Article 3 WE AFFIRM that God created Adam and Eve, the first


human beings, in his own image, equal before God as persons, and distinct as male and female.


WE DENY that the divinely ordained differences between


male and female render them unequal in dignity or worth. Article 4


WE AFFIRM that divinely ordained differences between


male and female reflect God’s original creation design and are meant for human good and human flourishing.


WE DENY that such differences are a result of the Fall or are a tragedy to be overcome. Article 5 WE AFFIRM that the differences between male and female


reproductive structures are integral to God’s design for self-con- ception as male or female.


WE DENY that physical anomalies or psychological condi-


tions nullify the God-appointed link between biological sex and self-conception as male or female.


Article 6 WE AFFIRM that those born with a physical disorder of


sex development are created in the image of God and have dignity and worth equal to all other image-bearers. Tey are acknowl- edged by our Lord Jesus in his words about “eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb.” With all others they are welcome as faithful followers of Jesus Christ and should em- brace their biological sex insofar as it may be known.


WE DENY that ambiguities related to a person’s biological


sex render one incapable of living a fruitful life in joyful obedi- ence to Christ.


Article 7 WE AFFIRM that self-conception as male or female should


be defined by God’s holy purposes in creation and redemption as revealed in Scripture.


WE DENY that adopting a homosexual or transgender


self-conception is consistent with God’s holy purposes in creation and redemption.


Article 8 WE AFFIRM that people who experience sexual attraction


for the same sex may live a rich and fruitful life pleasing to God through faith in Jesus Christ, as they, like all Christians, walk in purity of life.


WE DENY that sexual attraction for the same sex is part of


the natural goodness of God’s original creation, or that it puts a person outside the hope of the gospel.


FEBC International Directors recommend that churches consider


adopting this statement. For more information, Scripture references and signatories, visit: https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement.


16 Fellowship Focus, July/August 2019 FellowshipForward.org


Article 9 WE AFFIRM that sin distorts sexual desires by direct-


ing them away from the marriage covenant and toward sexual immorality— a distortion that includes both heterosexual and homosexual immorality.


WE DENY that an enduring pattern of desire for sexual


immorality justifies sexually immoral behavior. Article 10


WE AFFIRM that it is sinful to approve of homosexual


immorality or transgenderism and that such approval constitutes an essential departure from Christian faithfulness and witness.


WE DENY that the approval of homosexual immorality


or transgenderism is a matter of moral indifference about which otherwise faithful Christians should agree to disagree.


Article 11 WE AFFIRM our duty to speak the truth in love at all


times, including when we speak to or about one another as male or female.


WE DENY any obligation to speak in such ways that dis-


honor God’s design of his image- bearers as male and female. Article 12


WE AFFIRM that the grace of God in Christ gives both


merciful pardon and transforming power, and that this pardon and power enable a follower of Jesus to put to death sinful desires and to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.


WE DENY that the grace of God in Christ is insufficient


to forgive all sexual sins and to give power for holiness to every believer who feels drawn into sexual sin.


Article 13 WE AFFIRM that the grace of God in Christ enables


sinners to forsake transgender self- conceptions and by divine forbearance to accept the God-ordained link between one’s bio- logical sex and one’s self-conception as male or female.


WE DENY that the grace of God in Christ sanctions


self-conceptions that are at odds with God’s revealed will. Article 14


WE AFFIRM that Christ Jesus has come into the world to


save sinners, and that through Christ’s death and resurrection, forgiveness of sins and eternal life are available to every person who repents of sin and trusts in Christ alone as Savior, Lord, and supreme treasure.


WE DENY that the Lord’s arm is too short to save or that any sinner is beyond his reach.


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