The creation took place under the will and the word of God
33 New Testament passages cite Genesis 1 or allude to intellectuel.
Here are some significant examples:
Hebrews 11.3 and John 1.1-3 allude to Genesis 1.1
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible (Hebrews 11.3). In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made (John 1.1-3).
These two passages recall
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1.1)
2 Peter 3.5 refers to Genesis 1.3, 6 and 9,
Long ago by God’s word the heavens existed (2 Peter 3.5) recalls
God said (Gen. 1.3, 6 and 9)
1 Timothy 4.4 refers to Genesis 1:31
Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4.4) recalls
All he had made was very good. (Genesis 1:31).
The Gospel of John echoes Genesis 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life; and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it. (John 1.1-5)And the Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory as of the One and Only who came from the Father full of grace and truth (John 1: 14).
John identifies Jesus as the Word of God by whom all things were made. Christ was there at the beginning, even before the beginning of creation. He is one with God, the sovereign Creator.
Jesus Christ, the image of God, the firstborn of creation, God’s creative agent Jesus Christ, “the image of the invisible God,” “firstborn of creation” is the link between Creator and creation
He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1.15-17).
These two titles of Jesus-Christ give a perspective of the relationship between creation and redemption.
As an image of God, Jesus Christ is the link between the creator and his creation. As a partner to the Creator, He reveals God to his creation.
Firstborn means pre-existence and not creation
Firstborn does not mean that Jesus is a creature or is inferior to God. It is a Jewish expression that implies the idea of pre-existence.
Restoration of the image of God in man
Since Jesus Christ is the image of God, the Christian is called to be conformed to Christ. The only rule allowed to the Christian is the rule of Christ, as a humble service.
Christ, the creative agent of God
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, wether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him (Colossians 1.16).
Christ is the agent of the creative activity of God, the framework of creation: all things were created by him, and in him that is to say, in reference to him or in connection with himOrigin of the cosmos in Christ, to glorify Christ
He is before all things and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the Church. (Colossians 1.17-18)Christ is not only the origin of the cosmos; it is also its goal.
All things were created for him, i. e. to be submitted to him and to glorify him.”In him all thigs hold together” (v. 17). The Greek verb in the perfect tense expresses an ongoing activity. All things continue to hold together in Christ.He is the only foundation of the unity of the cosmos and of its purpose.
Christ is the center of creation
In the creative power of his miracles
The importance of Christ in creation is seen in the creative power that manifests itself in his miracles. The healed sick, he raised dead, the calmed storms show him restoring the order and harmony in human bodies or in disturbed natural systems.
In his teaching
This is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven! Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6.9-10)
With a single word, God established his kingdom on earth and we can trust him for him to take care of us. Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that his father is sovereign and will take care of us
He teaches us to trust God who cares for us
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothing? Look at the birds flying in the air: they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6.25-26)
Christ is the image of the glory of God
For God who said: “Let light shine out of darkness”, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God that shines in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4.6).We can draw a parallel between the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ, the light that shines in our hearts today, and the light that shone in the darkness when the Spirit hovered over the waters in the creation (Gen. 1.3).
To be continued
C.S.
