What's So Specific about Gender

Text

Genesis 1:26–28 KJV 1900

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Introduction

It is hard to believe that there is a debate raging in our world over the very issue referred to in the title of this lesson. Modern society is profoundly confused about many things but the God given gender of a person might be the most appalling.

Besides the confusion over gender itself, we've confused words such as tolerance and acceptance, love and marriage. People in our society, particularly those with an anti-God agenda, have turned God's created design inside out and upside down and so confused kids in the process that children who are too young to know what the difference between man and woman means wonder if they really are the other.

And it's not just children who are confused. Well­ meaning adults who have been pulled in by the arguments of tolerance or equality likewise feel insecure on these issues.

Similarly, there are young adults who have been brought up in a culture that is so heavily influenced by a LGBT agenda that they have never heard a clear explanation of biblical truth in these areas.

As Christian parents-for the help and happiness of our children-we need to set aside any prejudice and listen with an open heart to what God's Word teaches and how we can help our children enjoy their God-created identity.

There is a war for the hearts, minds, and bodies of your children. God's design is despised by many who would corrupt and exchange the God-given plan for their lives, and this corruption often begins early in the life of a child. It may be through childhood abuse, the presence of pornography in the home, or simply the combination of absentee parents and outside mentors who insert dangerous influences. Often, children without clear role modeling and training from their parents become confused in these areas and will mimic the most dominant influence in their lives. Today, there are many gay activists who are more than happy to be that dominant influence. God's plan, however, in creating "male and female" as distinct and complementary was purposeful and good.

Genesis 1:27 KJV 1900

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

It is God who set the distinction, and, as we'll see, He strictly prohibits the two roles to be blurred, much less exchanged. Regardless of how confused our culture becomes on these issues, it is vital that Christian parents anchor their children in God's original design for them.

Confusion of sex roles (as well as all other sexual relationships outside of marriage) is particularly evil because it attacks and corrupts the biblical plan for the family. When families begin to disintegrate, all of society feels the reverberations. The most ungodly societies of history, including Sodom and Gomorrah (), Rome (), and many parts of the world today, have been plagued by sex role perversions, no doubt because Satan is so intent on destroying the family.

Genesis 19:5 KJV 1900

And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

Romans 1:26–27 KJV 1900

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Transition

Here in America, we are just beginning to discover the results of promoting sexual sins.

We may not be able to reverse the current trajectory of our culture, but we are responsible to guide our children and influence our grandchildren to be secure in their identity. What should you do as a parent? What can you do to help your child understand the distinction between men and women and to trust God's design for them in their created identity?

I. The Foundation of God-given Identity

Genesis 1:26 KJV 1900

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Gender identity issues are so significant because they strike at the very core of God’s design. It is literally a Satanic attack!

A Biblical view of sexuality recognizes two vital truths: men and women are equally created in God’s image but diverse in their physical design.

A. Equal in God’s image

Both Adam and Eve had the same human nature

Genesis 1:26–27 KJV 1900

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

James 3:9 KJV 1900

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

This is what sets man above the animal kingdom - we are not animals (another issue all by itself)

James 3:9

What does this mean “in the image of God”?

We have intellect, will, emotion, morality, understanding, the ability to reason

We have an eternal soul

We have the capacity to communicate with God

We both stand in the same need of Salvation

1 John 2:2 KJV 1900

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1

In Christ we stand equally redeemed

Galatians 3:28 KJV 1900

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

this verse does not remove the distinction - it simply means there is no inequality in our standing before God!

B. Diverse in physical design