A. The creation of the heavens and the earth.
1. The manner of creation:
a. In six days of creation—what was formed on each day?
b. The six days—how are they to be understood? How long are they?
1) The views which we must condemn:
a) Evolution.
b) The period-theory of the creation days.
2) The days were six literal days of 24 hours each. What proof have we?
2. The maintaining of creation (Providence).
a. Providence includes:
1) Preservation of all things.
2) Co-operation with the acts of moral creatures (II Sam. 16:10; Ps. 1146:9; Prov. 21:1)
3) Government whereby God leads all things to His own determinate end. Rom. 8.
b. Various errors in connection with the doctrine of Providence:
1) Deism which denies providence.
2) The question of the prosperity of the wicked, and suffering of righteous.
B. The good creation of man:
1. The creation itself:
a. How God created Adam (a two-fold unique act).
b. The place for man:
1) In the garden of Eden.
2) The two special trees placed in Paradise.
2. Created in the image of God.
a. Of what the image of God consists:
1) True knowledge, righteousness, and holiness.
2) The result of this creation:
a) Adam was the covenant-friend of the living God.
b) Adam’s relation to the rest of creation:
1/ Was given dominion over all creatures.
2/ He is the first father and representative head of all men.
b. His covenant-relation to God before the fall:
1) Not a covenant of works (as taught by many Reformed and Presbyterians):
a) This teaches: a condition, promise, and penalty.
b) Reasons why we must deny this view: makes eternal life attainable apart from Christ; Christ’s work becomes only repair work.
2) But: Covenant of Friendship with God.
C. The fall of man and its effects:
1. The great temptation and fall.
a. Satan and his sin of pride (He was created originally a good angel).
b. Satan’s approach to Eve:
1) Why he comes to Eve.
2) How he approaches her.
3) Eve’s fall; Adam also sins.
2. The result of the fall for man:
a. For Adam:
1) Immediate spiritual death—and also physical death as God had said.
2) His only hope of deliverance from this sentence was Christ.
b. For his posterity:
1) Two things are true:
a) Adam represented us, and therefore we possess his original guilt.
b) As our first father, Adam passes on original pollution.
2) Thus is man born totally depraved—unable to perform the least good.