IBS #1 – The Creator and the Creation

圣经研读#1：创造者和创造 IBS#1:  The Creator and the Creation

 

研读创世纪一章到二章三节，请注意创造是如何张显它的创造者，且表明创造者的创造是有目的的

 

1.  创造论这样的观点和你曾听过或相信的有何差别？和演化论（认为宇宙应运而生，自行演化）有何不同？这些观点各有什么合理之处？各有什么问题？为什么创造论和演化论都称为理论？它们是如何发展出来的？

 

2.  圣经上重复的话表示它很重要。那么一再重复或衍生的“分开”对创造者表示了什么？这和泛神论（认为神和宇宙是相同的一个）如何不同？这些信仰的结果各是什么？

 

3.  神如何以说话来创造有什么重要意义？对今日的我们造成什么后果？

 

4.  请注意，神多么频繁地停下来看祂的创造“是好的”，最后“都甚好”。“好”这个字是什么意思？关于创造，“好”告诉我们什么？关于神，“好”意指什么？

 

5.  以下的事如何帮助我们了解创造者？(1)创造的活物能够繁衍后代，(2)所有的活物都被吩咐滋生繁多。

 

 6.   “照着神的形象造”是什么意思？产生什么不同？这样的形象如何特别在男和女身上看到？圣经上的创造和演化论有何不同？演化论认为人只是在食物链中最高的生物。 

 

7.  神吩咐其他活物(22节)和吩咐人(26，28节)有何不同？

 

注意：当神把菜蔬赐给人和所有的动物，祂定下普世的规则：维持生命必须杀死消耗其他的生物。而直到大洪水之后，神允许人吃肉，人才变成肉食性（创世纪9:3）。很久之后，这个普世的规则（我们活着是因一个生命为我们牺牲）因基督牺牲的死，而有了属灵的意义。

 

8. 创造完毕，神歇了祂的工，安息了。祂不像我们，从不会累，也不需要恢复体力，神这么做的目的是什么呢？ 

 

 结论 :

 圣经教我们：全能的神井然有序，分门别类，有智慧地创造万物，而且人是按照祂的形象造的，人跟这位自称是爱，是公义的创造者是有关系的。

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相反地，演化论的理论是宇宙非由一位超越的存在所创造，而是演化或“自行创造”，虽然我们自己有意识和良心，却是随机，意外，缺乏人性导向的产物。

 

最终的问题 ：

我们被神创造是为了与创造神有双向的关系，或者我们只是一长串随机意外的产物？第一个假说有伟大的目的和意义，激励我们去寻求创造者和祂创造我们的目的。另一个假说大大降低了我们对自己的期望，人生只为了存活和短暂像火花，无意义的欢乐和享受。当我们一起研读圣经，让我们也试着回答这个问题。

 

Lesson #1

IBS#1:  The Creator and the Creation

 

Read Genesis 1-2:3 and note how creation reveals its Creator and displays His  purposefulness. 

1.  How does this Creationist account differ from other ways you have heard or believe?  How is this account different from Evolution (where the universe comes into being and evolves by itself)?  What is compelling about each of these accounts?  What is problematic about each?  Why are they both called theories?  How are each derived?

 

2.  The repetition of words in the Bible shows its importance.  What does the repetition or derivations of the word, “separate,” indicate about the Creator?  How is this different from Pantheism (where God and the universe are one and the same)?  What are the ramifications for each belief?

 

3.  What is the significance of how God creates through speaking?  What ramifications does this have for us today?

 

4.  Note how often God pauses and sees His creation as “good,” and in the end, “very good.”  What is the meaning of the word, “good”?  What does this tell us about the creation?  What does it imply about God?

 

5.  What do the following tell us about the Creator: (1) living beings created with ability to reproduce, (2) all living things commanded to be fruitful and multiply?

 

 6.   What does it mean to be “created in the image of God”?  What difference does it make?  How is this image especially seen in the male and female?  How does the Biblical account of creation differ from Evolution which teaches that humans are merely the top of the food chain? 

 

7.  What is the a difference between God’s mandate to living creatures (v.22) and to man (v. 26 and 28)?

 

Note:  When God gives vegetation to man and all the animals, He sets the universal principle that life can continue only at the expense of the death of something else that was living.  Note that man does not become carnivorous until after the flood (Gen 9:3), when God gives His approval to eat meat.  In the distant future this universal principle (that we live because a life is sacrificed for us) will take on spiritual meaning in Christ’s sacrificial death.

 

8.  When the creation was complete, God rested.  Since He never tires nor needs rejuvenation as we do, what purpose could God have for doing this?

 

 Summary:

 The Bible teaches that the Almighty God created everything in an orderly, differentiated, intelligent way, and that man was created in His image to have a  relationship with this Creator who identifies Himself as love and righteousness.

 In contrast to this, the theory of Evolution espouses that the universe was not created by a greater being, but evolved or “created itself.”  And though we ourselves have consciousness and conscience, we are products of random accidents and forces devoid of personhood.

 

The ultimate question then is: 

Are we created in God’s image for a reciprocal relationship with the Creator God or are we just products of a long series of random accidents of chance?  One premise imbues us with great purpose and meaning and sets us on a search to find the Creator and His purpose for us.  The other premise vastly lowers our expectations for ourselves to survival and momentary flashes of meaningless happiness and pleasure.  Let’s try to answer this as we study the Bible together.