Many of us have grown up automatically believing what the world tells us about gender roles. We’ve come to accept a worldview that tells us that men and women are unequal. However, this is wrong-believing; God’s original plan for both women and men was an equal partnership. Studying His Word in this area bears this out.

When Adam and Eve were created, they were equals, made in God’s image. God blessed them both equally and took delight in a close relationship with both of them. He put them in charge of all creation and told them to rule over it, but He never intended for them to rule over each other.

Sin ruined the perfect relationship between Adam, Eve, and God, and resulted in man dominating woman. From the time that sin entered the garden of Eden until Jesus’ arrival on earth, there was war between the genders, but Jesus ended that war and bridged the gap. He reconciled man back to God, preached peace to them who were far away, and provided access to God through the Spirit. Christ offered God’s love, grace, and forgiveness to men and women.

Jesus reached out to the Samaritan woman at the well, as well as to the woman caught in adultery. He treated the Samaritan woman with as much respect as men were given, and He offered forgiveness to the woman caught in adultery. He healed women, and welcomed them into His ministry. After centuries of inequality, Jesus restored balanced relationships between the genders. 

We can’t always tell what’s right by what we see. When we look at relationships between men and women, we notice that many of them were formed according to worldly standards instead of God’s standards. All believers, regardless of who they are, have been made children of God by faith in Christ. Because of the finished works of Jesus, the playing field is now level; all of us are now free to reach the potential God has in mind for us.

Prayer:  

Lord, out of love for us, You created men and women in Your image and put them both in charge of creation. When the enemy tried to destroy Your beautiful plan of gender equality, Jesus restored the balance. We can now once again enjoy our relationship with You. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

Genesis 1:26-28

Genesis 5:1, 2

Genesis 3:16

Ephesians 2:13-19, NKJV

John 4:4-30

John 8:3-11

Luke 8:2, 3

Galatians 3:26-28

For more on how equality is God’s will for us, click on the link for the two-DVD series, Biblical Equality.