GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XIXIssue 5
Published occasionally for Zion's mourners
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12::12-13

SAVED IN CHILDBEARING

For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
I Timothy 2:13-15

The natural rebellion of man against the order and decrees of GOD, has been seen demonstrated in our father, Adam, and the woman which was taken from his side. Each progressive generation has manifested this corruption and only increased in their vain imaginations and depths of desire to go contrary to the prescribed dictates of the gracious CREATOR. From time to time the manifestation of this corruption has reached its peak and the wrath of GOD and HIS hatred of sin is demonstrated in the destruction of those societies.

We see this first set forth when the LORD sent the flood upon the Earth in Noah’s day. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Gen 6:5) All of mankind was destroyed except for Noah and his immediate family. “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” (Gen 6:8) It is interesting to note that the fact that “Noah found grace”, precedes the fact that “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Gen 6:9)

The natural rebellion of man is seen as most men consider that the reason Noah “found grace” was because he was “a just man” and “walked with GOD”. The truth of the matter is that Noah did not receive “grace” because he was a “just man”, but rather he walked with GOD and was a just man, because the LORD bestowed grace on him. In their mutinous hearts men have devised all sorts of philosophies and religions which seek to assure men that they can “find GOD”, “discover GOD”, “come to GOD”, or “obey GOD”, by the action of their free will. In doing so they seek to exalt men and in doing so they would rob GOD of the glory which is rightfully HIS alone. “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Rom 3:11-12) “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Rom 8:7)

The LORD would show men just how innately corrupt they are, when HE, from time to time, removes HIS restraints from them and gives them over to their natural lusts, which are always simmering, yet generally held in check to some degree according to HIS mercy. “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee (i.e.; fulfill the purpose of GOD): the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.” (Psa 76:10) An example of this is seen in the selling of Joseph into captivity by his brothers. The LORD restrained their murderous intent (see Gen.37:18-20) as they sold him to the Ishmaelites who carried him to Egypt in order that Israel might be preserved.

Paul writes about this innate tendency of men to dishonor the LORD, and the purpose of GOD to show to men their natural corruption by giving them over to their own lusts. All societies (regardless of their religious heritage) will devolve into utter wickedness apart from HIS restraint. We see this manifested in Sodom and Gomorrah, as they embraced wicked acts of the flesh that even the beasts of the field are not given to. (see Rom.1:18-32)

As men dishonor GOD (“became vain in their imaginations” i.e.; exalted men) the LORD removes HIS hand and in HIS judgment, they embrace all manner of evil which is contrary to HIS order and commands. “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves.” (Rom 1:24)

Thus, we understand that HIS judgment does not fall on men because of their adulation of the lusts of their flesh, but rather the fact that HE turns them over to their own reprobate mind is evidence of HIS judgment which is already begun. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” (Rom 1:28)

GOD has ordained a certain order in the Earth which men ultimately despise and pervert. The abandonment of this order and the commandments of GOD always bring with it, a destruction of the very flesh which men adore. The LORD created man, Adam, from the dust of the ground, and then created the woman, Eve, with a rib from his side. HE fashioned them both exactly as HE determined that they should be. HE illustrated the HEADSHIP of CHRIST over HIS church by making the man to be the head of the woman. Each time that this principle is disregarded, the glory of CHRIST is impugned. Yet there is not a society on the face of the Earth that does not in many ways ignore this truth either by demanding that gender be abolished or trying to make the woman into a slave, whose only purpose is to satisfy the lusts of the man. CHRIST is exalted when men are men, and women are honored and loved by their husbands.

When we look at our society we see its certain doom as men, not liking to retain GOD in their knowledge, burn in lusts towards women who are not their wives, women dishonor CHRIST as they burn in lusts towards men who are not their husbands. Men couple themselves with other men and women do the same with other women. Those whom GOD fashions as men seek to be women and vice versa. This is utter confusion, will worship, and the fruit of unrestrained free-will.

Some suppose that GOD winks at such foolishness, yet in these things, HE shows HIS disdain for man’s self-glorying by giving him over to his own desires. Effeminate men and masculine women are outside of HIS order and commandments, as well as disregarding marriage vows, fornication, and other forms of sexual impurity. Often, men (especially religious moralists) seek to minimize their own wickedness by pointing out the more egregious sins (as they might define them) of the Sodomites and other sexual perverts. Yet to look upon a woman (not ones wife) with lust is as much an affront to GOD as is the activity of homosexuality.

Adam and Eve were both transgressors of the holy law of GOD. Eve transgressed as she was deceived by the serpent. Though she was deceived, due to her innate weakness, she was nonetheless guilty of disobeying the commandment of GOD. Adam was not deceived, and he did brazenly disobey the same commandment by listening to the one whom the LORD gave him to be a help-meet for his needs. He disregarded the order of GOD as he failed to lead the woman as her head and instead, closed ranks with her in their own combined wickedness. They did both fulfill the very purpose for which GOD created them, but at the same time they did both manifest their corruptible nature in their disobedience.

Paul writes that the woman “shall be saved in childbearing”. On its surface this is a difficult passage to comprehend. Yet when we take it in the context of Paul’s teaching, I think the meaning becomes somewhat clearer. I would not presume to speak as an absolute authority on this matter but it appears to me that Paul is setting forth the “role” of men and women in the church. In such matters I believe he would also reference our interaction in the world. Women are not to be “teachers” of men nor to take places of authority over men in the church. This is certainly not a favorable viewpoint in the society in which we live but seems quite plain in those things which Paul taught the churches to which he wrote. CHRIST is exalted as the HEAD of HIS church when this pattern is followed. I do not suppose for even a moment that the “salvation” of which he speaks has anything at all to do with either temporal or eternal “salvation”, which is the work of CHRIST alone. Rather it is through the woman that the MESSIAH came and she has been privileged to carry on this important function which no man can attain to. Thus, she is not to be ashamed of the calling which the LORD has given her, and she is therefore delivered from any consideration of being of less importance in the kingdom of GOD, where there is neither male nor female. Whereas the man exalts CHRIST as he is the head of the woman, so too does the woman exalt CHRIST in her role as his help-meet and each time a child is born, we are reminded that CHRIST too was born of a woman.
mam