25-0601a Transcript

Preacher: Scott Reynolds

(1:16) Good morning, everyone. It’s really good to be here with you all today. (1:21) Especially as we turn our attention to one of the most magnificent moments in all of Scripture. (1:30) The sixth day of creation. (1:33) Please open your Bibles to Genesis, chapter 1, verses 24 through 31, (1:39) where the words of God himself reveal, unlike Darwin’s origin of species, God reveals the actual origin of life and the purpose of our existence.

(1:59) Genesis, chapter 1, verses 24 through 31. (2:02) For context, we see that day 5 concludes in verse 23, the preceding day. (2:08) So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

(2:14) Picking up in verse 24, that God said, (2:19) Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind, (2:24) cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth, each according to its kind. (2:29) And it was so. (2:31) And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, (2:35) cattle according to its kind, (2:38) and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind.

(2:43) And God saw that it was good. (2:47) Then God said, (2:49) Let us make man in our image according to our likeness. (2:54) Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, (2:59) and over the cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

(3:07) So God created man in his own image. (3:11) In the image of God, he created him. (3:15) Male and female, he created them.

(3:18) Then God blessed them. (3:20) God said to them, (3:22) Be fruitful and multiply. (3:24) Fill the earth and subdue it.

(3:26) Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, (3:31) and over everything that moves on the earth. (3:35) And God said, (3:37) See, I have given you every herb that yields seed, which is on the face of the earth, (3:44) and every tree whose fruit yields seed. (3:48) To you it shall be for food.

(3:51) Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, (3:55) and to everything that creeps on the earth in which there is life, (4:00) I have given every green herb for food. (4:04) And it was so. (4:06) Then God saw everything that he had made.

(4:09) And indeed, it was very good. (4:13) So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (4:17) Okay.

(4:19) So on this day, God fills the earth with living creatures. (4:25) Cattle grazing peacefully, insects scurrying through the grass, (4:30) mighty beasts like behemoths or dinosaurs roaming the land. (4:36) And then, with divine deliberateness, (4:39) he creates Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, (4:44) to bear his image and steward his creation.

(4:50) Some may pause and say, (4:53) Could such wonders truly unfold in one day? (4:57) And the voices of the world, (4:59) with their claims of millions of years and gradual evolution, (5:03) urge us to doubt. (5:05) So let’s reflect on this. (5:07) If God can speak the stars into existence, (5:11) or raise Jesus from the tomb, (5:14) why would we confine his power to the constraints of human timelines? (5:23) Young earth creationists, drawing from wisdom of apologetics press, (5:28) Answers in Genesis, and Creation Ministries International, (5:32) stand firmly on a plain reading of the truth of Genesis chapter 1. (5:39) The Hebrew word yom, meaning day, (5:43) combined with evening and morning and a numerical number, (5:48) as in, there was evening and morning, the sixth day, (5:53) clearly signifies one literal 24-hour day.

(5:59) Apologetics press reminds us that stretching this day into eons (6:04) undermines the authority of scripture instead. (6:08) Embracing it as written unveils the breathtaking majesty of our creator. (6:16) Today in this first part, (6:18) we will marvel at the creation of land animals, (6:23) including all inspiring creatures like the behemoth and dinosaurs, (6:28) and the creation of humanity in God’s image.

(6:31) We will also explore the harmony of a world where all creatures, (6:37) from the smallest insect to the mightiest beast, (6:41) were given plants for food. (6:44) This is not merely a story of the past, (6:47) but a truth that shapes our worship and purpose even today. (6:53) The sixth day begins with the creation of land animals.

(6:57) Let’s look again at Genesis chapter 1, 24 and 25, which Roger read. (7:03) Thank you, Roger. (7:05) And God said, (7:07) let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds, (7:11) livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds, (7:15) and it was so.

(7:16) And God made the living creatures according to their kinds, (7:20) and God saw that it was good. (7:23) So picture the moment, (7:25) the fifth day, the previous day, (7:28) has filled the seas with fish and the skies with birds. (7:33) Now as the sixth day dawns, (7:36) the earth stands ready, (7:38) the land is formed, (7:39) the plants are flourishing, (7:41) and God speaks.

(7:44) In an instant, (7:46) the silence is broken, (7:48) hooves tread the soil as cattle and sheep appear, (7:51) tiny legs scurry as ants, (7:54) beetles and lizards dart through the grass. (7:57) A powerful roar echoes, (7:59) perhaps from a creature like the behemoth of Job 40, (8:03) or a dinosaur, (8:05) a testament to God’s boundless creativity. (8:10) The phrase, (8:11) according to their kinds, (8:13) is foundational to our understanding.

(8:17) The Hebrew word, (8:18) mim, (8:19) refers not to every modern species, (8:22) but to distinct created kinds, (8:25) and they are not the same. (8:28) Kinds are broad groups from which today varieties descend. (8:34) Consider a dog kind, (8:36) giving rise to wolves, (8:37) foxes and hounds, (8:39) or an elephant kind, (8:40) encompassing the great pachyderms of history.

(8:44) Young Earth creationists, (8:46) through the study of baraminology, (8:50) and that’s the study of created kinds, (8:53) or baramins from the Hebrew word bara for created, (8:57) and mim for kind, (8:59) affirm that these kinds were distinct from the moment of creation, (9:04) not evolving from one form to another, (9:08) as secular theories propose. (9:11) Apologetics Press declares, (9:13) there are no transitional forms in Genesis. (9:18) God created each kind fully formed, (9:22) perfect, (9:23) and purposeful.

(9:25) And by the way, (9:27) there is a mind bender. (9:29) Now that man has learned that there is such a thing as DNA, (9:33) a molecular code that instructs cells how to reproduce and pattern themselves. (9:41) Perhaps the phrase, (9:43) after its kind, (9:45) in Genesis 1, (9:46) implies a DNA-based pattern, (9:50) which kind refers to a genetic template or code that allows variation within a kind, (9:57) but restricts reproduction beyond it, (10:00) effectively meaning, (10:03) after its kind’s DNA.

(10:06) What do you think? (10:08) On the sixth day, (10:11) God’s command brought forth a vibrant array of land animals, (10:15) each designed in its role in his perfect world. (10:20) Let’s linger here on the diversity of these creatures for a moment. (10:26) There’s livestock, (10:27) cows, (10:28) sheep, (10:28) and goats, (10:29) which were created to serve humanity’s needs, (10:33) from providing milk to tilling fields.

(10:37) Creeping things like insects, (10:38) spiders, (10:39) and reptiles that play their quiet but essential roles sustaining the earth’s balance. (10:45) And then there’s the beasts of the earth, (10:48) wild and free, (10:49) a testament to God’s delight and strength and beauty. (10:55) Among these, (10:57) scripture points to extraordinary creatures like the behemoth, (11:01) described in Job 40, (11:03) verses 15 through 24, (11:06) as a mighty being with a tail like a cedar, (11:10) bones like bronze, (11:12) and strength unmatched, (11:13) grazing on plants by the river.

(11:18) Younger creationists, (11:19) including answers in Genesis, (11:21) propose that such descriptions align with dinosaurs, (11:26) sauropods like Brachiosaurus, (11:29) or other massive creatures, (11:31) created on this day as part of the beast of the earth. (11:36) Far from being relics of a distant past, (11:39) dinosaurs walked alongside Adam and Eve in a world without death, (11:46) their grandeur reflecting God’s power. (11:50) Genesis chapter 1, (11:51) 29 to 30 reveals a crucial aspect of this creation.

(11:56) And God said, (11:58) Behold, (11:59) I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, (12:05) and every tree with seed in its fruit. (12:08) You shall have them for food, (12:10) and to every beast of the earth, (12:12) and to every bird of the heavens, (12:15) and to everything that creeps on the earth, (12:17) everything that has the breath of life in it, (12:20) I have given every green plant for food. (12:25) In God’s original design, (12:27) all creatures, (12:29) humans, (12:30) livestock, (12:30) creepy things, (12:32) and mighty beasts, (12:33) like behemoths and dinosaurs, (12:36) shared a vegetarian diet.

(12:39) No creature preyed upon another. (12:43) There’s no predation in the very beginning. (12:46) The earth’s abundant plants and fruits sustained all life.

(12:52) Imagine a towering dinosaur, (12:55) perhaps a Diplodocus, (12:57) peacefully grazing on ferns alongside cattle, (13:01) or a behemoth resting by a stream, (13:04) eating grass like an ox. (13:06) Job 40 verse 15. (13:09) This harmony reflects the very good nature of God’s creation, (13:14) a world free from bloodshed or struggle.

(13:18) And so why is it critical that this unfolded in one day? (13:24) If we extend the sixth day into millions of years, (13:28) we encounter a theological problem. (13:31) Secular science claims fossils reveal death and predation, (13:36) that is, animals preying on one another, (13:40) long before humans. (13:41) With creatures like dinosaurs tearing into their prey, (13:46) Genesis 1.25 declares God’s creation good, (13:50) and it’s extended in verse 31 to very good.

(13:57) Romans 5.12 teaches us that death entered through human sin, (14:03) not before. (14:04) A vegetarian creation, (14:06) where even the mightiest dinosaurs ate plants, (14:10) aligns with this truth. (14:13) No fangs bared, no claws tearing flesh, (14:17) only the peace of God’s provision.

(14:20) Psalm 104.24, thank you, Wyatt, for reading that. (14:24) Oh, Lord, how manifold are your works. (14:28) In wisdom you have made them all.

(14:30) The earth is full of your creatures. (14:33) The sixth day, in one divine act, (14:37) crafted an ecosystem of harmony and purpose. (14:43) Let’s reflect on the plain words of Genesis 1.24-25, (14:48) where God commands the earth to bring forth living creatures, (14:52) cattle, creeping things, and beasts, (14:54) like the behemoth of dinosaurs, all in one day, (14:58) each according to its kind.

(15:01) Hours later, he creates humanity, verses 26 and 27, (15:07) meaning dinosaurs predated Adam and Eve by mere moments (15:12) within this 24-hour day. (15:16) The text declares them good, sustained by plants, verse 30, (15:20) with no death or predation. (15:23) This reveals a world of harmony, (15:25) where mighty dinosaurs grazed peacefully.

(15:28) When you see a fossil or a deer, (15:32) let it point to the sixth day’s truth, (15:35) God’s wisdom and care in every creature. (15:40) Next up on day six is the creation of humanity. (15:45) Now Genesis 1.26 shifts the narrative.

(15:49) Then God said, let us make man in our image, (15:54) after our likeness, (15:55) and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea (15:59) and over the birds of the heavens (16:00) and over the livestock and over all the earth. (16:06) This is the crescendo. (16:08) God’s earlier commands were, let there be.

(16:12) But here he pauses, (16:14) as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit unite in purpose, (16:19) and say, let us make. (16:22) Verse 27 continues, (16:25) so God created man in his own image, (16:29) and the image of God he created him, (16:32) male and female he created them. (16:36) And Genesis chapter 2 provides details.

(16:41) Adam was formed from the dust of the earth (16:45) and Eve from his rib. (16:47) And by the way, did you notice back in verse 24, (16:52) God says, let the earth bring forth all the land creatures. (16:59) God used the earth to make the land creatures, (17:02) like he does here with Adam from the dust of the earth.

(17:07) But all this occurs within the six days, 24 hours. (17:12) There’s no gradual process, no evolutionary ascent. (17:15) Only God’s careful craftsmanship.

(17:20) The image of God is not physical, (17:23) for God is spirit. (17:25) It is our soul which embodies our capacity (17:28) to reason, love, and choose. (17:31) Apologetics Press notes that this sets us apart (17:34) from other creatures.

(17:35) A lion may hunt, but only humans ponder eternity (17:40) or seek God’s truth. (17:42) On this day, God bestowed upon humanity (17:46) a unique dignity to reflect his character (17:51) and walk with him. (17:53) The creation of male and female establishes (17:56) God’s design, two genders.

(17:59) So not only does science say we are binary, (18:03) but we’re told here also that God only made two genders. (18:08) To paraphrase John 1, 3, (18:12) if Jesus the creator didn’t make it, (18:15) it doesn’t exist. (18:17) So there are no other genders.

(18:21) He made them male and female, (18:24) equal in worth, distinct in role, (18:27) and together imaging God. (18:31) Verse 28 blesses them. (18:33) Be fruitful and multiply, (18:35) and fill the earth and subdue it, (18:37) and have dominion over all the earth.

(18:41) Dominion is not tyranny, but stewardship, (18:45) caring for creation as God’s representatives. (18:49) Adam’s first task is naming the animals, (18:52) Genesis chapter 2, verses 19 and 20, (18:56) including creatures like the behemoth (18:58) and the dinosaurs. (19:00) I wonder what Adam named the dinosaurs, (19:03) by the way, don’t you? (19:05) Maybe behemoth and leviathan as two.

(19:10) Thus demonstrating his authority (19:12) over all the kinds. (19:15) Eve, his partner, shared this calling, (19:18) co-ruling God’s world. (19:22) Verses 29 and 30 affirm that humans, (19:25) like the animals, were given plants (19:28) and fruits for food.

(19:30) I have given you every plant yielding seed (19:34) and every tree with the seed in its fruit. (19:37) You shall have them for food. (19:40) This vegetarian mandate extended (19:43) to all creatures, from creeping things (19:46) to mighty dinosaurs to humans, (19:49) sustaining life in a world without death.

(19:52) Picture Adam and Eve in Eden, (19:56) surrounded by creatures great and small, (19:59) all thriving on God’s abundant provisions, (20:04) fresh and thoughtfully prepared (20:06) just the day before, (20:08) a paradise of peace, (20:10) the sixth day’s perfection. (20:13) The sixth day concludes (20:15) in Genesis 1, verse 31, (20:18) which declares, (20:20) And God saw everything that he had made, (20:23) and behold, it was very good. (20:26) And there was evening, and there was morning, (20:30) the sixth day.

(20:31) The sixth day is God’s masterpiece, (20:35) creatures from ants to behemoths (20:38) and dinosaurs to humanity (20:40) who bears his image, (20:43) all created in one day, (20:45) all sustained by plants. (20:48) And tonight, we’ll explore (20:50) what this means for us today. (20:52) For now, stand in awe (20:55) of the God who made you.

(20:58) Let’s pray. (21:01) Lord, thank you (21:03) for the wonder of the sixth day. (21:05) Help us trust your word (21:07) and worship your power.

(21:10) In Jesus' name we pray it. (21:12) Amen. (21:14) The invitation is being extended (21:16) to anyone who is subject to it.

(21:19) Come, why don’t we stand and sing?