Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

21 And 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;

22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.

Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

I Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (See also I Timothy 1:9-10.)

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

I Corinthians 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

MEMORY VERSE: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour. —I Thessalonians 4:3-4

CENTRAL THOUGHT: God’s Word is very clear about the lines of separation between the genders, the sanctity of marriage, and the purity required in the life of the child of God from all sexual immorality.

WORD DEFINITIONS

Genesis 2:18 “Help”: helper; aid; from a root meaning to surround; succor. “Meet”: suitable; correspondent to him; answering to his needs; counterpart.

Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; 22:5 “Abomination”: something morally disgusting; detestable.

Romans 1:24 “Uncleanness”: physical or moral impurity.

Romans 1:26 “Vile”: disgraceful; dishonourable; reproachful or shameful.

I Corinthians 6:9 “Effeminate”: soft; a male who submits his body to unnatural lewdness; self-polluters. “Abusers of themselves with mankind”: a homosexual; sodomite.

I Corinthians 11:15 “For a covering”: instead of a covering.

LESSON BACKGROUND

We find solid evidences to God’s will—His purpose and intention—in gender issues when we go back to the beginning and see how God created the man and the woman. When Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees about marriage and divorce where did He point them? “From the beginning it was not so.” When God said woman was made “meet” or suitable for man, that means no substitute would be suitable.

In the law given to the Israelites, we read of many prohibitions given in reference to the idol-worshipping nations around them. They were to destroy them, their temples, their pictures and sculptures, and not imitate them in any way. Not in hairstyles, cosmetics, jewelry, music, moral practices, marriage practices, eating, sacrificing—the whole life was to be different. In the laws describing the abominations—adultery, incest, rape, fornication, homosexuality—the penalty was death. This gives us an idea of how God felt about someone defiling His creation; sins against the body is how Paul puts it in I Corinthians 6. Other New Testament descriptions are “vile affections,” “abusing themselves,” ”uncleanness,” “inordinate affections,” “lusts for other [unlawful] things,” “foolish and hurtful lusts.”

Throughout the Bible we can trace God’s will for the separate roles of men and women. The man is to be just and reverent toward God; he is to labor with his hands to provide for his household, give himself for his wife, honor her, and bear the rule in his home, answering to his authority, which is Christ. The wife is to bear children, reverence and obey her husband, guide and keep the home, and live worthy of the respect, honor and praise of her husband and children by being virtuous, meek and modest. The way God intended for both men and women to dress and wear their hair was to depict this distinction of the equally valuable and honorable positions into which He placed them in the home.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

DISCUSSION:

1. In the Beginning: God made them _______ and __________.
2. Still in Effect: Who upheld this distinction as being God’s will and law when asked about marriage?
3. Abomination: Define this word and list several acts described as thus.
4. Gender-specific: Describe the distinct roles God purposed for men and women. Discuss how they are to portray this distinction in personal appearance.

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

My heart goes out to the young men and women of this age who are being bombarded by the propaganda of popular culture that blurs and distorts what God has made. Our intention in teaching what is so clear in Scripture is not from hatred or fear; rather, it is to let our young people know that we realize your battles and pray earnestly for you who may feel alone and confused.

Perhaps you were abused or molested; God knows and understands all the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual chaos that has resulted from that. I entreat you to seek for help in prayer and counsel from a trusted, spiritually sound man or woman of God. Memorize these biblical principles and commands and plead for God’s will in your life, for healing of your mind and body, for restoration of purity and wholeness.

You may have been tormented from childhood by unnatural feelings and fears. Jesus encountered and healed a young person in that exact condition; He is just the same today. He said that this kind of oppression requires prayer and fasting for deliverance. Ask your parents or your pastor for this kind of intervention.

You may be afraid to reveal this kind of battle. The world around you is urging you to embrace your “orientation.” They falsely promise “peace.” But it will not be so. Depression and suicide go hand in hand with transgender issues. Your only peace will be from complete deliverance from oppressing spirits of uncleanness. Don’t be afraid to confront the demons. Step out and engage in spiritual warfare. Get to the bottom, to the root causes of your struggles. Do you harbor hatred or bitterness toward a father or mother? Have you felt abandoned or disconnected from your parents? Are you embittered from a bad relationship with the opposite gender?

Or, have you engaged in pornography or promiscuity? There are evil spirits associated with those things—repentance, fasting and prayer are going to be your only way to deliverance.

Address the whole person. Physically, your hormones may be out of balance. Educate yourself so you can understand how to feed your body and restore the delicate balances. Ask for anointing and prayer to heal your physical and mental imbalances.

Don’t be discouraged when you don’t see your temptations go away instantly. God is going to have to recondition all your thought patterns, reflexes and impulses. Be patient with Him. Keep fighting. Ask for help. Repent and keep going when you feel like you’ve failed.

Remember, your family loves you. The church loves and cares about you. God is for you and against all your enemies. Jesus died and shed His blood for you, and you can be all He created YOU to be.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck