God's Design

Introduction

Offensive?

Review

1 Corinthians

Trinity

Father, Son, Holy Spirit equal in essence. Equal in nature

All powerful, Everywhere present, all knowing

Difference persons with different roles

Father - Plans creation, plans means of salvation

Son

Everything created through him and by him

all thing upheld by him

Became flesh

Died for our sins and rose from the dead

Holy Spirit

Indwells and empowers believers

intercedes in prayer for us

a deposit, guaranteeing our ultimate salvation

Scripture/Prayer

Questions?

Why are we not following this?

Is the Bible outdated? Does this scripture not apply to us today.

Is this passage relevant for us to day? If not, what other parts of the Bible are not relevant to us? (Maybe all of it)

If wearing or not wearing head covering is no long required, what is the real meaning of this text?

not primarily about hair length

not primary about veils or head coverings

These are applications of the doctrine that is being taught. How you put the doctrine into practice in the Corinthian culture

What is the teaching Paul is trying to get across to us?

Illustration: Apple Developer’s Conference

Follow the plan, the guidelines and your application will work as it was designed

Issue: Today, mankind is not following the guidelines given to them by God

The Main Point - God’s plan

1 Corinthians 11:4 ESV

4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,

1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV

3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

There is an authority structure (order in authority, leadership) in God’s design that is for his glory and for our good.

Men and Women are equal in personal worth to God, dignity, spirituality, and as image bearers of God.

equal in personal worth to God, dignity, spirituality, as image bearers of God

1 Corinthians 11:11–12 ESV

11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.

1cor 11:

While, men and women are equal they have different God ordained roles.

But husbands and wives have differing roles

Ephesians 5:22–33 ESV

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 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. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 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. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

God’s plan is to use different roles for men and women to bring glory and honor to Himself.

God’s plan is to use different roles for men and women to bring glory and honor to Himself.

God’s plan is to use husbands as servant leaders who love by sacrificing.

God’s plan is to use wives as those who honor their husband by following their leadership.

Important:

Gives a picture of the diversity of the trinity

Person of equal worth and stature with different roles

Picture of Christ and his Church

His plan for husband and wives

sanctification

Verse 3: God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of man, man is the head of the wife, and the wife is the glory of man.

If Christ had not submitted to the will of God, redemption for mankind would have never been possible, and we would forever be doomed and lost. If individual human beings do not submit to Christ as Savior and Lord, they are still doomed an lost, because they reject God’s gracious provision. And if women do not submit to men, then the family and society as a whole are disrupted and destroyed. Whether on a divine or human scale, subordination, and authority are indispensable elements in God’s order and plan - John MacArthur.

Issue: The Corinthians are not publicly demonstrating this authority structure properly.

The Corinthians showed respect and honor by their hair length or head overing (veil).

#1 The Men were covering their heads

Men were covering their heads and dishonoring God. (vs 4)

Because of status in the secular world

Reversal of gender roles

prayer to some gods required covering of the man’s head

Consequences: wrong view of the trinity, Christ and the Church, and godly relationship between husband and wife

Removing a hat to pray showed and undivided commitment to honor God as God.

#2 Woman were uncovering their heads while praying and dishonoring their husbands and dishonoring God

Roman?Corinthian culture

A woman who covers her head indicates she is taken - Married

shows respect to her husband

uncovered hair

shows a woman is available - Single

Sexually available - possibly a prostitue

Woman should honor their husbands as their spiritual leaders

Man was created first

Woman was made from Man

Woman was made for Man and his glory

behind every good man there is a good woman making him to look good

#3 Result - confusion in roles of men and women that was upsetting the church

Is it right for a woman to not honor her husband as leader? vs 13

It is not right for men to look like women and women to look like men.