Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It
Is To Men As They Are
"Preach The Word"
THE CREATION OF MAN
THE creation of man is an incontrovertible fact. Scripture teaches that he
is the product of the triune God (Gen. i. 26) and that he came into being on
the sixth day. Evolution has no place in the first chapter of Genesis where
the beginning of matter, animate and inanimate, is revealed. There are three
creative acts which involve everything in the universe—angels apart—for they
were created before this period, see Heb. i. 7 ; Job xxxviii. 7.—found in
verses 1 "Heaven and Earth ", 21 " Fish and Fowl ", 27 " Man, Male and
Female ".
The initial act of God in creation and the boasting' of science, falsely so
called, which advocate evolutionary processes as the means of developing
matter into present conditions, are definitely opposed. They have NO point
of contact. Faith accepts creation as the original act of Omnipotent God,
and refuses in total all other speculations (Heb. xi. 3). Whatever conflicts
with inspiration faith declares to be wrong.
The Scriptures carefully preserve the creation of man, and give to us the
clearest evidences that he is the handiwork of God. Indeed, man can be said
to be the divine masterpiece in creation. He is, for we speak principally of
Adam,
I. Perfect in Creation.
There was no one before him. He had no predecessors. Gen. ii. 5 declares " There was not a man to till the ground." Again, 1 Cor. xv. 45 speaks of him as the "First man Adam," and verse 47 thus: "The first man is of the earth, earthy." God alone was his creator, and originally he was alone upon earth. The Lord God said, " It is not good that the man should be alone " (Gen. ii. 18). In corroboration of this Paul writes " For the man is not of the woman ; but the woman of the man " (1 Cor. xi. 8) and " Adam was first formed, then Eve " (1 Tim. ii. 13).
In this connection, viz. man's creation, witness a few important things
which are said of him.
He was made a living soul. 1 Cor. xv. 45. His life was imparted—he never had
it before—in contrast to Christ who is a Quickening Spirit.
He was made earthy. Gen. ii. 7 ; iii. 19 ; Bee. iii. 20.
This is his physical and material composition.
He was made a trinity. 1. Thess. v. 23. Possessing spirit makes him
God-conscious ; soul—self-conscious ; body—world conscious.
He was made in the image of God. Gen. i. 26. 27 ; is. 6 ; 1 Cor. xi. 7.
He was made in the likeness of God. Gen. i. 26 ; v. 1 ; James iii. 9. It is
said by one that image represents, and likeness resembles. Image is the
spiritual substance of soul, whereas likeness is character. The first
despite the fall is retained, the second lost ,
He was made responsible. Gen. ii. 16-17. Man being a moral. being, and not a
machine, is capable of rendering obedience. This alone is involved and
inferred by the " Tree of knowledge of good and evil."
II. Perfect in Innocency.
He had no evil in him. Three kinds of men have been in the world :
Adam—Innocent. Capable of sinning.
Sinful Man—Born in sin. Rom. v. 12 ; vii. 18.
Christ—Holy and righteous. Incapable of sinning. He was both immaculate and
impeccable. Luke i. 35 ; Heb. ix. 14.
III. Perfect in Intelligence.
His wisdom is declared in giving names to all the creatures under his hand,
and the divine record is, and surely it proclaims the divine satisfaction, "
And whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof
" (Gen. ii. 19). His wisdom is still evidenced. There is no necessity to
change any name of bird, beast, or fish.
IV. Perfect in Government.
He ruled over all. See Gen. i. 28. No doubt Psa.viii. has this in view
though it carries us on to Christ, the Son of Man, who will eventually hold
all things for God. Heb. ii. gives us liberty to say so. Christ is said to
be made a
1. Little lower than the angels—Incarnation and Calvary.
2. Crowned with glory and honour—His present position and condition.
3. Set over the works of God's hands—Millennial Kingdom rule.
4. All things under His Feet Eternity ahead. I Cor. xv. 15 ; Eph. i. 22.
V. Perfect in Environment.
Eden—the pleasure garden of God—was his home. It was probably formed on the
third day (Gen. i.) but whether or not it assuredly was a scene of perennial
delight. All that the Creator could do to make him happy was done perfectly.
Just think what was done for him. God put him in
Connection with the Sabbath—To enjoy His rest in creation.
Connection with the Garden—To enjoy His providential mercies
Connection with the Woman TO enjoy His love-gift. Connection with Himself—To
enjoy His personal
presence and have fullest communion possible.
What more could he done to keep man in eternal
fellowship with Himself, yet despite it all, he sinned.
" Earthly nature then in its perfection, with man, in relation-ship with God
by creation and the breath of life that was in him, for its centre ;
enjoyment ; a source of abiding life, and a means of putting responsibility
to the test ; the sources of universal refreshment to the world without ;
and, if continuing in his created condition blessed intercourse with God on
this ground—such was the position of the first and innocent Adam."
Study by Gavin Hamilton
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