The Bible, with all of its revealed truths, hidden treasures and wonderful teachings begins with, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1). Every truth and miracle found within its pages is contingent upon and cemented into this fact. If Jehovah is not the creator, then his creation is not bound to serve and honor him; if God is not creator and sustainer of life as Genesis teaches, then why believe in Jesus' person or work as found in the New Testament? Why is worshipping the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit important to you, dear reader? Would it be important if Jesus was not creator? Why are Jesus' words important to you? Would you embrace them with unwavering love if Jesus was not creator? What emboldened the disciples to be willing to suffer all for the cause of Christ? When they saw Jesus, who did they see? Did they see a good man, a good teacher or prophet? Indeed Jesus was such, but more. Rather, they beheld, ". . .His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (Jn. 1:14). They sat at the feet of the "Word" who "was with God" and who "was God" (Jn. 1:1). They beheld the one whom, "all things were made through. . ." (Jn. 1:3). Not only does John begin his gospel with a creation foundation, but he begins 1 John stating, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life" (1 Jn. 1:1). Thus, transgressing the doctrine of Christ is so repulsive to lovers of truth because such a step results in the termination of LIFE (cf. 2 Jn. 9-11).

Notice what the "Word of Life" taught to his peers, "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" (Jn. 5:46, 47). Jesus' argumentation is clear and forceful: "If you believed Moses, you would believe Me." Why would they believe Jesus? Because Moses wrote about him! From the above passage we can see that believing in Moses is believing in his writings. If we reject the former, we shall also reject the latter. Ferrell Jenkins in his February 2000 lecture on the "The 'Days' of Genesis 1" asks, "Is there a place [in congregations of Christ, sjw] for two who strongly believe in creation but who hold differing views on the days of Genesis?" (transcript p. 8, par. 1; www.bibleworld.com). Perhaps the same place would be for two who strongly believe in creation but hold differing views regarding theistic evolution? Theistic evolutionists do not deny creation; they think that God created by evolutionary processes! We shall ask, "Is there a place in congregations of Christ for one who resists Moses' words?" Paul answers as Jesus did, "Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds disapproved concerning the faith" (2 Tim. 3:8). Can you see how our approach to Moses' words reflects our approach to Jesus'? Lest the reader confuse the above with keeping Moses' law, realize that:

• We are under Christ's law today, not the law of Moses (Gal. 6:2, 3:25; Eph. 2:14ff; Col. 2:14; etc.).

• The debate in the first-century was not over whether Moses' words were trustworthy. His writings were not reduced to mere symbolism. Christians did not seek know what Moses "meant" apart from what he "said." Rather, the Old Testament scriptures were accepted and respected as God breathed!

• We are saved by grace through faith (Acts 15:9-11; Eph. 2:8). However, being saved through faith doesn't allow one to reject the Old Testament nor endorse evolution, theistic evolution or progressive creation. To Timothy, Paul penned, "and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine. . ." (2 Tim. 3:15, 16). What were the Holy Scriptures that Timothy knew from childhood? It wasn't "1 & 2 Timothy" but the Old Testament. What did these scriptures do? They made him wise for salvation through faith. Indeed, they are a key to understanding all of God's word.