I'm leaving behind some doctrine for my kids

Some time ago, I began writing a simple explanation of Christian doctrine with the intent of giving it to my children and grandchildren before I am no longer here to remind them of the Bible's teaching.

Though much more could be said, I've been trying to keep it simple and to the point as I cover a number of articles of the Christian Faith for them.

While I realize it will not be possible to reproduce all the articles here, I plan to include some of them from time to time as I finish this little booklet and get it ready to pass on to my children.

How did life and

all things begin?

How is it that this world and the universe came to be? How did life begin and why does it go on? Is it all the result of chance over extreme lengths of time? Or is it the result of an intelligent creator who wisely designed and created all things?

While many have speculated and theorized, there is only one eye-witness account of how all came to be and who is behind it.

Many scoff and criticize this account and offer alternative theories with no foundation in truth in an attempt to escape the accountability which goes with the creation account, but wisdom calls upon us to seek the truth and accept it, along with any accountability which accompanies that truth.

That one eye-witness account is recorded for all to know in the first two chapters of Genesis. It is the account of the Creator Himself, recorded by Moses for all to read and know the truth.

That account begins: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light..." (Gen. 1:1-3).

Who is the Creator?

The Bible, which is God's inspired account, tells us that "in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

And, who is this God? The Hebrew word Elohim, which is the plural form of God, is used to describe the Creator (cf. Gen. 1:26-27). He is also called by the name Jehovah, often translated LORD. "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens" (Gen. 2:4).

The Bible further defines God, when it says: "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him" (1 Cor. 8:6). Thus we see that all things were created by God the Father through Jesus Christ.

God's creation account also tells us that, in the beginning when God created the heaven and the earth, "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Gen. 1:2). The Holy Spirit, too, was active in the creation of all things.

The opening verses of John's Gospel tell us: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:1-4). The Word, Jesus Christ, identified in verse 14 as God Himself in the flesh and the only begotten Son of the Father, created all things and is the giver of life, both physical and spiritual.

In St. Paul's letter to the Colossians, the inspired Scriptures say of Christ Jesus, that He is "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist" (Col. 1:15-17).

So, who is the Creator? It is God, the God the Scriptures identify for us as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Though God is one -- "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD" (Deut. 6:4) -- God is also three -- thus, the command to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt. 28:19). This is why the God of the Bible is often called the Triune (three/one) God, because He is one God and yet three distinct Persons. The Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. Yet, there are not three Gods, but one God.

The Bible tells us "there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" (1 John 5:7).

Though beyond our ability to comprehend, this is how God has revealed Himself to us -- it is His account and His word. And it is this God who has created all things and given us life.

Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.

Editorial on 08/13/2014