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Q&A – Is God still creating?

February 4th, 2015

I received this question and need some help.

Question 380188: I came across your ‘How are human souls are created?’ article again, and had a question/wanted to touch on part of that article. Your quote “The weakness of Creationism is that it has God continually creating new human souls, while Genesis 2:2-3 indicates that God ceased creating.” I don’t think that means He stop creating indefinitely. What about when He says He goes and builds us mansions or how about the New Jerusalem, New Earth, and New Heaven? To have those places, He has to create them and that time hasn’t came yet. If there are things that are not yet created that He says He will, I’m sure He creates all souls in the present. It’s the natural birth that “infects” the soul with sin. However, back to my initial question, do you believe God is through with creating anything for all eternity when these things that are mentioned are not yet in our reality? I believe Gen. 2:2-3 is just referring to His major creation is done for the first part of history as we know it. Also, He says that children are blessings/gifts to us and we know that all blessings come from Him, so therefore I would think souls are created at conception.

Note:

Profile: Male, 18-30, North America, Christian

Did God cease His creative work as the GQ article states? As far as Traducianism vs Creationism, I haven’t personally struggled with that and I agree with the closing paragraph of the article which states that ultimately, the important thing is that both views hold that God is responsible for the creation of each and every soul. The question of whether God is done creating is a good one though. What say ye?

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  • James Toland I always took it as He was done creating “new” things in this universe. Granted each soul is a new but it’s not a different type of thing then the first human souls of Adam and Eve. Also the creation of the new heaven and earth are outside of the universe of the existing. At least to my limited knowledge.
    February 1 at 10:35pm · Like · 2
  • Ed Chait So I guess then the comment in the article that says that Gen 2:2-3 “seems to indicate that God ceased His creative work” would be limited to the existing universe?
    February 2 at 1:19am · Like
  • Joe Maxey Yes Ed, the “existing universe”.
    February 2 at 2:47am · Like · 2
  • Fred Becker I don’t know exactly how to say it but an example would be.

    I stopped eating last night at dinner. This doesn’t mean I will never eat again.    …See More
    February 2 at 3:36am · Like · 2
  • Steve Ray Webb I can tell you from personal study of the fossil record that there has been incredible amounts of both speciation and extinction in the past. The speciation mostly happening seemingly out of thin air without transitional fossils (one of many weaknesses in Darwinianism). Since then, in historical times, extinction still continues, and is even accelerating, but speciation has halted. There has not been a single proven instance of a new species arising in historical times. Creation in the animal kingdom has apparently come to a complete halt.
    February 2 at 5:52am · Like · 2
  • Dale Agner Great thoughts! I wonder why He asks the question, and wonder if there is some aspect of declining God’s “irrestible grace?” Genesis contains a record of the physical world before the spiritual influence of sin. We live in a world where the spriritual and physical (fallen world) are intertwined. From Genesis 3 on, we have the record of God’s love (and mercy) being manifested through redemption (and His creation). Here is my my thought train, via Romans, in how God’s love and creativity, are still being manifested in love and mercy (for which is not constrained). The physical world may indeed be “complete”…but God’s creativity in finding a way for His love and redemption, through Jesus’ love (and crucifixion) is still being manifest. The “key” for us whom seem to have a finite capability to understand His love…is to remember to give thanks to the One whom has redeemed us. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did:sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. Romans 11:30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
    February 2 at 6:08am · Like · 1
  • Jed Kramer I agree that our physical universe was completed upon Gen 2. However, God is a creative being. God manifested to us that creativity is part of his being when he made the universe. As God does not change who he is, I do not believe that he is done cr…See More
    February 2 at 7:13am · Edited · Like · 2
  • Ed Chait The bigger picture is getting bigger. Great thoughts and discussion.
    February 2 at 8:17am · Edited · Like
  • Tim White Ed, as a friend of mine often reminded us, we view thing with the time continuum. In time, God created, got finished and rested. From an eternal perspective (timelessness), we cannot imagine how that looks. We can speculate, but I believe God enjoys creating eternally. That it fits into our six day time limitations does not affect Him. He operates outside the rules of time.
    Now I have a headache.
    February 2 at 8:23am · Like · 3
  • Ed Chait lol, my headache, however, is much better thanks to you all
    February 2 at 8:25am · Like
  • Wendyl Leslie It’s interesting to me that at the end of each day of God’s creative work, He saw that “it was good.” Then Genesis 2:1 tells us “thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished (Genesis 2:1). My thinking is that God finished His…See More
    February 2 at 10:34am · Like · 1
  • Stuart Mattfield Ed…creative work is finished. Now whether that applies to the soul or not is of debate…but broadly speaking creation is complete. Of note, I’m train the ducian camp.
    February 2 at 12:24pm · Like · 1
  • Ed Chait Thanks to all of you for your help!
    Yesterday at 12:38am · Like
  • Patrick Thompson When God does, something He completes it. He is the “author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). There is a new creation now in progress. It is the preparation of inhabitants for a new earth wherein only righteousness may dwell (see John 14:1-4; 2 Peter 3:10-14; Isa. 65:17; Rev. 21:1, 2, 5). When soon the redeemed share the glories and peace of that renewed world the Creator and Redeemer will say with finality: “It is finished! I am the A and the Z the Beginning and the End” (Rev. 21:6,
    11 hrs · Like · 1
  • Ed Chait Again, thanks to all for the discussion and help. I’m very grateful that God has provided this forum for us. I just submitted my answer, which I thought I would post.

    Hello and thank you for your question!

    In the GotQuestions article that you mention in your question, when it says that “Genesis 2:2-3 seems to indicate that God ceased His creative work”, the intended meaning is that God was done creating the existing universe, not that He is completely done creating. The New Jerusalem, New Earth and New Heaven are not in the existing universe, so there is no contradiction with the statement that “God ceased His creative work” in the article. In order to get the proper perspective, we just need to look at the bigger picture.

    In looking at the bigger picture, however, we become aware that a discussion of how God operates in the space/time continuum is going to be limited by our limited human understanding of time. We live and operate within the confines and parameters of time, but God lives and operates outside of time, so we need to maintain an awareness and respect for His infinite power and transcendence of time.

    As regards the question of when souls are created, the GotQuestions article agrees with you that the soul does not exist prior to conception. The main question the article addresses is *how* souls are created; whether God creates the soul at the moment of conception (Creationism) or whether human parents create the soul along with the physical body at the moment of conception (Traducianism). I strongly agree with the closing paragraph of the article as follows:

    “Whether the Traducianist view or the Creationist view is correct, both agree that the soul does not exist prior to conception. This seems to be the clear teaching of the Bible. Whether God creates a new human soul at the moment of conception, or whether God designed the human reproductive process to also reproduce a soul, God is ultimately responsible for the creation of each and every human soul.”

    I’ll add that the most critically important thing is that, according to the Bible, God owns each and every soul and is coming back to judge every person and separate the righteous from the wicked. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus have been forgiven of their sin go to heaven for eternity, and those who reject Him are condemned by their sin and go to hell for eternity. I know that you stated that you’re a Christian when you submitted your question, but I share that with you just in case you have not received Christ as your Lord and Savior.

    Thanks again for your question and may God bless you as you seek Him!
    9 hrs · Edited · Unlike · 2

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