What is man? What is woman?

1. We are created by God.

   1. Through God's Word.

• Gen 1:26, 27; Heb 1:2, John 1:1, Isaiah 45:18

  1. True and sound wisdom consists of the knowledge of God and ourselves.

• Psalm 100:3, Psalm 46:10, 92:5, Gen 1:1, 2:7, 2:15, 16, 18, Gen 5:1

  1. We have this knowledge by faith.

• Heb 11:3, Ecc 1:13, 3:10, Col 1:16, Psalm 33:4-6, John 17:17, 1John 5:20.

• Man and woman are similar.

  1. Man and woman are creatures, dependent on the Creator.

     1. For life, Psalm 104:13-15

     2. For descendants, Psalm 127:3

     3. For rest, Exodus 20:10, Heb 4:11

     4. For shelter, Psalm 104:17-18, Psalm 61:3-4

     5. For meaning and blessing, Lam 3:24, Ecc 2:24, 9:7, Psalm 128:4.

  2. Man and woman are "man" (adam).

     1. Mandate to multiply and fill

     2. Mandate to rule (dominion mandate)

     3. Evangelical mandate

• Gen 1:26, 28, Matt 28:19-20, Job 7:17, Psalm 8:4-6 & Heb 2:9, Gal 3:28

  1. Man and woman are made in God's image.

     1. Tri-unity of God

     2. Kingship of God

     3. Spiritual qualities

• Gen 1:27, WSC Q. 10, Gen 9:6, James 3:9, Gal 3:26-29, Col 3:10.

• Man and woman are different.

  1. Obvious physical differences, which are to be reflected in outer appearance.

• Deut 22:5.

  1. Man is created first and is given responsibilities for leadership.

• Gen 2:21-22, Gen 2:16, 1Cor 11:3, Eph 5:22-23, 1Tim 2:12.

  1. Woman is created to be a helper for man.

• 1Cor 11:9, Gen 2:18, 1Sam 7:12, Exo 18:4, Deut 33:29.

  1. Single men and single women fit in God's design too.

     1. Single men should develop themselves to be godly leaders.

     2. Single women should develop themselves to be godly helpers.

     3. Single parents (also widows, widowers) need much grace to both lead and help in their homes.

     4. Single people fully participate in the dominion (cultural) mandate.

     5. Single people fully participate in the evangelical mandate.

     6. Single people do not participate in the mandate to multiply, but can help to fill the earth. (Orphans, needy.)

     7. Since the fall, this is not primarily a biological mandate, but a covenantal mandate. (Mal 2:15, Acts 2:39, Acts 13:33, Acts 21:5, Rom 8:16,21; Rom 9:8, 1Cor 4:14, 1Cor 7:14, 2Cor 12:14, Gal 4:27, Eph 5:1, 5:8, Heb 2:13)

• Man and woman have equal standing before God.

  1. Both are sinners in need of redemption.

     1. The gospel of salvation is for both men and women. Luke 8:1-3, Acts 8:12.

     2. The promises of God are for those who fear him, both male and female, and for children. 2Cor 6:17-18, 2 Corinthians 7:1.

  2. In the Old Covenant, women could:

     1. Be prophetesses (not Levites or priests or elders)

        1. Miriam, Ex 15:20, Deborah, Jdg 4:4, Huldah, 2Ki 22:14, Anna, Luke 2:36

     2. Be Nazirites, Num 6:2

     3. Receive an inheritance, Gen 31:14, Num 36:2,

     4. Bring sacrifices to the Lord, Num 6:14, Lev 12:6, Luke 2:22-24

     5. Pray directly to God: Gen 16:8, 1Sam 1:9-12; 2:1-10.

     6. Receive respect from their children: Exo 20:12.

     7. Obey God rather than a foolish husband: 1Sam 25:3, 18-19, 25.

     8. Bear the Messiah into the world, Gen 3:15 & Luke 1:30-33

  3. In the New Covenant, women can:

     1. Do good works pleasing to God, Eph 2:10

     2. Put on Christ, Col 3:10, Eph 4:24.

     3. Serve Jesus Christ, Mt 27:55, Mk 15:40, Lk 8:2-3

     4. Witness the resurrection of Christ, Luke 24:1ff.

     5. Pray with the apostles, Acts 1:14

     6. Be dragged off as martyrs, Acts 8:3, 9:2

     7. Be baptized, Act 8:12 and build up the church, Act 16:13-15, Acts 17:4, 12

     8. Serve as a helper to Christ's church: Rom 16:2, Phil 4:3

     9. Remain unmarried to serve the Lord, 1Cor 7:8, 32, 34.

  4. Christian men and women continue to live before the Lord and glorify him together.

• Deut 31:12, Rom 12:4, Gal 6:4.