RESCUED THROUGH MOTHERHOOD

I Timothy 2:12-15

Introduction:              Motherhood. What an awesome privilege!  Perhaps the greatest most lasting effect of a mother is her unique influence on her children.  There are scores of famous people who have accomplished great things and they give the credit for their achievements to their mothers. Abraham Lincoln said, “All I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”  Despite the unique privilege and joy of motherhood, it was the woman who led mankind first into the dark corridors of sin and rebellion.  She was the first to fall. 

Thesis: We will examine how God rescued the woman from the stigma of plunging humanity into sin by bestowing upon her the honored privilege of motherhood.

I.                   HER PLACE IN THE COSMOLOGICAL ORDER

a.      THE ORDER

The first reason why the woman is to be in subjection is because Adam was formed first.

v. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve

The word first here is protos. It means not only first in time or succession but it also means first in rank and influence.  Adam is clearly first in God’s order irrespective of culture, time or custom.

1st Cor. 11.3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

v. 8,9 Man does not take his origin from woman, but woman takes hers from man. 9.  For man was not created for woman's sake, but woman for man's.

Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

b.      THE SUBJUGATION

v. 11,12 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12.  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

The word subjection is hupotage.  It means obedience and subjection.  The word is used in Ist Tim. 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

Eph 5:22,24 Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything.

This subjection of the woman is pronounced in Genesis due to the woman’s part in the first transgression.

Gen. 3:16 Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy conception; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

II.                HER PART IN THE TRANSGRESSION

a.      THE DECEPTION

v. 14 of our text And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The serpent tempted Eve in three areas (Ist Jn 2:15) Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

b.      THE SUBSEQUENT VURNERABILITY

The transgression left the woman more susceptible to deception, especially when she leaves from under the authority of her husband.  She is more easily deceived to embrace and to teach false doctrine.  That is why she is not to usurp authority over the man by teaching in the church.  She is commanded to v. 11 “learn in silence with all subjection.”

1st Cor. 14:34,35 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35.  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

Despite her participation in the Fall, being the first to disobey God by being deceived.  God uses childbirth or motherhood to remove the awful stigma of plunging mankind into curse of sin.

III.             HER PRIVILEGE IN MOTHERHOOD

v. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

The privilege of motherhood and its ensuing influence on human history does not eradicate the curse of the Fall upon the woman, but it is God’s way of saving or delivering her from a lifetime of misery and stigma.

The pain of childbirth reminds the woman of the curse, but the arrival of the child and her God given influence reminds her of the love of God.

John 16:21 (WEY) A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow, because her time has come. But when she has given birth to the babe, she no longer remembers the pain, because of her joy at a child being born into the world.

A Godly mother is devoted to:

God

Husband

Children