A True Woman
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 10 viewsNotes
Transcript
Pray
Read 1 Timothy 2:11–15 “Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.”
We’re in for a big one
today.
See
I told you
when I preached on Nehemiah 8
and they had a 6 hour sermon
that we will do the same!
Intro
The book series
the Lord of the Rings
by JR Tolkien
is one of the best-selling series
of all time.
Many of you
might be familiar
with the story
of Frodo
and the Ring
but less familiar
with Eowyn.
Eowyn
is a warrior woman
who hungers
for war and battle.
One of the most climactic events
in the film adaptation
of the books
was when she was fighting
the Witch-king of Ang-Mar
who said
‘no man
can kill me.’
But the big shock
was when she took off her helmet
revealing herself to be a woman
and saying
‘I am no man’
and then slaying the Witch-King
in a huge twist of irony.
Watching this
the audience is left to ask
is that truly
what a woman
is supposed to do?
Our culture’s obsession
with the big
strong woman
doing the same thing men can
and even better
has made us
scratching our heads
saying
‘I guess?
and accepting it.
But still
after seeing this
time and time gain
in the back of our minds
is a quiet question
asking:
what are women
truly
called to do
and be?
Unable
to answer the question
we shrug
and move on
with our school
and our jobs
without ever
finding
the answer.
And in the church at Ephesus
over 2000 years ago
they
were
dealing with the same problem:
as women took positions
of teaching and authority
in the church.
But God did not leave them
confused
and in the dark.
He gave them
in His word
the answer
to that question.
So what is the answer?
What is God’s answer to the question:
what
is a true woman?
And that’s our title this morning:
A True Woman.
(repeat title).
In God’s Word this morning
we are going to learn
what a true woman
is.
So our main point of our sermon is:
Main point: What draws people to the gospel is a true woman as defined by God’s Word.
Main point: What draws people to the gospel is a true woman as defined by God’s Word.
So let’s begin with our first point:
1. A true woman is a learner (v.11-12)
1. A true woman is a learner (v.11-12)
Before we look at this verse
let’s look at the context
to get the full understanding.
In chapter 1
Paul encouraged Timothy
to stay at Ephesus
in order to put out the fire
of a false gospel
being taught by false teachers
by stopping them.
In chapter 2
Paul assigns Timothy
his an assignment
of the highest priority:
the gospel.
And he is to accomplish this
by praying for all people to be saved.
And now atop of this
gospel foundation
Timothy
must now focus
on the living of the church
by teaching them to be holy
by addressing
the unique sins
that men and women have.
Because this is the point:
if the men and women
of the church
live the same way
worldly men and women do
they will not draw people to the gospel
but away from it.
And now
in our passage this morning
Paul continues this point
by narrowing his focus
on the activity
of men and women
in the church.
Now
these 5 verses
have a lot
of landmines.
And there are a lot of landmines here
because
the enemy knows
the great treasure
that is underneath.
And so in order
for us to get to the treasure
we must first
disarm
those landmines.
So let’s look
at the first phrase
in v.11
‘Let a woman learn’.
Let’s look at the context
to discover why
Paul is writing this.
In the time of the early church
learning
for women
was greatly discouraged.
In fact
in Jewish literature and traditions
in the same time period
said,
‘Better to burn
the Torah
than to teach it
to a woman.’
So when Paul wrote to Timothy
to let
a woman
learn
the women listening to this letter
would have found that to be
revolutionary.
Because you have to understand this:
God
is pro-woman.
There is no religion
or philosophy in the world
that is more pro-woman
than the Bible.
And it’s because
our faith
is a word-based faith
which implies two things:
reading
and learning.
But this was a significant problem
for women
in the time
of the early church.
In the early church
which was under the Roman empire
it was a common practice
to kill baby girls.
In fact a Roman letter said,
‘if the child delivered is a boy
keep it
if it’s a girl
discard it.’
And because of this
the ratio of men to women
in the Roman empire
was 131 men to 100 women.
But in order
for a society to be healthy
it needs to have
an equal amount
of men and women:
100 men to 100 women.
And this
is where the early church
stood out.
There was not only an equal
amount
of men and women
in the church
it was likely
that there were slightly
more women
than men
in the churches.
And this is because as Christians
who were anti-abortion
they would often save
babies
many of whom were girls
from the trash
and raised them
and even adopted them.
And because there were so many women
in the church
Pagan Philosopher Celsus
in 178 AD
commented on the Christian faith
saying
it only had
‘foolish
dishonorable and stupid
women
and little children’.
This attitude
of anti-learning
for women
is continued
throughout history.
In the Medieval period
education
was mostly for monks and priests
i.e. men.
But during the reformation
Martin Luther
demanded
schools
to be for all boys and girls
so that they could read
the Bible
for themselves.
And ever since then
Sociologists
have discovered
through what is called the Woodberry stat
that Protestant missionaries
are the single greatest factor
in the rise of literacy
in the developing world.
Why?
Because they submitted
to God’s Word
as their highest authority,
and God’s Word says
“let women learn.”
This is crucial to understanding
why what Paul wrote
was revolutionary.
Hearing that today
may make you think
so what?
Women learning
is nothing special.
But if it weren’t
for God’s Word
that promoted
women’s learning
then not a single woman
in this room
would know how to read.
Which is ironic
because God’s Word
is the very thing
that people
who read these verses
that we are studying today
call God’s Word
sexist
or misogynistic.
But before anyone does that
let’s look at the facts
and more importantly
be in awe
of the mind-bending
reality-altering
wisdom
of God’s Word.
Now God’s desire
for women to learn
is also
seen greatly
in the gospel
look at Luke 10:38-42
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.
But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
What is the difference
between Martha and Mary?
Martha was focused
on serving
and working.
Mary
was focused
on learning
from the words of Christ.
And who did Christ commend?
Not Martha
but Mary.
God’s Word shows us
that His priority
for women
over
serving
and working
is to learn
God’s Word.
May this be an encouragement
for our women serving at our church
in hospitality
and other ministries
that as wonderful as your service is
to Jesus
you learning from His Word
is far more valuable
to Him.
Now
in order to learn
there are two descriptions
Paul gives women
in v.11.
The first
he says
‘let a woman learn
quietly’.
Now again this is another landmine.
Quietly
does not mean
absolute silence.
What quiet
refers to
is a humble and peaceful spirit.
It is the exact same idea
a few verses ago
in verse 2
which says
1 Timothy 2:1–2 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful
and (what?)
quiet life,
godly and dignified in every way.”
Why are we to pray for the salvation
of kings
and world leaders?
For them to be saved
and
so that when they see us
both men and women
praying for them
they see us
not as a threat
but as peaceful and quiet.
Quiet
is a good thing.
Who doesn’t want peace and quiet?
And what Paul is saying
is that a woman
who is argumentative
will prevent her
from the great calling
of learning
that Jesus
has called her to.
In order to learn
there must be no pride
but instead
a humble
teachable
and peaceful
spirit.
The next word
that Paul writes
is with all submissiveness.
And again
this is another big landmine.
First
we must understand
what submission
means.
Submission
does not mean
unquestioned
completion
of an order given.
No
that’s obedience.
When God calls children
for example
to obey their parents
or to obey the government authorities
they must do it
regardless
if they want to
or not
as long as it’s not
explicitly sinful
of course.
Submission
is not the same
as obedience.
And because submission
is not obedience
it assumes
that one
can choose
to submit
or not submit.
What submission is
according to scripture
is a sacrificial decision
to align yourself
with another
in order
to make something
or that person
more complete
For example
imagine yourself
as one piece
of a two-piece puzzle.
You can decide
to not submit
not align yourself
to the other puzzle piece.
But submission
is deciding
to join the other piece of the puzzle
and to make it whole
and complete.
By choosing
to fit into the puzzle
you
are the one
making it better
because
you
are there.
In submitting
you are making the person
better
more complete
and that’s power.
Now when we submit to God
we do not make God better
we make ourselves better
because we are plugging ourselves
to the source of life:
God.
But when it comes to submitting
to other human beings
realize
you
are making that person
better.
Which means this:
Submission is power not weakness.
Submission is power not weakness.
(repeat)
So next time
you’re given
the opportunity
to submit to another
remember
that you have the power
to make them better.
Now please understand
that because of the context
when Paul says
‘with all submissiveness’
he is not referring
to the submission of a wife to a man
like her husband
or to the government
like in other passages.
Instead
the context here
of learning God’s Word
means
that Paul is teaching
that in order for a woman
to be a great learner
she must be
fully submissive
to God
and the teaching
of His Word.
Women who are fully reverent
and submissive to God
and His Word
with a peaceful and humble attitude
are not only learners
but the best
learners.
Because God wants you
women
to not just be
knowledgeable of a few Bible verses
here and there.
No God
wants you to be
so educated
in His Word
and who He is
that you
become
an expert theologian!
Now to continue fully disarming
this landmine
I want to show you
the greatest example
of submission
in God’s Word.
Open your Bibles
to Luke 22:39-44
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
The very night
Jesus was to be betrayed
and delivered
into the hands of wicked men
Jesus prays.
And knowing
not only
the excruciating pain
of crucifixion
he was about to face
but what troubled Him
even more
was the wrath of God
and temporary separation
from the fellowship
with the Father
that He experienced
from eternity
was coming.
And so
His human body
revolted
from such a thing
not wanting to submit to that
which is why
he sweat drops of blood.
But Jesus
submitted
meaning
He
aligned
His body
and heart to God
and said
‘Not my will
but yours be done.’
And it was because
of his submission
that salvation was accomplished
and that
we’re even here today.
Lest we ever hear again
that submission
is sexist
or misogynistic
remember
that Jesus Christ
God in the flesh
submitted
to the Father.
If submission means you’re inferior
then is Jesus Christ the Son inferior
to the Father?
No.
The moment we say that
we become heretics.
Submission
is in the very heart
of God Himself:
Jesus Christ
the Son.
The Lord
is not calling you women
to do something
that He himself doesn’t do
because He is not a hypocrite.
No the Lord is saying to you
submit
just like how I submitted.
Now
before we move on
the next verse
I want us to consider
why
The Lord Jesus
submitted
to the Father.
In order
for Jesus
to submit
to the Father
He first
had to be sent
under the authority
of the Father.
And why did the Father
send the Son?
Because God
who is good
and holy
created all of us
to serve Him
and to submit to Him.
But all of us
instead of submitting
and aligning ourselves
to the greatest source
of life
wisdom
and authority
we have all rejected His authority
and rebelled against Him
by our sin.
And because God is holy and just
He will not let sin go unpunished
which means that all of us
including myself
stand condemned
before God
awaiting eternal punishment.
But instead of judging all of us
which God
would have been right to do
He instead
sends His One and Only Son
to live a perfect sinless life
and die on the cross
to be the sacrifice
and exchange
for the sin that we committed against Him.
You see God solves the problem
of his justice needing to punish sin
and his love:
wanting to save and forgive
by letting His Son
pay
for the sins
of those who believe in Him
instead
of letting you
pay for it.
And it was only because
Christ
chose
to submit
to the Father.
Had Christ
not submitted
to the Father
we would all be in torment
right now.
So all you have to do
to receive
Christ’s payment
for your sins on the cross
is to simply
submit
by repenting
and believing in Christ
as the only way
you can be saved
and that’s it!
So if you are here today
and you don’t know Christ
repent and believe
in Him
today
and be saved
and forgiven of your sin
today.
Now let’s move on to v.12
where it says
‘I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, rather, she is to remain quiet.’
In Greek
there is also the word “and”
so it should say
“And I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man’.
The point here
is that verse 12
does not stand alone
it’s connected to verse 11.
Which means
that Paul’s point
in v.12
is still
that a true woman
is a learner.
So while v.11
explains
what a true woman does:
learn
v.12
aims
to protect
the learning
of women.
How?
By not letting them teach
or to exercise authority
over a man.
And the reason why
Paul points this out
is because
in the church at Ephesus
a false gospel
corrupted the lives
of people
and resulted
in women
teaching
and exercising authority
over men.
And those activities
distract
from learning.
Because you can’t enjoy
the rest of a student
if you carry
the burden of a shepherd.
And here’s what I mean by that:
teaching God’s Word
and exercising authority
comes with the weight
of a shepherd
whose job is to what?
Feed
yes
but also to guard
the flock.
And you can’t fully
focus
on learning
when you also have to focus
on guarding
at the same time.
Your attention
is divided.
As I’m preaching to you right now
I’m not fully focused
on learning
because I’m guarding you
with the truth of God’s Word.
And the Lord
wants women
to be free
from the burden
of the guarding role
of the shepherd
so that
they
can
by fully focused
and attentive
to learning God’s Word
in church.
You see that?
God’s Word
is not taking away
an opportunity
for women.
It’s redirecting them
to the better opportunity:
to learn.
Because teaching and having authority
causes a woman
to divide her attention
kind of like
someone
we just read about:
Martha.
When Jesus came over to her home
to teach
her mind
was also divided
because she was focused
on managing the home
rather than learning.
She even tried to exercise authority over a man
the man of mans:
Jesus
look again at the verse
But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
She commanded Jesus
to tell Mary
to help her.
The women
who became teachers and exercised authority
over men
in the church at Ephesus
had the same spirit
of Martha
who tried to teach
and exercise authority
over Jesus.
And it caused her
to have a divided attention
rather than be fully focused
on learning
from God’s Word.
God’s command
to not let women teach
or have authority over men
in church
are in essence
the function
of pastors
which also means
that He
does not allow women
to be pastors
just as
by the way
how not all men
are called to be pastors
either
as we will see in chapter 3.
This should not be seen
as a cruel punishment
to women
but as freeing women
to enjoy
the greater calling
God has called women to do:
learn.
Teaching God’s Word
to everyone:
men and women
while a blessing
the harsh reality
is brutal
and comes
with relentless attacks and pressure
from people
and demons
to compromise
and dilute God’s Word.
So women
rejoice
that you don’t have to deal with that
but can just enjoy
the full pleasure
of learning
from God’s Word.
And this is emphasized
one more time
in the last phrase:
‘rather, she is to remain quiet.’
Again quiet
is not absolute silence
but a humble
and peaceful spirit.
Paul is saying
to the women
don’t become war-like
contending for power
with others
in the church
and full of pride
just like Eve
who became proud
and rejected
the structure and authority
God had set in place.
Instead
be humble
and enjoy
what God has called you to do:
to learn
in peace.
So church
let us no longer
disparage
and disrespect
the incredible calling
that God has called
women to do:
to learn.
In a world
that hated the idea
of women learning
God broke that oppression
by freeing
women
to learn God’s Word.
It’s His Word alone
that stood against
thousands of years
of anti-women learning
in the world.
It’s His World Alone
that fought
for your right to learn
which is why
you’re able
to even read
today.
And it’s
only women
who learned God’s Word
that changed the world
forever.
Because a true woman
is a learner.
2. A true woman is a helper (v.13-14)
2. A true woman is a helper (v.13-14)
Let’s look at v.13
where it says,
‘For Adam was formed first’.
Before understanding
what a true woman is
we also have to understand
what a true man is
because man and woman
go together.
So what Paul
does
to define a true man
is go back
to the beginning
in Genesis
and to look
at Adam.
In fact
the creation account in Genesis
is Paul’s fundamental reason
as to why
women
are to be free
from teaching and having authority over men in church.
Because some have argued
“well
this passage only pertains
to the culture
in the time of Ephesus.
It’s only because women were uneducated
that they shouldn’t be teaching or having authority
over men
but now that women are educated
they can teach men and have authority over them
in church.’
But that reasoning
is completely stopped
when we see Paul
pointing
not to culture
but to creation
as the foundation
of his argument.
He says
‘for Adam’
for
meaning
because
that this
is the underlying reason
for why I want women to be free
from teaching and leading men:
‘Adam
was formed first.’
The fact that Adam
was formed
or created first
means two things:
one
that men and women
are created differently.
The fact
that Adam and Eve
were not created at the same time
but that Adam was first
means
even just the order itself
of who was created first
show
that men
and women
are different
and therefore
have different roles.
Different
but equal.
Men are designed
to lead
and protect
it’s why God made
men naturally stronger
and naturally
more inclined to lead
than women.
But this goes even further
since Adam
was born first
he is also
what is called
the firstborn.
And firstborn
does not just mean
who came out the womb first
like how we do today.
In ancient times
and in God’s law
firstborn
is a title.
It’s an official office.
You may know
the firstborn
for getting double portion
of the inheritance
and that may make you think
‘wow just being born first
means you get a lot more wealth
must be nice.’
But the reason
why God’s law
says the firstborn
gets double the inheritance
is because
the firstborn
is legally responsible
if any of his younger brothers
fall into poverty.
Double portion didn’t just mean
double the money
it meant
double
the responsibility.
And in ancient Israel
where households
were multigenerational
containing multiple families
in one
the firstborn
had double the responsibility
because
when the head of the home
died
it was the firstborn
who by law
became the new head
of this large family unit.
It’s why when Joseph’s brothers
wanted to kill him
it was Reuben
who wanted to spare him.
And when Reuben couldn’t find Joseph any longer
he tore his clothes in panic
because he knew
he would be held responsible
from his father Jacob.
Why?
Not because Reuben was the nicest brother.
But Reuben
was officially
the firstborn
he held the
title
and office.
Now
do you see
why Paul makes a big deal
about Adam
being born first
in contrast to Eve?
God creating Adam first
means
He designed Adam
in a different way
than Eve:
with the natural instinct
to lead and protect
along with a stronger body
and also
because Adam was formed first
God gave Adam
the office of firstborn
which meant
that He
had the title
and legal office
of leading and protecting:
not Eve.
Thats what we see in Genesis 2:15-17
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
When God told Adam
to work
and keep the garden
the Hebrew word for keep
is shamar
which literally means to protect.
And after God gave him the role
to protect
He gave Adam the law
that he may eat of all the trees in the garden
but not the one tree
of knowledge of good and evil.
You see
in the very beginning
God gave man
the role of defending
and teaching God’s Word.
And then look
what happens in the very next verse:
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
After
God told Adam
to work and protect the garden
and then giving Adam
the Law
then
He created Eve.
Do you see this church?
Adam
was given
the duty
to protect
the garden.
and he was given God’s law
so that he
can teach it
to his wife
before Eve
even exited.
Adam
was the first
teacher
and pastor.
So what God’s Word is saying here church
is that the reason
that women are called to learn
and not teach and lead men
in the church
is because
of creation:
God designed men
to lead
and defend
and He has given the pastors
the elders in the church
the official office
to protect the church
only to men
just like how
He give the office
of firstborn
only to Adam
and not Eve.
But one might say
“Ok but
this all happened
after the fall.
The only reason
why Adam received this authority
was because of the fall.
If there was no fall
then Adam would not have this authority.”
And the answer to that
is that
actually
everything we just read
occurred
before
the fall.
Paul’s reasoning
why women are to be learners
and not pastors
is because
of creation
pre-fall
meaning:
this was God’s design
and intention
from the very beginning.
Ok now that we looked
at what a true man is
let’s look at what a true woman is
which is:
a helper.
Yet again
another landmine.
Helper
is the reason
why Paul wrote in v.13,
‘For Adam was formed first, then Eve.’
Yes Adam
was formed first
but Eve
who God calls helper
means she
is the completer.
It’s because God said
it’s not good for man to be alone
that He made
the woman:
Eve.
Which means:
men are incomplete
without women.
And understanding that
helps us understand
why it says
God made Eve
to be a helper
fit
for Him.
Helper
does not mean subordinate
like how we may mean it
today.
No helper in God’s Word
means
essential aid.
So by calling Eve a helper
it shows two things:
one
that God has made women
in such a way
where they
are naturally helpful.
And two
by calling Eve a helper
the official title for women
it shows
who
women
are designed
to help:
men.
Which doesn’t mean
women are just
an assistant to men
and they make his life
easier
but men can get by fine
without them.
No what it means
that God made women to help men
means
that without women
men
can’t even survive.
Look at Psalm 54:4
Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.
This is the same exact root Hebrew word
used
to call Eve
helper
in Genesis.
David calls God
his helper
not because God
is his sidekick
or just an assistant
he can get by without
or because God is just an inferior
to David.
No David calls God his helper
because without Him
he will not survive
he will die
from the men hunting him down
to kill him.
Do you see this church?
If God is called helper
in His Word
then helper
cannot mean inferior.
So church
never ever see
that when God calls women to be helpers
that it means inferior
ever again
but see
this calling for women
to help men
is to be like God himself:
the ultimate helper
who without Him
men
do not exist.
Now in the very next verse
Paul gives a warning
to the church
that if women
reject
this holy role
of helper
and instead
become the head
the result
is deception.
Look at v.14
‘and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.’
Here again
is the next landmine.
So to diffuse this
we need to understand
that both Adam and Eve
sinned in the garden.
It was not just Eve.
The scripture constantly points
to Adam’s sin in the garden.
So when it says
that Adam was not deceived
it’s not saying he didn’t sin.
It’s saying that Adam
had a different type of sin
but his sin
was not being deceived:
it was passivity.
It was ignoring
his responsibility
to lead and protect his wife
from the enemy
that was Adam’s sin.
At the same time
Eve’s sin
was that she ignored
and rejected
the headship
that God assigned Adam
and became the head
herself.
And the result
of Eve
reversing the roles
that God gave them
was deception.
When Eve
left
the headship of her husband
she also left
the leadership and protection
that he provided
and that
is when she became deceived.
So God’s Word is not saying
that women are intellectually
inferior to men.
They are not.
But God’s Word is saying
that when a wife
leaves
the protection of her husband
she will be deceived
by the enemy.
And this is the point that Paul is making:
that if women
like Eve
also
take the leader and protector role
that God gave in the church
only to men
who are pastors
then the result
will be deception
in the church.
Which is what happened
at the church at Ephesus.
You ignore God’s design
there will be consequences.
Church
let there be no mistake.
This very verse
is the floodgate to liberalism.
Every church
that has decided to allow women to be pastors
from the Episcopal church
to the Methodist church
and now the Anglican church
have all become liberal churches
over time.
But we can decide
to close the floodgate
by respecting how God designed men and women
or open it
by ignoring it
like Eve.
So church
if we respect
and celebrate
that God made women
to be like Him
a helper
we will protect our church
from false teaching
for decades to come.
Because a true woman
is a helper.
3. A true woman is a life-giver (v.15)
3. A true woman is a life-giver (v.15)
We see this
in v.15,
‘Yet she will be saved through childbearing’.
Alright
we’ve come across
our final land mine.
To truly understand this verse
we have to understand
what was the situation
in Ephesus
that the readers hearing this
were experiencing
but we were not.
The key
is in the very same latter
Paul tells us more
of what the false teachers taught
in chapter 4 verse 3
where he writes:
who forbid marriage
The false teachers
were teaching people
to not get married
but that they were more spiritual
if they didn’t focus
on physical matters
since the physical is bad
but the spiritual is good:
an early heresy.
So Paul directly counters that
by teaching men and women
to get married
and emphasizing
that a true woman
is a life-giver
through childbearing.
This is such a powerful statement
if
you understand
what women
in the early church
suffered.
The most common way
that women died
in Ancient Rome
was because of giving birth.
In fact
10 to 15% of all women
in the Roman empire
died to childbirth complications.
Young women
dying to childbirth
was so common
in Spartan law
there were only two types of people
who could have their name
on their tombstone after death:
men who died in war
and women who died in childbirth.
While men were celebrated in their sacrifice
to defend by taking life
women were celebrated
in their sacrifice to give life.
Because to a woman
in Paul’s time
giving birth
was like going to war
she might die
that very day her child is born.
So because of this
there was great fear
in in women
in having children.
And when you combine this
with the false teachers
telling people to not get married
it justified the a woman’s fear
of dying
in childbirth.
And this is why Paul is saying
‘yet she will be saved
through childbearing’
in order to give women hope
that yes
if through the very role
that God gave you
to be a life-giver
you die
there is still hope
of eternal life
waiting for you
upon death.
So now you understand
the fear of women dying
to child birth
and why Paul wrote this:
to give hope
we can move on to continue
understanding this phrase.
Paul is not saying
childbirth
is the one and only way
a woman can be saved.
There are women
who are unable
to give birth
and if that’s what Paul meant
then all women who never gives birth to a child
is automatically judged
for eternity
which obviously
doesn’t make sense
with what the rest of the Bible teaches
that salvation is by faith alone
in Christ.
No what Paul is referring to here
is sanctification
not justification.
He is saying
that childbirth
is a fruit
of the spirit
of a true
born again
Christian woman.
And again
because not every single woman
is able
to give birth
what Paul is doing here
is called
a synecdoche
which is a figure of speech
where a part
represents the whole.
God’s Word does this
when in the Lord’s prayer
we are to pray
‘give us
our daily bread’
we’re not praying to God just for bread.
If God only gave us bread
we would be in big trouble.
No the bread
represents all
of God’s physical provision
in our life.
And Paul is doing the same here
with childbirth.
What is the one thing
that completely differentiates a man and women
most clearly?
It’s not that a woman is a helper
although that is a distinct role for women.
No the most different thing
is the physical difference
between men and women:
childbirth.
A man will never
be able to give birth
only
a woman can
because of pure biology
and their physical bodies.
So Paul is using
the biggest differentiating part
between men and women:
childbirth
to represent
the whole:
a woman.
And the essential part
of childbirth
that applies to all women
regardless
if a woman is able
to give birth or not:
is to be a life-giver.
How?
A woman who cannot give birth
can still give life
by nurturing life
to an adopted child.
And she can also
be a life-giver
not just to babies and children
but also
to anything
by making things
more beautiful
and orderly.
To hammer this home
I want you
to look
at the very name
of the first woman:
Eve.
It literally means
life-giver.
Now ask yourself this question
why would Eve
need this name
if there was already
life on the earth?
And it’s because
unlike Adam
whose name was given
as soon as he was created by God
Eve’s name
was not given to her
when she was created.
She was called woman
when she was created:
that was her title.
But her name:
Eve:
life-giver
only came after
a very
interesting event:
the fall
in the garden.
You see after
Adam and Eve’s rebellion
in the garden
God
brought
a curse
on the world
to discipline them
which included
a curse on the serpent.
God then speaks to the woman
and promises salvation
in a future Messiah
who would crush the serpent
through the birth of a woman
but there will be pain
in the childbirth process.
And finally God speaks to Adam
and curses the ground
meaning
that work will be hard
and that there is now death
in the world:
that Adam who was made from dust
will return to dust.
And only after all that
do we see this verse
The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
Only after
all these curses
with the final curse
of death on the world
does Adam
name his wife
Eve
meaning life-giver
because she is the mother of all living.
Why now?
Why not name Eve
when she was created like him?
Because Adam recognized
that while he:
man
brought death into the world
Eve
women
will bring life
into the world.
And that is further cemented
when you understand
what Adam’s name means:
“dust”.
Because he was created with the dust
of the Earth.
And because God
in cursing the ground
saying to Adam,
you are dust
and to dust you shall return:
Adam’s own name:
means mortality
which ultimately means:
death.
So where Adam’s name
ultimately means death
Eve’s name
means life.
This is why
in the kingdom of Israel
God’s law
only allowed men
to be soldiers.
Because God designed men
to defend
and because of the fall
when they defend
they are also
to deal death
if necessary.
Because death
is in the very name
of man
“for you are dust
and to dust you shall return”.
And this is exactly why
when women
are given roles
to deal death
it is unwise
and unnatural
because their bodies
are designed
not to take life
but to give life.
This is why
in God’s law
he did not allow the Israelites
to boil a young goat
in it’s mother’s milk.
Not only
was it a pagan practice
God hates
mixing
light and dark
and life and death.
Using what brings life:
a mother goat’s milk
to instead
bring death
by boiling
her own child goat in it
is against
God’s design.
And so is
sending a woman
into war
or combat
to be a death-giver
when God designed her
to be a life-giver.
That is why Adam
named his wife
life-giver
even though
he
brought death
into the world.
Adam is basically saying
‘that even though I am now dying Lord,
I believe in you
that this woman
will bring life into the world
through the Messiah
so I’m naming my wife:
life-giver.’
Adam in the face of his sin
believed in God
and rather than complain
like Cain did
when held accountable
he did the complete opposite:
he believed in God’s promises
by how?
Celebrating
his wife.
And the Aposlte Paul
is also celebrating women
when he wrote
‘Yet she will be saved
through childbearing’.
Because Paul is essentially saying
to the women at Ephesus
who are encouraged to teach children
and women
but now feel
the disappointment
of no longer being able
to be pastors
and teach men God’s Word
He is telling these women,
‘you won’t find purpose and fulfillment
in being pastors
but you will find it
in simply
being
who God called you to be
a woman:
a life-giver.’
Church
these Bible verses
that we are walking through today
don’t belittle women
or make them inferior:
it celebrates them.
What God’s Word
is saying to you women today
is,
‘women
you don’t need to act like a man
to find purpose and salvation.
Act
like a woman.
A woman
is God’s gift to the world
to bring life
to a dying world.
How incredible
and powerful is that?
And not a single man,
no matter how much
testosterone
he has
and no matter how hard
he throws his fists
can never
ever
bring life
to a dying world.
Only
a woman
can.
Women
take great honor
and responsibility
in the womanhood that God gave you:
by being a woman:
being
a life-giver.’
So to conclude
this verse
it says in the rest of v.15,
‘if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.’
Paul wants to give a reminder
that giving birth
and being a life-giver
is not the only fruit
of a true born-again woman
but faith
love
and holiness
with self-control.
A true woman
is not only a life-giver
but also a woman
who fears God
by holding on to his promises
by faith
by sacrificing herself
for the good of others
in love
and by being different from the world
in holiness
with self-control
by controlling her mind
from worldly passions
and lustful thoughts.
You see
any woman
can honor
her God given design
and purpose
to give life
by having babies,
being the perfect homeschool teacher
to her children
and giving life
to an ugly world
by having her own home business
like the proverbs 31 woman,
and still
be an unbeliever
dead in her sins.
But a true woman
according to God’s Word
is not only
a life-giver
but also bears
the fruits of the spirit.
And it is this woman
who will draw
many lost people
by her womanliness
and holiness
to the gospel
and bring great glory to God.
Because a true woman
is a life-giver.
In conclusion
A true woman is a learner (v.11-12)
A true woman is a helper (v.13-14)
A true woman is a life-giver (v.15)
Main point: What draws people to the gospel is a true woman as defined by God’s Word.
The reason
why the Lord of the Rings
by JR Tolkien
is one of the best-selling series
of all time
is because
it mirrors
the major themes
of God’s Word.
And what’s interesting
is how different
the movie’s portrayal
of Eowyn is
compared to in the book.
Whereas
Eowyn’s obsession
in the film
was combat
and to be equal with men
in the book
Tolkien explains
that she rides to war
not for victory
but because
of her depression
because of how far
her country has fallen
and that she wants
to ride into battle:
to die.
And at the end of the war
again only in the book
not the film
she repents
of her warrior identity
putting the sword away
and telling her husband after the war,
‘I will be a shield maiden no longer
nor take joy only
in the songs of slaying.
I will be a healer
and love all things that grow
and are not barren.’
What a beautiful picture
of redemption
of a true woman
who went from rejecting
what God made her to be
to fully embracing it.
This picture
of a true woman
our culture desperately
tries to hide.
So church
let’s all together
bring glory to God
in the wonderful purpose
He has given us
uniquely
as men
and women.
As men
for us to lead
and defend
women.
And for women
to be great learners
helpers
and life-givers.
Let’s pray.
