Introduction:
Exodus 20:11 - "In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them..."
The following verses use the terms "day" or "days" to describe various aspects of the time element of creation: Gen. 1:5,8,13,19,23,31; 2:2,3; 5:1,2; Ex. 20:11; 31:17; Heb. 4:4. These verses would naturally lead us to believe that creation occurred in six literal, consecutive days of essentially 24 hours each.
Modern "scientific" theory argues that the earth has existed for 4 or 5 billion years. Although this claim is unproved, some want to harmonize the Bible with it. Some attempt this by denying that creation occurred in six literal, consecutive days.
Some say the "days" were not literal days but long ages. Others say the "days" were not consecutive, but long ages occurred between the "days." Such views are sometimes called "Progressive Creation." Note that, to include the 4 to 5 billion years of "scientific" theory, each creation "day" (or the periods between) must average 700 million years in length!
The purpose of this study is to examine carefully the Bible evidence regarding the days of creation.
Some say that the length of the days has little consequence, so we should overlook these non-literal views. But the days of creation are important because they are an integral part of the doctrine of creation, which is a fundamental proof of God and the Bible. To weaken the doctrine about the days of creation is to weaken the doctrine of creation itself. And to undermine or weaken the doctrine of creation is to undermine or weaken faith in God and the Bible as God's word, including the New Testament. This is the consequence of Progressive Creation (long ages in the creation account).
Some imply that the doctrine of creation is not important today, because it is Old Testament doctrine. But consider what the New Testament teaches:
Matthew 15:9,13 - We must not teach man-made doctrine.
Galatians 1:8,9 - We must not teach differently from the gospel of Christ
2 John 9-11 - If we do not abide in the doctrine of Christ, we do not have God.
1 Timothy 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:13 - We should hold fast the pattern of sound words and teach no other doctrine.
[Colossians 3:17; Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 14:12; 3:5,6; Revelation 22:18,19]
John 5:46,47 - Believing Moses leads us to believe Jesus and His word. If we don't believe Moses' writings, we will not believe Jesus' words!
Luke 24:25-27 - Failure to believe Moses' writings leads to failure to accept the truth of Jesus and His teachings.
God has changed His commandments from the Old Testament to the New, but records of history do not change. In order to confirm the New Testament, we must accept Old Testament prophecy and history, especially miracles such as creation. Rejecting the accuracy of Moses' writings will lead us to reject New Testament truths!
Specifically, the doctrine of creation is a part of the gospel, the doctrine of Christ.
Matthew 19:4 - Jesus taught that God made male and female at the beginning. Note that creation is part of Jesus' doctrine! [1 Cor. 11:9,12; 15:45,45; 1 Tim. 2:13; Heb. 1:2; Rev. 3:4]
John 1:1-3,10 - In fact Jesus Himself was the one through whom all things were made. [Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:16,17; Heb. 1:2]
Acts 4:24 - Early disciples worshipped saying God made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them. [1 Tim. 6:13; Heb. 1:10; 3:4; Rev. 4:11; 10:6; 14:7]
Acts 14:15; 17:24-29 - Preaching the gospel to idol worshipers included creation as fundamental doctrine.
Note that "preach" in Acts 14:15 (NKJV) is the word for preaching the gospel. The NASB says we "preach the gospel to you" that you should turn "to a living God who made the heaven and the earth..." (cf. ASV). Creation is identified as part of the gospel and one of the first doctrines unbelievers need to learn!
Romans 1:20,25 - Creation proves the power and Deity of God, so men should worship Him.
Hebrews 11:3 - Creation is part of New Testament faith.
James 3:9 - Man was made in the likeness of God.
1 Peter 4:19 - We commit our souls in doing good and suffer for God, because He is the Creator.
Hebrews 4:4 - God rested from His works on the seventh day. Here the New Testament confirms the Old Testament teaching that the work was accomplished in the first six days.
Creation is fundamental New Testament doctrine - the doctrine of Christ - just as surely as it was in the Old Testament. Therefore, all the passages forbidding us to change gospel teaching apply to the doctrine of creation!
The doctrine of creation is also fundamental to other major doctrines that Christians must believe.
Creation teaches that man was created in the image of God, below the angels but above the animals -- Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8:3-8.
Confusion about creation leads to confusion about our own position in the universe. What could be more basic than that?
Creation was accomplished by God's spoken word -- Genesis 1:3,6,9,11,14,20,24,26; Psalm 33:6-9; Psalm 148:3-5; Hebrews 11:3.
As with other miracles, creation confirms the power/authority of God's word. Note: Matthew 8:5-13; 2 Peter 3:5-7. See Psalm 105:31,34; 106:9; John 11:39-44; 5:28,29.
Likewise, our eternal salvation depends on the power of God's word -- 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; Hebrews 4:12; Romans 1:16.
So any view that undermines the doctrine of creation likewise undermines faith in the power of Scripture, including faith in the power of the gospel to save us from sin! What could be more basic than that?
Creation affirms that all life comes from God - Genesis 1:11,12,20,21,24-27; 2:7,21-23; Job 33:4; Isaiah 42:5; 1 Timothy 6:13.
This proves God is the living God, the source of all life - Genesis 1:26,27; Acts 14:15; 17:24-29; Revelation 10:6.
God likewise is the source of spiritual and eternal life - John 1:1-4; 14:6; Romans 6:4; John 5:26-29; Romans 6:23; John 6:63,68; Matthew 25:46.
So every view that undermines the Bible doctrine of creation thereby undermines our faith in God as the Giver of life, including spiritual and eternal life. How can that not be fundamental to Christians?
As the eternal uncaused cause of all that exists, God must have existed in eternity before the creation. John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16,17; Isaiah 40:28; Psalms 90:2; Revelation 10:6.
Any view that undermines our faith in creation likewise undermines our faith that God is eternal.
Creation demonstrates that God's wisdom is unlimited - Psalm 136:5-9; Jeremiah 51:15; Proverbs 3:19; 8:22-31.
As God's creatures, we must trust Him as the ultimate source of wisdom - Psalms 119:73; Proverbs 3:19-26; 8:30-36.
But His wisdom is revealed in the Scriptures - Psalm 19:7; 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
So again, any view that undermines the doctrine of creation, thereby undermines our faith in the wisdom of God. This is turn undermines our reasons for following the Bible as God's revealed wisdom. How can that not be fundamental to Christians?
Creation demonstrates God's great power -- Psalms 65:6; 86:8-10; 89:11-13; Jeremiah 10:12; Jeremiah 27:5; 32:17; Romans 1:20.
The same power that created the world is the power to save us and give us eternal life -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; Acts 4:12; Rom. 1:16; Heb. 7:25.
Any view that undermines the doctrine of creation likewise undermines our faith in the power of God, including God's power to save us and give us eternal life! What could possibly be more important?
Because God created the universe, it belongs to Him so He rules as Lord over it - Psalm 24:1,2; 89:11,12; 95:5 Deuteronomy 32:5,6; Isaiah 29:16; Acts 17:24; Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:15-17; 1 Peter 4:19; Romans 1:25.
Any view that undermines the doctrine of creation, thereby undermines our understanding of God's right to rule our lives and our obligation to serve God. Who can say that is not of first importance to Christians?
Only the Creator should be worshipped, for only He has ultimate power - Deuteronomy 32:15-18; Psalm 86:8-10; 139:13,14; 149:1,2; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 33:6-9; 95:1-7; 148:1-6; Romans 1:25; 11:36; Revelation 4:11; 14:6,7.
So any view that undermines the Bible doctrine of creation, thereby also undermines our very reasons for worshipping God.
These conclusions follow from all we have already learned. It is specifically taught in the following passages: 2 Kings 19:15; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 86:8-10; 95:1-7; 100:3; Isaiah 45:18; Jeremiah 10:11,12; 1 Chron. 16:25-35 and Psalm 96:2-10; Acts 4:24; 14:15; 17:24-29; Romans 1:20.
And this is just the beginning. Many other New Testament doctrines are based directly on the doctrine of creation - Matt. 19:1-12; 1 Cor. 15:22-49; Rom.5:12-14; 1 Tim. 2:12-15; 1 Cor. 6;16; 11:8; Eph. 5:22-33.
Any view that undermines the Bible doctrine of creation, thereby undermines our ability to even recognize who God is! How then can the doctrine of creation not be a fundamental part of the gospel?
For more details on these points, see our article about the Significance of Creation.
Creation accomplishes all the above because it is miraculous. It is the first miracle (actually a series of miracles), and therefore forms the basis of our understanding or all other miracles and all Divine power.
Miracles are events that are impossible by natural law or human ability, so they could only happen by Divine power and wisdom. When they have occurred in history, they serve as evidence that God exists, that Jesus is God's Son, and that the Bible is God's word.
See the passages in the previous section and see Exodus 7:3-5; 8:10; 14:4,30,31; Deuteronomy 4:32-45; Mark 16:20; John 5:36; 20:30,31; Acts 2:22; 14:3; 2 Corinthians 12:11,12; Hebrews 2:3,4; 1 Kings 18:36-39; Exodus 4:1-9.
The power of the doctrine of creation lies in its greatness as a miracle and a fundamental proof of God and His word. It follows that we must avoid any doctrine that weakens or undermines the force of that miracle. Specifically:
The power of miracles as evidence rests entirely on their validity as historic fact. Unless they are contrary to natural law but nevertheless occurred as true, historic fact, then they prove nothing about God or His will.
So to deny the literal, historic Bible descriptions of miracles - to claim that some supernatural aspects are legendary or symbolic - is to deny the accuracy of the Bible and to belittle the force of the miracle. This encourages rejection of the evidence for God, the Bible, and Jesus. And the more fundamental a miracle is to our faith, the greater are the consequences if we deny its historic validity.
The Bible records all these miracles as historic facts having major significance in validating God's existence, Jesus' authority, and God's word. But all are impossible according to the laws of science, so some folks try to reconcile the Bible to science by saying that the Bible accounts are not literal, historic fact.
But denying that the Bible accounts are historic fact has the effect of eliminating the power of the miracles as evidence to substantiate Divine claims! Such views constitute modernism or liberalism. Those who hold them are not true believers.
An event is a miracle because it involves certain specific characteristics that only Divine power could accomplish. To accept an event as a miracle, we must accept as literal, historic fact the specific supernatural elements that make up the event. To deny or undermine the supernatural elements that make an event miraculous is to deny or undermine the miracle itself!
To avoid the power of true miracles, Satan offers "false miracles" - 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (Acts 8:5-13; Exodus 7:10-13; 1 Kings 18:20-40; Acts 19:11-17).
False miracles claim to be supernatural, but they lack the elements that overwhelm us with evidence of supernatural intervention. By getting people to call these events "miracles" though they lack the characteristics of true miracles, Satan is able to dilute or weaken the power of real miracles as evidence for God and His word.
Satan then belittles the supernatural elements of God's miracles - Matthew 28:11-15 (Matt. 12:24; Ex. 7:10-13; John 9:18-21).
Since the supernatural characteristics of miracles are what convince people to believe in God and His will, those are the aspects Satan attacks. He tries to convince people that these supernatural elements could occur by natural means other than by God's power.
If people do not recognize the supernatural elements of a miracle, then the miracle cannot produce faith. That is why Satan attacks them. And that is why believers must defend those supernatural elements as historic, literal truth. We must never accept natural explanations that are substituted for the supernatural elements of Biblical accounts of miraculous healings, the virgin birth, the resurrection, or creation.
The importance of the time element
The time element is one supernatural aspect that demonstrates an event to be a true miracle. The length of time it takes is often stated as one reason to believe God must have done it. Specifically, many accounts of miracles specify that they happened suddenly. Given a much longer time period, one might suspect that the event could have occurred by nature. But the shortness of the time demonstrates that God must have done it.
It follows that we must recognize the Biblical record of the time element of a miracle to be historic fact. To claim it is symbolic, figurative, or less than historic fact is to compromise the Bible account and defeat the purpose of the miracle as evidence.
Consider, for example, miraculous healings.
One reason we know supernatural healings were miracles is that they occurred immediately or instantaneously. They did not take days, weeks, or months to gradually develop. See Acts 3:7; Luke 13:11-13; Mark 2:10-12; 5:25-29; 5:35-42; Acts 13:11; 14:8-11; John 9:1,6,7; Mark 1:42; Luke 7:14,15; etc.
By contrast, in most modern so-called miracles, if healing occurs at all, it takes days, weeks, or months. Such gradual healings could be explained as natural processes. They are claimed as miracles, but the time element proves they are not really miraculous.
Likewise, God sometimes reveals time aspects of other Bible miracles. The fact they happened at exactly the time God specified, or that they occurred so quickly, gives evidence that they were supernatural. [1 Kings 18:25-30,35-39]
So when God states a specific time element in a miracle, we must accept the time as literal, historic fact. The power of a Bible miracle is defeated or compromised if people conclude that the time element is just figurative or symbolic.
This is why the time element is so important in creation. If God specifically stated the time duration of creation, and if that time is one element that demonstrates the supernatural nature of the event, then Christians must believe and defend that time element. To do otherwise would weaken the force of creation as evidence.
Click here to continue with the next point in this study about the days of creation.
For more details on these points, see our article about Creation as a miracle.
(C)
Copyright 2002, David E. Pratte
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