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Creation of the universe

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Bible gives details of the creation. Genesis 1.1 says: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Bible acknowledges that God is the creator. God was existed before the creation of the earth and heavens. We believe that God is eternal. God does not have beginning and the end. We do not know clearly the history before the creation of earth and heaven. God created heaven and the earth.

1. Creation of the universe

God created the universe with seven days through his words. Let us look at the picture in detail.
First day, God created light and God separated light from darkness (Genesis 1:3-5). God called light as day and darkness as night. Light is the source of energy for other creatures in the earth. Thus, God created light first.
Second day, God created sky (Genesis 1.6-8).
Third day, God created dry land and seas. God also created different kinds of plants on the earth (Genesis 1.9-13).
Fourth day, God created stars in the sky in order to provide light to the earth and to govern the time (Genesis 1.14-19).
Fifth day, God created both living creatures in water and sky (Genesis 1.20-23). In another words, God created different kinds of birds and creatures in the water. God created them with capability to reproduce and increase.
Sixth day, God created different kinds of creatures in the land (Genesis 1.23-31). On the sixth day God also created human being.
Seventh day, God was rested from all the work (Genesis 2.2-3). God does not want rest as humans want because he is almighty. Here, God introduces the concept of rest to the creation. God expects creation to take rest because of two reasons.
Firstly, God wants to see that creation is renewed through rest. Rest is important part of maintaining the beauty and health of the creation.
Secondly, God also introduced concept of rest because God like to see that the creation especially humans worship God and set apart one day for God.

2. Human beings

2.1 God created human in the image and likeness of God

God created humans in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1.26). This is the unique characteristic of human being from other created beings. They were the crown of the creation.  What does the phrase “image and likeness of God” mean? Tselem (tseh’-lem) is the Hebrew word used for image which means as semblance, a created imitation or representation. Deuth (dem-ooth’) is the Hebrew word used for likeness which means likeness or similitude more as conformation to one’s nature and character. Thus image of God indicates that humans are representatives of God to the entire creation. As a representative of God, humans have dominion over the creation. It does not mean that humans can exploit the nature for greed and make ecological imbalance. It is dominion with responsibility and justice. Likeness of God indicates that humans have certain conformation to the like characteristics of God. Human beings at least reflect certain characteristics of God. For example, as God is personal being, humans have personhood which is the basis for self. Thus, the position of human being in the creation is unique.

2.2 Body, Soul and Spirit

Human beings are created with body, soul and spirit (1Thesslonians 5.23; Hebrews 4.12).
a)              Human body relates with the circumstances. It is world conscious part of humans which enables one to relate with the world.  It has five senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and feeling.
b)             Soul is the self conscience part of human which enables humans to know themselves. It has three functions such as thinking (mind), will, emotions.
c)              Spirit is the God conscience part of humans which enables human being to know Goad and relate with God. It is eternal part of human beings. It functions to give intuition, conscience and communion.

2.3 Free Will of Humans

God is love (1John 4.16). God loves humans. God gave the capacity to love others to human beings. Love is a decision. It is not feeling. If it is feeling, it may change when the situations change. God showed abundant love to the first man and woman by giving ability to chose or free will. God did not want to impose anything on humans. But God want to see that weather human being would love God or not. It’s all about the decision of the humans to love God or reject God. God gave a choice to first man and woman. The choice was that they can eat any fruit of any tree in the earth except one. God said to humans that “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” (Genesis 2.16-17). Here, it indicates that humans are absolutely free to decide what they want but they must bear the consequence of their decision or choice. If humans decide to choose to disobey God by having the forbidden fruit, then death will be the consequence that human should face.  

2.4 There was no sin

God’s creation was perfect. The entire creation enjoyed harmony and love. There was no sin at all. Human being had deep relation to the co-creatures and God. There was no disturbance in the entire existence of both human beings and nature. The first man Adam and first woman Eve were naked but they did not feel shame or guilt (Genesis 2.25).

Questions

1.      What indicates the image of God in human beings?
2.      What indicates the likeness of God in human beings?
3.      What is the function of body, soul and spirit?
4.      Freedom to choose and decide is called as …………………. Humans should bear……………………..of their choice when they exercise their free will. 
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