ANTHROPOLOGY AND HAMARTIOLOGY

Man’s Creation

On the sixth day of creation God formed man in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). The image of God refers to the immaterial nature, not to the corporeal. This image involves a rational, moral, communal, spiritual and social likeness to God. Man is essentially in three parts; the body, soul and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). God created man by an immediate act with a free will and without sin, the highest form of God’s earthly creation (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; Hebrews 2:7).

The Provision for Salvation

The only way of salvation is by the means of God’s grace through personal trust and faith in Jesus Christ. Christ was offered as a substitutionary sacrifice for man’s sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). The finished work of the cross purchased all that was necessary for salvation through Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:13; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:22). The death of Christ was the only satisfactory sacrifice that would appease God’s wrath (Romans 3:23; 5:12; Hebrews 10:4-14).

The Power of Salvation

1. Regeneration – Regeneration is a work of God in which He creates a new birth or makes alive in order for an individual to respond to Him (John 3:3-8; Ephesians 2:5).
   
2. Faith – Faith is a response to God’s gracious election and efficient call. It is a gift of God in which He enables the individual to believe (Ephesians 2:8-9).
   
3. Repentance – Repentance is a renunciation of sin and a complete turnaround from that lifestyle. Repentance is also a gift of God in which He enables someone to seeing how sinful they are and thus repent (2 Timothy 2:25; Acts 11:18).
   
4. Justification – Through faith, God graciously declares righteous the sinner that believes on Christ. The believer is imputed the righteousness of Christ judicially and is forgiven from the guilt and penalty of all sin (Romans 3:22-28).
   
5. Adoption – Adoption is an act of God at salvation in which He makes us forever a member of his family (John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 3:23-26).
   
6. Sanctification

• Positional Sanctification – At the moment of regeneration and justification, the believer is seen in Christ eyes as perfect before God (1 Corinthians 1:30).
  
• Progressive Sanctification – Throughout the believer’s life he cooperates with the Holy Spirit as he is being brought into obedience to the Word of God in order to reflect the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4; Romans 13:14; Galatians 5:16,24; John 17:17).
  
• Perfect Sanctification – This is the final culmination of sanctification in glory when we shall become like Christ, seeing Him as He is (1 John 3:2).

1. Preservation of the Saints – Those who God brings to saving faith shall never lose their salvation (John 10:28; Romans 8:31-39). Because God’s work is unfailing, the believer’s salvation is secured forever. Any true believer will never fall from a state of grace, but will certainly endure to the end (1 John 2:19; 4:4; Luke 22:31-32).
   
2. Glorification – It is future and the fullest and final aspect of sanctification. Totally a work of God, the believer is totally delivered from the “body of this death” and granted a new, glorified, immortal, spiritual and heavenly after Christ’s glorified body. He will be separated completely and eternally from the presence of sin (1 Corinthians 15:50-54; Revelation 21:27).