God’s Design and Human Rebellion: The Roots of Sexual Identity Confusion

Created with Purpose

From the beginning, the biblical account presents a purposeful design for humanity’s sexual identity. This is what Genesis 1:27 clearly declares: “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Such a foundational truth reveals that our sexual identities are not self-created nor a by-product of social constructs, but divinely given.

Humanity was made to reflect God’s image, and the male and female distinctions are part of that image-bearing.

Genesis 2 further reinforces this idea. The chapter describes Eve’s creation from Adam’s symbol of harmony and complementarity, not competition or hierarchy.

The Disruption of the Fall

Genesis 3 tells of sin entering the world through human disobedience. The rebellion affects every area of life, including how we understand ourselves. Romans 5:12 mentions, “just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”

In this broken state, humanity has defined itself according to its desires or identities. All of which are outside of God’s intended design. This includes sexual identity and preferences, which the Scripture addresses plainly.

Both Old and New Testaments consistently identify homosexuality as sin (Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10; Jude 1:7).

Moreover, God’s moral standards have not changed in the passing of time (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). The same God who called sexual sin an abomination in Leviticus continues to call it sin in the current covenant. Such a continuity underscores that holiness is not cultural but rooted in God’s unchanging nature.

Alienation and the Search for Meaning

After the Fall, Adam and Eve hid from God (Genesis 3:8). Interestingly, this pattern exists until today. We are running away from God’s intended design for life's meaning. We seek identity through achievements, ideologies, and personal desires.

This rejection of God leads to confusion, including the abandonment of natural relationships (Romans 1:26-27). The phrase “God gave them over” is sobering. This is because it indicates that God permits society bent on rebellion to experience the consequences of its ungodly choices.

Restoration through Christ

However, this is not the end of the story. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ offers hope and transformation. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 promises, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”

This includes those formerly caught in sexual sin. Paul reminds the Corinthian church of this truth when he said, “such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Jesus came not to affirm our sinfulness but to redeem us from it, giving us new identities (Colossians 3:3; John 3:3).

Forgiveness is possible for every sinner. The sin of homosexuality, like every other sin, can be washed away through God’s grace. When a homosexual repents and believes in Jesus, our Lord will free them from old patterns. In fact, He will also empower the repentant sinner to live a new life for His name. (Galatians 5:1)

Living with Clarity and Compassion

In today’s world, clarity is often mistaken for cruelty. But truth, spoken in love (Ephesians 4:15), can be the most compassionate act. Christians are not called to shame others, but to extend the hope of the gospel.

During Pride Month, when alternative identities are celebrated, believers can have the opportunity to present a better story. The latter is rooted in God’s purpose and the redeeming work of Christ.

This story does not shame, but it does call for change, empowered by God’s grace and love.