How to reason with an unbeliever from Genesis 1-2

It’s too bad Genesis 1-2 has become a battleground for the creation/evolution debate. Christians use this section of Scripture as ammunition against unbelievers who claim the world was not created or that there is no God. We’ve turned it into a textbook, teasing out words and phrases that provide a ‘biblical science’ for our side of the debate.

But the Bible isn’t here to teach us science. It’s here to teach us Christ, and the gospel of his work. The fact that God did create the universe, and that he does exist is part of that good news, because God’s existence and power provide all that is needed to create again—which is what he’s doing through Christ. Genesis 1-2 isn’t artillery; it’s a gift that, by the power of the Spirit, can lead us to eternal life.

“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Heb 11:3). Unbelievers need to believe. Genesis 1-2 is a perfectly wonderful place for God to establish their faith.

Don’t be intimidated by an unbeliever’s science. He or she has all the same internal needs you have: the need for forgiveness, love, peace, order, food, and, most of all, God. Here are four ways to reason from Genesis 1-2 with an unbeliever about realities that are both important to their lives and true to the text.

Genesis 1-2 exhibits God’s sovereignty over the order and purpose of creation. Unbelievers understand chaos and evil; it’s all around them. But God is in the business of overcoming the chaos of evil and establishing order, peace, and harmony. Use Genesis 1-2 to show them a vision of what the world would be like if someone got rid of pain, evil and death altogether, and then tell them that in Christ he has and he will (Isa 11:1-9; 2 Cor 4:5-6; Col 1:15-20; Eph 1:7-10; Rev 21:3-5).

Genesis 1-2 demonstrates God’s love for life. Genesis 1 shows God filling up the world with life; Genesis 2 takes that one step further and shows God filling up the man with life from his own breath. This intimate portrayal of God’s pleasure and power to fill us with life forms the foundation for the gospel we proclaim. Many unbelievers are convinced that the world is governed by the rule of death—and this belief drives some to despair. Give them Genesis 1-2 to persuade them that we were made for life, and that in Christ life is eternal (2 Cor 4:16-18, 5:17; Rom 8:18-23; Heb 2:14-15; Rev 1:17-18).

Genesis 1-2 establishes God’s desire to see a man ruling his creation. From the beginning, man is given God’s image in order to rule over the created things (Gen 1:26-28). Why, when man falls, doesn’t God start over and create some new, improved creature to rule his creation? Because of Christ, who would one day be given all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt 28:18). Unbelievers have given up on God’s idea of people. (Have you seen the 2014 Noah movie? According to it, Noah’s real purpose was to annihilate mankind so the animals would have a better life!) But unbelievers are people! Give them hope for their own existence by introducing them to Christ, the perfect man, who makes all things—including us—right (Ps 8; Heb 1:3-4, 2:5-8; Rom 5:17-19). 

Genesis 1-2 reveals the absolute necessity of obedience to God’s word. To an unbeliever, eating a piece of fruit is hardly sin enough to result in the corruption of the entire world. But the real problem with any sin is how it opposes the word of God, our very source of life. Help them understand the life-giving power of God’s word and the importance of living according to it, and then tell them that the truest form of obedience is to respond with faith in Christ (Deut 8:3; John 6:26-29, 66-69; Heb 1:1-2).

When you find yourself embroiled in a debate over origins with an unbeliever, try to remember that what they need most is the compelling, personal gospel of Scripture that will open their eyes to the beauty of God’s creative power and glorious grace. You don’t have to squeeze the ‘scientific truth’ out of Genesis 1-2 to win them over. Instead, illuminate the gospel in these precious chapters and trust God to honor his Word. Perhaps, by his grace, he’ll bring forth a new creation right before your very eyes.