The Image of God in Man

We were made similar to God in certain ways to represent God and carry out designated responsibilities.

We are spiritual beings, in human form, to represent and worship God who is spirit. Only humans are able to relate to God in worship and communication. Man is a living soul and given a spiritual life.

We are personal beings with a personality that makes us unique individuals with self-consciousness and purpose. We share common characteristics but no two people are alike. Each human life has great significance before God.

We are relational beings in that we can relate to God and to others. We are not made to live in isolated individualism thus it involves how we relate in marriage, fellowship in church, and fellowship in community.

Being relational beings we are created to think, to know, to learn, and to cultivate our minds and spirits.

As emotional beings to experience intimacy with those close to us and to feel compassion to others.

We are creative beings who have the desire to create - art, business, books, landscaping, "be fruitful and multiply", and to harness the natural world.

We are wonderfully made to resemble God. In the Fall, we died spiritually, relationship with God was ruptured, interpersonal relationships broke, our purity was lost, personality became corrupted, false and vain knowledge was sought after, emotions turned to selfish desires, and our creativity ws despoiled by evil purposes and pursuits.

In Salvation, thru Christ, we are made a new creation and able to live as God created us, fulfilling the responsibilities given to us. To glorify, love, and worship God; to reverence and respect life, to dignity in how we see, relate to and treat others; Sexuality is the union of a man and woman for intimacy, fidelity, and faith; marriage represents the Triune God, it has spiritual meaning, and committed attachment. We show compassion to those suffering and to each other, living with one another in peace and community.