Ps95:1-7 One Foundation: Creation

## One Foundation (1)
# Creation

<div class="ref">
[(Elbing Catechism)](https://archive.org/details/catechismorbrief00elbi)
[(Workbook)](https://archive.org/details/catechismworkboo00unse)
</div>

---

## Who is **God**? <small>*(theology)*</small>
## Who are **we**? <small>*(anthropology)*</small>
## How are we **saved**? <small>*(soteriology)*</small>

>>>
+ **audience**: Christians, believe Bible
+ want to know **clearly** <br/> the core of what we believe
+ no **shame** in this
  + even for long-time Christians!

---

# Commitment <br/> ⇒ Learning <br/> ⇒ Reorienting

>>>
+ made **commitment** to Christ, but now
  + grow in **learning** what that means
  + and **orienting** our lives around it
+ **wedding** only 1 day
  + **marriage** is for a lifetime

---

[Paul] **witnessed** to them <br/>
from morning till evening, <br/>
**explaining** about the kingdom of God

>>>
+ *"witness"* (ἐξετίθετο): **lay out** clearly
  + God's truth is center of bulls-eye
+ **sin** is all **else**: deviate from truth
+ often more **intrst** to learn **cults**
  + useful to keep us **grounded**:
  + What if I **relax** this tenet of faith?
  + How do (JW, Mormons, Muslims, Sikh, Hindu, etc.) **deviate**?
+ but an **infinitude** of falsehoods
  + only **one** truth
+ Hence why **creeds** can be handy:

---
<div class="imgbox"><div>
<div class="caption">
[Apostle's Creed](http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Apostles%27_Creed), ~700 and as early as 200
</div>
[![Apostle's Creed](static/img/Partrishow-Apostles_Creed.jpg)](http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Apostles%27_Creed)
</div><div>
<div class="caption">
[Nicene Creed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicene_Creed), 325
</div>
[![Nicene Creed](static/img/Nicaean_Council.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicene_Creed)
</div></div>

>>>
+ **Creed** (confession of faith):
  + short summary of beliefs
+ **specific** to needs of the day:
  + controversies, heresies
+ e.g., Nicene is quite **ecumenical**:
  + Catholic, E. Orthodox
+ **Mennonite**: Dordrecht Confess. 1632
  + emphasised read whole **Bible**
  + not **memorising** creeds

---
<div class="imgbox"><div>
<div class="caption">
[Elbing Catechism in NA, 1824](http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Elbing_Catechism) <br/>
(Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online)
</div>
[![Elbing Catechism in German](static/img/Elbing_1824.jpg)](http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Elbing_Catechism)
</div><div>
<div class="caption">
[Mennonite Catechism of 1934](https://archive.org/details/catechismorbrief00elbi) <br/>
(Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary Library)
</div>
[![Mennonite Catechism](static/img/Catechism_1934.png)](https://archive.org/details/catechismorbrief00elbi)
</div></div>

>>>
+ **Catechism**: Q+A for young Chr
  + although often **memorised**,
  + orig. intent is **interactive** dialogue
+ Elbing, Prussia 1778: widely adopted by Amish + Mennonites
+ We roughly follow **1934 booklet**:
  + organises 218 Q's into **outline**
+ 1951 [workbook](https://archive.org/details/catechismworkboo00unse)
  for 6-week course

---

## One Foundation <span class="ref">(Elbing)</span>
1. **Creation** (who *God* is) <span class="ref">(wk 1)</span>
1. **Fall** (who *we* are) <span class="ref">(wk 2)</span>
1. **Redemption** (how we are *saved*)
  1. Divine **Provision** <span class="ref">(wk 2-3)</span>
  1. Human **Response**
    + **Faith** in Christ <span class="ref">(wk 3-4)</span>
    + **Life** and Conduct <span class="ref">(wk 4)</span>
  1. **Consummation** <span class="ref">(wk 4-5)</span>

>>>
+ Main points: creation, fall, redemption
  + we'll get to **anabaptism**, etc.
+ caution: **outline** struct is content, too! 
  + crafted by men, prone to **revision**
  + why Menno. **avoid**
+ **lots** of Qs in our **response**, life and **conduct**
  + incl. Mennonite **pacifism**, rules on marriage, etc.

---

## The Chief Aim of Man
+ Q1: What should be our **chief aim** in this life?
+ A: To live in God's **fellowship**, <br/>
  enjoy His **favour**, <br/>
  and obtain eternal **happiness** thereafter.

>>>
+ First Q of the Elbing **catechism**
+ *"fellowship"*: close **relationship**
+ *"favour"*: implies **obedience**
+ *"happiness"*: but Q2 adds we still need to provide for needs of **body**
  + while seeking first His **kingdom**
+ I feel Jesus has even better summary:

---

You shall **love** the Lord your God <br/>
with all your **heart** <br/>
and with all your **soul** <br/>
and with all your **mind**.

You shall **love** your **neighbour** as yourself.

<div class="ref">
Matthew 22:37,39 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ Love **God**, love your **neighbour**
+ But love **defined** by God, not us
+ in order to truly **love**:
  + need to **know** who God is
+ so today focuses on part 1:
  + who is **God**?

---

## Outline for today: Creation
1. God the **Creator**
  1. Revealed in His **Works**
  1. Revealed in His **Word**
1. God as **Trinity**
1. God's **Creation**
  1. Creation of **Man**
  1. Creation of **Angels**
1. God the **Sustainer**

>>>
+ Creation is **foundation** Bible uses
  + to **reveal** God and show
  + why He has **authority**
+ Starting from very **first** verse:

---

In the **beginning** God created <br/>
the **heavens** and the **earth**.

<div class="ref">
Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
</div>

>>>
+ Created **time** + **space**
  + e.g., physical universe not **eternal**
+ Implies God **pre-existing**
  + un-created
+ e.g., manufacturer of **car**
+ **How** do we know God is the Creator?
  + God's **works** (nature, conscience)
  + God's **word** (Scripture) testify:

---

But ask the **animals**, and they will teach you, <br/>
or the **birds** in the sky, and they will tell you;

<span class="ref">8</span>
or speak to the **earth**, and it will teach you, <br/>
or let the **fish** in the sea inform you.

<span class="ref">9</span>
Which of all these does not **know** <br/>
that the **hand of the Lord** has done this?

>>>
+ It is Biblical to study **science**!
  + zoology, ornithology, geology, marine biology
+ All these **point** to the Creator
+ Even our own **consciences** testify:

---

For since the **creation** of the world

His **invisible** attributes,  <br/>
His eternal **power** and divine **nature**,

have been **clearly** seen, being understood <br/>
through what has been **made**,

so that they are **without excuse**.

<div class="ref">
Romans 1:20 (NASB)
</div>

>>>
+ **invisible** (unprovable) attribs:
  + beyond **time** + **physical** world
+ But they are made **visible** through
  + **created** things, from beg of **time**
+ v19 God made it **evident** (plain)
  + not vague, **unknowable** (*agnostic*)
+ ⇒ to say God doesn't **exist** is to
  + **willfully** reject revealed evid.
  + ⇒ **onus** of proof is on **atheist**!

---

## One Foundation: *Creation*
1. God the Creator
  1. Revealed in His Works
  1. **Revealed in His Word**
1. God as Trinity
1. God's Creation
  1. Creation of Man
  1. Creation of Angels
1. God the Sustainer

>>>
+ OK, so He's **powerful** Creator
+ But what about God's **character**?
  + is He **cruel**, uncaring, selfish?
+ What is tesimony of **Scripture**?

---

The LORD, the LORD God, <br/>
**compassionate** and gracious, [...] <br/>

<span class="ref">7</span>
who keeps **lovingkindness** for thousands, <br/>
who **forgives** iniquity, transgression and sin;

yet He will by no means <br/>
leave the **guilty** unpunished

<div class="ref">
Exodus 34:6-7 (NASB)
</div>

>>>
+ **Greek**/Norse gods: *super-hero* myth
  + merely **elevated men**
+ Nietzche's aspirational *"Übermensch"*
  + **self**-made improvement
  + rather than **external** God
+ Biblical theme: **justice** + **mercy**
+ But that's just one **interpretation**?
  + How can we know what the Bible really **means**?

---

No **prophecy** of Scripture <br/>
is a matter of one’s own **interpretation**,

<span class="ref">21</span>
for no prophecy was ever made <br/>
by an act of **human will**,

but men **moved** by the Holy Spirit <br/>
**spoke** from God.

<div class="ref">
2 Peter 1:20-21 (NASB)
</div>

>>>
+ **purpose** of Scripture:
  + make **known** God's will
  + not deliberately **obfuscate**
+ sometimes our **brains** not there yet
  + ⇒ need to **study** in more detail
+ or our **spirits** unwilling to accept
  + ⇒ Spirit lifts **veil** *(2Cor3)*

---

# What is my **attitude** toward **creation**?

>>>
+ Does it **matter**?
+ "Maybe God created the world,
  + "maybe not, it doesn't matter,
  + "I can still be a Christian, right?"

---

## One Foundation: *Creation*
1. God the Creator
  1. Revealed in His Works
  1. Revealed in His Word
1. **God as Trinity**
1. God's Creation
  1. Creation of Man
  1. Creation of Angels
1. God the Sustainer

>>>
+ term "**Trinity**" not in Bible
  + Tertullian, 3rd c.: one in **essence** (ὁμο-ούσιος),
    not in person
+ but **Jesus** did say:

---

Go therefore <br/>
and make **disciples** of all the nations, <br/>
**baptizing** them in the name of  <br/>
the **Father** and the **Son** and the **Holy Spirit**

<div class="ref">
Matthew 28:19 (NASB)
</div>

>>>
+ not that Son was **created** or lesser
  + cf *Arianism* (⇒ Nicene creed)
+ not **3 Gods**
  + cf **Islam**: reject Christ as God
+ but what are their particular **characteristics**?

---

May the **grace** of the Lord **Jesus** Christ, <br/>
and the **love** of **God**, <br/>
and the **fellowship** of the **Holy Spirit** <br/>
be with you all.

<div class="ref">
2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)
</div>

>>>
+ *Father*: **Creator**, judge, mercy: **love**
+ *Son*: **Redeemer**, high priest, sacrifice:
  + **grace**
+ *HS*: **Comforter**, presence, unity:
  + **fellowship**
  + our Advocate:

---

When the **Advocate** comes, <br/>
whom I will **send** to you from the Father -- <br/>
the **Spirit of truth** <br/>
who **goes out** from the Father -- <br/>
he will **testify** about me.

>>>
+ *"Advocate"* (παράκλητος):
  + called **alongside**
  + encourager, **comforter**, helper
  + *testify* (μαρτυρήσει) about Jesus
+ *sent* by **Jesus**
+ *goes out* from the **Father**

---

# Is God a **person** <br/> or a **force**?
# Who is **Jesus**?
# The **Holy Spirit**?

>>>
+ e.g., "God is sum of all truths"
+ **persons** of Trinity

---

## One Foundation: *Creation*
1. God the Creator
  1. Revealed in His Works
  1. Revealed in His Word
1. God as Trinity
1. **God's Creation**
  1. Creation of Man
  1. Creation of Angels
1. God the Sustainer

>>>
+ **Trinity** shows up in **how** God created:

---

In the beginning was the **Word**, <br/>
and the Word was **with God**, <br/>
and the Word **was God**.

<span class="ref">2</span>
He was with God in the **beginning**.

<span class="ref">3</span>
**Through** him all things were made

>>>
+ How **old** is Jesus?
  + Does Buddhism (6-4th c. BC) **predate** Christianity?
+ *"Word"*: comm, bridge gap, **Immanuel**
+ *"was God"*: equal, same **substance**
+ *"beginning"*: way before **Christmas**
+ *"through"*: **how** God created
+ How about **HS**?  Involved in creation?

---

The **earth** was without form and void, <br/>
and darkness was over the face of the **deep**.

And the **Spirit of God** was **hovering** <br/>
over the face of the waters.

<div class="ref">
Genesis 1:2 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ HS **present** since creation
+ *"hovering"*: gently, softly, to cause to relax, **cherish**, brood
+ So where did **people** come from?

---

So **God** created man in his own image, <br/>
in the **image of God** he created him; <br/>
**male** and **female** he created them.

<div class="ref">
Genesis 1:27 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ *"God"*: it was **God** who did it
+ *"image"*: **dignity** + value from God
  + not just evolved animal
+ *"M/F"*: **gender** created by God
  + not up to **us** to define
+ more in ch2 on **roles** of M/F
  + ch3: **broken** M/F relations
+ what about **angels**?

---

Are not all angels **ministering spirits** <br/>
sent to **serve** those who will inherit salvation?

<div class="ref">
Hebrews 1:14 (NIV)
</div>

>>>
+ *"angels"* (ἄγγελοι): **messengers**
+ *"ministering"* (λειτουργικὰ):
  + for **worship** of God
+ *"serve"* (διακονίαν):
  + deacon, **wating tables**
+ *"spirits"*: not bound by **phys** laws
  + tempting to **study** angels more
  + even Apostle **John** was wowed:

---

When I heard and **saw** [these things], <br/>
I fell down to **worship** at the feet  <br/>
of the **angel** who showed them to me,

<span class="ref">9</span>
but he said to me, “You **must not** do that! <br/>
I am a **fellow servant** with you [...]

**Worship God**!”

<div class="ref">
Revelation 22:8-9 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ **twice**! (also Rev 19:10)
+ remember: angels are **created**
  + not Creator
+ keep **focus** on Christ
+ OK, then what about **demons**?

---

And the **angels** who did not stay within <br/>
their own position of **authority**, <br/>
but **left** their proper dwelling,

he has **kept** in eternal chains under gloomy darkness <br/>
until the **judgment** of the great day

>>>
+ *"authority"* (ἀρχὴν): under God
+ *"left"* (ἀπολιπόντας): desert, forsook
+ *"kept"* (τετήρηκεν): has reserved
  + e.g., jail
+ *"judgment"* (κρίσιν): final destiny
  + not *yin-yang* **balance**!

---

# Where did **people** come from?
# What are **angels**?

>>>
+ **image of God**: dignity, value
  + human **rights** defined by God
+ angels: **messengers**
  + **created**, not Creator

---

## One Foundation: *Creation*
1. God the Creator
  1. Revealed in His Works
  1. Revealed in His Word
1. God as Trinity
1. God's Creation
  1. Creation of Man
  1. Creation of Angels
1. **God the Sustainer**

>>>
+ God **still** involved in world today?
+ or just created and **walked away**?
  + pain of imagining an **absent** God
+ easy to forget God's everyday **grace**:

---

All creatures **look to you** <br/>
to give them their **food** at the proper time.

<span class="ref">28</span>
When you **give** it to them, <br/>
they **gather** it up;

when you **open** your hand, <br/>
they are **satisfied** with good things.

<div class="ref">
Psalm 104:27-28 (NIV) (p.1/2)
</div>

>>>
+ *"look to you"*: eager **expectation**
  + **waiting** upon
+ *"satisfied"*: have our fill, **enough**:
  + fulfil our most essential **longings**

---

<span class="ref">29</span>
When you **hide** your face, <br/>
they are **terrified**;

when you take away their **breath**, <br/>
they **die** and return to the dust.

<span class="ref">30</span>
When you send your **Spirit**, <br/>
they are **created**, <br/>
and you **renew** the face of the ground.

<div class="ref">
Psalm 104:29-30 (NIV) (p.2/2)
</div>

>>>
+ every **breath** is God's grace
+ role of **HS** in **creation** + **renewal**

---

# Is God still **involved** <br/> in His creation?

>>>
+ He still **care-takes**
+ He still **rules**

---

## One Foundation <span class="ref">(Elbing)</span>
1. **Creation** (who *God* is) <span class="ref">(wk 1)</span>
1. Fall (who *we* are) <span class="ref">(wk 2)</span>
1. Redemption (how we are *saved*)
  1. Divine Provision <span class="ref">(wk 2-3)</span>
  1. Human Response
    + Faith in Christ <span class="ref">(wk 3-4)</span>
    + Life and Conduct <span class="ref">(wk 4)</span>
  1. Consummation <span class="ref">(wk 4-5)</span>

>>>
+ Today: who **God** is
+ Next time: who **we** are
  + Perfect **creation**
  + **Fallen** by sin
  + God's **plan** to save us
+ Are people essentially **good** or **bad**?
+ Close by reading **Ps95** together:

---

In his hand are the **depths** of the earth, <br/>
and the **mountain peaks** belong to him.

<span class="ref">5</span>
The **sea** is his, for he **made** it, <br/>
and his hands formed the **dry land**.

<div class="ref">
Psalm 95:4-5 (NIV) (p.1/2)
</div>

>>>
+ Scripture points to **creation**
  + why God **rules** over the world ...

---

<span class="ref">6</span>
Come, let us **bow down** in worship, <br/>
let us **kneel** before the Lord our Maker;

<span class="ref">7</span>
for he is our **God** <br/>
and we are the **people** of his pasture, <br/>
the **flock** under his care.

<div class="ref">
Psalm 95:6-7 (NIV) (p.2/2)
</div>

>>>
+ ... and what our **response** should be:
+ a right **relationship** with Him:
  + our **God**, His **people**
  + **sheep** to **shepherd**

---