Who God Made Us To Be: A Biblical Understanding of Identity
In the beginning, God created humanity in His image, and this foundational truth shapes our understanding of who we are. In Genesis 1:26-27, the Bible tells us that “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,” and so God created humanity as male and female. This distinction is not accidental but intentional, as both male and female reflect God’s image in complementary ways. The creation of man and woman, distinct yet equal in value, points to God’s perfect design for human beings to live in relationship with Him and one another.
Jesus, during His earthly ministry, reinforced this creation order when He was questioned about marriage in Matthew 19. He said, “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female?” (Matthew 19:4). Jesus pointed back to the very beginning of creation, affirming that the union between a man and a woman was the original design of God. He further emphasized that marriage is a sacred institution, ordained by God, where a man and a woman become “one flesh” in a lifelong covenant.
God’s design for marriage and human sexuality is rooted in this understanding of male and female. Sexuality, as God intended, is expressed within the context of marriage between a man and a woman. Scripture teaches that any deviation from this, including same-sex relationships or attempts to change one’s gender, is not aligned with God’s purposes. In Romans 1:26-27, Paul speaks of those who “change the natural use of their bodies and “burn in their lust one toward another,” describing such actions as contrary to nature. This passage, along with others, makes clear that God’s design for human relationships is not fluid nor open to reinterpretation, but fixed in the order He established from the beginning.
The apostle Paul also addressed issues of sexual immorality, including homosexual behavior, in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, where he warns that “the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” He lists behaviors that are sinful, including fornication, adultery, and “effeminate” or “abusers of themselves with mankind,” which the KJV uses to describe homosexual acts. However, Paul also offers hope, saying, “And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). This is the message of the Gospel, that no matter our past, through Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven, cleansed, and made new. Christ offers redemption to all who turn to Him in repentance and faith.
God’s Word also speaks to the confusion surrounding gender identity. In Deuteronomy 22:5, we are instructed, “The woman shall not wear that which pertains to a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment.” This command reflects God’s desire for clear distinctions between male and female roles. While we live in a world that increasingly challenges these distinctions, God’s Word remains steadfast in its declaration that male and female are not interchangeable or to be confused. The attempt to redefine one’s gender identity outside of the natural creation is a rebellion against God’s order, and such confusion often stems from the brokenness of a fallen world. Yet, even in this brokenness, God offers the opportunity for healing and restoration through Jesus Christ.
Though the Bible speaks strongly against sexual sin and gender confusion, it also offers a message of grace. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and this includes those who struggle with sexual sin or gender identity confusion. 1 John 1:9 assures us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” No matter what struggles a person faces, whether in regard to same-sex attraction, gender confusion, or any other issue, Jesus offers forgiveness, restoration, and the power to live according to God’s design.
As Christians, we are called to live according to God’s Word, embracing the identity He has given us. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and we are to honor God with our bodies by living in accordance with His will. This includes living in alignment with the gender He created us to be and honoring His purpose for our sexuality.
While we stand firm in the truth of God’s Word, we must also extend compassion to those who are struggling with these issues. We are not called to condemn but to love, to speak the truth in love, and to offer the hope of the Gospel to all. Ephesians 4:15 calls us to “speak the truth in love,” growing into maturity in Christ. Our message should always be one of redemption, offering the healing and restoration that only Jesus can bring.
God has created us male and female, each in His image, and He has given us a clear path for living in His design for sexuality and identity. While the world may offer alternatives that contradict God’s truth, we, as followers of Christ, are called to uphold the truth of His Word with love and compassion. For those who struggle, the Gospel offers the promise of forgiveness, transformation, and a new identity in Christ.
God’s design for humanity is not only about the physical realities of male and female but also about the spiritual and relational dimensions. When we read in Genesis about God creating man and woman in His image, it’s important to understand that this image-bearer status encompasses far more than mere biological distinctions. To be made in God’s image means to have been designed for relationship, not just with God but also with each other. The differentiation of sexes reflects something profound about the nature of God Himself. There is a complementary dynamic between male and female, a divine order that mirrors the relational unity that exists within the very nature of God. We know from Scripture that God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three distinct persons, yet perfectly united in essence and purpose. Similarly, the union of man and woman reflects a deeper truth about who God is and His relational nature. The uniqueness of men and women is not an accident but an essential part of God’s divine plan, revealing His glory in a way that would not be fully expressed by one gender alone.
This profound truth about creation extends to human sexuality. In our current cultural moment, there’s a push to detach sexuality from biology, to redefine gender as a fluid or socially constructed reality. But the Bible maintains that sexual identity is inherently tied to the created order. This does not mean that human beings should be trapped in rigid stereotypes, nor that men and women are identical in function, personality, or ability. It is not a denial of individuality or expression, but rather an acknowledgment that, as image-bearers, our maleness and femaleness are significant parts of who we are and how we reflect God’s glory in the world. There’s a beauty and a depth to God’s design for the sexes that transcends what the world often suggests.
When we look at Jesus’ ministry, His deep respect for the created order of male and female is not about enforcing cultural norms for the sake of tradition but about restoring people to the truth of who they were always meant to be. The fall of humanity introduced disorder into God’s perfect creation. The effects of sin, including brokenness in our relationships and identities, have been pervasive throughout history. But Jesus came to redeem that which was lost, to restore humanity to its original purpose, and that includes our understanding of who we are as male and female. Jesus did not merely come to correct our behavior; He came to heal the deepest wounds of our identity, including those caused by sin’s distortion of gender and sexuality. He offered a new way of being human, one that aligns with God’s original design. And yet, the restoration of human identity in Christ is not about abandoning the uniqueness of male and female. Rather, it’s about finding the fulfillment of what we were created for—living out our true identity in relationship with God, grounded in the truth of His Word.
This tension between God’s design and the brokenness of the world is where we often find ourselves today. The struggle with gender confusion, same-sex attraction, and a desire to redefine identity is not a new phenomenon, but a result of living in a fallen world. People may feel disconnected from their God-given identity for many reasons—some because of deep emotional pain or abuse, others because of the influences of culture that elevate self-determination above divine creation. But the gospel speaks to each person’s need for reconciliation—not just with God but also with the design He intended for them. Redemption is not merely about forgiveness for past sins but about being restored to the image of God in which we were made. In Christ, the distorted and broken identity can be renewed, and the truth of who we are can begin to align with the Creator’s perfect plan.
When Paul addresses the townspeople in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, he is not only listing behaviors that separate people from God’s kingdom, but he is also offering the hope of transformation. The gospel is not about condemning those who struggle with sin—whether in terms of sexuality or any other issue, but about calling them into the freedom and grace found in Jesus. Paul reminds the Corinthians that they were once lost in their sin, but they are now washed, sanctified, and justified through Christ. This powerful truth is available to anyone, regardless of their past, including those who may be struggling with same-sex attraction or gender confusion. The grace of God through Jesus Christ is greater than any sin and more powerful than any brokenness.
This is why the church’s response to issues of sexuality and gender should be one of compassion and truth, both of which are equally essential. While the culture may present the idea that rejecting biblical teachings on sexuality and gender is the path to personal fulfillment, it is ultimately the truth of God’s Word that leads to true freedom. And this freedom is not just about living according to moral rules but about living in alignment with the identity that God has designed for us, an identity that is both deeply individual and profoundly relational, centered in Christ. True freedom comes when we accept who God made us to be and submit to His design for our lives.
Finally, we must also acknowledge that this journey of redemption is not always easy or immediate. Many people who come to Christ with a background of sexual or gender confusion may experience a struggle in reconciling their feelings with their faith. The church must come alongside them in love, offering the grace of Christ while also encouraging them toward the truth of God’s design. The path of transformation is often difficult, and the process of healing may take time, but the promise of God’s Word remains: through Christ, we can be renewed in our minds, healed in our hearts, and restored to the image of God we were always meant to bear.
In this sense, the gospel is not just a moral call to reject sinful behavior; it is a message of deep personal restoration. It is about understanding who we were created to be—whole, complete, and fulfilled in our identity as male and female, reflecting the glory of God in both our bodies and our relationships. It is through Jesus that we can fully embrace that identity, live in its fullness, and experience the peace that comes from walking in God’s perfect design.