Of Man.

"I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well." Ps. 139:14. 

We believe that man is not the product of evolutionary de­ velopment, but that he was created in the beginning an intelligent and moral being, consisting of body and soul. Man is the foremost among the visible creatures, because God Himself has prepared his body, given him a rational soul, and created him in His own image. The very manner in which God created man reflects His unspeak­ able love to him. Truly, man, God’s noblest handiwork, was won­ derfully made. His beautiful body, superbly symmetrical, stands erect, with face turned forward and upward. His wonderful body was not, as in the case of all other creatures, simply created by the word of the Almighty, but was formed of the chief elements of the earth.

And God breathed into this body the breath of life. The form of clay lived and breathed. Man hears the sounds and sees the wonders of nature round about him. Adam was able to give an appropriate name to every living creature, for he was gifted with speech and a keen and strong intellect. Man was intended to be the lord of the earth; for when all else was created, God took counsel with Himself, saying: “Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over . . . all the earth.” Besides appointing him lord of the earth God gave him immor­ tality, that he should live for God and with God forever.

Both his dominion over the earth and his immortality man lost by sin. He was created holy and innocent; but in his present fallen estate he is entirely depraved and enslaved in the service of sin. Sin, with its countless hosts of evils, death, and damnation, entered the world and fastened its fangs upon our first parents, poisoning the fountain of life and the stream of humanity. But it was not to remain so forever. For as soon as sin entered the world, also the Savior from sin was promised.

Prayer.

Eternal, almighty God, Thou didst create man in Thine own image to live evermore before Thee according to Thy holy will and in perfect blessedness. Alas! the image was lost, and our nature has become depraved by sin. Our understanding is darkened, our desires are impure, our will is at variance with Thy Law. And the wages of our sin is death. But we praise Thee, O Thou Father of mercies, that Thou didst send Thy Son, the image of Thyself, towin back for us the right to become again Thy children. then, that we may accept Him in true faith. Amen.