4. Image: God Loves
We believe that in love God created the first human beings, Adam and Eve, as male and female, equal in dignity, value, and worth, in order to mirror and reflect God as an act of worship and obedience. We believe that human beings, as God’s sole image bearers, are under God and over lower creation, not to be pulled up like gods or pushed down like animals.(8) We believe that human life begins at conception and that an unborn baby is an image-bearer of God.(9) We believe that God created marriage solely for one man and one woman, and created sex only for married couples.(10) Because God created human life and marriage, we value the sanctity of life and godly marriage.
5. Fall: God Judges
We believe that God created this world in a perfect state.(11) In Eden, Satan tempted Eve to mistrust God’s word, and she was deceived.(12) The sin committed by Adam, also called “original sin,” has been imputed to all human beings except Jesus Christ.(13) All human beings are sinners by both nature and choice.(14) All fallen people are by nature sinners, children of wrath, and destined to death.(15) Because we are sinners in need of a Savior and new nature, we trust in Jesus Christ alone for new and eternal life and believe in the reality of spiritual warfare with Satan and demons.
6. Covenant: God Pursues
We believe that God makes and keeps his covenant promises.(16) God’s covenants reveal his loving grace and mercy, because although people deserve nothing but condemnation, God gives gracious, covenantal salvation. Because God has welcomed us into eternal covenant relationship, we seek to live in gracious loving relationship with Him and others.