In His Image

🖼️ In His Image

Who God Created You to Be: A Call to Embrace Your True Identity

A theologically based argument against transgenderism.

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” —Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)

You Are Not a Mistake

Teenager, you are not an accident. You were created by a God who formed you with intention and purpose. Psalm 139 tells us that God knit you together in your mother’s womb. He saw your unformed body and ordained all your days before one came to be (Psalm 139:13–16). That means your biological sex—whether male or female—was not random, but a sacred part of God's plan for your life.

Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Psalm 139, writes: “The formation of a human body, and the placing of an immortal spirit in it, are works to be had in reverence.” You were designed, not decided by human hands or feelings.

Made in His Image

Genesis 1:27 declares: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

To be created “in the image of God” means we reflect His character, order, and creative design. Jameson, Fausset, and Brown comment that male and female together reflect the fullness of God's image. This means both manhood and womanhood are sacred and must be honored—not altered.

When we attempt to change our God-given sex or express a gender that contradicts our biological reality, we are, in essence, saying, “God got it wrong.” This is a dangerous position to take before a holy God. Isaiah 45:9 warns: “Woe to him who strives with his Maker! … Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’”

God Knew You Before You Were Born

Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” God doesn't just know what you are—He knows who you are. Your sex and identity are part of your divine calling. To reject your gender is not just a physical issue—it’s a spiritual one.

Ephesians 2:10 adds, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Those “good works” include living out the fullness of who He created you to be, including your identity as male or female.

A Warning About Self-Destruction

Proverbs 8:36 says, “All those who hate me love death.” And 1 Corinthians 3:17 warns, “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

Gender reassignment surgeries and hormonal treatments are not just medical procedures—they can be acts of self-harm that damage God's creation. Many who have undergone these transitions have later come to regret it. Stories of de-transitioners—those who return to living in alignment with their birth sex—show the devastating consequences of trying to rewrite God's design.

They speak of physical pain, infertility, mental anguish, and spiritual brokenness. Yet, there is hope: many have found healing through Jesus Christ.

Scripture on Gender Distinctions

Deuteronomy 22:5 says, “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.” While this was written in an Old Testament context, the moral principle still stands: God created distinct roles and identities for male and female, and He expects us to honor that design.

Romans 1:26–27 further reveals that when people abandon God’s truth, they exchange natural relationships for unnatural ones, leading to brokenness and judgment.

The Power to Be Transformed

But here’s the good news: no one is too far gone for God's healing grace. Romans 12:2 calls us to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Many people who once identified as the opposite sex have been healed, restored, and redeemed by the power of God’s Spirit. Some were victims of sexual abuse or emotional trauma—roots that can lead to identity confusion. But Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and set the captives free (Isaiah 61:1).

A Higher Calling

Choosing to live as God created you—honoring your birth sex and gender—is not repression; it’s liberation. It is walking in the highest calling of God for your life. Anything less is to fall short of His best and to miss your divine destiny.

You were made for more than confusion, doubt, and self-destruction. You were made to shine His glory, to build families, to bring life, and to be a witness of the goodness of your Creator.

Final Word to Teens Struggling with their identity 

You are deeply loved. God doesn’t make mistakes. The world may try to confuse you, but God's Word remains true. If you’re struggling, reach out to someone who walks in truth. Seek healing, not from a surgeon’s blade, but from the hands of the Savior who made you in love.

Stay who God made you. Stay whole. Stay His.

Here is pro transgender argument points and corresponding biblical/theological counterpoints:

> I really don't care about the minutiae of an ancient book when it comes to wearing what I want to wear—which is really what the song is about. Jesus wouldn't care about that. Girls and boys, men and women have all worn dresses at different times, depending on cultural and societal trends throughout the centuries.

As for being trans, even back in B.C., there were trans people and those born intersex (with both genitalia). They don’t fit neatly into a book that needed to invent boundaries of right and wrong in order to exist and justify itself.

I don’t deny that there’s a lot of helpful stuff in the Bible, but it’s also exclusionary based on the culture and knowledge available at the time.

As soon as someone can tell me how being trans actively harms other people, then I’ll care—but such an irrefutable argument doesn’t exist.

Point-Form Breakdown

Argument Points

1. The Bible is an ancient book full of minutiae that doesn't apply today.

2. Jesus wouldn't care about clothing or what people wear.

3. Clothing norms have changed culturally—men and women have worn dresses.

4. Trans and intersex people existed even in ancient times.

5. The Bible is a man-made system of invented moral boundaries.

6. The Bible is exclusionary due to its limited cultural and historical context.

7. Being transgender doesn’t actively harm anyone, so it shouldn’t matter.

Biblical/Theological Counterpoints

1. The Bible is God's timeless Word, not outdated minutiae.

“All Scripture is God-breathed…” (2 Tim. 3:16) – It's eternally relevant and divinely authoritative.

2. Jesus cares deeply about how we live—including how we present ourselves.

“Do not think I have come to abolish the Law… but to fulfill it” (Matt. 5:17)

Holiness includes honoring God’s design in all things.

3. Clothing styles may change, but gender distinction remains a biblical principle.

Deuteronomy 22:5 – Not about fashion, but honoring God’s created order.

Genesis 1:27 – Male and female were created with intentional design.

4. Intersex conditions reflect the fall, not a third category of gender.

Romans 8:20–22 shows the world is broken—God’s design remains, even when nature is marred.

5. Moral boundaries in Scripture come from God's nature, not human invention.

Here is a theological response to each point made above. 

Here's a theologically grounded biblical refutation of the statement, approached with both clarity and conviction, while also acknowledging the need for compassion:

Refuting Cultural Relativism and Gender Redefinition from a Biblical Perspective

The statement presented reflects a modern, individualistic worldview rooted in subjective morality and postmodern thought, which often prioritizes personal expression over objective truth. While it's true that clothing styles have shifted across cultures and centuries, the Bible is not concerned with superficial fashion trends but with the heart behind those choices and the created order that God established from the beginning.

1. The Bible Is Not “Just an Ancient Book”

Dismissing Scripture as an “ancient book” overlooks its claim to divine authorship. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). It is not simply a cultural artifact—it is God’s eternal Word that transcends time and culture. Jesus Himself affirmed the authority of Scripture: “Your word is truth” (John 17:17).

2. Jesus Does Care—Because He Upholds Creation Order

To say “Jesus wouldn’t care about what people wear” misunderstands His mission. Jesus came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). He called His followers to holiness in all areas of life, including how we present ourselves, which reflects our submission to God’s design. Deuteronomy 22:5 states, “A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.” While this law was given in an Old Testament context, it reflects a broader biblical theme: honoring the distinctiveness of male and female as created by God (Genesis 1:27).

3. Cultural Variability Doesn’t Erase God’s Design

Yes, garments differ culturally. But God's Word doesn't legislate specific fashion; it calls us to respect His created distinctions. Jesus affirmed the creation order when He said, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female” (Matthew 19:4). This isn’t cultural. It's creational. The blurring of male and female identity strikes at the heart of God's design.

4. Intersex and Trans Identity Do Not Refute the Bible

It’s true that intersex individuals exist, and their condition is a result of living in a fallen world (Romans 8:20-22). But rare biological anomalies don't redefine the created categories of male and female. The existence of physical brokenness does not negate God’s original design—it highlights our need for redemption.

As for transgenderism, Scripture consistently presents gender as tied to biological sex, not internal feeling. Our identity is found not in self-perception, but in Christ (Colossians 3:3). The call of the gospel is not to affirm ourselves, but to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Luke 9:23).

5. The Bible’s Moral Boundaries Are Not Exclusionary but Loving

The claim that the Bible “invented boundaries of right and wrong” misunderstands the nature of divine revelation. God's commands flow from His character—He defines right and wrong because He is holy and just. Far from being exclusionary, the gospel is radically inclusive: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). But inclusion does not mean affirmation of all behavior—it means transformation from all sin through grace.

6. The Harm of Transgenderism Is Real, Though Often Ignored

While the statement asserts no harm comes from transgender identities, this ignores significant evidence—spiritual, emotional, and societal harm. God does not give arbitrary commands. When we deviate from His design, the consequences are real. Confusion, depression, broken relationships, and a loss of identity plague many who pursue transition. The gospel offers not just affirmation, but healing and wholeness in Christ.

Conclusion

The issue is not clothing, culture, or even identity—it is whether we will trust God's design or our own desires. The Bible does not exclude to oppress; it calls all people to repentance so they might find life. Jesus would—and does—care deeply, because He is Lord not just of hearts, but of bodies, gender, and identity. His invitation is to come as you are—but not to stay as you are. He loves us too much for that.

Poem

Here is a poem that powerfully affirms biblical truth about being made in God's image, the sanctity of our God-given sex and gender, and the spiritual danger of rejecting that design—presented in a tone of conviction and reverence for the Creator:

“In His Image”

In secret deep, where no eye sees,
He knit my frame with holy ease.
Before my cry, before my name,
He shaped me male—and called it good—unchanged, the same.

No accident, no twist of fate,
My form was fashioned by His grace.
Not mine to alter, shift, or trade,
For I am fearfully and wondrously made.

In His own image I was formed,
Not blurred, not bent, but whole, adorned.
His breath gave life, His hands gave shape,
And in that truth, I find escape.

Yet lies now creep through every gate,
Where children learn to doubt their state.
Taught to war against their frame,
To curse the gift, to scorn their name.

A boy’s not girl, a girl’s not boy—
To blur this line is to destroy.
It sterilizes, strips the seed,
Denies the womb, rejects the need.

No sons to raise, no daughters born,
A future lost, a promise torn.
This is not freedom, this is chains—
A soul at war, a heart in flames.

To mutilate the work of God,
To scorn the ground where He has trod—
Is blasphemy, and deep within,
A soul cries out, confused by sin.

O Church, arise, speak truth with grace,
Let mercy shine in every face.
But never bow to Satan’s plan—
To unmake woman, to undo man.

Stand firm in love, in truth proclaim:
Our sex is gift, not curse or shame.
Return, O heart, to what is true—
God made you you—not someone new.

In womb, in flesh, He called you known.
So live as His, and His alone.
For in His image we were made,
And in that truth, we shall not fade.

Here is a heartfelt prayer based on the article—designed for personal healing, repentance, deliverance, and spiritual renewal through the truth of God's Word and the power of the Holy Spirit:

🙏 A Prayer for Healing, Identity, and Deliverance

Heavenly Father,

I come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, humbled and broken, yet hopeful—because You are a God of mercy, truth, and transformation.

Lord, Your Word says that I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), formed by Your hands in my mother’s womb, and created in Your image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). You are not the author of confusion, but of peace and order (1 Corinthians 14:33). You made me with purpose—body, soul, and spirit—and You declared it good.

Today, I repent for any way I have believed lies about my identity. I renounce every sin and deception connected to gender confusion, transgenderism, and homosexuality. I reject every false identity that the world, the enemy, or my own pain has tried to place on me. Forgive me, Lord, for any way I have dishonored the body You created or doubted Your perfect design for my life.

Father, wash me clean by the blood of Jesus. Create in me a pure heart and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10). Fill every broken place with Your healing love. I surrender my thoughts, feelings, and body to You as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), holy and pleasing in Your sight.

I declare Your truth over my life: I am who You say I am. I was born male (or female) by Your design, and I will live out that identity to glorify You. Restore to me the joy of being Your creation. Let me walk boldly in the sex and gender You gave me—not with shame, but with honor.

Holy Spirit, come now and fill me. Renew my mind and break every stronghold. Heal every wound caused by abuse, confusion, rejection, or trauma. Let Your Word dwell richly in me and transform me day by day (Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:16).

Father, I pray not only for myself, but for every young heart lost in confusion. Open their eyes, draw them with Your love, and raise up voices of truth and compassion. Let this generation rise up in purity, holiness, and boldness to proclaim Your goodness and design.

I commit my body, my mind, and my future to You. May I honor You with all that I am, as male or female, made in Your image.

In the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Amen.