Why the Universe Is the Way It Is (Reasons to Believe)

by Hugh Ross

A second reason that evil can never exist or be expressed in the new creation is that all new creation inhabitants will be captive to Christ’s will.

The elimination of these experiences implies the law of decay (second law of thermodynamics)

will no longer be in effect.

Of all the experiences God gives redeemed humans to prepare them for the new creation, “grace” stands far above the rest.

Humans alone can experience God’s grace. The angels only observe it.

Unlike the angels who joined Lucifer’s rebellion, humans rebelled in a realm confined to four space-time dimensions and subject to the laws of physics. (Though not confined to our space dimensions, angels may be restricted to our time dimension.) Unlike the angels, humans are ruled over by a pervasive law of decay. When God ejected Adam and Eve from Eden and removed access to the Tree of Life, his grace already was unfolding. Physical death became a tool God could use for our ultimate benefit—a tool that did not exist for angels. Because of grace, redeemed humans will experience new creation rewards in a way angels cannot. Because of the ministry of God’s grace, redeemed humans will gain occupations of the highest significance and delight.

Creation Accounts

Among all books deemed “holy,” the Bible speaks by far the most extensively about the natural world, how it works, and how (as well as why) it came to be. Thousands of biblical verses and passages make reference to scientifically testable concepts. In addition to these brief references, the Bible contains multiple chapter-length or longer treatments of topics relevant to creation and science. Those texts and the themes addressed include: Text Theme Genesis 1 Creation chronology: a physical perspective Genesis 2 Creation account: a spiritual perspective Genesis 3–5 Human sin and its damage Genesis 6–9 God’s damage-control response to sin Genesis 10–11 Global dispersion of humanity

Job 9 Creator’s transcendent power Job 34–41 Creation’s intricacy and complexity Psalm 8 Creation’s reminder of our humility Psalm 19 Creation’s ubiquitous “speech” Psalm 33 God’s love as revealed in creation Psalm 65 Creator’s authority and optimal provision Psalm 104 Elaboration of physical creation events Psalm 139 Creation of individual humans Psalms 147–48 Nature’s testimony to the Creator’s power, wisdom, and care Proverbs 8 Creator’s existence before creation Ecclesiastes 1–2 Constancy of the physical laws Ecclesiastes 3 Chronology in creation Ecclesiastes 8–12 God’s purpose and humanity’s destiny Isaiah 40–51 Origin and development of the universe Romans 1–8 God’s purposes in creating 1 Corinthians 15 Life after life 2 Corinthians 4 Creator’s glory in and beyond creation Hebrews 1 Cosmic creation’s temporality; r...

Repent of your sin, specifically of going your own way through life as if you’re in charge, as if you’re the judge of right and wrong and can determine what’s good enough to please God. In other words, you must admit to God that he alone holds authority over your life and then relinquish judgment to him. Believe through study and testing that Jesus of Nazareth is exactly the person he claimed to be—fully God and fully human—the only being who could actually be good in actions, words, and thoughts. Believe that because he did nothing to deserve death, his execution covered the penalty for all your sin, your lack of perfect goodness in actions, words, and thoughts. And believe that God accepted his sacrifice in your place, raising him bodily from the grave. Commit your life to learning day by day what it means to follow him; to love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love others as yourself. Acknowledge the gift of his Holy Spirit within you, and trust him to nurture your growth as you live in the community of other Christ followers. Trust him to help you release anything, such as bitterness or unforgiveness, that hinders your growth. Speak Up in words and actions to let others know you are a follower of Jesus—and why. Invite them to come along with you in a lifelong journey. It will be full of challenges. You will encounter great joys and sorrows, delights and sufferings, but never without God’s comfort and care. And when you enter the new cre...