Doctrine of Man
(Theological Anthropology)
We teach that man was graciously, directly, and wonderfully created by God. Both male and female were created in the image and likeness of God. Thus, every human life is precious in God’s sight, including the lives of unborn babies in their mother’s womb (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:4-23; Psalm 139:13-16; Genesis 9:5-7)
We teach that man was created to enjoy and glorify God forever. Man was created free of sin. Thus, he had perfect fellowship with God, and perfect fellowship with the rest of God’s creation. As our original parents, Adam and Eve were alive in both the spiritual and physical realms. (Genesis 1-2; First Corinthians 10:31; Romans 11:33-36; Psalm 73:25-28; Acts 17:26)
‘’Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy Him forever’’ (Westminster Confession of Faith, The Larger Catechism #1).
We teach that man was created as a rational, intelligent, volitional being who was morally responsible to obey God and to submit to Him in humility, love, and reverence. (Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:4-17; Isaiah 43:7)
“After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal souls, endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after His own image; having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfill it; and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto to change. Besides this law written in their hearts, they received a command, not to eat of the tree, of the knowledge of good and evil; which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures’’ (Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 4, #2).
We teach that man was created to enjoy and glorify God forever. Man was created free of sin. Thus, he had perfect fellowship with God, and perfect fellowship with the rest of God’s creation. As our original parents, Adam and Eve were alive in both the spiritual and physical realms. (Genesis 1-2; First Corinthians 10:31; Romans 11:33-36; Psalm 73:25-28; Acts 17:26)
‘’Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy Him forever’’ (Westminster Confession of Faith, The Larger Catechism #1).
We teach that man was created as a rational, intelligent, volitional being who was morally responsible to obey God and to submit to Him in humility, love, and reverence. (Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:4-17; Isaiah 43:7)
“After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal souls, endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after His own image; having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfill it; and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto to change. Besides this law written in their hearts, they received a command, not to eat of the tree, of the knowledge of good and evil; which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures’’ (Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 4, #2).