We teach that God the Father, the first person of the Trinity, orders and disposes all things according to his own purpose and grace (Ps. 145:8-9; I Cor. 8:6). He is the Creator of all things (Gen. 1:1-31; Eph. 3:9). As the only absolute and omnipotent ruler in the universe, he is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption (Ps. 103:19; Rom. 11:36). His fatherhood involves both his designation within the Trinity and his relationship with mankind. As Creator he is Father to all men (Eph. 4:6), but he is Spiritual Father only to believers (Rom. 8:14; 2Cor. 6:18). He has decreed for his own glory all things that come to pass (Eph. 1:11). He continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events (I Chron. 29:11). In his sovereignty he is neither author nor approver of sin (Hab. 1:13), nor does he abridge the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures (I Pet.1:17). He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom he would have as his own (Eph. 1:4-6); he saves from sin all those who come to him through Jesus Christ; he adopts as his own all those who come to him; and he becomes, upon adoption, Father to his own (John 1:12; Rom. 8:15; Gal 4:5; Heb. 12:5-9).