Doctrine of Creation

First Immanuel Lutheran

Week 4 – 25 January 2004

Professor Gary Locklair

 

 

The Origin of the Universe

 

0. Mechanism of Creation

 

God created the universe fully formed and fully functional. Natural laws were established to govern the operation of the universe.     Genesis 1

 

The universe was spoken into existence by God

Day 1 = matter, space, time and a specific focus on planet earth

Day 4 = sun, moon and stars

 

Note that the universe is not exactly the same as when God created it.

 

Natural laws govern the operation of the universe.    Hebrews 1:3

 

 

1. Evidences of Creation

 

a. Fine Tuning

 

Many conditions are “just right” – these “surprise effects” indicate design

eg, earth-sun distance, sun’s spectra, existence of moon, earth’s atmosphere, characteristics of water, oxygen, sun-moon angular (apparent) size, etc

 

Isaiah 40:12

Job 28:24,25

 

Interpretation – the universe was “fine tuned” for life by a creator.

 

b. Nonhomogenous Universe

 

The universe is “lumpy;” structures and dissimilarities abound.

 

            Romans 9:20,21

            Psalm 27:4

 

Interpretation – characteristic of an intelligent designer; yet

inconsistent with natural phenomena.

 

c. Laws of Thermodynamics

 

The first law states that the total amount of matter/energy in the universe is constant; ie, matter/energy can neither be created or destroyed in the current universe.

 

Genesis 2:1-3

Hebrews 4:4

 

Interpretation – the universe could not have “begun” itself, but must have been created by an outside intelligence.

 

The second law states that entropy (“disorder”) increases naturally; ie, the “capacity to do work” naturally decreases over time.

 

Psalm 102:25-27

Romans 8:19-22

 

Interpretation – since things are naturally “winding down,” they must have been supernaturally “wound up” to begin with; ie, the universe had a beginning.

 

d. Polonium Halos

 

The existence of halos from very short-lived radiometric elements in the earth’s granites.

 

            Psalm 33:6,9

Luke 19:40

 

Interpretation: the “fingerprints of creation” indicating that the earth’s basement rocks must have formed very quickly.

 

e. Young Age Indicators

                        Short-period comets

                        Rings of planets

                        Decay of earth’s magnetic field

                        Length of recorded history

 

 

2. Primary vs. Secondary Causes

 

Heart of the scientific conflict between creation and evolution is over cause.