New Life
Creating New Life • Message 1
Perry Duggar
December 1, 2024
A. Introduction: We begin a new series this Christmas season called New Life.
Genesis 1:1-2; Romans 4:17; Colossians 1:15-16; Hebrews 11:3A.
Today’s message is titled Creating New Life.
Theme: Genesis 1:1 (NLT)—In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Scripture opens with God revealing Himself as creator, designer, architect of all that exists.
God was not created, He always lived, existed before space and time. [I AM: self-existent]
Genesis 1:2 (NLT)—The earth was formless and empty [a void], and darkness covered the deep waters [Hebrew an abyss or the deep]. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. [Holy Spirit and Jesus were not created, participated. (John 1:1-4)]
God created life where nothing, no matter of any kind, existed. [Romans 4:17]
He formed everything alive in the physical world, including plants and animals, but also cells, atoms, and subatomic particles.
Hebrews 11:3 (NLT)—By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
Evolution claims matter just “came into being,” that life “happened,” and all complex forms of life gradually developed from simpler forms, but none of this can be proven.
Evolution is not observable, repeatable or testable, so it is not scientific fact; it is faith.
Suggested causes are time (4.5 billion years) and chance, but neither of these are active catalysts; they just imply that anything is possible over a very long period of time.
But experiments attempting to bring life from non-life have not succeeded. (Miller-Urey)
The scientific "Law of Biogenesis" states that life comes only from prior life (imparted).
Let’s consider God’s Creation of new life from nothing!
B. Creating New Life (Genesis 1:1-2:4)
1. The POWER of the Creator. (Genesis 1:3-31; Psalm 33:6)
Psalm 33:6 (NLT)—The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
God didn’t mix together existing substances to form something new; He spoke matter into being, then formed it into what He wanted.
Genesis 1:3 (NLT)—Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.[6x] [Genesis 1:3 (light, day and night), 6 (sky, other trans.: heaven or firmament), 9 (land and plants),14 (sun, moon and stars), 20 (sea creatures and birds), 24 (animals), 26 (humans)]
Genesis 1:2a (NLT)—The earth was formless and empty… so God filled up what He formed.
He made the sky and filled it with stars and planets; He made the land and filled it with plants and animals; He made the seas and filled them with fish and water mammals.
God crafted creatures with the ability to reproduce, but plants produced “the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” (Genesis 1:11), sea creatures, birds, and animals produced “offspring of the same kind” (Gen.1:21,25). [Few examples of different species reproducing; mules from male donkeys and female horses, but are sterile.]
There is no evidence of evolution from simpler to more complex forms or from one species of animal into another. (EX.: Birds have supposedly evolved from reptiles, but there is no fossil evidence, and they have completely different respiratory systems.)
There is a lack of transitional (evolving, changing) forms in the fossil record.
The oldest fossils for any creature are fully formed.
There are changes within species (such as breeds of horses, cows or cats), but change that transforms one kind of creature into another, such as a dog into a bear, cannot occur.
Animals are complex from conception, and the development that occurs from zygote (fertilized egg) to fully formed creatures requires specific guidance from detailed, highly complex information contained in DNA, which cannot originate by random chance.
Instructions for how to build, operate and repair living cells require an estimated 12 billion bits of specific, complex information, which is the product of intelligence.
Even a single cell is not simple; to live, it must contain numerous different structures carrying out diverse functions. [Darwin thought cells were simple blobs of protoplasm.]
Natural selection, relied on by evolutionists, cannot create incremental beneficial complex structures because it eliminates anything not providing immediate benefit.
Organs can’t develop through small improvements because the organs won’t function until they are complete and operating in a system. (Ex.: Sexual reproduction and vision, e.g., eye doesn’t work until fully formed, no function without brain to interpret signals.)
Though certainly DNA can be modified through mutation, but these changes produce malformation, disability and disease, never improvement in health, function or ability.
Evolution requires substances—matter, chemicals, organisms to become more structured and complex on their own but the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics states that matter moves naturally toward less ordered (entropy), without DNA to guide development. (homes)
Humans didn’t evolve from lower forms of life accidentally; God created us directly.
Genesis 1:26-27 (NLT)—Then God said, “Let Us make human beings in Our image, to be like Us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. [In possessing the image of God, every person has dignity.]
Being made in God’s image refers to possessing a mind, will, and emotions like God.
The God-resembling characteristics include self-awareness, reason, intelligence, speech, creativity, moral consciousness, emotions such as love and hate, and choice (free will).
These unique characteristics, not shared with animals, enable us to be in relationship with God, and places us at the highest position in Creation, managing all of God’s creation.
Genesis 1:28 (NLT)—Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
APP.: Are you reflecting the image of God in the life He has given you?
2. The PURPOSE of Creation. (Psalm 19:1; 104:31; Isaiah 45:18; Jeremiah 10:12; Romans 1:20)
Creation reveals the artistry and creativity of God, which causes us to praise Him.
Psalm 19:1 (NLT)—The heavens proclaim the glory [Hebrew weight, splendor] of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. [Habakkuk 2:14]
God created life because it is an expression of His nature—like a painter who must paint or a musician who is compelled to make music—it is part of His identity and pleases Him!
Psalm 104:31 (NLT)—May the glory of the LORD continue forever! The LORD takes pleasure in all He has made! [Revelation 4:11] [Genesis 1:31: looked at all, saw it was very good.]
God enjoyed the process of creating great beauty and diversity in the world and coordinating living organisms in heavens and on earth, to work together wonderfully.
[Ex. life is controlled by the cycle of seasons; a fine balance between animals and plants.]
Isaiah 45:18 (NLT)—For the LORD is God, and He created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos.
“I am the LORD,” He says, “and there is no other.” [He is responsible for creation.]
God deliberately and carefully designed creation as a place for habitation for of all the creatures He crafted, but especially for mankind. [the Anthropic Principle]
The wisdom of God and His care for what He has created, providing everything needed for life is displayed in the delicate balance of nature. [Feeds and clothes: Matthew 6:25-33]
God sustains and provides for all He has created like a loving Parent, a Heavenly Father.
Jeremiah 10:12 (NLT)— But the LORD made the earth by His power, and He preserves it by His wisdom. With His own understanding He stretched out the heavens.
E.g., A change in the rate of the Earth's rotation around the sun or on its axis would cause the Earth to become either too hot or too cold to support life.
Creation reveals the Creator and removes any reason we can offer for not knowing Him.
Romans 1:20 (NLT)—For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. [Habakkuk 2:14]
APP.: Can you see the personality and character of God in creation?
3. The PROMISE of Re-Creation. (John 3:16; Acts 17:24-25; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
Since the beginning of time, God has desired to enjoy an intimate relationship with us, and for this reason, He made us like Himself to express His love to us.
Was God lonely? Was something lacking that He needed men and women to provide?
Acts 17:24-25 (NLT)—“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since He is Lord of heaven and earth, He doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve His needs—for He has no needs. He Himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need.” [Matthew 6:26-33; Nehemiah 9:6]
God displays His character and nature, which includes His love for us and His desire to communicate with us, to nurture us. (Only humans have language to express ideas and emotion.)
The intimate relationship God had with the first humans was broken through their deliberate disobedience; Adam and Eve were separated from God by their sin.
Adam and Eve died spiritually after their fall, and all their descendants were and are born physically alive but spiritually dead.
Spiritual re-creation is necessary to reconnect relationally with God.
God sent His Son to earth through human birth to restore the relationship of love.
John 3:16 (NLT)—“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” [New life]
The promise of re-creation is by faith in the One who came that very first Christmas we can receive back the spiritual life that was lost when our ancestors sinned. [Genesis 3]
Our relationship with God, our Creator, can be re-created through Jesus Christ!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)—This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
What is formless and empty in our lives can be filled with meaning and purpose!
APP.: Will you contemplate this wonderful world we live in and look for the invisible qualities of God it reflects —His eternal power and divine nature—so you will turn to Him and call to His Son so you can experience new life—true spiritual life?