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THEOLOGY > God > Work of Creation > Spiritual Lessons


SPIRITUAL LESSONS

All of the history in the Bible can be utilized to illustrate and to inculcate spiritual truth. This is no less true of the Creation account, where several truths are suggested by the narrative of the first day.

One, the condition of the earth at the point of Creation depicts man in his natural state. Man, in Adam, is spiritually like the earth was at the initial Creation. The earth was without “form and void,” and there was “darkness” over the “deep.” “Without form” (tohu) speaks of a waste, shapeless mass in need of order, and “void” (bohu) describes a lifeless, empty, and desolate place that was uninhabited—life was needed. What God had just created is also described as the “deep” (tehom), a word which depicts a surging, raging motion that was in great upheaval—no peace. Also there was no light; therefore, darkness surrounded the heaving deep. The original Creation was in need of order, life, peace, and light.

Here are four descriptive statements that can be applied to the unbeliever. Outside of Christ the individual is tohu (no order) and bohu (no life); also there is tehom (no peace) and the spiritual state is one of darkness (no light). It is not the state intended for man, but is a reflection of an alien invasion into man’s essence that brings death and disruption (see: Death and Depravity). Man in his fallen condition can in no way be said to be whole or complete; before he can be declared acceptable before God there must be a supernatural work of grace by God.

Two, the just created earth could do nothing to improve its condition. It was totally dependent upon something or Someone outside of it to effect a change. There was no inherent ability to transform the status quo. The inanimate matter had no power. Hope was not within but without.

So it is with man in his Adamic state; there is not within him the wherewithal to remedy his needy situation. Man is dead in sin with no power. The unbeliever is dependent upon that which is beyond him and that which is not within his capacity—he must be Embraced. Grace is necessary (see: Because of Grace).

Three, it was the Spirit that produced the change in the state of the earth. Over the original earth the Spirit of God, hovering like an eagle, was there to bring about the state ordained by God. Original creation was dependent upon the moving of the Spirit, and the moving of the Spirit is dependent upon the purpose of the Spirit.

Man also is in need of the Spirit to create order out of spiritual chaos, bringing life and light to his darkened and blighted soul. Natural man needs this same Spirit to effect a spiritual Creation, which is something only He can accomplish; man can neither effect a physical nor a spiritual Creation (see: The Natural Man). Man is in need of a Trinitarian work; he is in need of the blowing of the Spirit. But the Spirit blows where He wills after hovering where He sees fit (see: Spiritual Life).  


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