June 13, 2025 • 29 mins
Where does human identity come from? In an age of increasing confusion about gender and sexuality, Dr Timothy Mann returns to the foundations of Biblical truth with a powerful message on divine design.
Starting with a compelling illustration of an airplane manufacturing plant, Dr Mann demonstrates how intentional design requires following a precise blueprint—just as God created humanity with purpose and intention. Drawing from Genesis 1 and 2, he establishes that God's declaration of creation as "very good" wasn't casual approval but the Creator's affirmation that everything—including gender distinctions—was purposefully designed.
At the heart of this message is the revolutionary concept that humans are creatures with a Creator. Our value doesn't stem from social consensus, government authority, or self-perception, but from being made in God's image. This gives every person inherent dignity that can't be granted or taken away by human institutions. As Dr Mann powerfully states, "Our value and worth doesn't come from anywhere except the fact it is God-given."
The message tackles head-on the fundamental question underlying today's gender debates: Who has the authority to define human identity? "This isn't a debate between cisgender and transgender individuals," Dr Mann explains. "This is a question of whether a creator has the right to speak about his creation." By establishing God as Creator and humans as creatures, he frames the discussion not as a political or cultural battle, but as competing claims to authority.
Dr Mann challenges both materialist philosophies that reduce humans to collections of atoms and spiritualist views that see bodies as temporary vessels. Instead, he presents the biblical perspective that we are integrated beings whose bodies are not accidental but intentional. "Our bodies do not lie to us," he states, offering a powerful counterpoint to the narrative that internal feelings should override physical reality.
What happens when we reject divine design? According to Dr Mann, attempting to redefine ourselves contrary to God's blueprint puts us at odds not just with Him, but with how we were created to flourish. The promise of joy through self-definition ultimately leads to confusion rather than fulfillment.
Ready to explore these challenging truths about identity, purpose, and design? Listen now to discover the freedom that comes from embracing how you were intentionally created.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Foundations of Truth, the Bible
teaching ministry of PastorTimothy Mann and Providence
Church, ormond Beach, florida.
Providence Church is a localassembly of followers of Jesus
Christ dedicated to helpingpeople become committed and
mature followers of Jesus Christ.
Today's message is from theDivine Design series on gender,
(00:23):
sexuality, marriage and theBible.
Now here's Pastor Tim Mann withtoday's message.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Well, turning your Bibles to Genesis, chapter 1.
Genesis, chapter 1, verse 31.
Genesis, chapter 1 and verse 31.
The Bible says Then God saweverything that he had made, and
indeed it was very good.
(00:50):
Would you say very good?
Indeed, it was very good.
And so the evening and themorning were the sixth day this
is God's word and the morningwere the sixth day.
This is God's word.
The prophet Isaiah taught usthat the grass withers and the
flower fades, but the word ofour Lord stands forever.
(01:12):
Let's pray and give thanks, askGod to help us.
Father, we come now in the nameof Jesus.
This morning again, we praiseyou for salvation, we praise you
for your provision, we praiseyou for the blood applied, lord,
to our hearts, our lives.
How desperately we need you.
Even after you've saved us byyour grace, we continue to need
(01:36):
you, lord.
We need the gospel every day todo your work in our life, to
continue to sanctify us and makeus into the image of your son,
jesus.
And Lord, this morning I prayfor your help.
I pray, holy Spirit.
You will be the preacher.
Help me, lord, to not be adistraction.
(01:56):
I pray that, lord.
Those in this room this morningand those watching online will
overlook my idiosyncrasies andmy frailties and will listen to
the spirit of God.
We'll listen for the voice ofChrist.
Today, as you speak from yourword and God, I pray that our
(02:18):
hearts and minds will be clearand open to what you want to do.
Help us to be a peoplecommitted to your word,
motivated by your grace andhumble before you and before
this world who needs to seeJesus.
Thank you for your love.
Thank you that you first lovedus.
We ask you to have your way now.
In Jesus' name, I pray and allGod's people said amen.
(02:40):
So I want you to use yourmind's eye for a few moments and
I would ask you if you wouldimagine with me.
Imagine with me that you're on atour of an airplane
manufacturing plant.
Imagine yourself on a tour ofan airplane manufacturing plant.
(03:01):
I don't know if you've everbeen in a plant of any kind
before, but but they're quite asight to behold.
They're usually big andcomprised of many workstations,
and you are actually there tosee a new, cutting-edge model.
And as you begin your tour, youtalk with the engineers.
You get to be introduced to theengineers, and the engineers
(03:21):
talk with you about the overalldesign.
They talk to you about theplane's speed, they speak with
you about the plane's power,about its seating capacity, and
next, after you finish with theengineers, you, and maybe a few
of them, you get to walk out.
You get to head out onto thefloor of the plant where
hundreds of workers have aunique task.
(03:44):
Can you see them?
All around their station?
Hundreds of workers working,and workers are at their jobs.
As you stroll past each station, they're doing all kinds of
things.
Workers are assembling anengine, workers are.
There's a station for wiringall of the cockpit's instruments
(04:06):
.
There's a station for puttingupholstery on seats that will go
inside the plane.
And each of them, all of theseworkers at each station, is
working from a plan, theblueprint for the plane.
They're all working from theblueprint.
Then you actually get to thevery end of the plane.
(04:29):
They're all working from theblueprint.
Then you actually get to thevery end of the facility and you
see the plane itself.
It's still in an almost skeletalform, but a design is taking
shape.
A design is taking shape thatwill make an insanely heavy
object fly at amazing speeds.
We have some former pilots inthe church and they know what
(04:49):
I'm talking about.
And if any of these workersfail to meet expectations in
following the blueprint, inputting the plane together
exactly as it's designed,something could go wrong with
the plane.
A mistake in the engine or inthe propeller components will
(05:11):
lead to disaster catastrophe.
Each part of the plane's designis not guesswork.
Design is not guesswork.
Each part of the plane isrelying on other parts of the
plane to do their job so it cando its job.
(05:31):
The parts are interlinked anddependent on the other, and so
when we look at the Bible, whenwe come to God's Word, we see a
similar story take place as weread how the Creator created the
world.
There was a designer and he hada plan for how he was going to
(05:54):
make the world.
There was, we could say it thisway there was a blueprint in
God's mind.
There was a blueprint that Godhad in mind, and once he had
built his creation, he stoodback, as it were, and nodded.
Then God saw everything that hehad made, and indeed it was
(06:17):
very good.
It was very good.
And so the evening and themorning were the sixth day.
God's creation was what kind ofgood?
Very good, it was very good.
It was not average, it was notpurposeless.
God's active creation wassuccessful in every part and it
(06:39):
was intentional on every part,intentional on every part,
intentional on every part,intentional on every part.
Genesis, chapters 1 and 2, showsus that the God of the Bible,
that the God of this universe,does not create by chaos.
He does not create by chance,but he creates according to
(07:04):
purpose, and his purpose isbrilliant.
Whether you're talking abouttrees or mountains, or stars or
atoms, or baby's fingers,creation is full of
(07:25):
awe-inspiring sights andawe-inspiring sounds and even
awe-inspiring smells, and God'screative brilliance reaches a
peak with humanity.
I hope you still have yourBibles open.
Genesis, chapter 1.
Genesis, chapter 1, I want toread from verse 26 down through
verse 29.
This is 1, 26 through 29 saysThen God said Let us make man in
(07:58):
our image, according to ourlikeness.
Let them have dominion over thefish of the sea, over the birds
of the air and over the cattleand over all, all the earth, and
over every creeping thing thatcreeps on the earth.
And so God created man in hisown image, in the image of God,
he created him Male and female.
He created them.
(08:19):
And then God blessed them.
And God said to them befruitful and multiply, fill the
earth and subdue it, havedominion over the fish of the
sea, over the birds of the airand over every living thing that
moves on the earth.
And God said see, I have givenyou every herb that yields seed
(08:40):
which is on the face of all theearth, and every tree whose
fruit yields seed To you, itshall be for food.
Genesis 1, 26 through 29.
And so the high point, the highpoint of the story of creation,
of the account of creation, isGod's act of making mankind.
Genesis paints a picture of aGod who Genesis paints a picture
(09:01):
of a God who, like an artist,finishes a masterpiece with
extra care, extra attention andextra precision.
Humanity is the high pointbecause there is something
unique about mankind Only humansbear God's image.
(09:23):
Only humans bear god's image.
Now, the image of god is asomewhat mysterious category
that theologians have debatedfor centuries.
Theologians have debated forcenturies period, and we'll
continue to do so until jesuscomes.
Theologians have debated thisissue mysterious category, the
image of god but all agree, allthough, that to bear God's image
(09:48):
means that there's a specialrelationship that only humans
have with God.
If it's anything else, it isthat there is a special
relationship that only humanshave with God.
One Bible teacher said the factthat man is in the image of God
means that man is like andrepresents God.
(10:10):
Now, humans are not identical toGod.
Humans are not God.
Humans are not identical to God, but they are made to be like
God in features such as theirmoral aspects, their spiritual
aspects, their mental aspectsand their relational aspects.
Humans can know God in waysthat the rest of creation cannot
(10:33):
.
For example, rabbits do notdebate among themselves the
existence and the nature of thedivine while nibbling grass.
Or also fish do not considerthe moral complexities of their
lives while swimming around theocean.
They just wait for me to catchthem.
That's all they're doing.
They don't.
(10:54):
They don't consider thosethings.
Humans do consider those thingsand humans do debate those
questions.
Further.
Humans were assigned the task,according to the Bible, to
subdue creation, to rule over iton God's behalf.
(11:15):
So we are made to represent God, we are made to relate to God
and we are made to rule on thebehalf of God.
And it is from being made inGod's image that humans possess
inherent dignity.
Quoting Dr Wayne Grudem again,he says we are the culmination
(11:37):
of God's infinitely wise andskillful work of creation.
We are the culmination of God'sinfinitely wise and skillful
creation.
Listen and hear me well.
No one, no one.
Not the state, not a government, not any philosophy, not any
(12:01):
theory, not any social movement,nothing can give humanity more
dignity and worth than God can.
Our value and our worth doesnot come from ourselves.
Our value and our worth doesnot come from what somebody else
thinks about you.
Our value and our worth doesn'tcome from what your children
think about you, what yourparents think about you, what
(12:22):
your spouse thinks about you orwhat your pet thinks about you.
Listen, our value and our worthdoesn't come from anywhere
except the fact it is God-given.
It is God-given.
Come back to the airplane hangerwith me.
How much is the engine worth?
(12:43):
We've got some pilots in theroom Bob and Randy, both I see
you guys.
How much is the engine worth?
See, if you add up the value ofall of its parts separately,
you'll get one answer.
But if you consider that all ofthe parts together have made an
(13:04):
engine, you'll get a biggernumber.
Because the engine has greatervalue than the sum of its parts,
because it has been madeintentionally as an engine and
as a crucial part of a muchgreater plan.
So you and I are of more worththan our parts add up to.
(13:32):
You and I are worth more thanour contribution to our
community.
You and I are worth more thanour contribution to our
community.
You and I are worth more thanour contribution to our country.
You and I are even worth morethan our contribution to our
family.
You and I are worth more thanour contribution even to our
species' future.
You have been madeintentionally as an
(13:54):
image-bearing human, as acrucial part of God's greater
creative plan, and every aspect,every aspect of who you are
carries and reflects thatdignity.
Every aspect, our minds, ourhearts and our bodies all are
(14:26):
created and all therefore carryvalue and are designed to have
dignity.
You know what this means.
This means that matter matters.
Our bodies matter, our bodiesmatter.
(14:47):
Your body is not arbitrary.
Your body is not accidental.
It is intentional.
And while you are more thanyour body, you are not less than
your body.
You are not less than your body, you're not less than it.
We're not just a collection ofatoms that happen to be
(15:08):
conscious.
Nor are we, as the New Agerswould say, god-aware souls
trapped in the materials of thisuniverse.
No, we are living, feeling,emotional, embodied beings
designed to relate to and toreflect the creator with each
(15:29):
part of ourselves.
That's what we are and God hasa right to speak into this.
He has a right to speak intothis issue Turning your Bibles
over to Psalms.
If you're in the Old Testament,just turn to the right in your
Bibles.
Go about halfway in the OldTestament Psalm 24,.
(15:50):
Or you've got an app orsomething on your phone.
You can just click there.
Psalm 24, verses 1 and 2.
Psalm 24, verses 1 and 2.
God has a right to speak tothese issues and here's why.
Psalm 24, verse 1 and 2.
The Bible says the earth is theLord's and all its fullness, the
(16:17):
world and those who dwelltherein, for he has formed it
upon the seas and established itupon the waters Psalm 24, 1 and
2.
So, in other words, the earthis the Lord's.
He created the earth.
It's the Lord's and everythingin it.
The world is his, theatmosphere and the stars, and
(16:38):
the sun and the clouds and allof that.
But not only is the earth andthe world his, but it also says
everybody who dwells on it,who's ever dwelled on it, is his
.
Now that doesn't mean we're allchildren of god.
Every once in a while, you'llhear somebody say well, we're
all god's children, we're allgod's children, we're all God's
children.
That's not true, not accordingto the Bible, but we are all
(17:03):
God's creation, we're God'screatures and as his creatures,
he has a right to speak.
In other words, let me put itthis way, let me make it real
simple Because God made thisworld, the world belongs to him,
this world belongs to God.
We are part of God's creation.
We are creatures with a creator.
(17:25):
We are creatures with thecreator, and the best way to
live is according to theblueprint that God designed and
by playing the part that Goddesigned humanity to perform,
and as creatures, not thecreator.
As creatures, we can't rewritethe blueprint of our design out
(17:46):
of our own will.
We don't get to do that.
A plane's engine cannot decideto be a wheel because the wheel
is designed with a differentpurpose in mind.
Be a wheel because the wheel isdesigned with a different
purpose in mind.
Look, we have neither theauthority and, in truth, we have
(18:07):
neither the ability to rewriteor reconfigure how God made his
world.
It's his creation and we'rejust living in it.
And since our bodies are partof his world, made by him.
His authority extends to us.
This is his creation and we arehis creation.
(18:29):
We are his creation, and sothis is why, ultimately, god has
authority in the transgenderdebate.
This is why God has authority,ultimately, in the homosexuality
debate, or any other debate forthat matter.
His voice deserves to be heardand his view needs to carry the
(18:52):
ultimate weight.
This isn't a debate betweencisgender and transgender
individuals.
This is not a debate betweenthose who are religious and
those who are secular.
This is not a debate betweenthe left and the right.
This is not a debate betweenDemocrat and Republican.
This isn't a question ofwhether Dr Timothy Mann has any
right to speak into this debate.
(19:13):
This is a question of whether acreator has the right to speak
about his creation, and it's aquestion of whether a creator
has more knowledge of hiscreation than does a small part
of that creation itself.
This is a debate, as I said lastweek.
This is a debate on competingauthorities Ourselves or God,
(19:47):
creatures or the creator, andthat's what each of us has to
decide.
And it's a safer venture.
I'll just tell you it's a saferventure to cast your lot with
the reality of the creator, whospeaks authoritatively about how
he made creation and why hemade creation.
It's a much safer bet.
Now.
(20:07):
Remember back to Genesis 1.
Remember, when God finished hisact of creating, he called all
that he had created what Verygood.
It's a very good design.
Now, this is important.
(20:28):
It's important on all fronts,but it's especially important
when we think about sex andgender, because when God
declared his creation good notonly good, but very good he was
(20:48):
declaring that what he has madehas purpose behind it.
The beginning of God's wordmakes two ideas very clear.
First, god is the creator.
Second, we are creatures.
Those two short sentences mayactually be the most significant
(21:12):
sentences of this series thatGod is the creator and we are
creatures.
What does that mean, ultimately?
Well, being creatures meansthat we aren't sovereign, we're
not the ruler.
Only God is sovereign.
Only the Creator is sovereign.
Only the God who creates is theGod who assigns to humans what
(21:37):
humans are, what humans aresupposed to do and how humans
are supposed to do it.
Being creatures means that ourhighest calling and our greatest
pleasure is found in living inline with how God designed us.
Now, that is not to say thathow God designed us is the
(21:58):
easiest or even the most popularway to live.
But being creatures means thatwe cannot recreate ourselves in
any fashion or form that wedesire by a simple act of the
will, or even the complex workof a surgeon.
Complex work of a surgeon,because when we, as creatures,
(22:20):
reject the Creator's blueprint,we're rebelling against the
natural order of how thingsobjectively are and, although it
may not seem or feel like it,we're rebelling against the,
we're rejecting the life that isgoing to be the highest good
(22:42):
for us as well.
Now, this may sound obvious,but God's blueprint included
making humanity into halvesGenesis, chapter 2.
Turn there with me Genesis 2.
Like I said, this may seemobvious, but let's look at it.
(23:07):
Genesis, chapter 2, verse 21through 24.
The Bible says Genesis 2, verse21,.
And the Lord God caused a deepsleep to fall on Adam and he
slept, and he, meaning the LordGod, took one of his ribs,
(23:29):
meaning Adam, and closed up theflesh in its place.
And then the rib which the LordGod had taken from man, he made
into a woman and he brought herto the man.
And Adam said this is now boneof my bones and flesh of my
flesh.
She shall be called womanbecause she was taken out of man
.
Therefore, therefore, what,therefore, god made male and
(23:53):
female?
Therefore, a man shall leavehis father and mother and be
joined to his wife and theyshall become one flesh.
Genesis 2, 21 through 24.
Maleness and femaleness,according to the Bible, aren't
(24:17):
artificial categories.
Maleness and females are not,according to the Bible,
constructs of society.
The differences between men andwomen actually reflect the
creative intention of being madein God's image.
The creator designed humanityin male and female forms.
(24:41):
He chose to create two halves,just two, not thirds, not
eighths or not one single type.
What is a man?
What is a man?
Well, according to the Bible,according to the blueprint that
(25:04):
we just read, genesis tells usthat a man is a human who can be
united to a woman, a wife, withwhom he can physically become
one flesh.
A person with male anatomy isreflecting physically the fact
(25:25):
that they are created.
A man.
A person with female anatomy isreflecting that she is a woman.
Maleness isn't only anatomy, butanatomy shows there is maleness
and femaleness isn't onlyanatomy, but anatomy shows that
(25:48):
there is femaleness.
Now, men and women are morethan just anatomy but, ladies
and gentlemen, they are not less, they are not less.
Our anatomy tells us whatgender we are.
Our bodies do not lie to us.
(26:11):
Our minds do, our hearts do,and we'll talk about that more
next week.
And we'll talk about that morenext week.
Why do people have thesefeelings?
Why do people have thesethoughts?
(26:31):
Our anatomy tells us whatgender we are.
Our bodies do not lie to us.
Now, these absolute differencesin men and women, chromosomes
and anatomy are actually alsoaccompanied by general
differences and I'll saygenerally general differences in
(26:52):
the relative and again I sayrelative strengths of being a
man or a woman.
For example, the broad shouldersof men aren't accidental
features, but evidence of thenatural strength that males were
created to innately possess.
(27:12):
That's why this whole sportsthing is a big deal right now.
The wider hips that womenpossess for childbearing speak
to the creational design thatGod wove into femaleness.
The protective instinct thatmen are able to harness at a
moment's notice isn't anevolutionary characteristic
(27:33):
passed down from maraudingcavemen, but it actually issues
from the way that God made men.
And much in the same way, muchin the same way, women tend to
enjoy what we sometimes callmotherly instincts, such as
(27:54):
nurturing and tenderness.
So to misunderstand, to blur orto revolt against and reject
the Creator's categories forhumanity, it doesn't just put us
(28:14):
in rebellion against theCreator and creation.
It actually puts us at oddswith how each of us was made us
at odds with how each of us wasmade, and since God made a very
good world with no flaws.
It's not that way now, butsince God made a very good world
(28:37):
with no flaws, and since theworld included humans created as
men and humans created as women, to strive to become different
than or even opposite of how Godmade us, that can never result
in flourishing in joy,fulfillment, happiness, whatever
(29:02):
it promises.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Join us next week, at this same time, on this same
station, for part four in theDivine Design series on gender,
sexuality, marriage and theBible.
For more information onProvidence Church service times,
bible, fellowship groups, kidsprograms and more, go online to
theprovidencechurchorg.
Welcome to Foundations of Truth, the Bible
teaching ministry of PastorTimothy Mann and Providence
Church, ormond Beach, florida.
Providence Church is a localassembly of followers of Jesus
Christ dedicated to helpingpeople become committed and
mature followers of Jesus Christ.
Today's message is from theDivine Design series on gender,
(00:23):
sexuality, marriage and theBible.
Now here's Pastor Tim Mann withtoday's message.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Well, turning your Bibles to Genesis, chapter 1.
Genesis, chapter 1, verse 31.
Genesis, chapter 1 and verse 31.
The Bible says Then God saweverything that he had made, and
indeed it was very good.
(00:50):
Would you say very good?
Indeed, it was very good.
And so the evening and themorning were the sixth day this
is God's word and the morningwere the sixth day.
This is God's word.
The prophet Isaiah taught usthat the grass withers and the
flower fades, but the word ofour Lord stands forever.
(01:12):
Let's pray and give thanks, askGod to help us.
Father, we come now in the nameof Jesus.
This morning again, we praiseyou for salvation, we praise you
for your provision, we praiseyou for the blood applied, lord,
to our hearts, our lives.
How desperately we need you.
Even after you've saved us byyour grace, we continue to need
(01:36):
you, lord.
We need the gospel every day todo your work in our life, to
continue to sanctify us and makeus into the image of your son,
jesus.
And Lord, this morning I prayfor your help.
I pray, holy Spirit.
You will be the preacher.
Help me, lord, to not be adistraction.
(01:56):
I pray that, lord.
Those in this room this morningand those watching online will
overlook my idiosyncrasies andmy frailties and will listen to
the spirit of God.
We'll listen for the voice ofChrist.
Today, as you speak from yourword and God, I pray that our
(02:18):
hearts and minds will be clearand open to what you want to do.
Help us to be a peoplecommitted to your word,
motivated by your grace andhumble before you and before
this world who needs to seeJesus.
Thank you for your love.
Thank you that you first lovedus.
We ask you to have your way now.
In Jesus' name, I pray and allGod's people said amen.
(02:40):
So I want you to use yourmind's eye for a few moments and
I would ask you if you wouldimagine with me.
Imagine with me that you're on atour of an airplane
manufacturing plant.
Imagine yourself on a tour ofan airplane manufacturing plant.
(03:01):
I don't know if you've everbeen in a plant of any kind
before, but but they're quite asight to behold.
They're usually big andcomprised of many workstations,
and you are actually there tosee a new, cutting-edge model.
And as you begin your tour, youtalk with the engineers.
You get to be introduced to theengineers, and the engineers
(03:21):
talk with you about the overalldesign.
They talk to you about theplane's speed, they speak with
you about the plane's power,about its seating capacity, and
next, after you finish with theengineers, you, and maybe a few
of them, you get to walk out.
You get to head out onto thefloor of the plant where
hundreds of workers have aunique task.
(03:44):
Can you see them?
All around their station?
Hundreds of workers working,and workers are at their jobs.
As you stroll past each station, they're doing all kinds of
things.
Workers are assembling anengine, workers are.
There's a station for wiringall of the cockpit's instruments
(04:06):
.
There's a station for puttingupholstery on seats that will go
inside the plane.
And each of them, all of theseworkers at each station, is
working from a plan, theblueprint for the plane.
They're all working from theblueprint.
Then you actually get to thevery end of the plane.
(04:29):
They're all working from theblueprint.
Then you actually get to thevery end of the facility and you
see the plane itself.
It's still in an almost skeletalform, but a design is taking
shape.
A design is taking shape thatwill make an insanely heavy
object fly at amazing speeds.
We have some former pilots inthe church and they know what
(04:49):
I'm talking about.
And if any of these workersfail to meet expectations in
following the blueprint, inputting the plane together
exactly as it's designed,something could go wrong with
the plane.
A mistake in the engine or inthe propeller components will
(05:11):
lead to disaster catastrophe.
Each part of the plane's designis not guesswork.
Design is not guesswork.
Each part of the plane isrelying on other parts of the
plane to do their job so it cando its job.
(05:31):
The parts are interlinked anddependent on the other, and so
when we look at the Bible, whenwe come to God's Word, we see a
similar story take place as weread how the Creator created the
world.
There was a designer and he hada plan for how he was going to
(05:54):
make the world.
There was, we could say it thisway there was a blueprint in
God's mind.
There was a blueprint that Godhad in mind, and once he had
built his creation, he stoodback, as it were, and nodded.
Then God saw everything that hehad made, and indeed it was
(06:17):
very good.
It was very good.
And so the evening and themorning were the sixth day.
God's creation was what kind ofgood?
Very good, it was very good.
It was not average, it was notpurposeless.
God's active creation wassuccessful in every part and it
(06:39):
was intentional on every part,intentional on every part,
intentional on every part,intentional on every part.
Genesis, chapters 1 and 2, showsus that the God of the Bible,
that the God of this universe,does not create by chaos.
He does not create by chance,but he creates according to
(07:04):
purpose, and his purpose isbrilliant.
Whether you're talking abouttrees or mountains, or stars or
atoms, or baby's fingers,creation is full of
(07:25):
awe-inspiring sights andawe-inspiring sounds and even
awe-inspiring smells, and God'screative brilliance reaches a
peak with humanity.
I hope you still have yourBibles open.
Genesis, chapter 1.
Genesis, chapter 1, I want toread from verse 26 down through
verse 29.
This is 1, 26 through 29 saysThen God said Let us make man in
(07:58):
our image, according to ourlikeness.
Let them have dominion over thefish of the sea, over the birds
of the air and over the cattleand over all, all the earth, and
over every creeping thing thatcreeps on the earth.
And so God created man in hisown image, in the image of God,
he created him Male and female.
He created them.
(08:19):
And then God blessed them.
And God said to them befruitful and multiply, fill the
earth and subdue it, havedominion over the fish of the
sea, over the birds of the airand over every living thing that
moves on the earth.
And God said see, I have givenyou every herb that yields seed
(08:40):
which is on the face of all theearth, and every tree whose
fruit yields seed To you, itshall be for food.
Genesis 1, 26 through 29.
And so the high point, the highpoint of the story of creation,
of the account of creation, isGod's act of making mankind.
Genesis paints a picture of aGod who Genesis paints a picture
(09:01):
of a God who, like an artist,finishes a masterpiece with
extra care, extra attention andextra precision.
Humanity is the high pointbecause there is something
unique about mankind Only humansbear God's image.
(09:23):
Only humans bear god's image.
Now, the image of god is asomewhat mysterious category
that theologians have debatedfor centuries.
Theologians have debated forcenturies period, and we'll
continue to do so until jesuscomes.
Theologians have debated thisissue mysterious category, the
image of god but all agree, allthough, that to bear God's image
(09:48):
means that there's a specialrelationship that only humans
have with God.
If it's anything else, it isthat there is a special
relationship that only humanshave with God.
One Bible teacher said the factthat man is in the image of God
means that man is like andrepresents God.
(10:10):
Now, humans are not identical toGod.
Humans are not God.
Humans are not identical to God, but they are made to be like
God in features such as theirmoral aspects, their spiritual
aspects, their mental aspectsand their relational aspects.
Humans can know God in waysthat the rest of creation cannot
(10:33):
.
For example, rabbits do notdebate among themselves the
existence and the nature of thedivine while nibbling grass.
Or also fish do not considerthe moral complexities of their
lives while swimming around theocean.
They just wait for me to catchthem.
That's all they're doing.
They don't.
(10:54):
They don't consider thosethings.
Humans do consider those thingsand humans do debate those
questions.
Further.
Humans were assigned the task,according to the Bible, to
subdue creation, to rule over iton God's behalf.
(11:15):
So we are made to represent God, we are made to relate to God
and we are made to rule on thebehalf of God.
And it is from being made inGod's image that humans possess
inherent dignity.
Quoting Dr Wayne Grudem again,he says we are the culmination
(11:37):
of God's infinitely wise andskillful work of creation.
We are the culmination of God'sinfinitely wise and skillful
creation.
Listen and hear me well.
No one, no one.
Not the state, not a government, not any philosophy, not any
(12:01):
theory, not any social movement,nothing can give humanity more
dignity and worth than God can.
Our value and our worth doesnot come from ourselves.
Our value and our worth doesnot come from what somebody else
thinks about you.
Our value and our worth doesn'tcome from what your children
think about you, what yourparents think about you, what
(12:22):
your spouse thinks about you orwhat your pet thinks about you.
Listen, our value and our worthdoesn't come from anywhere
except the fact it is God-given.
It is God-given.
Come back to the airplane hangerwith me.
How much is the engine worth?
(12:43):
We've got some pilots in theroom Bob and Randy, both I see
you guys.
How much is the engine worth?
See, if you add up the value ofall of its parts separately,
you'll get one answer.
But if you consider that all ofthe parts together have made an
(13:04):
engine, you'll get a biggernumber.
Because the engine has greatervalue than the sum of its parts,
because it has been madeintentionally as an engine and
as a crucial part of a muchgreater plan.
So you and I are of more worththan our parts add up to.
(13:32):
You and I are worth more thanour contribution to our
community.
You and I are worth more thanour contribution to our
community.
You and I are worth more thanour contribution to our country.
You and I are even worth morethan our contribution to our
family.
You and I are worth more thanour contribution even to our
species' future.
You have been madeintentionally as an
(13:54):
image-bearing human, as acrucial part of God's greater
creative plan, and every aspect,every aspect of who you are
carries and reflects thatdignity.
Every aspect, our minds, ourhearts and our bodies all are
(14:26):
created and all therefore carryvalue and are designed to have
dignity.
You know what this means.
This means that matter matters.
Our bodies matter, our bodiesmatter.
(14:47):
Your body is not arbitrary.
Your body is not accidental.
It is intentional.
And while you are more thanyour body, you are not less than
your body.
You are not less than your body, you're not less than it.
We're not just a collection ofatoms that happen to be
(15:08):
conscious.
Nor are we, as the New Agerswould say, god-aware souls
trapped in the materials of thisuniverse.
No, we are living, feeling,emotional, embodied beings
designed to relate to and toreflect the creator with each
(15:29):
part of ourselves.
That's what we are and God hasa right to speak into this.
He has a right to speak intothis issue Turning your Bibles
over to Psalms.
If you're in the Old Testament,just turn to the right in your
Bibles.
Go about halfway in the OldTestament Psalm 24,.
(15:50):
Or you've got an app orsomething on your phone.
You can just click there.
Psalm 24, verses 1 and 2.
Psalm 24, verses 1 and 2.
God has a right to speak tothese issues and here's why.
Psalm 24, verse 1 and 2.
The Bible says the earth is theLord's and all its fullness, the
(16:17):
world and those who dwelltherein, for he has formed it
upon the seas and established itupon the waters Psalm 24, 1 and
2.
So, in other words, the earthis the Lord's.
He created the earth.
It's the Lord's and everythingin it.
The world is his, theatmosphere and the stars, and
(16:38):
the sun and the clouds and allof that.
But not only is the earth andthe world his, but it also says
everybody who dwells on it,who's ever dwelled on it, is his
.
Now that doesn't mean we're allchildren of god.
Every once in a while, you'llhear somebody say well, we're
all god's children, we're allgod's children, we're all God's
children.
That's not true, not accordingto the Bible, but we are all
(17:03):
God's creation, we're God'screatures and as his creatures,
he has a right to speak.
In other words, let me put itthis way, let me make it real
simple Because God made thisworld, the world belongs to him,
this world belongs to God.
We are part of God's creation.
We are creatures with a creator.
(17:25):
We are creatures with thecreator, and the best way to
live is according to theblueprint that God designed and
by playing the part that Goddesigned humanity to perform,
and as creatures, not thecreator.
As creatures, we can't rewritethe blueprint of our design out
(17:46):
of our own will.
We don't get to do that.
A plane's engine cannot decideto be a wheel because the wheel
is designed with a differentpurpose in mind.
Be a wheel because the wheel isdesigned with a different
purpose in mind.
Look, we have neither theauthority and, in truth, we have
(18:07):
neither the ability to rewriteor reconfigure how God made his
world.
It's his creation and we'rejust living in it.
And since our bodies are partof his world, made by him.
His authority extends to us.
This is his creation and we arehis creation.
(18:29):
We are his creation, and sothis is why, ultimately, god has
authority in the transgenderdebate.
This is why God has authority,ultimately, in the homosexuality
debate, or any other debate forthat matter.
His voice deserves to be heardand his view needs to carry the
(18:52):
ultimate weight.
This isn't a debate betweencisgender and transgender
individuals.
This is not a debate betweenthose who are religious and
those who are secular.
This is not a debate betweenthe left and the right.
This is not a debate betweenDemocrat and Republican.
This isn't a question ofwhether Dr Timothy Mann has any
right to speak into this debate.
(19:13):
This is a question of whether acreator has the right to speak
about his creation, and it's aquestion of whether a creator
has more knowledge of hiscreation than does a small part
of that creation itself.
This is a debate, as I said lastweek.
This is a debate on competingauthorities Ourselves or God,
(19:47):
creatures or the creator, andthat's what each of us has to
decide.
And it's a safer venture.
I'll just tell you it's a saferventure to cast your lot with
the reality of the creator, whospeaks authoritatively about how
he made creation and why hemade creation.
It's a much safer bet.
Now.
(20:07):
Remember back to Genesis 1.
Remember, when God finished hisact of creating, he called all
that he had created what Verygood.
It's a very good design.
Now, this is important.
(20:28):
It's important on all fronts,but it's especially important
when we think about sex andgender, because when God
declared his creation good notonly good, but very good he was
(20:48):
declaring that what he has madehas purpose behind it.
The beginning of God's wordmakes two ideas very clear.
First, god is the creator.
Second, we are creatures.
Those two short sentences mayactually be the most significant
(21:12):
sentences of this series thatGod is the creator and we are
creatures.
What does that mean, ultimately?
Well, being creatures meansthat we aren't sovereign, we're
not the ruler.
Only God is sovereign.
Only the Creator is sovereign.
Only the God who creates is theGod who assigns to humans what
(21:37):
humans are, what humans aresupposed to do and how humans
are supposed to do it.
Being creatures means that ourhighest calling and our greatest
pleasure is found in living inline with how God designed us.
Now, that is not to say thathow God designed us is the
(21:58):
easiest or even the most popularway to live.
But being creatures means thatwe cannot recreate ourselves in
any fashion or form that wedesire by a simple act of the
will, or even the complex workof a surgeon.
Complex work of a surgeon,because when we, as creatures,
(22:20):
reject the Creator's blueprint,we're rebelling against the
natural order of how thingsobjectively are and, although it
may not seem or feel like it,we're rebelling against the,
we're rejecting the life that isgoing to be the highest good
(22:42):
for us as well.
Now, this may sound obvious,but God's blueprint included
making humanity into halvesGenesis, chapter 2.
Turn there with me Genesis 2.
Like I said, this may seemobvious, but let's look at it.
(23:07):
Genesis, chapter 2, verse 21through 24.
The Bible says Genesis 2, verse21,.
And the Lord God caused a deepsleep to fall on Adam and he
slept, and he, meaning the LordGod, took one of his ribs,
(23:29):
meaning Adam, and closed up theflesh in its place.
And then the rib which the LordGod had taken from man, he made
into a woman and he brought herto the man.
And Adam said this is now boneof my bones and flesh of my
flesh.
She shall be called womanbecause she was taken out of man
.
Therefore, therefore, what,therefore, god made male and
(23:53):
female?
Therefore, a man shall leavehis father and mother and be
joined to his wife and theyshall become one flesh.
Genesis 2, 21 through 24.
Maleness and femaleness,according to the Bible, aren't
(24:17):
artificial categories.
Maleness and females are not,according to the Bible,
constructs of society.
The differences between men andwomen actually reflect the
creative intention of being madein God's image.
The creator designed humanityin male and female forms.
(24:41):
He chose to create two halves,just two, not thirds, not
eighths or not one single type.
What is a man?
What is a man?
Well, according to the Bible,according to the blueprint that
(25:04):
we just read, genesis tells usthat a man is a human who can be
united to a woman, a wife, withwhom he can physically become
one flesh.
A person with male anatomy isreflecting physically the fact
(25:25):
that they are created.
A man.
A person with female anatomy isreflecting that she is a woman.
Maleness isn't only anatomy, butanatomy shows there is maleness
and femaleness isn't onlyanatomy, but anatomy shows that
(25:48):
there is femaleness.
Now, men and women are morethan just anatomy but, ladies
and gentlemen, they are not less, they are not less.
Our anatomy tells us whatgender we are.
Our bodies do not lie to us.
(26:11):
Our minds do, our hearts do,and we'll talk about that more
next week.
And we'll talk about that morenext week.
Why do people have thesefeelings?
Why do people have thesethoughts?
(26:31):
Our anatomy tells us whatgender we are.
Our bodies do not lie to us.
Now, these absolute differencesin men and women, chromosomes
and anatomy are actually alsoaccompanied by general
differences and I'll saygenerally general differences in
(26:52):
the relative and again I sayrelative strengths of being a
man or a woman.
For example, the broad shouldersof men aren't accidental
features, but evidence of thenatural strength that males were
created to innately possess.
(27:12):
That's why this whole sportsthing is a big deal right now.
The wider hips that womenpossess for childbearing speak
to the creational design thatGod wove into femaleness.
The protective instinct thatmen are able to harness at a
moment's notice isn't anevolutionary characteristic
(27:33):
passed down from maraudingcavemen, but it actually issues
from the way that God made men.
And much in the same way, muchin the same way, women tend to
enjoy what we sometimes callmotherly instincts, such as
(27:54):
nurturing and tenderness.
So to misunderstand, to blur orto revolt against and reject
the Creator's categories forhumanity, it doesn't just put us
(28:14):
in rebellion against theCreator and creation.
It actually puts us at oddswith how each of us was made us
at odds with how each of us wasmade, and since God made a very
good world with no flaws.
It's not that way now, butsince God made a very good world
(28:37):
with no flaws, and since theworld included humans created as
men and humans created as women, to strive to become different
than or even opposite of how Godmade us, that can never result
in flourishing in joy,fulfillment, happiness, whatever
(29:02):
it promises.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Join us next week, at this same time, on this same
station, for part four in theDivine Design series on gender,
sexuality, marriage and theBible.
For more information onProvidence Church service times,
bible, fellowship groups, kidsprograms and more, go online to
theprovidencechurchorg.
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