V. God’s Design — Family, Life, and Society
19. Marriage, Family, and Sexuality
We believe every person is created in God’s image with dignity and worth. God designed humanity as male and female and reserved sexual intimacy for the covenant marriage between one man and one woman. Marriage reflects the relationship between Christ and His Church and provides the foundation for family and community life. Because of sin, all people experience brokenness in their desires, yet through Jesus Christ we can be forgiven, healed, and empowered to live in holiness.
Scripture References: Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:31-32
Expanded Explanation:
From the beginning, God created humanity in His image and designed marriage as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). This union is not merely a social contract but a divine reflection of Christ’s relationship with His Church (Ephesians 5:25–32). Within marriage, God provides companionship, sexual intimacy, and the context for raising children in faith.
Sexuality, when lived within God’s design, is a gift that expresses covenant love, unity, and mutual self-giving. Outside that design, it leads to distortion and pain. Scripture calls all believers—married or single—to live in purity and self-control, honoring God with their bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5).
Though humanity’s desires have been corrupted by sin, the gospel offers both forgiveness and transformation. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are not bound by our past or by cultural redefinitions of gender and sexuality. In Christ, brokenness is met with grace, and holiness becomes not a burden but a joy — the freedom to live as God originally intended.
20. The Sanctity of Life
We believe all human life is sacred and created in the image of God, from conception to natural death. God alone is the giver and sustainer of life; therefore, every person—born or unborn, healthy or disabled, young or old—has inherent value. We affirm God’s call to protect, cherish, and defend life, extending compassion and hope to those who have experienced loss, abortion, or suffering through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Scripture References: Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; John 10:10; Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Expanded Explanation:
Human life is sacred because it bears the image of its Creator. From the moment of conception, each person is known and loved by God (Psalm 139:13–16; Jeremiah 1:5). Life is not an accident of biology but a divine gift entrusted to us. Because of this truth, followers of Christ are called to defend and value life at every stage — from the unborn child to the elderly, from the healthy to the vulnerable.
Jesus came that we might have life “more abundantly” (John 10:10), showing us the heart of the Father who delights in His creation. Upholding the sanctity of life also means extending grace to those who carry guilt or pain from past decisions. The cross of Christ offers complete forgiveness and renewal for every heart that turns to Him.
Our response to this truth is both conviction and compassion — conviction that life is sacred and cannot be devalued, and compassion that welcomes and restores those who have been wounded. In doing so, the Church becomes a refuge of mercy and a witness to the Creator who gives life and redeems it.
21. Human Identity and Dignity
We believe every human being is created by God with unique purpose and value. Our true identity is not found in personal achievement, social status, or self-definition, but in being His creation and, through faith in Christ, His redeemed children. We reject all attempts to devalue, exploit, or redefine what it means to be human. In a culture of confusion, we stand for the dignity of every person and the hope of restored identity through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Scripture References: Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-5; Galatians 3:26-28; 2 Corinthians 5:17
Expanded Explanation:
In a world that constantly redefines identity, Scripture anchors us in an unchanging truth: we are created by God, in His image, and for His glory. Our worth is not determined by what we do or how we feel, but by who we belong to. The image of God (Imago Dei) gives every person—regardless of background, ability, or experience—equal dignity and worth (Psalm 8:3–5).
Sin distorts that image, leading people to seek identity apart from God in performance, possessions, gender, or power. But through Christ, the image is restored. Those who place their faith in Jesus become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) and are adopted as sons and daughters of God (Galatians 3:26–28).
The Church must speak truth with grace in a culture that is confused about what it means to be human. We affirm that God made humanity male and female, both reflecting His nature, and that every person is invited into a redeemed identity in Christ. This conviction calls us not to condemnation but to compassion — pointing people toward the One who gives true worth, lasting purpose, and eternal hope.