In the beginning God created

This first verse of Genesis rings out with the founding principle of Hebrew and Christian religion. In the beginning God.

God is first cause, always has been, always will be. The existence of God as sole creator of the universe has been an idea from the beginning of time. One of the oldest books in existence is probably the book of Job.

Job 38 provides a lovely poetic description of God at work as creator.

Modern science agrees with the bible in that there was a beginning to the universe the so called Big Bang which according to Professor Stephen Hawking occurred about 15 billion years ago. 

 However because it is impossible to observe anything from before the big bang (all matter and radiation came from a single point) science has nothing provable to say about what happened before that event. So, although science can say a lot about the mechanics of creation it has nothing to say with certainty about how or by who the universe was made from nothing.

Christians believe that the universe was created by the uncreated trinity of Father, Son and Spirit who have been in an eternal state of loving relationship. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. Hebrews 11:3

However, we see God as much more than the blind watchmaker who threw the world into being and then withdrew. Creation is an active and ongoing process in which God is intimately involved. God is the Sustainer as well as the creator, sustaining all things by the power of His word Hebrews 1:3.  God is intimately involved not just in the creation of humankind but in the creation of you and me. This is beautifully expounded in Psalm 139

Going back to Genesis 1 we see the Hebrew word “bara” used multiple times it means created out of nothing and is only used with God as the subject.  A word study of the word Bara is worthwhile and reveals just how beautiful is the creator’s relationship with His creation

In relation to man, Christ makes him a new creation, the psalmist knew about this desperate need of the human heart when he cried out "Create in me a new heart” Psalm 51:10. 

Jesus explained this to Nicodemus in John 3 when he talked about the need to be born again. Christ begins a new creative work in every human heart surrendered to Him, a work brought to final perfection when we meet Christ face to face on that final day of judgement and renewal.  The final creative act will be as prophesied by Isaiah in Ch 65:17 I will create a new   heaven and a new earth and the old will be remembered no more. The recreated family of Adam and Eve, which includes every newly recreated Christian, will live in a new heavenly city with Christ enthroned in the middle of His people.