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In this episode of The Reformed Standard, we delve into Westminster Shorter Catechism Answer 9, which addresses God’s work of creation. The answer states: “The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.” This foundational doctrine encapsulates four distinct theological truths about creation: God created everything out of nothing (creatio ex nihilo), He created by the power of His word, He worked in an orderly fashion over six days, and He declared His finished work “very good.” Understanding the perfection of God’s original creation helps us appreciate both the tragedy of the Fall and the glory of the redemption to come in the new creation.
Key Takeaways
- Creation Ex Nihilo: God created all things out of nothing, establishing an absolute distinction between Creator and creation, unlike pagan creation myths where gods merely reshape pre-existing materials.
- Creation by Divine Word: God created simply by speaking, demonstrating His absolute authority and omnipotence without struggle or effort.
- Six-Day Creation: God purposefully created over six days, revealing His orderly nature and establishing a pattern of work and rest for His image-bearers.
- Divine Declaration of Goodness: God’s evaluation of creation as “very good” is a divine declaration of its perfection and suitability for its purpose.
- Foundation for Redemptive History: Understanding the original perfection of creation provides the necessary context for grasping both the tragedy of the Fall and the glory of the promised new creation.
Key Concepts
Creation Ex Nihilo (Out of Nothing)
The doctrine of creation ex nihilo fundamentally distinguishes biblical theology from ancient pagan cosmologies. While other ancient creation accounts portray gods as divine artisans working with eternal pre-existing materials, the God of Scripture brought everything into existence from absolute nothingness. Hebrews 11:3 affirms this: “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” This doctrine establishes God’s transcendent nature—He exists completely apart from and prior to the universe. It also demonstrates His absolute sovereignty, as everything that exists depends entirely on Him for its being. Creation ex nihilo reveals a God who is not merely the most powerful being within reality, but the very source and ground of all reality itself.
The Order and Purpose of Six Days
God’s decision to create over six days, rather than instantaneously, reveals profound truths about His nature and purposes. The six-day structure demonstrates that God is a God of order, not chaos. Each day builds logically upon the previous, moving from forming cosmic spaces to filling them with appropriate inhabitants. This order reflects God’s wisdom and intentionality. Furthermore, this pattern establishes the rhythm of work and rest that God designed for His creation, culminating in the Sabbath. By creating in this manner, God was not only making a world but was also modeling for His image-bearers how they should approach their own creative and cultural endeavors. The six-day creation pattern teaches us that God values process, order, and purposeful development in His works.
Memorable Quotes
“Our God is not part of the universe; He is its transcendent source. He did not work with pre-existing materials. Before He spoke, there was nothing.”
“The word ‘good’ here doesn’t just mean morally good. It means complete, perfect in its design, lacking nothing, and perfectly suited to accomplish the purpose for which it was made.”
Full Transcript
[00:00:18] Exploring the Catechism’s Question on Creation
On Tuesday, we considered the catechism’s carefully worded question, “What is the work of creation?” We meditated on the significance of that singular word, “work,” and how it frames creation not as a single, instantaneous act, but as a purposeful, ordered project that God accomplished over time.
Having explored the contours of the question, we now turn to the catechism for its rich and multi-faceted answer. The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.
This answer gives us four distinct and glorious truths about God’s creative work, and we need to unpack each one to feel its full weight.
[00:01:02] Unpacking the Doctrine of Creatio Ex Nihilo
First, the catechism tells us that the work of creation is “God’s making all things of nothing.” This is the historic Christian doctrine of creatio ex nihilo—creation out of nothing. The proof text for this is Hebrews 11:3, which says, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” This is a radical statement. In every other ancient creation myth, the gods are not truly creators; they are divine artisans. They take pre-existing matter—a cosmic ocean, the corpse of a defeated monster—and they shape it or fashion it into the world as we know it. In these stories, the gods are part of the universe, and the matter they work with is as eternal as they are.
The Bible presents a fundamentally different reality. Our God is not part of the universe; He is its transcendent source. He did not work with pre-existing materials. Before He spoke, there was nothing. This truth establishes the absolute distinction between the Creator and the creation. God and the world are not two parts of one reality; God is the uncreated reality who, in His freedom and power, brought all other reality into being from nothing.
[00:02:18] The Power of God’s Word in Creation
Second, how did God accomplish this staggering feat? The catechism says He did it “by the word of his power.” Again, this sets the God of the Bible apart. The pagan gods create through struggle, through violence, through cosmic battles. The God of Genesis 1 simply speaks. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” There is no effort, no strain, no resistance. Psalm 33 says it beautifully: “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” The power of God is in His speech. His word is so powerful that it does not merely describe reality; it creates it. This shows us the absolute authority and omnipotence of our God.
[00:02:59] The Significance of Six Days of Creation
Third, the catechism tells us this work was done “in the space of six days.” As we discussed on Tuesday, this confirms that creation was a “work” that unfolded over time. God, being all-powerful, certainly could have created everything in a single, instantaneous moment. So why did He choose to work over six days? The structure itself reveals the character of the Worker. Our God is a God of order, not of chaos. The six days of creation are a masterpiece of divine order, moving from forming to filling, with a beautiful and logical progression. He was not just making a world; He was demonstrating His own wise and orderly nature. Furthermore, in doing so, He established a pattern for us, His image-bearers, a rhythm of work and rest that is woven into the very fabric of the created order, culminating in the Sabbath.
[00:03:50] God’s Declaration of Creation’s Perfection
Finally, after this six-day work was complete, what was God’s own evaluation of it? The catechism concludes: “and all very good.” This is a direct quote from Genesis 1:31: “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” This is not just a passing comment. It is a divine declaration of perfection. The word “good” here doesn’t just mean morally good. It means complete, perfect in its design, lacking nothing, and perfectly suited to accomplish the purpose for which it was made. That purpose, as we know, is to be a magnificent theater for the display of God’s own glory, and a perfect home for the man and woman He created to worship and serve Him.
This statement of original perfection is the necessary foundation for everything that comes next in the story of redemption. It is only when we understand how good things were in the beginning that we can truly grasp the tragedy of the Fall. And it is only when we see the glory of the first creation that we can begin to long for the even greater glory of the new creation, purchased for us by Christ.
So, this is the work of creation. It is God, in His absolute freedom and power, bringing the universe into existence out of nothing. He did it effortlessly, by the power of His mere command. He did it purposefully and orderly, over the space of six days. And when He was finished, the work was perfect in every way, and all very good.