What does the Bible teach about human identity?

Scripture teaches that human identity is received from God, not created by the self. Humanity is made in the image of God as male and female.

Why is there confusion about identity today?

The Bible teaches that the fall distorted humanity's understanding of God, truth, identity, and sexuality, resulting in confusion and rebellion against God's design.

How does the gospel address identity?

The gospel restores what sin distorted. Through union with Christ, believers receive a new identity grounded in God's grace rather than in desires, feelings, or self-definition.

God’s Design for Men and Women: Identity, Creation, and Biblical Truth

⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read

God’s Design for Men and Women: Identity, Creation, and Biblical Truth

Contending for the Word with Dave Jenkins

Show Summary

In this episode of Contending for the Word, Dave Jenkins begins a new series on biblical sexuality by examining God’s design for humanity from Scripture.

Dave explains how human identity as male and female is rooted in creation, distorted by the fall, restored through Christ, and ultimately fulfilled in God’s redemptive plan. In a confused cultural moment, Christians must return again and again to the clarity, sufficiency, and authority of God’s Word.

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Episode Notes

Human identity begins with God, not the self.
Genesis 1 teaches that humanity is made in the image of God, male and female.
The fall distorted humanity’s understanding of identity, sexuality, and authority.
The gospel restores clarity through union with Christ.
Christians must speak with clarity, courage, humility, and compassion.
God’s design is not restrictive; it is good.

Key Scriptures

Genesis 1:26–27
Genesis 3
2 Corinthians 5:17
1 Corinthians 6:19–20
Revelation 21:3–4

Call to Action

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Dave Jenkins

Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

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