"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created
him, male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:28 NJKB).
Is God Male And Female? No!
Our God is Triune; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is our Heavenly
Father; Jesus is our heavenly Bridegroom, and His indwelling Holy
Spirit makes us the Bride of Christ. No one fully understands how God
can be One in Three Persons, but we too, are triune beings, spirit,
soul, and body in that order. When God told man he would die if he
sinned, that part of man that could commune with God died.
"There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that
you are a teacher come from God; for no man can do these signs that you
do unless God is with him.'
"Jesus answered and said to him, most assuredly, I say to you, unless
one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
"Nicodemus said to Him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he
enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?
"Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of
water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God'" (John 3:1-5
NKJB).
That part of man that was created in God's image must be restored.
Some in the animal world, such as horses and dogs, have
personality, but they do not have a spirit capable of communion with
God. Man alone has a "living soul." We can talk to God, and God can
reveal His will to us. This is not true of any of His lower creation.
Man is different. He was created in God's image and for His
fellowship.
Unlike the animal world, man was given a "spirit," as well
as soul and body. When our spirit is under the control of God's Holy
Spirit, it is possible for us to communicate with God and enjoy sweet
fellowship with Him.
The day our first parents took of that forbidden fruit,
their spiritual life died and that spiritual death is passed on to all
of their descendants. For this reason a spiritual resurrection is
necessary, in order to get man back into fellowship with God. That is
why Christ died in our stead on the Cross of Calvary, that we might be
brought back into loving relationship with our divine Maker.
"Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that
just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united
together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in
the likeness of His resurrection" (Rom. 6:4,5 NKJB).
Not only does this apply to a future resurrection, it can
be a present experience here and now. Jesus referred to this as a
second birth. Jesus clarified the matter later, with the following
statement:
"Most assuredly I say to you, He who hears my Word and believes in Him
who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but
has passed from death into life" (John 5:24 NKJB).
Christ Is Our Heavenly Bridegroom
"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took
their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were
wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps
and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with
their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered
and slept.
"And at midnight a cry was heard: "Behold, the bridegroom is coming;'
go out to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their
lamps.
"And the foolish said to the wise, 'give us of your oil, for our lamps
are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should
not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy
for yourselves.
"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were
ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut" (Matthew
25:1-10).
"Do not lie one to another, since you have put off the old
man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in
knowledge according to the image of him who created him" (Colossians
3:9,10 NKJB).