Was the Creatio ex nihilo?

Question: “Do you believe that God created all things from nothing? In other words, do you believe in any form of the creatio ex nihilo teaching? Please explain or refer me to something that explains your position.” 

Answer: God did not create ex nihilo (a medieval theological concept meaning “out of nothing”). God created all physical and spiritual creation from Himself, from the expression of His mind and His mouth which was (and is) His word. The word of God is not nothing. It is power. It is substance. It is most definitely “something.” 

The first ”thing” created was the Word and Image of God, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, through whom the rest of creation was brought forth (John 1:1–4; Colossians 1:15–17; Revelation 3:14). Other, subsequent created beings, such as other sons of God and even the angels apparently had a hand in performing some ”finishing” work of the physical creation as God delegated it to them. 

Creation is continuing at present (even new species of animals), in the spiritual as well as in the physical realm. See Question #3: “A New Creation of Animals after Noah.” This is elaborated on in a longer article by Dr. Ernest L. Martin, “The Creation of Life in Contemporary Times.” 

The final purpose of creation is to expand the family of God. God the Father is the ultimate Creator, Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and we who believe are many times called sons and daughters of God. Our being called “children of God” is not poetic speech, it is the actual future state for all human beings once the plan of God is completed. Read Dr. Martin’s article “Salvation and the Biblical Doctrine of Deification” which explains the goal (and eventual fulfillment) of God’s creation in you, me, and in all human beings.

David Sielaff
david@askelm.com