Foundation of Biblical Manhood
- Jan 20, 2004
- Series: Men
This session is going to examine the difference between being a man and woman biblically. Our goal is to demonstrate through scripture our calling and role as men within the church body as well as discuss what this means in context to being a husband, preparing to be a husband or arranging your life as a single man. We have already seen the devastating effects on the church and society when there is an absence of men who are spiritual leaders. [see Session 1] Modern Christian men need to understand and take a greater responsibility than we’ve been taught by our society and by the church.
Intro - Men and Women
Within the church body there are many views of the roles of men and women and how they relate to one another. Most views fit in a variation of the following three categories:
Egalitarian – men and women are equal in all aspects and that there are no differences in roles and all should be given equal access to positions of leadership in the church. Any distinction in giving roles to men versus women in the Bible is based on cultural norms not because this is the way God intended it.
Hierarchical – men are superior to women and that men hold a higher place in both role and are in a privileged position. Men are to rule, while women are considered lesser.
Complementarian – men and women were both created in God’s image and neither is better or worse. In God’s design he created men and women to complement each other and as such created differing roles for men and women.
The tendency in most churches today is to stress the equality of men and women by minimizing the uniqueness of manhood and womanhood. Part of the reason is because of the abuse and failure men have had in their role. As we discussed last session, as men failed, feminism took over and has swept our country over. When truth is abused, a rival position (in this case, feminism) that lacks logically compelling power can take on psychological compelling power. It is this reason so many people choose to believe in their viewpoint but do so based on feelings not on what is communicated in scripture.
Of these three views Kaleo supports the Complimentarian view; that is, that men and women are created equally and they have different roles established by God. Let’s look into this further.
Men & Women created Equal
There are two parts to the complement view; the first is that men and women are created equal. Let’s look what scripture says, starting in the beginning in Genesis chapter 1.
Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
It is the first time men and women are mentioned in scripture and God clearly states from the beginning that both men and women are created in God’s image. No other thing created by God carries this same distinction, not even angels. We are both equal in worth and in value and there will be an eternal equal personal value in heaven.
Another illustration that speaks of our equality is that Eve was created from Adam’s side. I believe this is a good symbolic picture that Eve is not in front or behind man, but along side as an equal.
Genesis 2:21-22 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
Further it is important to note the men and women are both equally and indiscriminately given spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit, participation in baptism and are one in Christ. Galatians also tells us according to salvation there is neither male nor female, but all are one.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
This is the only place we can begin. Men and women are equal ontologically, meaning that our nature or existence is on equal standing. Understanding this negates the male hierarchical view that says that men are somehow better than women. In any situation where a man rules as a dictator or women are considered subservient or lesser in status, than this is against scripture and does not reflect the gospel but sin. Until we understand this, reflecting on our God designed differences is worthless.
Men have a Different Role than Women
The second portion of the complementarian view is that men and women have different roles assigned to them by God. This is not saying one is better than the other, but God’s perfect design was to make them to complement one another. This design was established prior to the fall where sin entered into the equation.
In the next session we will examine the specific roles of men versus women, but first we will establish one idea; a foundational difference between a man and woman is that God designed man to be the head. All other differences spring from this idea and we can move no further until we understand this. But before we try to understand headship, we need why a head is needed.
Covenant Understanding
Our God works through covenants. It is through these covenants that He interacts with man and establishes blessings, consequences and ultimately our hope in salvation. What do we mean by our God is a god of covenants?
A covenant is a particular relationship that binds people together as one (God and people, or people and people) by promised terms and loving grace. If one side fails, the other side is not released from the Covenant. The opposite of a covenant is a contract with terms that permit the relationship to end and the parties to continue as individuals. Throughout the covenants between God and the elect the recurring theme is that He will be their God and they will be His people because He will send Jesus to forgive their sins.
In each covenant God establishes a specific person to be held primarily responsible. In the Old Testament we see some of the covenants between God & covenant heads:
Adam (Hosea 6:7; Romans 5:12-21; I Corinthians 15:21-22)
Noah (Genesis 6:18, 9:9-17)
Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3, 17:2-21, Exodus 2:24)
Moses (Exodus 34:10, 34:27-28; Leviticus 24:45)
David (II Chronicles 7:18, 21:7)
God did not stop working in covenants in the New Testament. In the New Testament Christ brought about the New Covenant. (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 26:28; Luke 22:20; Romans 11:27; I Corinthians 11:25; II Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 7:22; 8:8-13; 9:15; 12:24).
Adam was the first Covenant Head. God created Adam to be the head over Eve and ultimately all men. Let’s look at this in Genesis:
Genesis 2: 15Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." 18And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." 19Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
Let’s look at five observations regarding the order established with Adam & Eve:
1. Order of Creation - In this design God created Adam first. Most of us would not consider Adam being created first to mean much today. If we brush past this we have missed something that is important. In the Bible this idea of first is important and carries with it great meaning. Q – What examples do we have in scripture that illustrate that the first has meaning? The family blessing was passed to the first born, we are told to give our first fruits, Christ was the first son before we were adopted in. Paul emphasizes this point in 1 Timothy 2:12-13 as he tells us a woman is not to have authority over men, “For Adam was formed first, then Eve.”
2. Adam names Eve –
Genesis 2
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."
Adam is the one who gives a name to woman. This pattern of naming begins with God in Genesis 1: 5, 8, 10, and 2: 19, 20, 23. God is in authority over all he creates and gives Adam the same over the animals as well over woman. This pattern is recognized by the readers when the words of naming are the same that God used to call creation into existence.
3. Eve as Helper – We are told in Genesis 2:18 that God created Eve to be a helper for Adam. As Paul reiterates in 1st Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 11:9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.
Eve was created as a helper corresponding to Adam, to compliment him.
4. Adam held Responsible -
Genesis 3 1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, "You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" 2And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, "You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die."' 4Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
Where was the husband during Eve and Satan’s conversation? By her side.
What was the husband doing? Nothing. (This is a common sin of man.)
But continue reading:
8And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" 10So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." 11And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" 12Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." 13And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
When the Lord comes, who is He calling out to? The man.
Who sinned first? The woman.
Who does the Lord hold accountable? The man.
We see the woman sinned first, but because of whose sin did all men fall into a state of death and sin? Adams
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--
1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
We should love headship because this allows us to be under Christ head. Many of us want to reject the idea of being ‘born in sin’ through Adam’s headship, but again how can we rejoice in the salvation given because Christ is our new head?
Because of man & woman’s sin, consequences come to change the relationship between man and woman as well as between God. God no longer allows them to stay in the garden but banishes them and in addition they receive different curses.
5. The Curses – Eve’s desire to rule
Genesis 3
16To the woman He said:
"I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you."
This curse brought conflict between men and women. We are told as a result of sin; Eve will have pain in childbirth and desire to rule over her husband. This is the same term used in 4:7 as Cain is told Sin will desire to rule over him as well. Sin changes the perfect compliment God created and now instead of men and women living in harmony, men will be sinful and fail in their role and women will now desire to not have a sinful head, man, and will instead want to rule and have authority over them.
Headship
That Adam is held responsible for breaking the Covenant demonstrates what is called ‘Headship’. Headship includes this idea that responsibility is taken even though it may not be their fault. Headship is established as a covenant is created.
This is why Adam is held responsible for the fall of man. He was placed in a position of headship. It is a matter of creation not culture. As much as people want to fight this, there has never been a noted single society in history that has been matriarchal. Even today we see only 8 women out of the Fortune 500 serving as CEO’s. Creation continues to reflect God’s design of male headship.
Every covenant has a head and that man is primarily responsible that the terms of the covenant kept. This headship is repeated between God and men. We talk about worshipping the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We see this male headship repeated throughout the Old Testament.
Every covenant has a head and that man is primarily responsible that the terms of the covenant kept. We talk about worshipping the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We see this male headship repeated throughout the Old Testament.
We see this headship confirmed in the NT and modeled in the covenant of marriage as well.
Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
When does this headship become our responsibility? Headship is only inherent in fatherhood and marriage. Single men w/o kids are not a head over anyone other than themselves. Children fall under their father’s headship.
What Headship Is Not
Headship does not mean superior, as we’ve discussed men and women are equal. Headship has often been abused. A lack of biblical wisdom on this subject has created a vast chasm between men and women. A false view of submission & the role of women is a rejection of what is shown in the Trinity. Jesus submitted to the Father (Phil. 2:5-8) and the Holy Spirit is called ‘the Helper’ which is same concept as Eve being the helper suitable. We are also told in scripture:
Common False beliefs in Headship
• a license to be harsh
• A ruling of one individual over another
• A conflict between enemies
• A ruling of men in general over women in general
Men being the Head does not mean ALL women are to submit to ALL men. Headship is only inherent in fatherhood and marriage. Single men w/o kids are not a head over anyone other than themselves. Children fall under their father’s headship. This can be a common misunderstanding which distorts relationships between men and women.
Not all men and women are created equal. There are women who have a far greater gifting and influence over the affairs of a church and/or society than most men. Again women are not lesser than men, but in relationship to one man either a father or husband they are equal and prayerfully they have picked a husband they respect who is someone who will love them sacrificially as well as help cultivate them as a woman. In addition, the woman helps strengthen and shape the husband.
One of the central problems with ‘Christian men’ is that many want to be ‘nice guys’ but ultimately wimp-out of their responsibility. Many men do not want to take on their shoulders the responsibilities. They do not take the initiative, lead or fulfill their obligation. It is these men who sit idly by and pass their burden onto women, making them work to support the family as well as keep the house in order. When we understand how to use this headship and strength to serve our wives and others, we can work to be more than ‘nice guys’ but godly men.
For those who are married these ideas shape how we live in marriage. If a husband sins it is his fault. If his wife sins, she is at fault and the husband is also responsible for this sin. We are never allowed to complain or talk bad about our wives. In marriage rejecting these truths means allows us to view marriage as a contract, where divorce isn’t breaking a covenant.
What Headship Is
• A greater burden for husbands
• A command of humble service
• A command for men to take responsibility when they are not at fault
• A command for individualism to be replaced by covenant
• A command that men are dominant in marriage
• A command that men need to be respected and women need to be loved
• A command that men use their strength to build into their wives rather than tearing them down
• A command that men not be chauvinists or passive/cowards
• A practical showing of the gospel
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