What is the Gospel message? It’s the good news of Jesus Christ! So what about Jesus is good news? My hope and prayer is that you will come to discover the answer through these five areas in this Gospel Message series:

1. Creation
2. Fall
3. Redemption
4. Restoration
5. Yourself

Today, the series will begin with Creation. I highly encourage you to have your own Bible to follow along and to take notes. Before we start, though, let’s take a moment to invite the Lord in prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You so much for bringing this reader here! I ask that You protect this time of learning and questioning, and to reveal the things that belong to him or her. May the enemy nor the cares of this world steal the seeds that are being planted here, and may this reader receive the wonderful gift of Your salvation and the joy that comes with it! In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Scripture Teaching

Let’s get started! We will be asking these four questions on Creation:

• Who created all things?
• Why was everything created?
• How was mankind created?
• How was mankind not created?

*For clarity, ‘all things’ and ‘everything’ does not refer to sin, evil, wickedness, death, disease, chaos, disorder, etc. That is, we are not asking who created the current world system we see today, with all of its impurities, but instead we are asking who created the original design of everything as it was meant to exist in its good and pure form.

Who created all things?

>>> In Genesis 1, we read:

 ¹ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

This first Scripture tells us who, when, and what was created:

1. Who created? God.
2. When was everything created? In the beginning.
3. What was created? The heavens and the earth (this includes everything in them- refer to Psalm 146:6; Psalm 24:1; Nehemiah 9:6).

In other words, God was there in the beginning and He created everything at the first, not at the mid-way point or at the end point, but in the beginning. Mankind did not evolve from another species or by accidental circumstances. Scripture states that all nations come from one blood: Adam, who was created in the beginning (Acts 17:26; Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7). Scripture also tells us that every person’s name is known from the beginning, and either written down in the Book of Life or not (Revelation 17:8). Even Jesus, the Lamb of God, had been slain from the foundation of the world (i.e., the beginning) (Revelation 13:8).

How is this possible? When God speaks, His Word does not return void and it endures forever (Isaiah 55:11; Isaiah 40:8). So let’s look at some examples of what God said in the beginning to test whether or not this is true:

• God spoke light into existence (Genesis 1:3). Is there still light today? Yes, there is.
• God said to the first man and woman to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 1:28). Have humans filled the earth? Yes, we have. Even on Antartica, there are research stations with humans in them year-round ⁽¹⁾.
• God spoke of Jesus (the Seed) coming to bruise the head of the serpent, who is Satan (Genesis 3:15). Did Jesus come in the flesh to destroy the works of the devil? Yes, He did (1 John 4:2; 1 John 3:8). Jesus died, was buried, rose again after the third day, and then appeared to over 500 witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:3-6). Jesus triumphed over His enemies (Colossians 2:15; Revelation 1:18).

‘Thus, the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished [in the beginning, including Jesus having been slain] ‘ (Genesis 2:1, brackets added). Important note: even though God spoke all things into existence in the beginning concerning the heavens and the earth, this does not mean all of us were walking around in heaven with God before we were actually born, or existed in spirit with the first man and woman in Eden. Rather, God’s Word was spoken in the beginning concerning everything in Creation and it has either already returned, is returning, and/or will return fruitful. Because when a king decrees a thing it shall be so; God is King over all (Psalm 2:4-9; Job 22:25-30; Psalm 47:7; Psalm 95:3). So God’s work of Creation was finished in the beginning and it was declared good and even very good (Genesis 1; Genesis 2:1-2; James 1:17).

Not only was everything in Creation finished in the beginning, but also everything in the heavens and the earth had been made with purpose. How do we know this? Any study of time, space, and matter will give evidence of design and purpose. In fact, a true engineer will begin designing and creating with the intention of fulfilling a purpose ⁽²⁾. God is our Master Engineer; there is evidence everywhere of this truth (Romans 1:20). As Ephesians 1:4 states, ‘just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight’ (AMP, bold added). Again, God created everything in the beginning and with purpose. Therefore, to answer the question ‘who created all things?’- in Genesis 1:1, God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them, and He did so in the beginning and with purpose.

Why was everything created?

>>> In Romans 1, we can understand God’s purpose in creating:

²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes 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, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God […] (brackets added)

All of creation was designed with the purpose of testifying of and worshipping the one true God (Romans 1:20-23; Colossians 1:15-17; Revelation 4:11). Another way of stating this is: everything was created for His glory (Romans 11:36). The word ‘glory’ comes from the Greek root word dokeó, which means ‘to think, to seem, to suppose, to be of opinion’ (G1380). So what is our opinion of God? What do we think about Him? Is He honorable, truthful, powerful, and majestic? Is He worthy of being praised and worshipped and testified of?

In the book of Revelation, there are four living creatures before the throne of God, who have eyes all around and within them; these created beings hold a very good opinion of God because they do not see anything but complete holiness in Him (Revelation 4:6-11). Isaiah himself became convicted of his own uncleanness before such a holy God, and even Jesus proclaimed that if His disciples were kept from praising God, then the rocks would immediately cry out in worship (Isaiah 6:1-5; Luke 19:37-40).

How can rocks cry out in worship? Scripture tells us that rocks, mountains, hills, and trees can cry out, sing, and clap in testimony and worship of God (Luke 19:40; Isaiah 55:12-13). The Holy Spirit says, “Who gives breath to the lute and harp?” One might simply respond with, “The person who plays the lute or the harp gives breath to it.” However, man’s breath actually comes from God (Genesis 2:7; see also Psalm 150). So who gives breath to the lute and the harp? God does by way of man. Therefore, God gives breath for rocks to cry out, trees of the field to clap, and mountains and hills to sing in worship for His glory by way of His Holy Spirit [His Holy Breath], Amen! Only God can do this because He has created the heavens and the earth and everything in them (Nehemiah 9:6).

Remember, God is to be glorified because He is worthy of it. Why is He worthy? There is no tempting, no deceit, no darkness in Him (Psalm 5:4; James 1:13; Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; 1 John 1:5). Think of the purest diamond or gold to ever exist in this world, and God far exceeds it in purity and value, for He is without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19). Thus, ‘why was everything created?’- in Romans 1:20-23, everything was created for God- created to testify of Him and to glorify Him as God (see also Romans 11:36).

How was mankind created?

>>> Now that we know that God created everything for His glory, let’s discover how God created mankind. But instead of reading the rest of the creation account in Genesis, we are actually going to jump forward to Ecclesiastes 3:

¹¹ He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He [God] has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. (brackets and bold added)

There are two different eternities spoken of in the above Scripture. The first refers to eternity being put into the hearts of human beings; this Hebrew word is ‘olam’. The other eternity implicitly described is with the phrase ‘no one can find out the work God has done from beginning to end’; this refers to God as the Eternal God or ‘qedem’ (H6924), for God has come before all things because He was never created and He never dies. He has always existed. He is eternal; this is why ‘no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end’ (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Now, the other word ‘olam’ describes the forever existence of a thing as it stands; this can also refer to God (Genesis 21:33), but only God has always preceded all things (qedem) and will continue to exist forever as He is (olam). In other words, God will never change in His essence for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The amazing truth is, when God created human beings, He gifted us with olam in our hearts. He has even gifted the earth with olam (Ecclesiastes 1:4). This means that God is not only the Source of olam, but He is also the Giver of it.

So what does it mean for something to forever exist as it stands? God created mankind to continue forever as we are. For example, Abel continued to be himself even after he was killed because his voice was still heard from the ground (Genesis 4:10). Another example is Jesus, who after being raised from the dead, was still Jesus (John 20:24-29). In fact, Larazus, Abraham, the rich man, Moses, and Elijah were all still themselves even after they died, of which Peter, John, and James were all witnesses of the latter two (Luke 16:19-31; Luke 9:28-33). Again, God put eternity into our hearts, which allows each person to forever remain as he or she is. Therefore, ‘how was mankind created?’- in Ecclesiastes 3:11, God created mankind with eternity (olam) in our hearts, so that we will forever exist as we are.

How was mankind not created?

>>> So now that we know that God put eternity into our hearts, let’s discover what He did not put into our hearts in these two verses:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) (bold added)

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3) (bold added)

Notice how the words ‘everlasting life’ or ‘eternal life’ were used; these words were written in Greek, not Hebrew, so the words actually translate to aiónios zóé. Aiónios is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word ‘olam’ (see Strong’s Lexicon). So why does this equivalency matter? It means that God put eternity (olam or aiónios) into the hearts of human beings, but not eternal life (aiónios zóé) into the hearts of them.

So what’s the difference between eternity and eternal life? Remember, God put eternity into our hearts so that we will live forever as we are (Ecclesiastes 3:11); again, think of Abraham, Moses, and Elijah remaining themselves even after they died. On the other hand, eternal life is gifted to each person through his or her belief. What does every person need to believe? That Jesus is the Son of God, Who came to atone for our sins. Through believing this, we are able to know God and to know Jesus Christ- which is eternal life (see John 17:3 again). So God did not automatically place eternal life into our hearts; He instead made it a choice.

We will learn more about eternal life over the course of this series, but for now let’s finish today by revisiting the question ‘how was mankind not created?’- according to John 3:16 and 17:3, mankind was not created with eternal life (aiónios zóé) in our hearts. To restate it a different way: God already gifts us with forever remaining as we are (Ecclesiastes 3:11), but God’s gift of eternal life is a free gift that can only be received through individual belief. Again, one gift we have already received, the other gift we have to choose to receive; that choice we will look at in the next teaching on the Fall of man.

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>>> Let’s review The Gospel Message: Creation-

• Who created all things? God did, and He did so in the beginning (Nehemiah 9:6).
• Why was everything created? God created all things for Himself, and all things were created to testify of and worship Him (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16; Romans 1:20-23).
• How was mankind created? God put eternity into the hearts of mankind (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
• How was mankind not created? God did not put eternal life into the hearts of mankind; instead, He made it a choice to receive (John 3:16; 17:3).

Prayer & Encouragement

Dear Lord, thank You so much for bringing this reader to hear Your wonderful news! I ask that You bless their day and time of study in Your Word so that they may truly delight in You and glorify You as You have created them to do. Bless the work of their hands and cause their minds and hearts to grow daily in the understanding of who You are and how great Your love is for them. We love You, Jesus! In Your Name, Amen.

Be encouraged, dear reader, for you have just finished The Gospel Message: Creation! Take this time now to write down anything you have learned or maybe what God has put on your heart to remember. It is my hope and prayer that you look at each Scripture referenced above, for I desire everyone to test all things as God commands us to (1 Thessalonians 5:21; Acts 17:10-12; 1 John 4:1-3). Also, please feel free to leave a comment or question below.

In the second teaching ‘The Gospel Message- Fall’, you will learn about the choice God gave mankind and why it is so important in understanding and receiving the good news of Jesus Christ. If you’re ready for that next teaching, please click here.