GOD’S DEFINITION OF MEN AND WOMEN

• Gen 1:26-27- 26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

• 1 Corinthians 11:14-16 - 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God. NASU

• Romans 1:21-25 (NASB-U) For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. [24] Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. [25] For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

HE DEFINES HIM AS ONE WHO PROVIDES SERVANT LEADERSHIP

• God describes a man who practices servant/leadership as being responsive, respectful, willing, loving, self-sacrificing, and submissive.

• How can servanthood and leadership be compatible?

• Phil. 2:5-8 - (NASB-U) Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. [8] Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Matt. 20:28.

“. . . the Son of Man did not come to be served,

but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for

many”

AS A SINGLE MAN. • 1 Tim. 4:12-16- Let no one look down on your

youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. [13] Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. [14] Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. [15] Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. [16] Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

AS A HUSBAND.

• 1 Cor. 11:3- But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.

AS A FATHER• Deut 6:6-9 - (ESV) 6 And these words

that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

• Eph. 6:4- Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

• As Father and husband we are to provide for the needs of our family 1 Tim. 5:8- But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

As a Father we are to treat our children in a way that does not exasperate them.

Col. 3:21- Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose

heart.

AS LEADERS IN THE CHURCH.

• Matt 23:10-11— "Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 " But the greatest among you shall be your servant.

• Luke 22:24-27- And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.' 26 "But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 27 "For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

AS A MEMBER OF SOCIETY.

• Daniel 6:4-9 (ESV) 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” 6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.

Philip. 2:14-15 (NIV) Do everything without

complaining or arguing, [15] so that you may

become blameless and pure, children of God

without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,

in which you shine like stars in the universe

WHERE DID THIS DEFINTION OF MAN ORIGINATE?

• One area today where there is ongoing debate concerns God’s definition of men and their role as leaders in marriage and in the church.

• Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

• EQUAL—BUT WITH DIFFERENCES.

Where does the concept of masculine leadership originate?

• God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him" (Gen. 2:18).

• 1 Cor. 11:7-9 (NASB-U) For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. [8] For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; [9] for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake. … [11] However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.

• 1 Tim. 2:11-15 (NASB-U) A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. [12] But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. [13] For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. [14] And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. [15] But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.

What does headship mean, and where does the concept originate?

1 Corinthians 11:3 (NASB-U) But I want you to

understand that Christ is the head of every man,

and the man is the head of a woman, and God is

the head of Christ

• Ephesians 1:22-23 (ESV) 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

• Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

1 Timothy 3:4-5 (ESV) 4 He must manage his own household well, with all

dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will

he care for God’s church?

• In Titus 2:3-5- the apostle Paul instructed the older women to teach the younger women to be “obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”

IS MALE LEADERSHIP A CONSEQUENCE OF THE FALL?• 1 Cor. 11:8-9- (NASB-U) For man does

not originate from woman, but woman from man; [9] for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake.

• 1 Tim. 2:13-14- [13] For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. [14] And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression

Headship is not a result of the fall; BUT it has been perverted by the

fall. • I will greatly multiply your sorrow and

your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you (Gen. 3:16).

• 1 Peter 3:7 (GW) Husbands, in a similar way, live with your wives with understanding since they are weaker than you are. Honor your wives as those who share God's life-giving kindness so that nothing will interfere with your prayers.

• is patient • is kind • is not envious • is not boastful • is not proud • is not rude • is not selfish • is not easily angered • is not a grudge-keeper • is not an evil thinker • is not a fan of evil • rejoices in truth • protects • trusts • hopes • perseveres

LOVE …