Okay, so yeah, next question is, why does a literal six-day creation matter? And I guess the sub-question is, is evolution compatible with the gospel? Kind of a corollary or question to that. And so next year, so we're recording this in August 2026.

We'll be opening up registration in the next couple of months for the conference in April next year. 9th and 10th. 9th and 10th. OK.

Got to add it to my calendar yet. So do that now. Save the date. April 9th and 10th here in Chilliwack.

And this will be our fourth year. And so we're on to Chapter 4 of Creation. Yes. Short chapter, but obviously very important, like all the chapters.

So why is it important and not a secondary, tertiary topic? Well, I think the first reason that it's important is because of the trustworthiness of divine revelation. God has clearly revealed that the cosmos, the world, and all things therein, all things visible and invisible were created in the space of six literal days and all very good. you know, consign the creation account to some sort of literary genre that isn't really speaking properly as a narrative of the creation week, or if we, you know, if we do anything other than affirm the simplicity of God's condescension in revealing the creation week, then we Yeah, we cast aside the trustworthiness of divine revelation.

God said it. God spoke. God provides the inspired account of the creation week, and there we have it. And I think as well, the The doctrine of a literal six-day creation matters for the purpose of upholding the purpose of the cosmos and all things.

What is the reason for the creation of all things? It's in order to show forth the glory of the triune God in the salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ. When we look at creation, you know, well, let's just look at it this way. If we were to say what, you know, the naturalistic humanists say, or actually, let's say what some so-called Christians, professing Christians say with regards to the billions of years approach that God used evolution for his purposes in this lower world.

Well, it casts aside or it does damage to what we could say is the Christo-redemptive purpose to creation and providence. There is a Christ and redemption purpose to creation. If we look at the order of decrees, really however you might fall out with regards to the order of the decrees, God, before the foundation of the world, determined according to his sovereign will and good pleasure to perfectly save a multitude of sinners from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation by the doing, dying, and rising again of the Son of God incarnated. And in order to bring about those particular purposes, he creates, well first he decrees the creation of the amphitheater of redemption, where he will bring about those holy and glorious ends.

And so the creation account doesn't necessarily serve an end on its own, As glorious as it is, as true as it is, as true to the divine purpose that it is, it serves that crystal redemptive purpose of saving a multitude by the perfection of the work of Christ. yeah, a literal six-day creation matters because of the trustworthiness of divine revelation and because of the purpose that the cosmos and its governing providence serves, which is the end of the salvation of sinners unto the glory of God. Amen. And it seems to me to be a cause for or a reason to praise.

You know, when you read the Psalms, you'll see oftentimes the psalmist grounding praise to God in God's work of creation. Revelation, chapter 4, you are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created. You know, it's to strip away another reason, a blessed reason to praise God when we redefine creation or when we, you know, fit it into some sort of a naturalistic or humanistic or scientific way. You know, if man can get rid of God as Creator, they get rid of Him as Provider and Sustainer and Governor, then they ultimately get rid of Him as Judge.

Get Him out from the beginning, and you don't have to worry about Him in the middle or in the end. I think there's a purpose, not in, you know, foolhardy or muddle-headed Christianity that does accept some sort of evolution at a macro level. I'm not talking about that, but a humanistic rejection of God creating. It's driven by getting God out.

If I get rid of Him, as I said at the beginning, I don't have to worry about Him in the middle, and I certainly am not going to meet Him at the end. Whereas if I believe for a moment that God actually did create the world, then probably the Bible's right. I'm going to have to meet him again someday in the future. You know, pagan's like kind of a cyclical version of history.

where the Bible presents a linear. You've got a beginning, you've got a middle, and you've got an end. You've got a telos, and you're going to stand before that God, and you're going to give an account of deeds done in the body, whether good or ill. So, yeah, if I'm a humanist that hates God and doesn't want to deal with God at the end, the best way is to get rid of Him at the beginning.

And can Christians be wrong and still be Christians? I would say yes. I just think if Spurgeon held to... Yeah, I didn't want to bring him up.

I didn't want to throw our dear brother under the bus. I think Hodge and Warfield certainly, you know, went outside the boundaries in a way that I'm not comfortable with. So, you know, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Does that necessarily include, you know, the age of the earth?

Again, I believe based on what I understand scripturally in a young earth. I believe in six literal days. But can a guy believe on the Lord Jesus and not accept six literal days and still be saved? I would say yes.

God is gracious. God is gracious. It's not about our knowledge. You're not saved based on Christ and your cosmology.

You're saved based on what Christ has accomplished. Now, having said that, I think it is important. I think that Jesus and the apostles treat the early chapters of Genesis as history. not as fable, not as literary, you know, and I think, you know, because some have recognized, you know, genius literary style in the book of Genesis.

I don't think that's inconsistent with conveying truth. I think you can have both, genius literary convention that does teach six literal days creation. I don't think it's one or the other. So, you know.

Yeah, but with evolution, then you got suffering before the fall, which doesn't make sense, right? That's been one of those things, you know, people get into, a lot of Christians are very into, you know, the answers in Genesis, and it's just never been a problem for me. And I don't say that, therefore, that's all bad. It's just certain.

Everybody has their own tendencies or inclinations. I wasn't a scientist. I don't ever think I'll be a scientist. I have no desire to be a scientist.

I got converted. The Bible says this. Okay. I haven't needed to kind of bear behind the scene or know the shape of the universe.

And that's fine. People can do that. They're great too. But that's just not my forte.

It's not really an interest for me. It's like when we approach chapter 4 in our confession, you know, there could be, you know, have Ken Ham come. No, I think the chapter is teaching theology. I think it's teaching Scripture, you know, and the glory of God and the manifestation of God and that.

So, you know, but not that Ken Ham isn't important. Great. He does a good thing. It's just never been kind of my thing, right?

I've gone through some creation presentations, but just to see... the majesty of God in creation, the small things, and cells, and molecules, and the big things, and the stars. It's good to stand in awe of that. It's great.

And I would go to that ark. I'd like to walk that ark. I would. But it's probably not on my first, you know, top five list of places to visit.

You know what I mean? But God's people are different, and they have different interests. They have different, you know, things. That's great.

Backgrounds. I'm all for that. They grew up evolutionarily. That's just how they grew up.

They went to university, and they never stopped to think about it. But they do, because it impacts ministry and the gospel. Oh, it sure does. Christ.

Yeah, absolutely. Okay, and what are our speakers set for next year? For sure one, Dr. Daniel Scheider, and working on the other.

So yeah, website for the conference is confessingthefaith.ca where you can obviously get information and register there. And then past years. Yes, recordings from past years are all online.

Chapter one of the Holy Scriptures and of God and the Trinity. And then of God's decree. They're all done really well.