“Has the Creator God of the Bible created intelligent, morally accountable physical life elsewhere in this universe, as He did on earth?”
We invited our newsletter readers to send in answers to this question. The two best answers were from Derek Iverson of Kent WA USA, and Steven Korunic of New Zealand.
Derek Iverson wrote:
“Has the Creator God of the Bible created intelligent, morally accountable physical life elsewhere in this universe, as He did on earth?”
Let’s first define terms. Exodus 20:8 records that “…in 6 days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them” so we see specifically that the word ‘creation’ encompasses the heavens, the earth, the sea and all creatures in any of these media. That is, the word creation encompasses everything in the material world. Any other morally accountable physical life must be included within what is called here ‘creation’. With this understanding we can proceed to four singular points in the history of the earth that demonstrate that man is the only intelligent, morally accountable physical life in the universe:
- Corruption of creation. We see from Romans 5:12 that sin entered the world through one man [Adam], and death through sin, or more to the point we see from Romans 8:20-21 that “creation was subjected to futility…to the bondage of corruption”. This happened at a singular event in the history of a particular man living on the earth but was universal in application.
- Defeat of death. In 1 Peter 3:18 states that “..Christ also suffered once for sins…” and Hebrews 7:27 says “for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” The penalty of sin was paid once by a certain man Jesus at a unique point in the history of the earth, but is available to all men.
- Removal of residue. From II Peter 3:7,10 we learn that “…the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” So we see that when the day of salvation is over, that the day of judgement will come where all of the physical content of creation will be destroyed. This will be a singular event that will impact the entire universe.
- Restored reign. Judgement is not the end of the story however, but Jesus will create a new heaven and earth in which Jesus will reign with those who loved His appearing. Rev 21:1-3 states that this happens after the first heavens and earth have passed away, and will be characterized by the very present reign of Jesus over His people. This happens at a unique point in history in a particular place with a unique King.
From these evidences we see that the entire universe is impacted in at least these 4 significant points by events on the earth which specifically center around mankind. Mankind corrupted the good creation; God took on human flesh and sacrificed Himself to atone for their sin; God intends to destroy all remnants of this corrupted universe; God intends to live among and reign over His followers from mankind in a new heaven and earth. There is no place in This universe for ETI’s to exist.
Steven Korunic wrote:
First one must define the limits of the Universe. A stanch evolutionists would say only what they can perceive is all there is (Which I find quite arrogant as it suggests that by good accident alone they happen to have the gamut of senses required to know this, yet there is no reason to presume they have the whole range of required senses).
A biblically astute person might want to include the spiritual areas where God and/or angels reside (But they wouldn’t have to define it that way if they didn’t want to). I usually refer to our (humans’) Universe as the 4 dimensions of the space-time continuum which is embedded in a larger multi-dimensional universe. Using this model, the Trinity could be a pan-dimensional family in this Universe, and the created angels are also hyper-dimensional life (although not pan-dimensional.
Since the angels were present before the creation of earth, and are intelligent, morally accountable with physical life (Which may only materialise when they enter our 4 dimensions, and on the odd occasion dine with humans in a human form : – ), I argue they are extra-terrestrial in origin, so God did create such life elsewhere as he did on earth.
As for the so called “aliens in outer space’, biblically speaking, it is unreasonable to assume that God did make another race like the humans but on another planet, with their own cultures, habitat, etc. because if they did exist, they would be experiencing the same decay of the universe for which we humans are at fault of causing through our Sin that started with Adam. Humans have a plan from God for redemption from this cursed Universe. But for the aliens, they would be experiencing the cursed Universe, too, with no relief from it or explanation for it. It is difficult to imagine how a just God could curse their Universe, too, through no fault of their own, especially if they weren’t sinners. Furthermore, even if they were sinners, and somehow understood our Bible, as if things weren’t weird enough already, I think it would be strange (though maybe not impossible) for this alien race’s redemption to be hinging upon the acts of Jesus on a foreign planet called Earth zillions of miles way.
Above all of this, I suspect that the Bible wording is probably such that it excludes redemption for non-humans. (But I couldn’t find such wording, so I am not sure about this last point)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. New Testament, I Thessalonians 5:21
Steven
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