What We Believe - About Man

We teach that man is more than just a material, natural creature (Gen. 2:7). He has body, soul and spirit (1 Thes. 5:23; Heb. 4:12; 1 Cor. 2:14-3:4). Man has been created in the image of God, with the abilities to think, feel, and decide. Therefore each life has tremendous value (Gen. 1:26-28; 5:1; 9:6).

In the image and likeness of God, we teach that man was originally righteous but as a result of the fall into sin, all men are sinners by nature and choice (Rom. 3:10-12; 3:23; 5:19) and are entirely incapable of saving themselves (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Is. 64:6). Man’s salvation is thereby wholly of God’s grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ. We teach that God judges each man for his own sin (Ezek. 18:4; Deut. 24:16) but that one person’s sin has an effect on others (Josh. 22; 2 Sam. 21).