Genesis by Dennis McCallum (2017)

The creation narrative is often understood through one of the following models: theistic evolution, progressive creationism, or mature creationism. The strengths and weaknesses of these models are assessed by considering abiogenesis, irreducible complexity, and the fossil record. The possibility of progressive creationism is considered in the form of the day-age theory, days representative theory, and gap theory. Ultimately, the Bible harmonizes with findings of science.

Young earth creationism is addressed alongside some falsifying data. The evidence from presuppositions points to a personal creator God. Special attention is given to the areas of meaning, morality, human dignity, freedom, and spirituality. If people are meaningful, significant, free, moral beings then a purposeful God created them that way.

What does scripture mean when it says humans are made in the image of God? Seven characteristics of humans before the fall are outlined and what each communicates about God, humans, and the afterlife. The first five characteristics are: 1) benevolent leadership; 2) creative accomplishment; 3) free moral agency; 4) relational; and 5) intellectual creativity. The last two characteristics are covered in the next teaching of the series.

There is a review of the five characteristics of people before the fall (from the previous teaching), followed by an examination of the final two characteristics. Namely, that humans were created shameless and with both unity and diversity. Some current statistics are analyzed about sex and marriage. Lastly, there is a comparison of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life.

The discrepancy between original creation and how the world looks today can be explained by the fall of the human race. In the Garden of Eden, Satan questions, distorts, and replaces the Word of God. Adam and Eve decide God cannot be trusted and rebel. This leads to physiological, theological, sociological, and ecological alienation.

The effects of the fall on a individual human can be substantially (but not completely) reversed through gradual spiritual growth. The theological alienation humans experience is reversed through turning back to God and beginning a relationship with Him. Psychological alienation is healed by no longer propping self up as a god but instead putting self under God's leadership. Sociological alienation is reversed by moving away from a self-centered relationship and towards a God-centered relationship. Ecological alienation is healed as humans take a stewardship perspective of God's Earth.