New ideas about human sexuality - what is 'normal', right and wrong etc.
What does God say to our confused world.
1. V27 - God created mankind. God's special act of creation. A deliberate act of God - different to everything else God made. The crowning work of God's creative activity. (Compare the myths of other religions, and modern evolutionary view). In the New testament, God plans to make us His people.
2. In the image of God. The rule of God is through His image bearers. We will display some aspects of the creator, eg living, relationships, communicate. We have an unique value amongst all the creatures of the world. Genesis 9:6 - even after the fall, we still have the image of God. We have an important role in the world.
3. Male and Female - our sexuality. Why is this specially mentioned - more than our capacity to have children. Our culture tries to blur the distinction between the sexes. Both sexes are equal and distinct. Both in image of God, both are to rule, and both are to be fruitful and multiply. (more detail in Chapter 2 - different roles.) Mankind is a complex unity.
4. Implications: (a) Marriage - Genesis 2. (b) Family - the existence and dependence on others. (c) Responsibilities and not rights. (d) My identity - God's image, and view others from that perspective. (e) Masculine and femininity. Difference in how we act.
