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Chapter 6  Part I

General

Sections

The formation of the universe is the most astonishing thing that has ever occurred. The Bible claims that God not only created the universe, but that he also created everything in it. Moreover, it claims that God continues to maintain the universe. If we believe that God is capable of doing this, then we should have little trouble in accepting the other claims that the Bible makes about God.

God Made All Things

God made the heavens and earth – and everything in them

You are the only Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, with all the stars. You made the earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them; you give life to everything.   Nehemiah 9:6a NCV™

All that God made is very good

God saw all that he had made – and it was very good!   Genesis 1:31a NET

God Maintains Creation

Every creature’s life is dependent on God

The life of every creature and the breath of all people are in God’s hand.   Job 12:10 NCV™

God provides food for all creatures

[David, to God:] Everything looks to you in anticipation, and you provide them with food on a regular basis.   Psalms 145:15 NET

God regulates all aspects of the weather

For to the snow he says, ‘Fall to earth,’ and to the torrential rains, ‘Pour down.’   Job 37:6 NET

He makes the clouds rise from the far-off horizons. He makes the lightning flash out in the midst of the rain. He unleashes the wind from the places where he stores it.   Jeremiah 10:13b NET

God maintains nature

[God:] “While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”   Genesis 8:22 NET

God’s promise that these things will continue is indicative of his control over them, regulating and maintaining them.

How God Made and Maintains Creation

God made all things with his wisdom

How numerous are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is filled with your creations.   Psalms 104:24 ISV

The Lord created the earth by his wisdom; by his knowledge he set the sky in place. 20His wisdom caused the rivers to flow and the clouds to give rain to the earth.   Proverbs 3:19-20 GNT

God made all things with his power

[God:] I made the earth, its people, and all its animals with my great power and strength.   Jeremiah 27:5a NCV™

God made all things by his word

By the word of God heaven was made, and the earth was made from water and with water.   2 Peter 3:5b NCV™

God made and sustains all things through Jesus Christ

All things were created by him [Christ], and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.   John 1:3 NET

He is the one through whom God created the universe, the one whom God has chosen to possess all things at the end. 3He reflects the brightness of God’s glory and is the exact likeness of God’s own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word.   Hebrews 1:2b-3a GNT

The Holy Spirit also has a role in creation

[A psalmist, to God:] When you send forth your Spirit, they [creatures] are created, and you renew the face of the ground.   Psalms 104:30 ESV

Implications of God Being Creator

Because he made everything, all things belong to God

The heavens and the earth belong to you. And so does the world with all its people because you created them 12and everything else.   Psalms 89:11-12a CEV

Because he made everything, God is sovereign over all things

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth.   Acts 17:24a ISV

Because he has made all things, God has the right of sovereignty over all things. God’s almighty power and incomparable wisdom enable him to enforce his sovereignty.

Creation shows God’s power and wisdom to be incomparable

[Job, speaking of God:] He is wise in heart and mighty in strength – who has resisted him and remained safe? 5He who removes mountains suddenly, who overturns them in his anger; 6he who shakes the earth out of its place so that its pillars tremble; 7he who commands the sun and it does not shine and seals up the stars; 8he alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea; 9he makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky; 10he does great and unsearchable things, and wonderful things without number.   Job 9:4-10 NET

Pray for persecuted Christians