1/16/2022 - The Story of Creation: Sex and Gender - Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18-25 - Pastor Jason Fritz

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27

So what does it mean that man is created in God’s image? It means that man is different from every other created being because He has God as his pattern. This means though we are biologically similar to certain animals, we are distinct in our moral, intellectual, and spiritual capabilities. This means we are also different from angels. Nowhere are we told that angels are made in the image of God, therefore angels cannot have the same kind of relationship that we have with God. This also means the incarnation was truly possible. It shows us that deity and humanity are not exactly the same, but they are compatible.

This also means all human life has intrinsic value unlike any other form of life. 

We cannot determine the value of a human on any other quality than the simple fact that the human alone was created in the image of God. If you visit Iceland you’ll notice there are virtually no people living with Down Syndrome because those babies are terminated during pregnancy. Believe it - individuals with Down Syndrome reflect the image of God in their own unique way. Those with special needs have a special reflection of the image of God.

Now in the next verse (27), the concept of man being created in the image of God is repeated to give emphasis. Additionally, God’s creation of man in God’s image also includes a unique pairing: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. This has implications for the time in which we live. The Bible is both straightforward and gracious in everything. So any conversation about sex and gender must also do the same. There are many asking sincere questions about how they feel and the experiences they’ve had. The church should be the one place where people can expect to engage with the truth in compassionate, authentic and life-giving conversations and that’s what we plan to begin this Sunday.