Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1; John 1:12

Study Guide: Lessons on Faith, pp. 49-65

1. "Evolution is the theory that represents the course of the world as a gradual transition from the indeterminate to the determinate, from the uniform to the varied, and which assumes the causes of these processes to be immanent in the world itself that is transformed." Lessons on faith, p. 49.

a. determinate = having fixed limits. immanent = indwelling

2. "Evolution is thus almost synonymous with progress. It is a transition from the lower to the higher, from the worse to the better. Thus progress points to an increased value in existence, as judged by our feelings." Lessons on Faith, p. 49.

a. Evolution represents the course of the world as a gradual transition from the lower to the higher, from the worse to the better.

b. Evolution assumes that this process is immanent in the world itself thus to be transformed.

c. This process is marked by "an increased value in existence, as judged by our feelings."

3. Evolution is infidelity. "The hypothesis of evolution aims at answering a number of questions respecting the beginning, or genesis of things." It "helps to restore the ancient sentiment toward nature as our parent, and source of our life."

a. infidelity = a man without faith.

b. hypothesis = an assumption made especially in order to test its logical or empirical consequences.

4. Science of geology: Believes our globe was made from vast and unimaginable periods of time. Progress was made through countless ages. "Yet this progress has not been steady and straight-forward from its inception until its present condition. It has been many ups and downs. There have been many times of great beauty and symmetry; then there would come a cataclysm or an eruption, and all would go to pieces, as it were. Again the process would start from that condition of things, and build up again. This would happen many times.

a. What has been the process of your progress from the worse to the better?

b. Has it appeared that at times you made great progress, then an eruption takes place, and then after that you start in for another effort? If so, you are an evolutionist in religious beliefs.

5. Evolution believes that matter is eternal. It can be neither created nor destroyed. Each thing of itself can be something good.

a. So by this, if you look to yourself and feel that there is something in you that is good, all you have to do is superintend it properly and it would come out all right.

b. This belief is directly opposed to that of creation. Quoting an evolutionist: "It is clear that the doctrine of evolution is directly antagonistic to that of creation. . . The idea of evolution, as applied to the formation of the world as a whole, is opposed to that of direct creation volition." Lessons on Faith, p. 52.

6. Theistic evolution:

a. Those people who came up with evolution claimed to be nothing else but infidels. Even a person who claims to have faith and in reality does not possess faith, he is an infidel.

b. But many "so-called" Christians jumped at the idea. In order not to be considered infidels and not willing to forsake the Word of God altogether came up with theistic evolution.

c. Theistic evolution = "God started the thing, whenever that was; but since that, it has been going on of itself. He started it, and after that it was able of itself to accomplish all that has been done." Lessons on Faith, p. 53.

1. In the beginning, God created. Genesis 1:1.

2. But how did God create?

a. Framed—put together, arranged, built—by the word of God. Hebrews 11:3.

b. So God created everything by the word.

3. When evolution is antagonistic to creation, and creation is by the word of God, then evolution is antagonistic to the word of God.

a. Creation is immediate or else it is not creation. If it is not immediate, it is evolution.

b. Evolution is antagonistic to the Word of God.

c. This is why John 6:63.

1. If we confess our sins, we are forgiven. 1 John 1:9.

2. Example: Luke 5:20.

a. Why do we wait for days before we accept forgiveness?

b. We are in danger if we let time pass from when we ask till we believe we are forgiven.

c. Thy sins are forgiven not shall be forgiven.

3. Do you believe in the creative energy of the Word? You may think of the many failures that you may have had but what does God say? Psalm 51:10.

a. The Word says that He, the Word, will give us a new heart. Ezekiel 36:26, 27.

4. The Word says, Be ye clean. Matthew 8:3; John 15:3

a. "By looking constantly to Jesus with the eye of faith, we shall be strengthened. God will make the most precious revelations to His hungering, thirsting people. They will find that Christ is a personal Saviour. As they feed upon His word, they find that it is spirit and life. The word destroys the natural, earthly nature, and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes to the soul as a Comforter. By the transforming agency of His grace, the image of God is reproduced in the disciple; he becomes a new creature. Love takes the place of hatred, and the heart receives the divine similitude. This is what it means to live ‘by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ This is eating the Bread that comes down from heaven." Desire of Ages p. 391:1.

5. This not only begins the Christian experience but continues on until the end. Philippians 1:6.

a. And that is the same way as it began. Colossians 2:6.

b. Then the Word lives in us and creates His good works. Galatians 2:20;

b. But we must eat the word (John 6:56, 63) in order to have faith for this. Romans 10:17.

c. So long as we maintain this connection, we have eternal life (word) in us. 1 John 5:12, 13.