The creation of the world was a Trinitarian event. The Spirit hovered, the Father spoke and the Son, who was and is the Logos/Word (John 1:1-3) was the agent of the creation of the universe (Col 1:15-20),
“15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.“
When God created the world, His creative activity was done in conjunction with the Spirit’s presence. Colossians 1 tells us that directly but it tells us far more than that. Colossians 1 connects the creation of the universe through the Son, by the Spirit to God’s activity in both the resurrection of Jesus and now in the church. As Colossians 1 tells us, it was not just the initial creation of the universe that Jesus was involved in but that was a signpost pointing us to things to come. On that signpost were several other signs pointing to the future. One of those signs reads: Resurrection/New Creation. A second reads: Ekklesia.
It just so happens that those two things are intimately connected. Jesus is the power behind the initial creation and it is through the resurrection of the dead that Jesus starts God’s New Creation project. Through the resurrection of Jesus there is a new kingdom inaugurated and a new creation spoken into existence. The first creation was ex-nihilo (out of nothing) while the new creation is a redemption of the old to make it something new through resurrection…bringing life to death. So the Spirit was present and involved in the creation of the universe in Genesis 1 and the Spirit was also involved in the creative process that launched Creation 2.0…God’s New Creation Project,
“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” – Rom 8:11
Paul takes this a step further…that it was this same power at work first in the creation of the universe and next in the new creation that comes through the resurrection of Jesus but that it doesn’t stop there…that the same power involved in those two events (Creation and New Creation via resurrection) is now at work in us,
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” – Eph 1:18-23
The Spirit didn’t just kick off the Ekklesia/church at Pentecost. The Spirit continues his work in us from that day until this. Since the very beginning the Spirit is always creating…first the universe, next new creation and now the church. Let us always seek the Spirit’s guidance and the Spirit’s power and not one or the other (or neither). Some seek the Spirit’s guidance but don’t believe in the Spirit’s power. Some seek the Spirit’s power but neglect the Spirit’s guidance. We need to seek both…fully expecting that God will see through to completion the good work that He has started in us,
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6
2 Responses
I’m glad you’re mentioning the Holy Spirit. After all, he was banished for so long that many people forgot he exists or works. The only mention of the Spirit was at the rare baptism.
Isn’t Jesus of Nazareth, the seed of David the creator of a new beginning?
2Pet. 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pet. 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pet. 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.