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 one eye-witness account of how all came to be and who is behind it.

And this account is foundational for the Christian Faith. If God did not create the heavens and the earth and all things, we are not accountable to Him. But, if the creation account is true and God did create this world and give us life, each of us must answer to Him for how we have lived the life He gave us.

Many scoff and criticize this account and offer alternative theories with no foundation in truth in an attempt to escape the accountability which goes along 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” (Genesis 1:1).

Please take the time now to read Genesis 1:1 — 2:3.

Genesis 1:1 – 2:3

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 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. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good, and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light “day,” and he called the darkness “night,” and the evening and the morning were the first day.

6 And God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the firmament and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. And it was so. 8 And God called the firmament “heaven.” And the evening and the morning were the second day.

9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heaven be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 And God called the dry land “earth,” and he called the collection of waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit-tree yielding fruit after its kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth.” And it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs, for seasons, for days, and years. 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 To rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20 And God said, “Let the waters abundantly bring forth the moving creature that has life and the bird that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.” 21 And God created the great sea-creatures and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind, and every winged bird after his kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply in the earth.” 23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind: cattle, the creeping animal, and the beast of the earth after his kind.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, cattle after their kind, and every animal that creeps upon the earth after his kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping animal that creeps upon the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image. In the image of God he created him: male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the bird of the air, and over every living animal that moves upon the earth.”

29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed. To you it shall be for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to every animal that creeps upon the earth, in which is life, I have given every green herb for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made. And he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

[Scripture is quoted from the Revised Common Version of the Bible.]

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore, the world does not know us because it did not know him. Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every man who has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3

The Bible tells us: “For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only-begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him, should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). We see this love in the following:

• Our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. He humbled Himself, suffered and died on the cross for the sins of all, and rose again on the third day, having won forgiveness of sins and life everlasting for all mankind. Cf. Gal. 4:4-5; 1 Tim. 1:15-16; 1 Cor. 15:3-4.

• He now — through the preaching of His Word — calls sinners to repent of their sinful ways and trust in Him and His shed blood for full and free forgiveness and for the everlasting joys of heaven. Cf. Luke 24:46-47; Acts 3:19; Rom. 10:17.

• When by the grace and mercy of God, we are brought to see our sinfulness and to turn in faith to Jesus for forgiveness and life in Him, we become children of God — saved by His grace alone. We have an inheritance in heaven and look forward to the day when Jesus our Savior returns to take us to live with Him in holiness and righteousness, forever with our God and Savior. Cf. John 3:14-18; Rom. 3:19-26; 5:1-2; Gal. 3:26-29; Eph. 2:8-9.

We can’t even begin to understand what it will be like when we are raised up in — or changed into — His image. The Bible tells us: “Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2; cf. Rom. 8:29).

Now, as believers, we are faultless before our heavenly Father because of Christ’s righteous life and atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world (cf. Col. 1:19-23; Eph. 1:6-7), but we look forward to that day when we are free of all sin and can indeed serve our God in righteousness and purity forever.

We confess in our catechism (Luther’s explanation of the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed): “I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.”

While we await that day, we strive — led and aided by God’s Holy Spirit — to be more and more like our Savior. The Bible says, “And every man who has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3).

St. Paul describes it this way in his letter to the Philippians (Phil. 3:8-14): “Indeed, I even count all things to be loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For him I have suffered the loss of all things and count them to be dung so that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith, so that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death, if by any means I may attain to the resurrection of the dead. It is not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect, but I pursue, if that I may obtain that for which Christ Jesus also obtained me. Brothers, I do not count myself to have obtained, but this one thing I do: forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

But the day will come, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound, the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:52; cf. Phil. 3:20-21).

When that day comes, we shall be changed into the image of our Lord Jesus. As John wrote in his first epistle, “We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

As believers in our Lord Jesus, we can join with David in his psalm and say: “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied with your likeness when I awake” (Psalm 17:15).

What a day that will be!

Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You for redeeming us with Your holy and precious blood and for graciously bringing us to repent of our sins and trust in You for forgiveness and life. By Your Spirit, keep us in the faith and move us to seek to be more and more like You until that day when You return and we are changed into Your likeness and dwell with You forevermore. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the Revised Common Version of the Bible.]

“And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:10-11 (Read 1-11).

This Word of God, which was spoken by angels to the disciples who had just witnessed Jesus’ ascension into heaven, teaches us that Jesus Christ will return visibly in the clouds of glory on the Last Day.

The Bible says: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen” (Rev. 1:7).

As Jesus ascended into heaven, so He shall also return on the Last Day, the Day of Judgment. Those who do not trust in Him for salvation will wail in sorrow at His return because they stand condemned for not trusting in the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18). But those who do trust in Him as their Savior – believing that they have pardon for their sins and peace with God for the sake of Christ’s innocent sufferings and death in their stead – will rejoice at His return because He comes to take them to be with Him forever in the mansions of heaven (cf. Luke 21:27-28; Heb. 9:27-28; John 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).

What about you? Do you repent of your sinful ways and look in faith to Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for mercy and forgiveness? Or do you refuse to repent and look to Jesus for pardon and forgiveness?

The Bible tells us: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16).

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, as You have ascended up into heaven to the right hand of God the Father, so come again and take us to be with You forever. Graciously keep us in the true faith so that, on that Day, we may greet You with joy and not with sorrow. Grant this to us for the sake of Your holy life and bitter sufferings and death on the cross in our stead. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Before ascending into heaven, Jesus said to His disciples (and to us too since His promise is to be with us unto the end of this world): “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus suffered and died for the sins of the world and is risen again and ascended to the right hand of God the Father. He has all power and authority in heaven and earth. As the risen and exalted Christ, He is over all things and works to build His Church through the preaching of His Word and the right administration of His Sacraments (cf. Eph. 1:20-23)!

Having all power and authority, He commands us (with one active verb and three participles in the Greek): “Going, therefore, teach (or disciple) all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world” (literal translation of the Greek text).

What Jesus commands us to do is to disciple, or make disciples of, all the nations and peoples of this world. (The word translated “teach” in verse 19, μαθητευσατε, is different than the participle translated “teaching” in verse 20, διδασκοντες, the first meaning to disciple and the second to teach and instruct.) The way that we are to do this is by going out to the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Triune God, and teaching them to observe all that Christ taught and commanded.

This great commission of Jesus is not complete when a child or adult is baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, or even when confirmed by publicly professing his or her faith; those who are baptized into Christ Jesus are also to be taught Jesus’ doctrine – all that He taught and commanded – that they might observe it and continue in the true and saving faith until death or Christ’s return.

Thus, the work of parents, sponsors, and the entire church continues far past the day of Baptism. We carry out Christ’s commission as we continue to teach and explain the truths of God’s Holy Word that the Spirit of God, through the Word, might preserve and strengthen faith in Christ Jesus. We continue this work as we celebrate together Christ’s Supper and partake of His atoning sacrifice so that we and our fellow believers might be assured of forgiveness and life through faith in Christ Jesus and His death and resurrection in our stead.

And, as Jesus said, we are not left to ourselves with this task. Jesus gives us the added assurance that He is present with us always, “even unto the end of the world.”

O Jesus, our Savior, grant that we be Your disciples through Baptism and continuing in Your Word, and grant that we too disciple the nations by going out, by baptizing, and by teaching Your life-giving Word. Amen.

[Except as otherwise noted, Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12

St. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11 cf. Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22). And yet many would set aside Jesus and His redemptive work and build upon another foundation – whether that be the foundation of good works, human will, sovereign election, or manmade traditions.

The religious leaders of the Jews sought to build on their system of temple worship and obedience to the laws of Moses and to the traditions of the elders. Thus, when Jesus came preaching repentance and faith in Him and His redemptive work for pardon and life everlasting, the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus and even had Him crucified.

Strangely enough, even today in so-called “Christian” churches, Jesus and salvation through faith alone in his shed blood are often set aside and replaced with other foundations for faith. It may be our obedience to certain commandments, our decision to follow Christ, our level of devotion to Him, or observing certain church rites and ceremonies.

Simply preaching Jesus and salvation for the sake of His innocent sufferings and death on the cross for the sins of the world often gets in the way of man-made doctrines and traditions. So, rather than preaching Christ alone and salvation through faith in His name, religious leaders often hold up human traditions, specific prayers or forms of worship, and good works as a means to obtain salvation. They reject the Jesus of the Bible and His exclusive claims to be the only way to the Father and seek to be acceptable to God in other ways.

But the truth is that there is only one way of salvation. “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

To set aside this foundation is to reject the only way of salvation and forfeit the eternal life God offers and gives to those who place their faith in His Son. To trust in Christ Jesus and His sacrifice for sins is to have forgiveness and life everlasting; to reject Him or trust in anything else besides Him results in condemnation for sin and eternal death and damnation (cf. John 3:18,36; 8:24).

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). And the apostle John writes: “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12).

It’s really that simple. We can be justified and acceptable to God in only one way: through faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world!

O precious Savior Jesus, graciously keep us trusting in You alone for the forgiveness of all our sins and for life everlasting, for in You we have eternal salvation and apart from You we are lost forever and under the wrath of God. We ask this for the sake of Your innocent sufferings and death in our stead. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]