If we look through the record of creation in Gen. 1: we shall find some things are said

to be made, like the firmament (verse 7), some things are said to be created, like the great

"whales", and in some cases both words are used: "let us make man in our image. . . .

so God created man in His own image". "In the beginning God created the heavens and

the earth." After that He made the present heavens, the earth and some orders of life on

it, introducing by creation fresh orders for the new purpose.

When we read of the generations of the heavens and the earth, we must remember that

we are not dealing with their origin, but with their offspring. The generations of Adam,

or of Noah, tell us of their respective descendants. The generations of the heavens and

the earth then are what follow the creation of chapter 1:, and include the creation,

temptation, and fall of man. We here make a suggestion regarding the interpretation of

Gen. 2: 4. The generations set out are events that follow the creation of the heavens and

the earth, and commence with the making of the present heavens and earth. Verse 4

therefore we would interpret as follows--these (events now to be chronicled) are the

generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created (not showing how they

were created, but speaking of those things which took place afterwards: "being already

created" expresses the suggestion), in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the

heavens, after the "overthrow" indicated in Gen. 1: 2.

The same idea seems to underlie Eph. 2: 10, "we are His making, created". We too

as individuals have had our "overthrow", darkness has covered us, and God Himself,

Who commanded the light to shine out of the darkness of Gen. 1: 2, shined into our

hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The word rendered "workmanship" (poiema) occurs twice only in the N.T., once for

the present creation, and once for the new creation. The two passages are Rom. 1: 20,

and Eph. 2: 10. When we deal with salvation by grace, we deal with a new creation. A

new creation seems to indicate a greater change than does regeneration. The prophetic

time referred to as "the regeneration" is this side of the great day when the earth and its

works shall be burned up. It is not a new creation. The doctrine and ordinances of the

Kingdom are largely related to the Regeneration, whereas the doctrine of the One Body is

connected with a new creation. Kitzõ ("create") occurs four times in Ephesians, viz.:--

It will be noticed that three out of the four references speak exclusively of the new

creation. One (3: 9) may be regarded as doubtful, but personally we consider the

reference there is to the new creation equally with the other passages.

It is a tremendous thought--creation. Scripture nowhere seems to define it, it is an act

essentially Divine and beyond the scope of the human mind.  Nevertheless it is a

wondrous fact. If the heathen were without excuse by the evidence of Deity in the things

that are made, what shall we say of ourselves? Is there not demonstrated even more