The Bible says God created the universe out of nothing by His spoken Word.
Genesis 1:1 opens with God creating the heaven and the earth. Les Feldick emphasizes that the Hebrew word bara means 'called out of nothing' — God started with nothing but Himself. The creation was spoken into being by God, and the visible universe is held together by that same Word.
Genesis 1:1 — This is the foundational Bible statement answering how the universe was created: God created it in the beginning.
Hebrews 11:1 — This verse explains the faith perspective through which we understand unseen realities like creation.
Colossians 1:17 — This verse shows that God the Son is before all things and that by Him all things consist — connecting creation to the sustaining Word.
The opening verse of Scripture records, 'In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth' (Genesis 1:1). Hebrews 11:1 connects this truth to faith: 'Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' The same New Testament passage is used by Paul when he speaks of entering the invisible realm and depending on things we cannot see by ordinary sight (Romans 8:24-25). Scripture also teaches that God the Son is before all things and that 'by him all things consist' (Colossians 1:17). Peter looks ahead to the day when 'the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved' and to 'new heavens and a new earth' (2 Peter 3:12-13).
Les Feldick takes his classes to Genesis 1:1 and explains that the Hebrew verb bara means 'called out of nothing.' God didn't begin with raw material and rearrange it; He began with nothing but Himself, and out of that nothingness He called the universe into being. Les acknowledges that neither he nor science can prove creation; it must be accepted by faith — that is, taking God at His Word. He points to an article from a scientific magazine in which a writer concluded that the entire universe came from a single source of light, and Les concludes that the source is God, since God is light. Les adds that the universe was flung out by a spoken Word and is held together by God the Son's Word. He also looks ahead, saying the whole universe will be melted down and dissolved, as Peter describes, and will be replaced by new heavens and a new earth.
Les explains that the Hebrew word used in Genesis 1:1 is bara, which means 'called out of nothing.' In his words, God didn't start with something and somehow rearrange it. He started with absolutely nothing but Himself. This is why the creation account is so important: the visible, tangible universe owes its existence entirely to God's creative command.
Les says he will show from the New Testament which Person of the Godhead spoke the Word and called it into being. He then points to the truth that God the Son not only created all things, but by Him all things consist. Les expresses this by saying that God the Son controls every particle of the universe with His Word, and that is why everything is held together.
When Paul speaks of entering the invisible realm, he says we have to depend on faith. Les defines that faith as taking God at His Word. Hebrews 11:1 says faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Since the creation itself is an unseen event in human terms, the Bible presents it as something received through faith rather than through scientific demonstration.
Les recounts reading an article in a scientific magazine where the writer concluded that the whole universe had come from a single source of light. Les says that if that is true, science is getting close to the truth, because God is light. Les then connects this to Peter: the heavens being on fire will be dissolved, and the universe as we now see it will disappear; Peter then points to new heavens and a new earth.
Faith as the Substance of Things Hoped For
Les uses Hebrews 11:1 to connect the invisible realm of salvation and creation to faith — taking God at His Word.
A Scientist's 'Single Source of Light'
Les points to a scientific writer who concluded the universe came from a single source of light, and Les identifies that source as God.
The Universe Dissolved at Christ's Coming
Les reads 2 Peter's language about the heavens being on fire and suggests the whole universe will be melted down and brought back to its Creator.
Bara: Called Out of Nothing
Les teaches that bara means 'called out of nothing,' so God didn't rearrange existing material but brought the universe into being from nothing but Himself.
Created by a Spoken Word and Called Back
Les marvels that a scientist could foresee the universe returning to its original source of light; he says God flung the universe out with a spoken Word and can call it back at will.
The Main Point: God Created Out of Nothing
Les says the main thing to understand is that at some time in the past God created the universe out of nothing, even though he avoids origin controversy.
Melted Down to Make New Heavens and Earth
Les sees the universe being dissolved and everything disappearing, followed by Peter's promise of new heavens and a new earth.
God the Son Holds All Things Together
Les teaches that God the Son holds every particle of the universe together by His Word, based on 'by him all things consist.'
Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
This is the foundational verse for how the universe began: God created it.
Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
This verse shows why creation is received by faith rather than by visible observation.
Colossians 1:16: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
This verse emphasizes that all things were created by and for God the Son.
Colossians 1:17: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
This verse shows that God the Son holds all of creation together.
2 Peter 3:12: Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
This verse describes the future dissolution of the present universe.
2 Peter 3:13: Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
This verse promises that the dissolved universe will be replaced by new heavens and a new earth.
Yes. Les explains that the Hebrew word bara in Genesis 1:1 means 'called out of nothing,' and God began with nothing but Himself. He didn't rearrange pre-existing material; He called the universe into being.
He refers to a scientific article concluding that the whole universe came from a single source of light. Les says that source is God, because God is light.
He points to Hebrews 11:1 and the principle that when we enter the invisible realm we depend on faith. Creation is an unseen event, so it is received by taking God at His Word.
Les, following Peter, says the universe will be melted down and dissolved, and everything we now see will disappear. After that, there will be new heavens and a new earth.
Les says he usually avoids controversy over the origin of the universe. The main thing, he says, is that at some time in the past God created it out of nothing.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 8:24-29 — Does God Choose You or Do You Choose Him?