CHILDBEARING. 1st Timothy 2:15. Many thoughts come to mind when I think about a child being born. But I still wonder how, in that process, God says a woman is saved. The roles of genders are clearly defined; even their bodies have different forms, so we need to stay within the boundaries of God's creation of the first man and woman. The man is to labor to provide for the physical needs of his wife and children and also be able to meet the needs of others. The woman, through childbearing, supports the continuation of the race. “Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth” is the mandate given to men and women. God will save them both when they obey, apply themselves to His instructions, and keep divine order. Both will be saved eternally and spiritually as a result of His redeeming grace through the coming of the “seed of the woman.”
Another thought I have is that a woman’s significance is heightened by a role that men are completely unable to fulfill. Her motherhood, which distinguishes her, wasn’t created by chance but by God’s sovereign plan. God made women naturally capable of fulfilling the nurturing role through their nature, emotional disposition, and physical form. The care she provides for her family and her unique skills set her apart from her husband to some degree. He can stand and witness as she brings new life into the world and then gives of herself to sustain her newborn. The needs of their two roles are intertwined to meet the requirement of maintaining and multiplying humanity.
Perhaps the most important idea about child-bearing is that Christ came through the womb of a virgin woman. She was uniquely created so that, in a way only He could do, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, came to earth and was formed in Mary’s womb. Without a deliberate act of a man, God entered human flesh, and salvation was made possible for everyone through the blessing of childbirth. God chose to use and bless a woman whose physical uniqueness made it possible for our Lord Jesus Christ to keep His holy deity while also taking on humanity without sinful manhood. The result is that salvation has been made available to all people everywhere through Christ’s first appearance when they repent and believe the Gospel.
The challenges of childbearing and the lessons learned from it help to preserve a woman’s role from being perceived as lesser than that of a man. Women and men are equal in personhood, but the unique roles given by God should not be dismissed or ignored, nor should individuals try to change who they are to match the opposite sex. A woman offers a special love, service, and trust to her family and humanity, which can be a blessing to all who know her. A man provides the essentials for maintaining a family life and, ideally, a quality of life that benefits his family. Through her experience of childbearing, a woman gains qualities vital for her children and future generations. During the difficult time of childbearing, God intends to keep her safe and ready for the responsibilities that lie ahead.