Hi everyone,
First of all, I think Poke's point about women being truly sinners, and no more willing to submit, or come to Christ, than men is quite accurate. In fact, I think that women are willing to look Christian more than men for the sake of friendships, and other such motives. I also believe they are easily deceived, as Eve proved first, and as feminists continue to prove. So, we all have our snares. Ultimately, we are all in the same boat, in my opinion. I think we can agree on that. On the other hand, I think the point of the thread was not to idolize women, but to speak about their role in Scripture, and possibly in the church, as it is sometimes not discussed in proper format. Thank you, Javier.
Anyway, I am going to try to get us back on track, if a women is able to do that. :wink:
When I think of women in Scripture, I think of Sarah first always. Sarah, even in her failures, was the mother of a promise...
Genesis 21:1-7
1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
Certainly Sarah was a sinner, and had done nothing on her own, but was there not a little speck of faith in her concerning the coming of the promised child? And then the joy that must have filled her, this grieved barren women, when she found out she was carrying him after so many years, and after her body was not even capable of using the womb...but with God nothing is impossible. A barren women always has hope, and desire, of a child, but Sarah considered God faithful, and her's was not a baseless faith.
Hebrews 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Sarah bore a son who was a picture of Christ, and was she not herself a picture of those coming after her...even Mary? A people waiting for a promised Son. How much must they endure, and how long must they wait?
The Lord is not slack in His promises, but endures for the sake of those who will yet know Him. His children have waited for this Promise before, and now are waiting again for His return.
2 Peter 3:1-9
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Sarah was just a women who trusted God by faith. She endured scoffers at the hope of such an impossible task, but God remembered her, and He will remember us.
Women were no more special, or less special, to Christ than men. The blessing for Sarah, and for many other women believers over the years, is that God took a broken vessel, restored it, and used it for His glory and purpose... to further His Kingdom with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has done the same for men. Our design is different, and our roles are different, but we are the same in that we needed a Saviour, and long for His return. The battle of the sexes should not be present in the church. We should all be willing to esteem others above ourselves, no matter their gender. I believe that was the purpose, and the blessing, of Javier's thread. The Lord bless all of you.
