Man as Male and Female (3.2)

God created man as male and female.

Genesis 5:1–2 (ESV)

…when God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.

Every person is equally important because they are made in God’s image.

Every person reflects God.

This fact should exclude all feelings of pride or inferiority and idea that anyone is better or worse than the other. This is God’s evaluation of all people, so it should be our standard too.

We should respect and honor every person because of this truth.

1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:11 ESV

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Galatians 3:27–28 ESV

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

We reflect God in having relationships.

God made us in His image; just like there is relationship within the Trinity, we need and were created for relationships.

Genesis 1:26 (ESV)

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”

The most obvious relationship we see between man and woman is marriage.

Other relationships that we have: friendships, family we’re born into, our Christian family

Genesis 2:24 ESV

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

God created males and females in His image to show that there is distinction in role and authority.

Within the Trinity, there is the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. They are all equal in power, but have different roles.

The Father sends the Son, and the Son goes. (Lk22:42)

The Spirit equips the church (Acts1:8)

The Father speaks, the Son works out & sustains creation (Jn1:1-3)

Since we reflect God, we have differences in roles.

Adam was created first, then Eve. Eve was created as a helper for Adam.

Genesis 2:18 ESV

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

1 Corinthians 11:9 ESV

Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

Think of differences in roles as playing two different roles on a team, or a duet. One is not more important than the other, but the two play their role for the good of the team.

Ephesians 5:21–33 ESV

submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

v.21 means to submit to those in authority over us within the church, as these authority figures are following Christ.

Husbands are told to submit to Christ, and follow Him first and reflect Him in their leadership. Men, this is a huge calling and one that requires humility, faith, and trust in Jesus. It is not a pass to be a jerk, but a call to surrender first to Christ.

Ladies, this passage is about marriage. When you find a boy who loves Jesus with all of his heart and has surrendered his life to Him, and you are married, play your role the way Christ calls you to do so. Then, and only then, submit to this man who loves Jesus…not just wears a cross necklace or occasionally attends church, but a man who is devoted to the Lord and desires to reflect Him in all that he does.