Doctrine of Creation

First Immanuel Lutheran

Week 7 – 16 February 2003

Professor Gary Locklair

 

 

The Origin of Humans – Acts 17:29; Genesis 2:7

 

0. Mechanism of Creation

 

God created human beings distinctly, fully formed and functional, for a special purpose – Genesis 1 and 2

 

Although the evolution model claims that humans and apes have a common ancestor, there are scientific evidences to support the fact that God originally created Adam and Eve as the creation model declares

 

1. Evidences of Creation

 

            a. Distinct

 

            There are differences between human beings and other kinds of life

 

            1 Corinthians 15:39

            Jeremiah 27:5

            Leviticus 24:21

            The evolutionary similarities argument …

 

            Humans and apes are distinct

 

Prof. Lubenow: it’s not brain size that makes us human, it’s the organization (“wiring”) of the brain – see Daniel 4:16

Interpretation – God created humans distinct from all other kinds of life

 

 

            b. Special Purpose

 

            (i) Relationship to God and other people            Mark 12:28-34

 

            (ii) Stewardship of the earth                                 Genesis 1:28

 

            (iii) Raise a Godly generation                               Malachi 2:15

            (iiii) Proclaim Jesus Christ                                   Acts 14:14-17

 

            We are created in God’s Image                            Genesis 1:27;  Romans 1:22,23

            “Image” refers to attributes: creativity, language, love, discernment, etc

            Humans have a “mind;” humans have both body and soul/spirit

 

Interpretation – God created humans for a special purpose

 

 

            c. fossil record

 

The fossil record shows distinctly humans and apes, each with variety among their own kind; the fossil record is a record of death

 

            Genesis 5

            Luke 3:38

            Romans 5:14

 

(i) Professor Marvin Lubenow (Bones of Contention) states “The human fossil record is strongly supportive of the concept of Special Creation.”

 

(ii) Dr. Jack Cuozzo (Buried Alive) states that the Neanderthals were long-lived, post-flood people; their unique characteristics are the result of the slow maturation and longevity of the earliest human beings.

 

 

2 Interpretations

 

            Fragmentary evidence

 

            Reconstructions

 

            Misidentifications – Nebraska man; Piltdown man

 

            Lucy

 

            Charge from evolution: If God created, why aren’t things perfect?

 

            Charge from evolution: What about vestigial structures?

 

            Could all “races” come from just Adam and Eve? What about skin color?

 

            Where did Cain get his wife? Genesis 4:16-17