How did atoms come alive?

As we wrote before, water, created by God, is essential.  In the universe and life, the hydrogen and oxygen in the water molecule is important.  For example,

• There is hydrogen and oxygen in the molecules of acetic acid which gives vinegar its sour taste. ¹
• Hydrogen is especially important in hydro carbons. ²
• Molecules consist of atoms (which include hydrogen and oxygen) that form organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems and finally the organism. ³

#  How did life begin?

If one begins with the assembly of the atoms up to the living organism, the question is, how did it come alive?  The origin of life has kept many researchers busy for many years.  They pour big money, experience and sophisticated laboratories into this problem.  Yet no one has found evidence to prove that lifeless molecules became living organisms.

#  Did Richard Dawkins solve the origin of life issue?

No! In his book, The Greatest Show on Earth, The Evidence for Evolution, Bantam Press, 2009, he is silent on proofs for how non-life appeared as life on earth.

#  Does Wikipedia have the answer?

They claim the origin of life is a natural process. ‘Abiogenesis, or informally the origin of life is the natural process by which life arises from non-living matter, such as simple organic compounds.  The transition from non-living to living entities was not a single event but a gradual process of increasing complexity.’  They give no scientific evidence to prove their statement.

#  Does anybody else have the answer? 

Carl Zimmer wrote about it in Science: How Darwin envisioned it: In 1871, he [Darwin] outlined the problem in a letter to his friend, botanist Joseph Hooker: “But if (and Oh! what a big if!) we could conceive in some warm little pond, with all sorts of ammonia and phosphoric salts, light, heat, electricity, etc., present, that a protein compound was chemically formed ready to undergo still more complex changes, at the present day such matter would be instantly devoured or absorbed, which would not have been the case before living creatures were formed.”  That is speculation, not proven science. 

#  Does James Tour have an answer?

He is a synthetic chemist who knows what he is talking about.

• ‘Tour has over 640 research publications and over 120 patents, with an H-index = 129 (107 by ISI Web of Science) and i10 index = 538 with total citations over 77,000 (Google Scholar).’ ⁴
• In Lee Strobel‘s book “The Case For Faith” – the following commentary is attributed to Tour: “I build molecules for a living, I can’t begin to tell you how difficult that job is.  I stand in awe of God because of what he has done through his creation.  Only a rookie who knows nothing about science would say science takes away from faith.  If you really study science, it will bring you closer to God.” ⁵
• What does he say about the origin of life?  ‘I have written a long article on the origin of life: http://inference-review.com/article/animadversions-of-a-synthetic-chemist.  It is clear, chemists and biologists are clueless.  I wrote, “Those who think scientists understand the issues of prebiotic chemistry are wholly misinformed.  Nobody understands them.  Maybe one day we will.  But that day is far from today.  It would be far more helpful (and hopeful) to expose students to the massive gaps in our understanding.  They may find a firmer—and possibly a radically different—scientific theory.  The basis upon which we as scientists are relying is so shaky that we must openly state the situation for what it is: it is a mystery.”  Note that since the time of my submission of that commentary cited above, articles continue to be published on prebiotic chemistry, so I will link to my short critiques of a few of those newer articles so that the interested reader can get an ongoing synthetic chemist’s assessment of the proposals: http://inference-review.com/article/two-experiments-in-abiogenesis.’ ⁶

Conclusion

The Genesis 1 account is called a ‘Creation myth.’  Yet if one looks at all the complexity of life, creation needs a super mind, with super powers.  The Bible identifies who created life.  It is the super wonderful God, the Ruler of the universe.

References

1. Reece et al, Campbell Biology, Pearson, 2011, p 110
2. Ibid, p 107
3. Ibid, p 50-51
4. wikipedia.org
5. Cited by Wikipedia, Lee Strobel,  2000, The Case for Christ. p111
6. James M Tour Group, Rice University, Updated August 2017

God’s miraculous water molecule

We discussed 2 Peter 3:5, ‘…and the earth was formed out of water, by water’ in three former blogs (see, Water is indispensable for this life and eternal life).  The earth is the only planet in our solar system with plenty of water.  In addition no other planet has, to date, been found with such an abundance of water.

As we know, water has two molecules of hydrogen and one of oxygen.  It is interesting that hydrogen is found in large quantities in the universe, while oxygen is the major constituent of the rocks of the earth and moon.  Then, in living organisms, both are indispensable.

#  Hydrogen in the universe 

• The sun is our nearest star.  About three quarters of the Sun’s mass consists of hydrogen (~73%); the rest is mostly helium (~25%).  The hydrogen in the sun fuses into helium and produces heat.   We experience the sun’s energy on earth as heat and light. ¹
• The sun is so hot that the huge amount of hydrogen undergoes a constant star-wide nuclear reaction, like in a hydrogen bomb.
• Not only our own sun, but also the trillions of other stars in the universe, fuse hydrogen into helium to produce energy.  ²
• Basically, stars are big exploding balls of gas that consist mostly of hydrogen that is changed into helium.  The huge reactions that take place in stars constantly release energy into the universe (called electromagnetic radiation). ³

#  Oxygen on the earth and moon

• The most abundant element in the earth’s crust is oxygen.  It makes up 46.6% of the earth’s mass.
• The moon also has oxygen.  It composes 60% of the moon’s crust by weight. ⁴

#  Hydrogen and oxygen in living organisms

• We cannot live without oxygen.  Think about the miraculous process of photosynthesis where plants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen and carbohydrates, because all living organisms need oxygen.
• God created living organisms with a variety of elements.  The percentage of oxygen (included in the water also) in a human body is about 65% and hydrogen is 9,5%.  ⁵
• Hydrogen bonds are very important in the chemistry of life.  For example it forms various molecules with carbon.  DNA and ATP both need it in their chemical composition.
• There is hydrogen and oxygen in the structure of many molecules.  No life is possible without it. ⁶

Conclusion

• If one looks at the universe, our solar system, the earth, rocks, plants, living organisms and humans, one thing is clear.  It was created.  The complexity and exquisite engineering is too great to be the result of chance happenings.
• We conclude and agree with Scripture that God is the magnificent Creator.  ‘By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding He set the heavens in place; by His knowledge the deeps were divided and the clouds let drop dew.’ ⁷  
• With the same power, knowledge and understanding that God created the water molecule, He will create the new heavens and earth, our future eternal dwelling. 

References

1. Sun, Wikipedia; space.com
2. Space.com
3. Fraser Cain, qrg.northwestern.edu; Universe Today, 24 December, 2015
4. Google information
5. Reece et al, Campbell’s Biology, Pearson, 2011, p 78
6. Ibid, p 114-137
7. Proverbs 3:19-20

Creation and salvation are closely linked.

Many churches and individual Christians shy away from Genesis 1.  They either claim it is not an important issue, because it is a divisive element in the Church, or they believe that it is not possible that God could be the Creator (or whatever).

# What happens when one denies God as the Creator?

• The foundation of faith for forgiveness is wiped out.  The most important aspect of the Christian faith is forgiveness for one’s sins by Jesus Christ, the Messiah.  But, the right to forgive is linked to creation.

#  The Forgiveness creation link.

• Jesus demonstrated this connection between Creator and Saviour when they brought the paralysed man to Him.  He said to him, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’  The teachers of the law thought by themselves, ‘Why does this fellow talk like that?  He’s blaspheming!  Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ (Note: only God can forgive sins.)
• Jesus immediately knew what they were thinking, and said, “Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk?’  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, …He said to the paralytic, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’”  What Jesus did was to prove that as Creator (the paralysed man was healed), He can be the Saviour (forgive sins).  The logical question is where did He get the right to forgive sins?

# God and Jesus have the right to

• Define what sin is;
• Announce the penalty for sin, namely death;
• Present a remedy, namely the exchange of an innocent animal’s blood for the guilty;
• To find in Jesus’ death on the Cross a permanent Sacrifice, the Lamb of God.

#  Why do they have the right to define sin and forgive?  

• God created the heavens and the earth.  Therefore He is the Possessor of heaven and earth.
• God as rightful Owner of this creation has the right to decree what offends Him.  It is just like the leader of a country who decrees the laws for the citizens.
• God also has the right to declare what the punishment is when people break His laws.  (Remember Jesus is also the Creator according to John 1:3, Hebrews 1:2, Colossians 1:16.)

#  God, the Owner, decreed forgiveness.

• His own Son, Jesus, paid the penalty of sin on the Cross.  Jesus gives new birth and eternal life through His resurrection.  He opens the way to heaven through His ascension.
• God is able to save humanity out from under the yoke of the evil one, because He as Creator and Owner can decree salvation for those who want it.

Conclusion 

One cannot spread the message of forgiveness of sins by Jesus, but deny creation by God.  That is one of the reasons many reject the Christian message.  They realise that without God the Creator, there can be no God the Forgiver.  No Jesus the Creator, no Jesus the Redeemer.

References

1. Mark 2:4-12