In the majority of countries in the world, most societies are patriarchal. Some of the rules and regulations that govern these societies were also built by the founding patriarchs who designed the systems which are the foundation on which constitutions stand on today. One of the worldwide celebrated events, International Women’s Day, originated from the first observed strike in the 1850’s in New York City, whereby women working in the textile industry went on the streets in protest against unconducive working conditions, indecent wage not equivalent to the work done and lack of appropriate benefits during times like maternity leave and the likes. While such days have rallied some changes that have opened multiple doors for women all over the world, they have also made way for wordly principles and truths that are not necessarily tethered to the truth as per God’s standards and have led many in the body of Christ to become stiff necked and hard hearted towards the set order by God as He created male and female and called it good.
“Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”
KJVThere are several things I have taken time to ponder on that make a man and a woman different apart from the obvious physical traits we all know of. Before we get into studying them, it is imperative that we know and understand that both carry a dimension of God in them that qualifies them to accomplish a lot individually and yet benefit collectively. That is the reason He looked at this marriage, this coming together and called it very good
As in our theme scripture, God made the woman to be the gate through which life shall spring, but it was only possible through the coming together of the two.God made it so that women have distinctive traits. He made us intuitive, supportive and able to provide guidance from that lens. This is not to say that men are unable to do the above, but these traits translate both easily and differently when they are executed within the constraints God designed. This leads to both having a mutual benefit of their originally designed nature. That is why a household that has a woman that is nothing like the described non-physical criteria herein, will be a frustrated household that few want to be associated with
In our theme scripture, the salvation of the woman from the state of torment the enemy had lured her into, causing both her and her husband to be deceived, would come through bearing a child. This was a fulfillment of a prophecy pointing to a virgin who through the Spirit was enabled to conceive and bear the Son of God, who would come to take the sin of the world; reconciling all peoples who believe – to God. This also highlights the dimension of God which only a woman carries and through which He saw fit to crown her back in glory, in his kindness. That is why motherhood has a peculiar way of softening even the hardest of hearts, causing an engulfing love between the mother and the child she bears that she would lay down even her life for the child. This points to agape – sacrificial and unconditional love of God for her, that He desired to erase the shame and guilt her error stained her with, once and for all. This however, does not mean that any woman that has not borne a child is cast away from the gift of Jesus for if any man be in Christ, He is a new creation
. Under the dispensation of grace, salvation comes by grace through faith and nothing elseFor ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
KJVThis is one of the most perverted scriptures by the world,in order to accommodate the confusion that has risen from the seed of the enemy causing male or female to abandon their rightful positions. When Paul wrote this letter to the church in Galatia, he was shocked and overwhelmed at how gullible these people were and how quick to forget they were of the solid and true doctrine of Christ the Apostles had labored to preach. As is natural, when you wish to correct things that seem messy, you begin by listing all that is wrong with the present circumstances, what way should make it better and proceed to the implementation.
So Paul tells them that when you have put on Christ, your justification is not based on what race or ethnicity you come from, whether male or female, whether free or bound, because God is notorious for loving, dealing and desiring the man of the spirit as opposed to the man of the flesh. The only time the flesh becomes of consequence to the sight of our Master, is on bearing fruit. What is being accomplished in your spirit as you yield has the power in it to overflow in your deeds, manners and speech as evidence/ fruit of the incorruptible seed that you bear within.
Child of God, whether you were male or female will not matter when you stand before God. Whether you received the life of God, the Zoe life given to you by the person of the Holy Spirit at work in you as in Christ, will. The stubbornness and relentlessness driving those in the world to build the female gender at the detriment of the male gender is what has made room for the cunningness of satan to abide even among the children of light. The beauty which God saw and called very good when He created a suitable helper for Adam was in the togetherness of these two dimensions reflecting His likeness, not in its rivalry. That is why a believing married woman who is unable to submit to her husband has not understood the love of God and therefore cannot claim to really love God. The same is with every man unable to honor, submit and love his wife even up to the point of laying down his life for her cannot claim the same. This is the mystery which God uses to describe His relationship to the church as the bride and Himself as the groom
; that the different facets, functions and build – makes coming together in submission to one another bring both fulfillment and satisfaction to both, honoring God altogether. [SELAH].If you have never given your life to Jesus Christ, and you feel that this is the perfect time, pray this prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I thank you because you died for my sins and you were raised for my glory. Today, I receive you as my Lord and Savior. I am born again. Amen.”