When it comes to the question of creation versus evolution, many Christians seem to think, “What’s the point? What does it matter whether all this arrived here in six days or over billions of years?”
The Institute for Creation Research exists to proclaim the answer to this—the whole point is Jesus! He is Creator or He is not. He is Savior or He is not. Either He is the answer to what the world so desperately needs or we can all just turn to the philosophies, beliefs, and endless pursuits of our own choosing.
God alone offers salvation.
But those philosophies, beliefs, and pursuits will never lead us to salvation. That is only available through the One who made this world and is the only One through whom the world can be redeemed. The new ICR Discovery Center for Science & Earth History’s goal is not just to present the science affirming the accuracy and authority of the Bible. As important as that is, the ultimate focus is on pointing people to the Creator Himself. The final Discovery Center exhibit offers an overview of the life of Christ, His saving work through the cross and resurrection, and His promised return to claim His own and establish His Kingdom. It’s our prayer that visitors will come to know God’s absolute salvation if it isn’t theirs already.
And once that salvation is attained, we have the promise of God’s provision and protection of His own. Romans 8:31 says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” When earthly struggles begin to weigh heavily on our shoulders, it’s very important that we remind ourselves of God’s eternal truths. These truths are not complex, nor do they require hours of Bible study to grasp. All of them can easily be confined to one sentence. Here are the main points.
God Himself secures our salvation; who then can possibly undo His work?
Although the rescue highlighted in the Psalms often refers to a military rescue, it also applies to the eternal rescue from sin that is the ultimate focus of God’s Word. We can rest secure in God’s care.
- Psalm 27:1—The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
- Psalm 46:1-2—God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.
- Psalm 62:6—He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
- Psalm 118:6—The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
God Himself is the giver and the protector of our salvation.
The Bible contains so many assurances on this subject that it seems God really wanted us to know salvation is an eternal gift. No human had any part in bringing salvation about, and no human can do anything to cancel or destroy that great gift. When the omnipotent triune God decides to act, no one and no thing can possibly stop, change, or undo that act.
- John 5:24—“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
- John 10:28—“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
- Romans 8:34—It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
God Himself did not hesitate to deliver His own Son as payment for us.
This is stunningly clear proof of His limitless love for us. God gave the dearest, the most precious, most excellent Gift He could possibly give—His one and only Son—for you and me! God will, therefore, “freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32).
- Romans 5:8—But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
- 1 Corinthians 2:12—Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
- 1 John 4:10—In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
God Himself justifies the ones who believe in Him.
The faith that allows us to believe in Jesus Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice is God’s gift to us (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once our minds appropriate that truth, the heart is enabled to believe, instigating the new creation that is the child of God.
- Romans 8:1—There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17—Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21—For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
- Ephesians 4:24—That you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
God’s children will know hardship in this life.
Jesus Christ was clear to His disciples that they would face trouble for following Him. However, God assures us that this suffering has the purpose of revealing Christ through us and in us. Ultimately, it will lead to our blessing.
- Matthew 5:10—“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
- John 15:20—“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:11—For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
God unconditionally promises ultimate victory for His beloved children.
We are never separated from the eternal shelter of His love (Romans 8:38-39). Our victory remains eternally secure in spite of all that the Enemy does to thwart us. God allows us to undergo the greatest of trials, but in the end we can be assured that “death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).
- Romans 8:36-37—As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
- Romans 8:38-39—For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 1 John 4:4—You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Every twice-born child of God has been given a ministry and the gifts needed to accomplish it (Romans 12:6). For ICR, that ministry is to reach the world with the message that the Bible is God’s truth and can be trusted in all things, even when it comes to areas of science. Thank you to those of you whose prayers and support have allowed us to carry out this work and enabled us to expand our outreach through the ICR Discovery Center. I’m sure you can join us in saying: “To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen” (Jude 1:25).
* Dr. Morris is Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Creation Research. He holds four earned degrees, including a D.Min. from Luther Rice Seminary and an MBA from Pepperdine University.