The Foundation of Belief and Its Consequences

The Foundation of Belief and Its Consequences

Introduction
Genesis begins with one of the most important statements in all of Scripture: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). That verse establishes the foundation for all that follows. To those who believe the Bible, there is no doubt who created the world and where we came from. God made everything out of nothing. He spoke, and the universe appeared. He formed the planets, the stars, and all life in the seas, the air, and on the land. The pinnacle of His creation was mankind, created in His own image with an eternal spirit. That truth shapes how we view life, morality, and eternity.

But to those who reject God’s Word, another explanation must be offered. They insist that the world and life must have arisen without a Creator. That is why this question of origins matters so much. What we believe about where we came from will shape how we live. The first chapters of Genesis are the foundation of the entire Bible. If you remove Adam and Eve, Romans 5 makes no sense. If there was no Garden, no sin, and no fall, then the rest of Scripture collapses. Belief in creation is not optional—it is critical.

The Two Worldviews
There are only two possibilities. Either a divine Creator made us and gave us a soul, or everything came about by chance through natural processes. Attempts to blend the two always fail, because Scripture is clear: “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made” (Psalm 33:6). Belief in creation leads to faith, purpose, and hope. Belief in evolution leads to despair, hopelessness, and moral collapse.

Darwin’s Influence
In 1859, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species. Its full title spoke of “favored races,” and in his writings he plainly described some races as superior and others as closer to animals. Though evolutionists today try to conceal this, Darwin’s own words reveal him as one of the most influential racists in history. His ideas of natural selection and survival of the fittest became the foundation for oppression and violence. In 1911, Friedrich von Bernhardi published Germany and the Next War. He declared that war was a biological necessity and quoted Darwin as authority. Only a few years later, World War I erupted.

The Rise of Totalitarianism
Friedrich Nietzsche taught that a “master race” would emerge. Benito Mussolini openly mocked peace, declaring it hindered evolution. Adolf Hitler embraced these ideas fully. In Mein Kampf, he argued that war advanced humanity by eliminating weaker races. Blacks, Jews, and others were seen as subhuman, and their extermination was treated as justified. Six million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust because men believed lies about human origins.

Communism and Atheism
Darwin’s ideas also became the foundation of communism. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels praised Darwin, saying his theory gave them the natural science basis for their worldview. Marx wanted to dedicate Das Kapital to Darwin. Lenin exalted Darwin as the man who removed the need for God. Predictably, communism became militantly atheistic and murdered millions in the name of ideology.

Psychology and Humanism
The influence of evolution spread into psychology. Sigmund Freud called the Bible “fairy tales” and described himself as a godless pagan. B.F. Skinner and others signed the Humanist Manifesto, declaring that man alone is the solution to every problem. Carl Sagan defended abortion, claiming embryos were not yet human but only passing through evolutionary stages. Once again, rejecting creation devalued human life and justified destruction.

The Consequences of Evolution
The fruits of this worldview are plain. Evolution undermines faith in God. It denies that man is made in His image. It removes the authority of marriage. It strips life of meaning and purpose. Scripture testifies, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1). History proves the cost of that denial—racism, oppression, war, genocide, abortion, and hopelessness.

The Power of Belief in Creation
By contrast, belief in God as Creator anchors us. “Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves” (Psalm 100:3). We are not accidents of chance. We are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Life has value because God gave it. Marriage has authority because God instituted it (Genesis 2:24). Sin is real because Adam transgressed, and redemption is real because Christ, the last Adam, came to save (1 Corinthians 15:45). Creation is not a side issue—it is the foundation of faith. Without it, Scripture falls apart. With it, life has meaning, dignity, and hope.

The Foundation of Belief and Its Consequences Sermon Outline:

• Introduction

  • Genesis 1:1 establishes the foundation of Scripture.

  • Belief in creation shapes morality, purpose, and eternity.

• The Two Worldviews

  • Either God created us (Psalm 33:6) or life arose by chance.

  • Belief determines behavior and worldview.

• Darwin’s Influence

  • Darwin’s Origin of Species promoted “favored races.”

  • Friedrich von Bernhardi: war as a biological necessity (1911).

• The Rise of Totalitarianism

  • Nietzsche: master race.

  • Mussolini: mocked peace.

  • Hitler: used Darwin to justify genocide (Mein Kampf).

• Communism and Atheism

  • Marx and Engels: praised Darwin as foundation for class struggle.

  • Lenin: Darwin removed the need for God.

  • Communism became militantly atheistic and destructive.

• Psychology and Humanism

  • Freud: Bible is fairy tales.

  • Skinner: signed Humanist Manifesto.

  • Sagan: defended abortion on evolutionary grounds.

• The Consequences of Evolution

  • Undermines faith in God (Psalm 14:1).

  • Denies man’s divine image, strips marriage of authority, removes purpose.

  • Leads to racism, war, genocide, abortion, hopelessness.

• The Power of Belief in Creation

  • Psalm 100:3: God made us.

  • Genesis 1:27: made in His image.

  • Genesis 2:24: marriage ordained by God.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:45: Christ, the last Adam, redeems.

  • Creation is the foundation of faith.

Call to Action
What you believe about your origin determines how you live and where you will spend eternity. If you accept the lie of evolution, you remove God, deny His image, and strip life of meaning. But if you believe the truth of creation, you honor your Maker, you recognize the value of life, and you embrace the hope of salvation through Christ. Choose today to stand on the foundation of God’s Word, beginning with Genesis.

Key Takeaways

• Belief in creation is the foundation of faith (Genesis 1:1).

• Denying creation undermines the authority of the Bible (Romans 5).

• Darwin’s ideas fueled racism, war, and genocide (John 8:44).

• Communism and atheism embraced Darwin to reject God (Psalm 14:1).

• Psychology and humanism exalt man above God (Romans 1:21–23).

• Creation affirms life’s value, marriage’s authority, and redemption in Christ (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:24; 1 Corinthians 15:45).

Scripture Reference List

• Genesis 1:1 – God created the heavens and the earth.

• Psalm 33:6 – By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.

• Romans 5 – Adam’s sin and Christ’s redemption.

• 1 Corinthians 15:45 – Christ as the last Adam.

• Psalm 14:1 – The fool says there is no God.

• Psalm 100:3 – God made us, not we ourselves.

• Genesis 1:27 – Man created in God’s image.

• Genesis 2:24 – Marriage instituted by God.

• Romans 1:21–23 – Man exalts himself when he rejects God.

• John 8:44 – Satan is a murderer from the beginning.

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO