We teach that God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace (Psalm 145:8-9 ). He is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1-31 ; Ephesians 3:9 ). As the only absolute and omnipotent Ruler in the universe, He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption (Psalm 103:19 ; Romans 11:36 ). His fatherhood involves both His designation within the Trinity and His relationship with mankind. As Creator He is Father to all men (Ephesians 4:6 ), but He is spiritual Father only to believers (Romans 8:14 ; 2 Corinthians 6:18 ). He has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass (Ephesians 1:11 ). He continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events (1 Chronicles 29:11 ). In His sovereignty He is not the approver of sin (Habakkuk 1:13 ; John 8:38-47 ), nor does He abridge the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures (1 Peter 1:17 ). He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would have as His own (Ephesians 1:4-6 ); He saves from sin all 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 ; Romans 8:15 ; Galatians 4:5 ; Hebrews 12:5-9 ).