Introduction The ten commandments are brief statements with broad meanings. That is especially true for commandments six through nine. We saw that with the sixth commandment: “You shall not kill” is very short, but it teaches us about all our interactions with other people. It is also true for the seventh commandment. “You shall not … Continue reading Freedom to love intimately (LD 41, part 1)
Tag: creation
A life of eternal joy (LD 22, q&a 58)
Introduction We have come to the last article of the Apostles’ Creed. It started by confessing: “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth”; it concludes with the phrase: “and the life everlasting.” From where we came from to where we are going. Our life was created by God; it will … Continue reading A life of eternal joy (LD 22, q&a 58)
The Creator is my Father (LD 9, q&a 26)
Introduction “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” That is how the book of Genesis introduces God, who is the main character not only of the Bible but in all of reality. In the previous lesson we mentioned that all three divine Persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy … Continue reading The Creator is my Father (LD 9, q&a 26)
The creation of the earth
In theology, a distinction is made between “first creation” and “second creation” (creatio prima/secunda). In the “first creation”, God created the whole universe and his heavens out of nothing; this is described in Gen. 1:1.* The “second creation” begins with the First Day in Gen. 1:3. Herman Bavinck writes in his Reformed Dogmatics (§2.269): “Genesis … Continue reading The creation of the earth
The image of God (LD 3, q&a 6)
Introduction I am not able to keep God’s law perfectly. Without my saviour, I am a miserable sinner, in the power of the devil. This is true for me, for you, for all people. I am inclined by nature to hate God and my neighbour. That was the teaching of Lord’s Day 2—see the previous … Continue reading The image of God (LD 3, q&a 6)
Understanding the “image of God”
The creation narrative in Genesis 1 characterizes human beings as made “in the image” and “after the likeness” of God himself. In our very design and essence, we are closely linked to who God is: a wonderful thought! But what qualities do we have that constitute that image in us? Traditionally, there have been two … Continue reading Understanding the “image of God”