Basic Apologetic Ideas 1

This diagram emphasizes a primary Christian idea: the Creator-creation distinction. This means that God transcends this created universe so that He is independent, infinite, immutable and indivisible. [Yet He is also involved in the universe (His immanence)]. Only God possesses these basic attributes and nothing in this world can claim them.

The implications of this are four-fold:
 

• God’s independence means that He does not need or require anything from this creation: neither man’s decisions, desires or doings will, or ever can, make God dependent upon them (Acts 17:25).  The flip-side means that creation is totally dependent upon God because He made it all (Rom. 11:36).
   
•  God’s infinitude means that all His attributes (knowledge, holiness, truth, etc.) are without measure. He knows all things—He is omniscient.  He can do all things—He is omnipotent.  He is everywhere—He is omnipresent. He is without end (1 Tim. 1:17). The flip-side means that creation is limited in all its aspects.
   
•  God’s immutability means that He does not change. His truth, justice, knowledge, power—and all that is God’s nature—will stand the test of time (Ps. 33:11).  His Word stands true. The flip-side means that creation is unreliable because it changes.
   
•  God’s indivisibility means that all His attributes describe each other—He is not divided in His being, nature or attributes. He is light; He is love (1 Jn. 1:5; 4:8). He is completely unified in purpose and power. The flip-side means creation is divided in intent and ability; man has a body distinct from the soul.
   

All the world-religions deny such truths: for them (if there is a “god”) he is, to one degree, dependent upon creation.  The antithesis between the Creator and creation is blurred.  Thus, man’s decisions change God’s mind. Men worship creation (Rom. 1:25). Man denies his utter dependence upon God, placing Him in same playing-field.  For instance, in science man becomes “god” and rules out the supernatural.  Or in politics there are no principles

 In Genesis 3:5 Satan tempts Eve with godhood: “you shall be as God, knowing good and evil”.  Instead of believing God and depending upon His independent, infinite, immutable, indivisible knowledge and control of the world, Adam and Eve decided to question God’s knowledge—and hence question His authority.  They tried to bridge the Creator-creation gulf.  Today, unbelievers continue in the first sin of our parents: they try to know and do things on any authority but God’s. So, God is irrelevant to politics, art, science, economics and the like—all of which are part of creation and, thus, dependent upon God. 

 And we only know of God and His Law for life in the infallible Bible. Man gropes in the dark without God’s light.  Without the Triune God’s transcendence, there is no intelligibility. All is then integration into the meaningless void.  But we believers have the light of God’s Word and a meaningful life: in His light do we have light (Ps. 36:9).