1. HOW WAS THE WORLD MADE ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -
*(a b) Gen 1:1. In the beginning God created the heaven
and
the earth.
(b) Gen 1:3. God said, LET THERE BE! (See also
Gen. 1:6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24.)
(b) Heb. 11:3. Through faith we understand that
the worlds were framed BY THE WORD OF GOD, so that things which are
seen
were NOT MADE OF THINGS WHICH DO APPEAR.
(c) Ex. 20:11. In six days the Lord made heaven
and earth, the sea, and all that in them is.
(c) Gen. 1:5. And THE EVENING AND THE MORNING
were the first DAY. (See also Gen 1:8, 13, 19, 23 31, and Gen 2:1, 2.)
FROM THIS WE LEARN -
(A) All things were made by God.
(B) He created them, calling them into existence
out of nothing by His almighty Word.
(C) He did this in six natural and consecutive
days.
2. WHAT DID GOD CREATE ON THE RESPECTIVE DAYS ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -
Gen. 1. (Read the whole chapter.)
FROM THIS WE LEARN -
God observed the following order in the work of
creation:
First day: the earth in darkness and chaos;
the light.
Second day: the atmosphere, or expanse
of heaven (firmament.)
Third day: the arrangement of dry land and water;
plant life.
Fourth day: the heavenly bodies.
Fifth day: fishes and sea animals; birds.
Sixth day: land animals; man.
3. HOW DID GOD CREATE MAN ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -
*(a b) Gen. 2:7. The Lord God FORMED MAN OF THE DUST OF
THE
GROUND, and BREATHED INTO HIS NOSTRILS THE BREATH OF LIFE; and man
became
a living soul.
(c) Gen. 2:18-25. (The creation of woman. Read
this passage.)
(d e) Gen 1:26,27. God said, Let us make man
IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS: and let them HAVE DOMINION over the
fish
of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over
all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the
earth.
So God created man IN HIS OWN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD created He
him;
male and female created He them.
(e) Col. 3:10. (Ye) have put on the new man,
which is renewed in KNOWLEDGE AFTER THE IMAGE OF HIM THAT CREATED him.
(e) Eph. 4:24. Put on the new man, which AFTER
GOD is created in righteousness and true holiness
.FROM THIS WE LEARN -
(A) God especially formed the body of one male
(Adam) of the dust of the earth.
(B) He gave him a rational soul.
(C) He made one woman (Eve) of a rib taken from
Adam.
(D) He placed man as ruler over all the earth.
(E) Man was created in God's image, consisting
in blissful knowledge of God and in perfect righteousness and holiness.
(F) Man is the foremost of all the visible
creatures.
4. HOW DOES GOD PRESERVE HIS CREATURES ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -
(a) Heb. 1:3. (He upholds) all things by THE
WORD
OF HIS POWER.
(b) Gen. 1:28. God blessed them (Adam and Eve),
and God said unto them, BE FRUITFUL, AND MULTIPLY, AND REPLENISH THE
EARTH.
(See also Gen. 1:11,22.)
(c) Gen. 8:22. While the earth remaineth,
SEEDTIME
AND HARVEST... SHALL NOT CEASE. (See also Gen. 1:29, 30 and Gen. 9:3.)
(c) Ps. 145:15,16. The eyes of all wait upon
Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine
hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
(d) Matt. 10:29, 30. Are not two sparrows sold
for a farthing ? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without
your
Father. But the VERY HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD ARE ALL NUMBERED.
(d) Ps. 91:10. There shall no evil befall thee,
neither shall any plague come nigh they dwelling.
(d) Gen. 50:20. Ye thought evil against me: but
GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save
much
people alive.
FROM THIS WE LEARN -
(A) God preserves all things by His almighty
Word.
(B) He endows His creatures with the ability
to reproduce after their kind.
(C) He provides them with the necessities of
life. (Providence.)
(D) He guards and protects us from all evil.
(The Bible ascribes the work of creation and
preservation especially to God the Father.)
5. WHAT DO WE OWE OUR HEAVENLY FATHER FOR ALL THIS ?
THE BIBLE SAYS -
(a) Gen. 32:10. I am not worthy of the least
of
all the mercies, and of all the truth, which Thou hast showed
unto
Thy servant.
(b) Ps. 139:14. I will PRAISE Thee; for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works; and that my
soul
knoweth right well.
*(b) Ps 118:1. O GIVE THANKS unto the Lord; for He is good:
because His mercy endureth forever.
(c) 1 Pet. 5:7. CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM; for
He careth for you.
(d) Ps. 116:12. What shall I RENDER UNTO THE LORD for
all His benefits toward me?
FROM THIS WE LEARN -
(A) We should acknowledge our utter
unworthiness
as far as all God's benefits towards us are concerned.
(B) We should praise and thank Him for having
so wonderfully made and so graciously preserved us.
(C) We should trust in Him, confidently believing
that He will provide for us and keep us also in the future.
(D) We should gladly serve him all our days.
BEFORE THE NEXT LESSON
.Fill out Work Sheet No. 4.
Memorize the Bible passages marked with an asterisk(*). The First
Article (without the explanation). See Catechism.
Read Genesis, chapters 22-28.
(A) As to time ? .......................................................................................................
(B) As to method ? .....................................................................................................
(C) As to the various "kinds," or species ? ............................................................................
(D) As to the soul of man ? ............................................................................................
His.....................................................................
(B) The two parts of man are ...............................and ........................................................
(C) the divine image consists of ...........................and of
.....................................................
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........................................................ ........................................................
(B) Why should we regularly and sincerely use such prayers at the table ?
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