For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Gene Coleman
Gender is somewhat related to procreation required to increase or maintain population is it not? Eternal life itself eliminates the need to replenish or continue life doesn't it?
Also, since God will be the supplier of everyone's resurrected, full and complete needs they won't necessarily need a help mate other than Him will they? Wouldn't this be true whether in their former life they were male or female?
Chris Dibbern
Yes, gender and sexuality and romantic love will be in Heaven!
The common mistake is in believing God only satisfies needs, and adds nothing more to that. In believing that he sprinkles, and dabs, and rations. It is true that there are times of fasting in this life, but scripture strips us of the possibility of believing that's God's eternal desire for us when it says he "pours out into our lap overflowing" (Luke 6:38).
We don't need to procreate in Heaven to replace those who have died. But, in Genesis, does it read: "Adam took the fruit from the tree himself and ate it, and sinned against God. So, God made Eve because Adam would soon die and he would need to be replaced. Eve was his replacement factory, from her beginning."
No, instead it says, "God made Adam and Eve. Eve and Adam sinned. Eve's punishment was that her childbearing pains were greatly increased." Which is to say, her childbearing already existed in the perfect Eden.
Personally I believe that there will be sexuality and romance and endless living stories all throughout eternity. We will not be married according to a religious law in Heaven because there will be no need. The religious law is only the "shadow of the good things to come." But remember, wherever there is a shadow, there is a good thing to come! Not only can new children be born into Heaven, but individuals can be born again into Heaven, again and again, as Heavenly hearts desire.
Christ has always existed. Yet, in perfection, he was born to flesh and grew and chose to be himself all over again. It was good to do so, and we will be eternally grateful even if we weren't already. :-)
So, what I desire for every Christian is that they stop believing when Satan comes knocking and says, "can God reaaaally wipe away every tear?" Of course satan doesn't say it like that, does he? Because then our religious reflex would quickly resist him and he would have to flee. Instead, he asks the question much more specifically: "if you don't settle and take this boyfriend or girlfriend, or have children, or take this job, or obtain that status... well, when could you ever experience that wonderful gift?" And they are gifts, truly. But with any good thing in this life, God can give you the glorified version of it in Heaven.
"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" (Matt 7:9) Jesus was called both "bread" and "stone," and both are good things for different circumstances. Yet desire is part of circumstance. Will God distract you with good things so you won't worry about what you missed out on on Earth? Of course not. Heaven encompasses all of the good things from Earth, and many, many more beyond them.
Chris Dibbern
In the end, there will be found to be no wisdom in satan's advice: "take now." In the end, there will be found nothing that satan could give at all, that God cannot give better, at the right time, and forever.