Male and Female
In the beginning God created. In this work He created living creatures, such as animals, birds and fish, after their kind, giving to them living souls. As a last work of this creation He created man, saying,
“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” (Gen. 1:26-2726And 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. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:26‑27)).
Man was special. He was to be over all the rest of the creation, he was created after God’s image to represent him; he was created in God’s likeness; he was created in two distinct forms – as a male and as a female. Being created in this way, as a male and a female, God blessed man, saying,
“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” (Gen. 1:2828And 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. (Genesis 1:28)).
The physical parts of God’s creation and the living creatures were brought in existence simply by God speaking them in existence—“And God said, Let the ... .” and it was so. But His creature man was formed and given life by a special way,
God and Jehovah God
God creates, for He is the ever existing one who inhabits eternity. His first work was to create time and space, and then to create things to inhabit that time and space. In doing so He refers to Himself as “God.” When He creates man and prepares a habitation for him, He introduces Himself as the “Lord God” (Jehovah God). This title/name brings before us relationship—the relationship He is to have with man. Unlike the animal, man is created as a moral being in His relationship with God, with fellow man, and in his responsibilities over the created earth.
Man’s Moral Place
Having provided and placed the man in the garden of Eden with provisions for his food, Jehovah now puts man in his moral relationship to Himself. He does not suggest, he does not counsel, he does not give free will, He commands obedience.
No Helpmate, His Like
We know “There is one God.” We also know He has revealed Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So in the act of creating man he says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Having placed man in the garden, commanded him to obey, we might say all is well, but Jehovah God does not say so. He said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helpmate, his like” (Gen. 2:1818And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:18) JND). God brings each living soul to Adam to name, and he gives names to all. Was there found in the process any suitable to be his helpmate? No. “As for Adam, he found no helpmate, his like” (Gen. 2:2020And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:20) JND).
Man and Woman
The Father and the Son have been companions for all eternity. Man was to be like them. But so far he was not, for he had no companion, no helpmate, like himself. So,
“The LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man (Gen. 2:21-2321And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. (Genesis 2:21‑23)).
God provides what man needs to be complete, “He made a woman, and brought her unto the man.” Adam calls her, “Woman.” She is not just a biologically different type of the human race. She is taken from the man, she is bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh. God has now introduced us to two sets of terms each with their own meaning and significance. Male and female are terms of the two different types of man as needed to be fruitful and perpetuate the race. Man and woman give us the nature of their relationship to one another, their suitability to be helpmates, to share a special intimacy with one another – “to be one flesh.”
Husband and Wife
The relationship of the man to the woman is now taken one step farther.
A man is to leave the family of his father and mother and to be in relationship with a woman as his wife. He shall cleave to her and they shall “become one flesh.”
The nature of being “one flesh” is given to us by the statement, “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD” (Gen. 4:11And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. (Genesis 4:1)). Cain grows up, leaves his father and mother, takes a wife and “And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch” (Gen. 4:1717And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. (Genesis 4:17)).
Gender
God created male and female. The will of man cannot alter this fact. As the following verses show, God has given a very, very simple way to know who is a male and who is a female. Without exception the man produces the “seed” and the woman provides the “womb.” If you are a seed producer you are a male; if you provide a womb for that seed you are a female.
Man the Father
The male as God created him was provided with the means of producing “seed.” When his seed is conceived in the womb of the female and produces the fruit of a child, he is the father of the child
Woman the Mother
The female as God has created her is provided with a “womb.” In this womb she receives the seed of the male. As God chooses that seed is “conceived.” If conception takes place, the woman is called “pregnant” and a child begins to be formed and grow in the womb. When the child, the fruit of the womb, is born, she is the mother of the child.
Conception and One Flesh
The means by which the seed of the male enters the womb of the female is described in the preceding verses. Such an act whether an act of marriage or an act of sin results in “shall be one flesh.”
Conception and Life
While a man may “know” a woman and his seed enter her womb, it is important to recognize that God alone is the giver of life.
God as Lord over life alone controls whether or not conception will take place. When God gives conception, a new life begins. Giving the right to abort a conceived child, growing in the womb, is giving the right to murder.
Jacob understood. “And when Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.” (Gen 29:3131And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. (Genesis 29:31)). “And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, Am I in God's stead, who has withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?” (Gen. 30:22And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? (Genesis 30:2)). “And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach (Gen. 30:22-2322And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. 23And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: (Genesis 30:22‑23)).
Divorce
God decreed that is was not good for man to dwell alone. He provided Adam with a helpmate. And she became his wife and the mother of their children. They were “one flesh.” As time passed some decided to “put away” their wives and marry someone else. When the Lord Jesus came, he introduced to man the kingdom of God—a kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. He came as the King of the Jews. They reject him and then he tells his followers that as Son of man he must suffer and die and be raised again. As part of his sermon on the mount he said,
“It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery” (Matt. 5:31-3231It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. (Matthew 5:31‑32)).
Later the Pharisees bring up the subject again. “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” (Matt. 19:33The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? (Matthew 19:3)). The Lord answers the question.
“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. 19:4-64And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Matthew 19:4‑6)).
Not accepting his answer and his reason—“he which made them at the beginning made the male and female”—they appeal to what Moses said.
“They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery” (Matt. 19:7-97They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. (Matthew 19:7‑9)).
Eunuchs
The Lord’s disciples find what he says to be hard to accept, for in their minds they wondered in view of what he said, whether it was a good idea to marry at all (Matt. 19:1010His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. (Matthew 19:10)). So he answers them by saying, first, “All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given” (Matt. 19:1111But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. (Matthew 19:11)).
Then, the Lord explains his answer by saying, “For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it” (Matt. 19:1212For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. (Matthew 19:12)).
While in the beginning God created the male and the female and brought them into the state of “one flesh” through being joined together as husband and wife, there were some who could not and others who chose not to enter into this holy union. Such were called “eunuchs.”
Due to sin and its effects upon man, some were born in a defective, abnormal condition that kept them from being able to become “one flesh.”
Some were put into this condition by acts of men. In multiple examples in the Old Testament men were made eunuchs by men and then put by their masters over women. As a eunuch they could not be tempted to be “one flesh” with the women.
God created man with the natural desire to have a helpmate, his like. And he provided the proper way for men and women to live together in the state of husband and wife. From the beginning it has been so. However, the Lord has given the gift to some to be able for the kingdom of God’s sake to deny this natural desire and be wholly devoted to the Lord and his interests.
Christianity
Christianity changes many things. Now by faith in God and his gospel, man is a new creation in Christ Jesus. He is born again with a new life and nature, he is a child of God, part of God’s family, he is a member of the body of Christ and a part of his bride. His destiny is to live with Christ in the Father’s house in heaven. In heaven marriage will no longer exist, but all will be changed to have physically perfect, sinless bodies.
We have new life, an unbeliever does not. We are not to enter into the unequal yoke of being joined by marriage with an unbeliever. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:1414Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)). The unbeliever is characterized by unrighteousness and darkness while the believer is characterized by righteousness and light.
Paul was a eunuch for the kingdom of God’s sake. Of himself and others, as the Lord says, “who are able to receive it,” he says, “For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn” (1 Cor. 7:7-97For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. 8I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 9But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. (1 Corinthians 7:7‑9)). He gives further detail on the subject in 1 Corinthians 7:25-3825Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. 26I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. 27Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 28But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. 29But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 30And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. 32But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 34There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. 36But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. 37Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. 38So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. (1 Corinthians 7:25‑38).
But if we are already married when “called,” what then are we do? We are commanded,
“And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?” (1 Cor. 7:10-1610And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 12But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 16For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? (1 Corinthians 7:10‑16)).
Walking as Called
A person when “called” at some point in life is brought into their new and wonderful relationship with God. We are called to be a heavenly people who continue to live on earth until Christ comes to claim us as His bride before He brings judgment on the earth and sets up His kingdom.
So how does this calling affect our present condition and relation with others?
“But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God (1 Cor. 7:17-2417But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. 18Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. 21Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. 23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. (1 Corinthians 7:17‑24)).
Circumcision was given as a sign of the covenant between Abraham and Jehovah. Does it have anything to do with us if called when a Jew or when a Gentile? No. What’s important is “keeping the commandments of God.” Are we called while a “servant” (a slave)? Are to the declare slavery unjust? Are we to get politically involved and try to change the laws that govern us? No. We are “Christ’s servant.”
Grace and Government
“Grace pardons—yes, freely, fully and eternally pardons. But what is sown must be reaped. A man may be sent by his master to sow a field with wheat, and through ignorance, dullness or inattention, he sows some weeds. His master hears of the mistake, and in the exercise of his grace he pardons it — pardons it freely and fully. What then? Will the gracious pardon change the nature of the crop? Assuredly not, and, hence, in due time, when golden ears should cover the field, the servant sees it covered with the weeds he sowed. Does the sight of the weeds make him doubt his master’s grace? By no means. As the master’s grace did not alter the nature of the crop, so neither does the nature of the crop touch, for a moment, the master’s grace, nor interfere, in the smallest degree, with his pardon. The two things are perfectly distinct. Also, the principle would still be true even though the master were, by the application of extraordinary skill, to extract from the weed a medicine infinitely more valuable than the wheat itself. It would still hold good that “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 5:77Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? (Galatians 5:7)). This verse is a brief but most comprehensive statement of the great governmental principle — a principle both grave and practical. “Whatsoever a man soweth.” It matters not who he is. As is your sowing, so will be your reaping. Grace pardons, but if you sow weeds in spring, you will not reap wheat at harvesttime.”
C. H.Mackintosh (adapted)
Man’s Moral History and Present Condition
The Book of Romans begins by giving us a moral history of Adam’s race after God created him, provided for the fruitful continuation of the race, established a relationship between himself and the man, and established the manner in which the male and female were to be in relationship as man and woman and as a husband and a wife.
It is given as an introduction to the gospel, for man’s need as a sinner and righteous wrath of God on the sinner must be presented to him before he is ready to hear and believe God remedy for that need and its consequences.
As a result of not glorifying God or being thankful, where does man’s vain imagination take him? “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man” (Rom. 1:2323And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Romans 1:23)). The first foolish result is to replace God with an idol of his own making.
Man, having replaced God and the knowledge of Himself, of man in relationship to Him and to fellow man, what does God do? “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves” (Rom. 1:2424Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: (Romans 1:24)). Further,
How far does this moral fall of man go?
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind [a mind void of moral discernment], to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Rom. 1:28-3228And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:28‑32)).
What God Now Says to Man
“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (Rom. 2:1-51Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (Romans 2:1‑5))
God Is Longsuffering
Every man justly faces God’s wrath. Why does God tolerate and allow the evil behavior of each sinner to continue? He is patient. He wants man to repent. He leads man toward repentance by His longsuffering goodness to all men.
Donald Rule