By Pastor Walt Scott
We all know and understand the original creation process and our origin, as described in Genesis in the Bible. We also understand how the serpent deceived Eve, and she, in turn, convinced Adam to participate in this deception. I have always contemplated why Adam just didn’t say no. He understood God’s prime directive as told in Genesis (A definite point for future debate).
To those who have read the Old Testament, the law Moses received from God in the form of the Ten Commandments is easily understood. How it was written and applied to the everyday lives of Jewish men and women is much more structured, detailed, and complicated. It was a fair but very rigid and strict, structured existence for the Jewish people; but especially for women. That strict structure is still in place in various parts of the world and in various other cultures and religions today.
1 Corinthians 11:11-12
Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor man of woman. For as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are of God.
Then, our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born to Mary and Joseph. She was chosen by God, as a virgin, to birth the very Son of God. This was called the Immaculate Conception. He came to give all people on this earth an opportunity for eternal life, in Heaven with our Father God and Jesus. This came through his sacrifice on the cross, where He took on all (our) the sin of this world; died, and rose from the grave three days later. All we need do is believe in Him, follow His teachings, and maintain absolute faith. Our sins are all forgiven if we ask.
Then, our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born to Mary and Joseph. She was chosen by God, as a virgin, to birth the very Son of God. This was called the Immaculate Conception. He came to give all people on this earth an opportunity for eternal life, in Heaven with our Father God and Jesus. This came through his sacrifice on the cross, where He took on all (our) the sin of this world; died, and rose from the grave three days later. All we need do is believe in Him, follow His teachings, and maintain absolute faith. Our sins are all forgiven if we ask.
Jesus did not replace the Law; it still exists word for word. Now we have a promise that allows us to come to the cross, ask for forgiveness of our sin, and expect to receive redemption. We just need to believe, have faith, and lead the Christian Life .
Galatians 3:13-29
13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”[a] 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
The Law and the Promise
15 Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”[b] meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.
21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Children of God
23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
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Now, not being perfect, we can make mistakes and fail, and come back to the cross for forgiveness and redemption. God gave each of us a spirit of free will to make our decisions with or without His help. He wants us to chose him freely and love Him as He loves us. As Jesus said, “I am the way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by me.” This we will all understand eventually.
So men, we all understand that Jesus Christ was our greatest gift from God. However, we have a second “greatest gift from God”. This is our lifelong companion; “women”. Would we be here without them? No. since the original creation we have all had mothers, as did Jesus Christ. We were all born of a woman and nurtured by one or more as we grew to manhood. Could we even be real men without them? Perhaps a poor substitute. Wisdom is described in the female gender in the Bible. I can understand why. Read Proverbs 8 and 9 as examples. As you will see, I admire and respect women and value them more than words can express. Women are the most compassionate, loving caring, nurturing, and social beings God has ever put on this earth. And God did this just for us men. I, personally, am very grateful and thank Him for women, and especially my wife, frequently. I love my wife very much and try hard to live up to her expectations of me. and God’s.
Ephesians 5:25-33 (NIV)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[b] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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As previously mentioned in Ephesians 5:31 we become one flesh with our wives. I believe one is to compliment the other. Alone we are incomplete because we exchange weaknesses in which the other is strong. Together, and as equals, we can make the wisest and best possible decisions. Equality is strength.
Why is it, then, that so many women are taken advantage of, mistreated, abused, and then discarded by men? Is it because men feel fear, weakness, vulnerability or insecurity in comparison? Or possibly men think they are superior. We are not, and we should not. Women are loyal and dedicated; sometimes to a fault, and beyond our understanding. They stay with men who are disrespectful, disloyal and abusive. There are several types of abuse, and all are destructive. This includes women that stay with a man for the children’s sake or out of fear for their lives. These are the women who at one time trusted and loved us unconditionally and see in us, or want to see in us, some great potential for them and us in a future life together. Sadly, some of us men, with our egos inflated by that, lead them to believe this because we think that they are weak and gullible. Most men know they will never achieve that future life together. Some men can’t be honest and admit this, because that would deprive them of their immediate objective, “sex”. This can ultimately be the first step down the road of failure and rejection for adults and possibly unwanted children. We are all equal in God’s eyes. We just have different duties. Mutual love, respect, consideration, and discipline while observing God’s law through Jesus’ teaching and a Christian lifestyle can eliminate most, if not all, of these issues.
1 Peter 3
1 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
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We also see gifted men with much potential who are not focused, and with little initiative or direction. Then they meet the right woman, and suddenly they can see the future and “their unborn children” in each other’s eyes. She has brought clarity and purpose to his life. They are one flesh. This is God’s promise, and his second greatest gift to man.
There are many women in the Bible who contributed significantly to the successful completion of God’s plan. Look at some of the women who attended to and helped Jesus and his disciples. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna the wife of Cuza, Susanna, and many others. There are multiple women (and men) in the Bible with major accomplishments. Bathsheba, Esther, Eve, Hannah, Judith, Mary, Rebekah, Ruth, Sarah, Rachel, Tamar, and many others.
So, men, we are different from women. That is a fact, and is equally applicable to women (being different from men). That does not imply that one is superior to the other. A combination of both makes the wisest and best possible choice for the greatest benefit to our families and observance of faithful Christian lives. I leave you with this:
Solomon, Proverbs 30:
21Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up: 22a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food; 23an unloved woman when she gets married, and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.
And Proverbs 31:10-31 The Wife of Noble Character
10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. |
