I would say that the fact of a beginning establishes a common descent from the uncaused cause. The only possible uncaused cause is God. OTOH, we also exist in Him (His will) because there is nothing else of which anything could be made in the void.
But I suspect you were asking the question wrt biology.
And there, the question cannot be answered without first answering the question "what is life v non-life/death in nature?"
Of course, I have already answered that question to my own satisfaction - that the difference between that which is alive and that which is non-life/death is successful communication (information). Thus the answer would be that the common ancestor is the source of information in the universe. By Spiritual revelation, I know this source also to be God (Logos, Jesus Christ).
Or to be more "microscope to telescope" perhaps you are wondering about origin of species?
If two dogs breed, I do not expect them to give birth to a litter of cats.
OTOH, for the continuum of evolution to be true - somewhere in the past snakes bred and gave birth to enough lizards to make a whole new branch of the tree. One species as parents, another species as offspring.
I've never seen that happen though I've certainly seen evidence of creatures adapting to their environment. So on that, it could be either creation by evolution or special creation or a combination. Spiritual revelation speaks to both, so that is my episteme on the matter (for me, Spiritual knowledge is more sure than all other kinds of knowledge).
Is this your impression of how evolution works?
Thou art an orthodox, my sister.
It's marvelous how often we think of the same things at the same time! I just put up a post dealing with the Logos....
Outstanding essay/post, Alamo-Girl. Much food for thought there....
Either an unsupported assertion, or a tautology.