OUR BELIEFS: MANKIND
Man was directly and immediately created by God in His image and likeness. Man was created free of sin with intelligence and free will with a moral responsibility to God. (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 2:15-25; Job 33:4; Psalm 139:14;16; Isaiah 45:12; James 3:9; Revelation 4:11).
Man is a dependant being (Acts 17:28).
Man is to be fruitful and reproduce and has dominion over all the creatures of the earth (Genesis 1:28, Genesis 1:26, Psalm 8:6-8).
Man is a triune being, having a spirit, soul and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
God’s intention in the creation of man was that man should glorify God and enjoy God’s fellowship. Man was meant to live in the will of God and by this accomplish God’s purpose for man in the world. (Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11)
We believe that the chief end of man has always been “to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever” as stated in the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN
The first human beings, Adam and Eve, sinned by disobeying the express will of God. (Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:1-6)
The sin of disobedience to God’s will meant that mankind:
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lost their innocence and no longer enjoyed fellowship with God (Genesis 3:7-13).
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suffered consequences in child bearing, hard work and physical death (Genesis 3:14-19).
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incurred spiritual death (Genesis 2:17) and were driven out from the presence of God (Genesis 3:24).
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became enemies of God (Romans 5:10)
God had given the command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil to Adam and therefore, he, Adam was responsible to ensure it was obeyed (Genesis 2:16-17). Consequently, after Adam and Eve violated this command, this original sin is called Adam’s sin. Ever since Adam’s sin of disobedience, a corrupt nature has been transferred to all of mankind (Jesus Christ being the only exception) (Romans 5:12; Psalm 51:5; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Mankind is now, by nature, rebellious towards God, sinners and their hearts and souls are wicked, dead in their trespasses & sins and enemies of God. (Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 2:13; Romans 3:23; Romans 3:9-18; Psalm 14:2-3; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21; Ephesians 2:1; Romans 5:10).
Mankind, because of sin, has incurred a debt owed to God which can only be paid by paying a penalty (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Galatians 3:13-15).
Even though Mankind looks hopelessly lost, God promised that salvation would come from the seed of Eve (Genesis 3:15). Just as sin came into the world because of one man, Adam, salvation is now possible by one Man (Romans 5:12-21).
