Article 3: The Human Condition
July 2022
Class Three: The Human Condition
In the third week of the Statement of Faith Series, we turn from looking at God’s holiness and the prefect Word to humans with all their gloriousness of being created in God’s image, their heartbreaking fall, and our terrible separation for God. And the wonderful, awesome work of God through His Son to restore us to His grace.
3. We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image (Gen. 1:26-27; 5:1; 9:6; 1 Cor. 11:7; Col. 3:10; Jms. 3:9), but they sinned when tempted by Satan (Gen. 3:1-6; Jn. 8:44; Rom. 5:12-14; 16:20; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:13-14). In union with Adam (Job 14:4; Ps. 51:5; Jn. 3:6; Rom. 3:12; 5:12-14; 1 Cor. 15:22a; 1 Jn. 1:8), human beings are sinners by nature and by choice (Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9; Isa. 6:5; Rom. 5:15; 8:5-8; Eph. 2:1-2; 4:17-19), alienated from God (Rom. 5:10), and under His wrath (Rom. 1:18; 2:5; 3:9-19; 3:23; Eph. 2:3). Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ (Act 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5) can we be rescued (1 Thess. 1:10), reconciled (Rom. 5:1,2,10; Col. 1:20) and renewed (Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:24; Phil. 3:21; 1 Jn. 3:2).