Biblical Sexuality – Pt. 1

Weekly Update – January 19th, 2023

Back at our December member’s meeting, we passed a new statement on Biblical sexuality.  The statement has nine points describing what it is that we at First Baptist Church believe about how God has created us as men and women to function and interact with one another.  Over the next couple of months, I want to take some time to review each point to further clarify what the Bible says about sexuality and why we believe it. 

The first point that we believe about sexuality states this: 

Both men and women are created in God’s image, equal before God as persons and are distinct in their manhood and womanhood. The Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, manifests the equally high value and dignity which God attached to the complementary roles of both men and women, specifically as it relates to the home and to the church.

In Genesis 1:26, God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”  The big question that follows is, “what exactly does that mean?”  Well, there is a lot that has been written and said about this, but at the core of it, to be in the image of God means that we as men and women are a display of God to the world.  As Anthony Hoekema says, “one ought to see in him or her a certain reflection of God…Man, then, was created in God’s image so that he or she might represent God, like an ambassador from a foreign country.”  Essentially, being in the image of God is not a trait or an add on to who we are, but instead, we are made not to be God, but to reflect who God is, ruling the world in his likeness (Ps. 8:6-8).

Now, being made in the image of God has several implications for us, but for the purposes of our statement of sexuality, we will try to stay on track.  First, we must affirm that being made in God’s image means that men and women are equal as persons.  Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”  Genesis 1:28 affirms this by saying that “God blessed them.”  Therefore, together they are to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, just as they are together to subdue the earth and rule under God’s command (Gen. 1:28).  Therefore, men and women are given the same protections for their life (Gen. 9:6), just as they are both called “heirs…of the grace of life” (1 Pet. 3:7).

At the same time, though men and women are equal as persons and in value before God, they are given different functions as a further picture of God’s image before the world.  In other words, we believe that men and women, made in the image of God, function to complement one another or in a complementary role to each other, to accomplish the mission of God together.  That means that in the partnership between men and women in ruling the world in God’s likeness, men are given the primary role to lead, and women are given the primary role of helper (Gen. 2:18, 23, 3:9).  Now we don’t have space to flesh out what this means in every facet of life.  There is clarity as to what this looks like within marriage (Eph. 5:22-33) and the church (1 Tim. 2:8-15), while there is likely some grey area when it comes to the workplace or political sphere of our modern age. 

Let us be clear here again.  Simply because men and women are created by God with different roles, does not mean there is any less dignity to either one of them or any less value or worth to either one of them before God.  In addition, we must not see the differing roles between men and women as a result of the fall either (1 Cor. 11:7-12), but as God’s good plan and design to best reflect his image to the world.  That means that sexual confusion is significant as it confuses God’s good purposes given to men and women at creation.  Even so, we can praise God for his grace, in that He sent his son Jesus to redeem, both men and women, from the sinful state in which we all exist, if we will only turn from our sin and trust in Jesus Christ. 

There is beauty in all of this.  For as the world distorts the picture that God has called men and women to display, in Christ, we are being transformed away from this our sinful, broken picture of God’s image, into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18), who is the image of God (Col. 3:15).  Lets us then walk in this grace shown to us in Jesus Christ, as we strive to reflect God to each other and the world around us.   

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson

Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson

Fighter Verse for the Week

"[But] whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ"
- Philippians 3:7-8

Announcements:

Leadership Nominations: This Sunday, there will be an insert in the bulletin, as well as extra inserts available in the welcome center, for you to fill out to recommend men to serve as elders and deacons in the church. You can return these inserts to the church office or by placing them in the offering boxes in the welcome center or front foyer.

Membership Matters Class: Beginning Wednesday, January 18th at 6:30pm, there will be a Membership Matters class for those interested in joining FBC. This 4 week class (1/18, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8) will be held in the library. Sign up in the hall if you plan to attend. You can find out more about our membership process HERE. 

Ladies’ Brunch and Crafting: Ladies of the church are invited to the Diaz home for a potluck brunch and crafting at 10am on Saturday, January 28th. More information can be found HERE and a signup sheet can be found on the bulletin board.

Home Groups: New home groups will be forming on Sunday, February 5th. Sign up in the hallway to be a part of a group. The sign up sheet is to express interest in home groups. We will then talk to you about what group you would like to be in. There will be at least 4 groups this spring. You can find more information about home groups HERE.

Bible Study: The Women’s Bible Study will be held in the Fellowship Hall at 6:30pm on Tuesdays, beginning February 21st. Sheryl Nelson will lead Jen Wilkin’s study “Abide.”

Volunteers Needed: Volunteers are still needed during the 10:30am nursery time. Check the update or email the office for more information on how you can serve.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering: Every year at this time, we raise funds to support missionaries all over the world who are serving with the International Mission Board (IMB). Our goal at First Baptist Church is to raise $10,000. So far, we have raised $8,302.51. If you haven’t already, will you consider partnering with us by giving, as we seek to support international missions? You can give on Sunday mornings through one of our offering boxes located in the foyer or the welcome center. Just mark your envelop as “missions” or “Lottie Moon.” Or you can give online HERE. Choose “missions” under the Fund tab. You can find more information about this offering HERE.

Awana

Join us for Awana Bible Clubs on Wednesday nights. Dinner is at 6:00pm and Awana Clubs are from 6:30-8:00pm.

Equipping Hour

We have three classes held at 9:15am on Sunday mornings. War of Words will meet in the Sanctuary, a biblical exposition of Joel, Amos, and Obadiah will meet in the Fellowship Hall, and a Ladies’ class studying the Old Testament will meet in the classroom next to the nursery. You can find more information HERE.

Giving

To Give Online, Go HERE. 

You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030

Home Groups

Home Groups will start back up in February. They typically meet on the first and third Sunday of each month. Look for a sign up sheet in the hall. You can find more information HERE.

Prayer

An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE. 

Prepare for Sunday

Guide for Worship can be found HERE.