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).
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.