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GOD: CREATION’S FOUNDATION |
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Although there are those who do not believe in God or anything that remotely has any connection to God, he is the foundation for all that is in the heavens and the earth. Those are the individuals who say, “Prove it.” Proof is all around them and they do not see the wondrous beauty that God has created. The Psalmist says in Psalms 19:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. That handiwork began according to Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. A declarative statement that reveals the beginning of the material part of existence wherein we all breathe and live. Those who do not believe it cannot offer any other explanation for the beginning of all things. They pontificate on the Big Bang, spontaneous generation, and evolution, but they cannot explain the origin of matter from which all is formed. Yet the Bible says in the beginning God, and they don’t believe it. They waste their lives debating the possibility of this and that without, as Paul wrote, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (II Timothy 3:7). What is the reason unbelievers refuse to come to the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ? The Jews had the problem of unbelief in Paul’s day. He said of the Jews in Acts 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Stiff necked means stubborn and obstinate. The Jews heard the scathing words of Paul when he used the word uncircumcised, which referred to the Gentiles who didn’t respond to God’s plan of salvation. That made the unresponsive Jews the same as the Gentiles (cf Romans 2:25). Heart and ears indicate they would not change their minds as they refused to hear (ears-mentally) the word of God. They resisted the Holy Spirit who came to them on Pentecost, bringing the message of Christ, the gospel, through the preaching of Peter. God’s message of salvation in Jesus Christ is a call to holiness for all of mankind. Peter exhorted the believers of his day in the following manner, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. To unbelievers Peter said, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:28) Paul continued with the message to new believers Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17) The new is the beginning of holiness as one conforms his or her life to the way of Christ. Paul wrote Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (II Corinthians 7:1). Paul wrote in the following way of those in his day who denied God For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, … (Romans 1:20-22) Those are true strong words for not only that day, but for today. Those who believe in other gods, from the Big bang to spontaneous generation, to evolution are called fools. Is there any evidence that they aren’t fools in view of the truth that has not ever been refuted and never will be? In conclusion, in different ways the word foundation is used 54 times in 53 verses in the whole of the Bible in reference to God. That should leave no doubt that God is the foundation for all of the material creation and the life we possess. 02-26-2012 DEC Next Lesson Matthew 24 When Will Jesus Return? |