He created ex-nihilo (Out of Nothing).
Notes from Louis Berkhof Summary of Christian Doctrine p. 51 - 57.
After the Discussion of Decrees we now look at the Execution of God's Work in the Universe.
Creation is the beginning and basis of all Revelation.
Introduction to Creation in General.
The word “creation”, is not always used in the same sense in the Bible.
In the very strict sense creation denotes that work of God by which He produces the world (universe) and all that is in it, partly without pre-existent materials and partly out of material that is by its nature unfit; for the manifestation of His Glory. L.B. p. 51
It is represented as the Work of the Triune God,:
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form and empty. And darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters.
Job 26:13 By His Spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
Job 26:13 By His Spirit the heavens were beautiful; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
Psa 33:6 By the Word of Jehovah were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
Isa 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and measured out the heavens with a span? And who has shut up the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
Joh 1:3 All things came into being through Him (the Word), and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.
1Co 8:6 but there is to us only one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we by Him. we have been translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son;
Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins.
Col 1:15 who is the image of the invisible God, the First-born of all creation.
Col 1:16 For all things were created in Him, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him. MKJV
Col 1:16 For in Him was created the universe of things in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, thrones, dominions, princedoms, powers--all were created, and exist through and for Him. WNT.
Col 1:17 And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. MKJV
Over against Pantheism we must maintain that it was the free act of God. He did not need the world.
(Pantheism.) Question: "What is pantheism?"
Answer: Pantheism is the view that God is everything and everyone and that everyone and everything is God. Pantheism is similar to polytheism (the belief in many gods), but goes beyond polytheism to teach that everything is God. A tree is God, a rock is God, an animal is God, the sky is God, the sun is God, you are God, etc. Pantheism is the supposition behind many cults and false religions (e.g., Hinduism and Buddhism to an extent, the various unity and unification cults, and “mother nature” worshippers). got-questions.org
Ephesian 1:11 In Him we Jews have been made heirs, having been chosen beforehand in accordance with the intention of Him whose might carries out in everything the design of His own will,
Rev 4:11 saying, "It is fitting, O our Lord and God, That we should ascribe unto Thee the glory and the honor and the power; For Thou didst create all things, And because it was Thy will they came into existence, and were created."
Over against Deism, which says that He created the world so that it always remains dependent upon Him.
He must uphold it from day to day.
Act 17:28 For it is in closest union with Him that we live and move and have our being; as in fact some of the poets in repute among yourselves have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' WNT
Heb 1:3 He (Jesus) brightly reflects God's glory and is the exact representation of His being, and upholds the universe by His all-powerful word. After securing man's purification from sin He took His seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
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