A Brief Theology of Creation
God values His creation. He deeply and immensely cares for it as well. In Genesis 1, we learn the extent of this value. From the outset of creating, God says that everything He made was either good or very good.
The mettle of this value is profoundly demonstrated following the catastrophic and devasting worldwide flood. It was here that God made the promise in Genesis 8:21 that He “…will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.” He confirms His promise in Genesis 9:13 by making a covenant with the earth.
The breadth of God’s care and value of creation is expanded in chapters thirty-eight through forty-one of the book of Job. Here, we read how God sovereignly not only values His creation, but also sustains and cares for creation. This is expounded in Psalm 104, where we see the detail of God’s care for creation, as well as the pleasure provided from His care. Notice how the cattle is fed and even the heart of man is gladdened and sustained by God’s provision:
He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
And vegetation for the labor of man,
So that he may bring forth food from the earth,
And wine which makes man’s heart glad,
So that he may make his face glisten with oil,
And food which sustains man’s heart.[1]
Furthermore, in Psalm 19 we learn that creation has a language. This language is understood in more detail by the apostle Paul in Romans 8:18-22, where he tells us that creation is groaning for its redemption. That word, groan, is used only here in the New Testament and it’s meant to communicate the idea of groaning together. A similar word for groan is used in Romans 8:23 referring to the children of God are groaning for redemption. What the apostle Paul understands—and is thus communicating—is that creation is joining in lamenting or groaning with the children of God in a deep sigh looking forward to their redemption. This is fascinating. Paul’s understanding—and therefore our understanding—of creation is that in the same way man has the hope of redemption, so too does God’s creation have the hope of redemption.
This logical argument follows the same logic of the resurrection and renewal or regeneration of the physical body. It goes something like this:
- Resurrection: Every human earthy body—though decomposed physical body parts—will be re-assimilated with a new resurrected glorified body (1 Cor. 15:42-57). The apostle Paul describes how this occurs in Philippians 3:21, “[Jesus Christ] will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”
- Thus, the human body will undergo a transformation from a physical earthy body to a resurrected glorified body by the power of Christ. At the same time, however, while in the physical earthy body we face suffering and decay (Rom. 8:18). We feel this every day.
- Thus, while in the physical earthy body—suffering—the children of God groan for their redemption, and look with hope to the day when they will have resurrected glorified bodies.
- Renewal or Regeneration: Two times the word regeneration or renewal is used in the New Testament (Matt. 19:28 and Titus 3:5). One references the renewal or regeneration of the human soul by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), and the other references the renewal or regeneration of the earth when Christ sits on His throne in authority over all creation (Matt. 19:28).
- Thus, both the human soul is renewed or regenerated in salvation and so is the earth.
- In each instance, it is God’s power that transforms, and thus God’s power displayed.
Finally, in 2 Peter 3:10-18 and Revelation 21-22, we learn that there will be a renewal of heaven and earth, which will bring an omega point and at the same time an alpha point to God’s care.
While in seminary, I asked the question, “So, you’re not saying that this current earth is going to be vaporized in the future?” Answer: “No. It will be renewed and restored.”
In other words, my professor was teaching what Paul understood, which is what the entire Bible teaches. Namely, that God loves His creation and in the same way that He did and does not destroy the human body but instead regenerates and renews it, so too will He not obliterate the creation but will regenerate and renew it.
Therefore, what we see in a biblical theology of creation is that God’s value of and care for creation, as well as God’s power in creating, stewarding, and renewing is manifested in the past, present, and future.
Implications for the Christian
- Value what God values—the Bible informs the Christian that he is to properly and biblically prioritize creation.
- Steward what God stewards—the Bible informs the Christian to leave his footprint on earth better than he found it.
- Sustain what God sustains—the Bible informs the Christian that he is the loudest voice for creation-care conservation.
Why? Because we’re following in the steps of its Creator.
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[1] New American Standard Bible, v. Psalm 104:14-15.
— February 16, 2022