Man and woman were made in the image of God with individuality, the power and freedom to think and to do. Though created free beings, each is an indivisible unity of body, mind, and spirit, dependent upon God for life and breath and all else. When our first parents disobeyed God, they denied their dependence upon him and fell from their high position under God. The image of God in them was marred and they became subject to death
Their descendants share this fallen
nature and its consequences. They are born with weaknesses and tendencies to
evil. But God in Christ reconciled the world to himself and by his spirit
restores in penitent morals the image of their Maker. Created for the glory of
God, they are called to love him and one another, and care for their
environment.
Human beings are God’s special creation---made in his
own image. Like God we have the power of choice . God wants us to choose to
love him and to care for our world and its inhabitants.
ØWe are created by God in his image.
Genesis 1:26-27
ØGod places the breath of life, or
spirit, within us, making us living souls-a unity of body and spirit. We have
no soul that can exist apart from this unity of body and spirit. Genesis 2:7
ØGod gives the power of choice, but we
remain dependent of him. Acts 17:24-28
ØGod wants us to learn to love as he
loves. Matthew 22:35-40
ØWe should take care of God’s creation.
Psalm 8:4-8
The image of God in
mankind became marred when Adam and Eve sinned in Eden. We are now born with
tendencies toward evil and are subject to sin and death.
ØAdam and Eve’s wrong use of the power
of choice resulted from trying to be independent of God. Genesis 3
ØBecause of their sin, all their
descendants are subject to death. Romans 5:12-17
ØOur natural inborn tendencies are
toward evil. Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:3
Although we are born
with sinful tendencies, God does not reject us. He sees what we can become
through his grace.
ØJesus’ life and death reconciles us to
God. Romans 5:6-11; 2 Corinthians 5:19-20
ØGod gives us his Holy Spirit to
restore his image in us. Psalm 51:10-11;
Social Plugin