Notes Where did the concept of family originate? What difference does it make how family is defined and how it is made up? What is the role of family in the stability and health of a nation? “Knowing God” is essential – not just knowing about Him, but actually knowing Him in relationship. Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) 21 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Titus 1:16 (NIV) 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. God is invisible. 1 Timothy 1:17 (NIV) 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 11:27 (NIV) 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. Romans 1:20 (NIV) 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. God’s purpose in creating mankind – for there to be a visible representation of Him. Genesis 1:26-28 (NIV) 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." In the creation of Adam was mankind, not just a male human. “There are two Hebrew words translated man in the second chapter of Genesis. The first one ha’adam means the human or humanity. Humanity, as we know, includes both sexes. The other word, Ish, is translated man and means a male. Another word that is marked in the scripture below is the Hebrew word ishsha or isha which is translated woman.” Cameneti, Patsy. Engendered (p. 44). Harrison House Publishers Genesis 2:1-23 20 So Adam [the human] gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam [the human] there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam [the human], and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man [the human] He made into a woman [ish], and He brought her to the man [the human]. 23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman [ishsha or isha], Because she was taken out of Man” [the word here is not ha’adam but ‘ish]. Cameneti, Patsy. Engendered (pp. 45-46). Harrison House Publishers. Kindle Edition. Genesis 2:24-25 (NIV) – Origin of marriage and family 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. When it was assumed that their opinion could be just as good as God’s, they could no longer represent the image of God. Genesis 3:4-6 (NIV) 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. As Adam fell, the image of God was skewed and distorted, and so was His design for the family. Romans 1:21-23 (NIV) 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Romans 1:32 (NIV) 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. In Christ there is hope for an accurate projection of the image of God and a way to clearly show Him to the world through the family unit. 1 Corinthians 15:45 (NIV) 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. Colossians 1:15 (NIV) 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. John 14:9 (NIV) 9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. … John 1:18 (NIV) 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. 1 John 4:12 (NIV) 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.