The book of Genesis is a scientific book and in this book, it covers theology, cosmology, anthropology, sociology, hamartiology, ethnology and soteriology.
Theology (The Science of God) - Genesis presents God as Creator, King and determined Redeemer; and upon these fundamental facts all Christian theology depends. The nature, methods and ultimate purpose of God are not revealed.
Cosmology (The Science of the Universe) - Genesis declares that the whole universe came into being by the will and act of God. Nothing is stated in detail regarding the process of Creation, or the period occupied, or the ultimate purpose.
Anthropology (The Science of Man) - Genesis teaches that man is a mingling of dust and Deity by the will and act of God; a being placed under authority, and having dominion over all things beneath him; a being responsible therefore, to God. Nothing is said concerning the laws which regulate the interaction of the physical and the psychical and about man's ultimate destiny.
Sociology (The Science of Society) - Genesis reveals that the first circle of society is the family, based upon the marriage relationship; and that the true nation is made up of families which recognize their interresponsibility under the Divine government. The application of these principles to varied and complex conditions is not to be found in this book.
Hamartiology (The Science of Sin) - Genesis affirms that sin in the case of man is failure of faith in the goodness of God, and consequent rebellion against His government. The ultimate issues of sin in individual destiny is not declared.
Ethnology (The Science of Races) - Genesis records the breakup of the unity of the race, following upon an attempted confederacy of godlessness. The ultimate issue in its scattering is not described.
Soteriology (The Science of Salvation) - Genesis makes it perfectly plain that human salvation must come from God, and through man. Man is taught that having sinned, his only hope is that God will be his Redeemer. Nothing is distinctly said concerning the method or finality.
To deny the accuracy of these fundamental statements is to lose the meaning of all subsequent teachings. If God is not Creator, King, and Redeemer, there is no resting place for man other than the restlessness of agnosticism. On the way to agnosticism, human speculations may retain the name of religion; but the logical outcome of the denial of these fundamental assertions concerning God, denial of the existence of God.
To deny what the book teaches concerning the origin of the universe, is to be compelled to attempt to account for the things seen by some undefined action, and interaction within the universe, which have behind them no personality.
To deny that man is a mysterious mingling of dust and Deity by the will and act of God is necessarily to be compelled to think of him as the last product of animal evolution; and therefore as himself an animal, and nothing more.
If the teaching be denied that human society is founded on the family; and based upon the marriage relationship, then sociology becomes chaotic, and spurious socialism denies the sanctity of, or necessity for, the marriage relationship.
If the teaching be incorrect that sin is rebellion against God, based upon unbelief, then necessarily the terms in which it has been described by the Christian faith must be modified, until eventually it is declared to the nonexistent, none other than the underside of good.
Failure to accept the teaching that national divisions are finally the outcome of a false attempt at unity, based upon self-sufficient rebellion against God, must ultimately result in affirming those divisions to be good which nevertheless, have been productive of all wars and kindred evils.
To deny the suggestions concerning human salvation as possible only through the intervention of God, is ultimately to abandon the idea of salvation, as either unnecessary or altogether impossible.
These ideas constitute the permanent values of Genesis. But what is it ultimate message?
1. The immediate relation between God and man
2. The great principle for the realisation of human life is such faith in God as expresses itself in obedience to His throne
No comments:
Post a Comment