VI. THE CREATION

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.” (Genesis 1:1,11,24,26-27; Genesis 2:21-23; Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Jeremiah 10:12; John 1:3; Acts 4:24; Acts 17:23-26; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 10:6)

A. FALL OF MAN

We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression, fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. (Genesis 3:1-6,24; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:18,20,28,32; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 5:12,19; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1,3)

B. THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only are justified through faith in the name of the Lord Jesus and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse. This distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. (Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 11:31; Proverbs 14:32; Malachi 3:18; Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 25:34,4I~ Luke 9:26; Luke 16:25; John 8:21; John 12:25; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 1:17; Romans 6:16-18,23; Romans 7:6; I Corinthians 15:22; Galatians 3:10; I Peter 4:18; I John 2:29; I John 3:7; I John 5:19)