Topical Studies
Creation of Human Beings
(From Forerunner Commentary)
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Genesis 1:20-25 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
These verses plainly say, without any interpretation, that God created fish to reproduce after their own particular kind, birds after their particular kind, and cattle after the cattle kind. Each kind may have many varieties within it, but all creatures reproduce only after their own "kind. " That is why dogs reproduce dogs, monkeys reproduce monkeys, sheep reproduce sheep, etc.
What It Means to Be Born Again
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Genesis 1:24-25 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
God is setting the stage in these verses to show that mankind, intoduced in verse 26, is different from what was previously created—in regard to the law that kind only reproduces after its own kind, as well as to origin. Notice the earlier verses say, "Let the earth bring forth. . . ." Of course, cattle did not just spring out of the earth! God certainly created the animals, but "earth" is used as a reference to origin in terms of what is physical. That is, He is pointing to a physical origin for those beasts of the field and the inhabitants of the sea. Verse 26, by contrast, does not contain any reference to the earth in regard to the origin of man, the source of man's life, or to kind-after-kind.
John W. Ritenbaugh
We Shall Be God! (Part 1)
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Genesis 1:26-28 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
Finally, in verses 26-28, God creates human beings. On the sixth day He produced the acme of His physical creation, for whom He had refurbished the earth. Everything that He made was designed to carry out His plan to reproduce Himself through the creation of the human race. From this point, the great drama of human existence began to unfold.
Earl L. Henn (1934-1997)
Genesis 1: Fact or Fiction?
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Genesis 5:1-2 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
These two verse might seem unimportant at first. This is the genealogy of Adam. This is the first place in the Bible that the created man is actually named "Adam." He has before been referred to as Adam, but here he is named Adam. We need to ask, "Is this in reality the genealogy of Adam?" Well, the answer to that is yes and no because the implication of verses 1 and 2 is that God is naming Adam. As the father, He has taken His prerogative and named this man that He created in His likeness "Adam." With God at the head—not Adam, but God—this makes this genealogy God's, which includes Adam and makes God, clearly, the father of all humanity. So this is both the genealogy of God the Creator as well as the man that He created and named "Adam." This genealogy eventually comes to Noah, who had three sons, and each of them married. After the Flood, of course, all of mankind has sprung from Noah. But Noah came from Adam's line, or better, from God's line. Therefore, God is the father of all of humanity! Why is this important? It is another step in showing that mankind has sprung from God! Man is essentially different from all other mortal beings that have been created because of this fact.
John W. Ritenbaugh
We Shall Be God! (Part 1)
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Proverbs 16:4 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
This is a basic truth of Christianity that we neither hear nor consider very often because it has become popular for man to glorify himself, thinking he is somehow running the show and far more important than what the Bible reveals. Man is important only because God has made us the focus of His creative efforts, not because of anything inherent within us. We have great potential because of God's workmanship now in progress, but aside from His purposes, we are nothing but animated clay.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Sovereignty of God: Part Three
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Isaiah 64:8 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
Man's creation in the Garden of Eden was complete only in the physical sense. Adam was created a perfect physical specimen—but not a perfect spiritual creation. He was created of the dust—not of divine spirit. He was created corruptible—not incorruptible. He was created subject to death—not immortal. But God did not intend man should remain that way!
What It Means to Be Born Again
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John 5:16-17 (Go to this verse :: Verse pop-up)
"Hitherto" is not a word that we are familiar with. It means, "to here," so in this context it implies "to this very day." Jesus is saying, "My Father is working right up to this point of time, and I am too." God is an active Creator. He did not create everything physical, and then just sit back, cross His legs, and twiddle His thumbs. He is an active Creator. God created this universe to carry out the next step in His purpose, which is His ongoing work. He is creating a Family of beings just like Himself. He is reproducing Himself by creating us in His image. "Conversion" is the word that describes this process of transformation—"from glory to glory"—from the glory of man to the glory of God. We are being brought into the image of God. This image is not in the way that we look, but in certain knowledge and attitudes that we believe, accept, submit to in thought and in conduct. It is accomplished by an impregnation or begettal of the mind of God in us. This spiritual impregnation or begettal, just as in human impregnation and begettal, begins a growth process. In our case, it is the growth of God's mind in ours. God's mind, just like ours, is more than words. It is also attitudes, feelings, moods, passions, inclinations, and perspectives. These things can be described by words, but they are not words. They develop through the combination of knowledge and experience, most frequently within relationships. We really cannot relate to a machine, but we can relate to other beings—we can have relationships with God and men—fellowships, social intercourse, work, play, and interaction. From these experiences, these mental, emotional, and attitudinal aspects of the mind, beyond mere words, create and develop. As is happens, nothing actually is produced that has form, weight, or can be measured. Rather it is knowledge gleaned from experience, and it is accompanied by God personally and actively working and creating to enable us to accomplish our part in carrying out His will. Remember, Paul said, "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part 6)
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