Creation, Preservation & Providence
We believe and teach that God created out of nothing the physical
universe and all that it contains, including angelic beings, in
six literal days (Genesis 1:1-31;
Exodus 20:11;
Colossians 1:16;
Hebrews 11:3). He also sustains for His own purposes the whole
of that which He has created (Colossians 1:17;
Hebrews 1:3).
We also believe and teach the sovereign providence
of God (Psalms
103:19, Psalms
135:6; Isaiah
14:26-27; Daniel
4:34-35, Romans
8:28; Ephesians
1:11). His absolute sway is all inclusive, including, for
example, history (Daniel
2:20-21), the circumstances of life (James
4:13-15), duration of life (Job
14:5), manner of death (John
21:18-19), helpful acts of men (Isaiah
44:28-45:7), harmful acts of men (Genesis
45:4-8, Genesis
50:20 ; Acts 4:27-28), salvation of sinners (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14), the greatest world events (Revelation 13:8), seemingly
trivial circumstances (Proverbs 16:33; Matthew 10:29-30), etc.
These truths, however, never nullify the responsibilities of created,
moral beings (Acts 2:22-23).
