Sinclair B. Ferguson

First, we are the image and likeness of God.

And second, He has made us male and female.

Not one kind or three kinds, but two kinds, male and female.

as His image reflecting His character, we're either male or female.

And that's why what is now happening in the Western world, in all its assumed modernity, is that first when we lose hold of God, then we lose hold of our identity as His image, and then we lose hold of the clear-cut distinctions between male and female that are actually embedded in every molecule of our being.

And until there is a recovery of the knowledge of God, there is really no remedy for this sickness.

That's why the biblical teaching on man as the imago dei, the image of God, is so very important.

This is a vital, but it's also a wonderful doctrine for young Christians to get a hold of.

Because knowing who I am, that I'm made as the image and likeness of God, that I'm created male or female in a way that's embedded into the depth of my physical being, possessing this wonderfully dignifying knowledge of who I am, yes, with all my faults and inadequacies, gives me the stability and the dignity that I need.

And that's exactly what our world needs today.

In yesterday's podcast, we were remembering how the angel at the garden tomb stressed that the news of Jesus' resurrection should be given not only to the disciples in general, but to Simon Peter in particular.

And we were reflecting on the loving way Peter was singled out.

But there's more than one singling out in the resurrection narratives, isn't there?

Doubting Thomas is another one.

But there is someone else we might overlook.

Remember when Paul lists Jesus' resurrection appearances in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 3 through 8.

He tells us that he appeared on one occasion to over 500 disciples and that most of them were still alive.

The implication being, I suppose, you can go and ask them.

So, who was this James that Paul knew?

It's pretty clear Paul assumed everybody knew who he was talking about.