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The original formless-and-void creation was dark. God created light, and saw it was good. We might think that the creation of light itself would be sufficient to divide light and darkness, but that's not the way Genesis tells the story. It takes a distinct act to separate light and darkness.
This is the pattern of new creation as well: The light shines into the darkness. Then, in a distinct act, God separates light and darkness. Jesus comes into the world as the light of life; but it takes a "second" act of God to disentangle the light from the darkness that seeks, unsuccessfully, to overcome it. The gospel enters a pagan culture; but it takes time, a "second" act, to set the boundaries between light and dark.
That is to say: Creation and new creation do not come simply by the Word, but by Word and Spirit.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Monday, September 18, 2006 at 06:55 AM
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