We believe that God created the first man on the sixth day of creation (Gen 1:27). He was created instantaneously, supernaturally and directly apart from any evolutionary process (Gen 2:7). Eve was likewise created (Gen 1:27; 5:2; 1 Tim 2:13) instantaneous, supernaturally and directly from the body of Adam(Gen 2:21,22). The entire human race descends from Adam and Eve through natural generation(1 Cor 11:8, 12; Acts 17:26).
Adam was created from the union of material and immaterial, from the dust of the earth (that which is of the created world) and the breath of God (that which is from God) (Gen 2:7). Man is composed of a body, soul and spirit (1 Thess 5:23; Heb 4:12). The image of God in man is located in the spirit (Gen 2:7), the seat of man’s personality, which comprises intelligence (Gen 45:27), understanding (Job 20:3), self-determination (Jer 51:11) and purpose (Acts 19:21) ). The union of the body and spirit constitute the soul, an individual person (Gen 2:7; Pr 19:15). Body, soul and spirit are transmitted through the parents via procreation and become a person at the point of conception (Psalm 51:5; Psalm 139:13-14). There is no new creation at the point of conception (Gen 2:2) but rather a realization of a person potentially created in Adam (Heb 7:9-10; Acts 17:26; 1 Cor 11:8).
The image of God in man encompasses a personal aspect: a self-consciousness and God-consciousness (Col 3:9-10) and a spiritual aspect: a capacity for fellowship, original righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:24). Adam was created in unconfirmed holiness. He was predisposed to obedience and was able not to sin. After the Fall he was permanently predisposed to evil; he was not able not to sin. Adam’s depravity is transmitted to his posterity through natural generation (Gen 5:3; John 3:6). The image of God has been marred by the Fall but not lost (Gen 9:6; James 3:9; 1 Cor 11:7).