Sunday School Class: “Creation as Foundational Truth,” Week 9

“Thus says God the Lord,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,
Who gives breath to the people on it,
And spirit to those who walk on it” (Isaiah 42:5, NKJV).
 
“He has made the earth by His power,
He has established the world by His wisdom,
And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion” (Jeremiah 10:12, NKJV).
 

More information on Natural Selection (Added to Section 6, “Icons of Evolution”)

 

This information is taken from the article, “The Peppered Moth: Popular ‘Proof’ That Doesn’t Prove Evolution,” by Ken Ham on May 4, 2016.

 

A recent evolution article, entitled “8 Animals That Are Evolving Quickly”

(http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/photos/8-animals-are-evolving-quickly/rapid-adaptability), gave an explanation for quick evolution:  “rapid adaptability.” However… “rapid adaptability” is not evolution. In fact, it’s really the opposite of a molecules-to-man type of supposed process.

 

The first caption in the article reads, “Whether it’s climate change or other environmental conditions, animals are constantly evolving (My note:  "Adapting would be a much more accurate word.) to better survive. Most people think of animal evolution as being something that takes place over hundreds of thousands or even millions of years. But this isn’t the case for the resilient species listed here.”

 

All of the examples given show animals adapting to new and changing environments using information that was already in their genome.

 

“A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. Each genome contains all of the information needed to build and maintain that organism. In humans, a copy of the entire genome — more than 3 billion DNA base pairs — is contained in all cells that have a nucleus.” (https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/hgp/genome)

 

Can anyone seriously say this is a result of random, accidental natural processes? This should cause every scientist to stand in awe before our Creator.

 

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139:14, NKJV).

 

None of the animals created new genetic information to form a brand-new feature.

 

Environmental pressure simply resulted in the expression of a new variation of already existing genes or the increased survival of a certain variety of that created kind.

 

Though the animals the article talks about can’t actually be used as examples of evolution, they do highlight how quickly animals can adapt and change to new environments, using the information God placed in their DNA. This showcases the creativity and wisdom of our all-powerful and all-wise Creator.

 

The idea that evolution and natural selection are one and the same is a very popular idea. But they aren’t the same thing. In fact, they are complete opposites. Natural selection leads to the reshuffling or loss of genetic information. But evolution requires the addition of brand-new information, a process that has never been observed.

 

The observational evidence confirms God’s Word:  kinds always reproduce according to their kinds (Genesis 1:24–25).

 

From a creationist perspective, natural selection is a process in which organisms possessing specific characteristics (reflective of their genetic makeup) survive better than others in a given environment or under a given selective pressure (such as antibiotic resistance in bacteria). Those with certain characteristics live, and those without them diminish in number or die. Natural selection works with information that already exists. Therefore, the term “evolution” cannot be rightly used in the context of describing what natural selection can accomplish.

 

Natural Selection Can:

 

1.   Decrease genetic information.

 

2.   Allow organisms to survive better in a given environment.

 

3.   Act as a “selector.”

 

4.   Support creation’s “orchard” of life.

 

Natural Selection Cannot:

 

1.   Increase or provide new genetic information.

 

2.   Allow organisms to evolve from molecules to man.

 

3.   Act as an “originator.”

 

4.   Support the evolutionary “tree” of life.

 

Summary of Natural Selection

 

The creationist view of natural selection is supported biblically and scientifically.

 

Natural selection is a God-ordained process that allows organisms to survive in a post-Fall, post-Flood world. It is an observable reality that occurs in the present and takes advantage of the variations within the kinds and works to preserve the genetic viability of the kinds. Evolution requires an increase in information that results in a directional movement from molecules to man.

 

Natural selection cannot be a mechanism for evolution because it results in a decrease in information and is not directional. Speciation may occur as a result of natural selection, but it only occurs within a kind. Therefore, it is also not a mechanism for evolution but rather supports the Biblical model.

 

Natural selection is an observable phenomenon that preserves genetic viability and allows limited variation within a kind — nothing more, nothing less. It is a great confirmation of Bible truth.

 

Continuation of Section 8 from Last Week:  “Common Sense Reasons to Believe in Creation and Reject Evolution”

 

Remember John MacArthur’s statement:

 

“Believing in a supernatural creative God who made everything is the only possible RATIONAL explanation for the universe, for life, for purpose, and for destiny.”

 

An appeal to common sense makes creation by God a much more sensible answer to origins than the absurdity of evolution. Following are a few common sense reasons, which are neither scientific nor theological, for accepting creation and rejecting evolution:

 

Creation requires miracles performed by a miracle-working God. Evolution requires miracles performed by blind chance, which means miracles performed by no one.

 

Creation requires that a designer be involved in the production of intricate design. Evolution requires that intricate design has been produced without benefit of a designer.

 

Creation requires a great “first cause” of all things, which is God Himself. Evolution requires that there is no “first cause.” Either matter itself is eternal, having never had a beginning, or matter was somehow created by accident out of nothing by no one.

 

Evolution is mathematically impossible. Chance could never intervene into natural laws to the extent of producing the universe, life, and all living things. Only the Creator could do that. If He did not do so, then we do not exist. There is a famous quote which says, “I think. Therefore, I am.” Even more true would be the statement, “I am. Therefore, I was created. If I was not created, then I am not here” or, “If God doesn’t exist, neither do I.”

 

The chance that God, who is all powerful, could create all species is 100%. The chance of one species evolving into another by mutations is, for all practical purposes, ZERO.

 

Also, there would have to be a huge number of such zero possibility sequences of evolution to explain all the life forms we have today.

 

This is one reason evolutionists demand massive amounts of time. They realize none of this could happen in a short time. Reality:  It couldn’t happen in a long time, either, even the amount of time they claim they have. All of the efforts to wish evolution into existence are futile. Bottom line on evolution caused by mutations:  Evolution is an absurdity and simply could not happen.

 

Creation requires that life came from the One who is the source of all life. Evolution requires that life came from non-life.

 

Creation requires faith in God. Evolution requires faith in blind chance, matter, Charles Darwin, etc., all of which are much less than God.

 

Creation is a positive teaching, elevating man to a special creation of God, and placing him in a position of responsibility. Evolution is a negative teaching, degrading man to the status of an animal which was produced by accident, removing all responsibility from him, and ultimately leading to anarchy.

 

There can be no law or civilization without God and His laws and principles. Regardless of all that, for the Christian, the very best reason for believing in creation is the fact that God says He created, and we ought to take Him at His Word. It is tremendous that the scientific evidence, when viewed honestly, points to creation and totally refutes evolution. However, even if we did not have that, we know that creation is true, because God, who cannot lie, has told us so.

 

“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3, NKJV).

 

 

Continued next week with Section 9:  “Genesis as the Foundation of Doctrine”

 

Following are some of the resources, in addition to the Scriptures, that have helped me a great deal as I have studied to teach this Sunday school topic. These include the following:

 

Materials from the Institute for Creation Research, including the book The Genesis Record by Henry M. Morris.

 

Materials from the “Answers in Genesis” website, and the book The Lie: Evolution by Ken Ham.

 

Sermons by John MacArthur from the website, “Grace to You.”

 

Icons of Evolution by Jonathan Wells, a proponent of the Intelligent Design movement.

 

The “Got Questions?" website.

 

Various other resources, both printed books and websites.