said, “It is not good

for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” … For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

God gave mankind special blessings

1. The image of God (holiness, sinlessness)

2. Authority and rule over other creatures

3. Marriage, home, family

Gen. 2:15-17 Revelation 4:11

Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

God gave mankind special blessings

1. The image of God (holiness, sinlessness)

2. Authority and rule over other creatures

3. Marriage, home, family4. The opportunity to serve and

obey him

Matthew 5:45 Psalm 145:15 He [your Father in

heaven] causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.

God’s Care for His World (God’s ProvidenceGod’s Providence)

1. God gives all his creatures what they need for life

John 6:1-15 When Jesus looked up and saw a

large crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” … Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

God’s Care for His World (God’s ProvidenceGod’s Providence)

1. God gives all his creatures what they need for life

By miracles when he wants

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 For even when we were with you, we

gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.

God’s Care for His World (God’s ProvidenceGod’s Providence)

1. God gives all his creatures what they need for life

By miracles when he wants Normally by natural means

Daniel 6 So the king gave the order, and

they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. … “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.”

God’s care for his world (God’s ProvidenceGod’s Providence)

2. He gives special care to his believers

Through his good angels (messengers)

Genesis 50:20 Romans 8:28 “You intended to

harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God’s care for his world (God’s ProvidenceGod’s Providence)

2. He gives special care to his believers

Through his good angels (messengers)

He makes all things work out for our good