1 Timothy 2:11-15

11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve;
14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing–if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Is this a tough passage? Everyone says YES!

This is a difficult passage that creates more questions than answers. My intent isn’t to solve the mystery of what it means to be “saved through childbearing”, but to bring the last clause into focus.

This is an example of the topic of salvation being contingent upon continuance, by our perseverance, persistence and determination to practice our faith, love and holiness, with self control. This begs the question of our source of strength for only through our connection with the Savior, can we continue through His strength. Yet we are to follow, look to Him, seek His help, pray for His strength, ask for His wisdom and in every way we know, lean on Him for our every need.

Yet as I walk through these passages that speak of conditional security, I can see where this topic may foster an attitude of superiority, of a pride in persevering, of thinking haughty inner thoughts due to continuing in a religious life, of comparing your “living” faith with others who may be struggling.

My brothers and sisters, this is antithetical to true Christian life and exhibits a self reliance, a leaning on the strength of your own will. This pride of perseverance is the very sour air that turns so many away from the faith, and rightly so.

We desperately need to admit our weakness, our poverty, our neediness, our inabilities. Not only to ourselves, which is the first (and hardest?) step, but also to our family, our friends, our fellow workers, and dare I say it – even our enemies.

But alas, this requires great wisdom, and a true humility, where we don’t necessarily think lowly of ourselves, but that we don’t think of our selves at all. – What a blessing to be in that state!

Truly, to walk with the Lord is impossible without Him. It is just too deep, too broad, too high and too wide, for our feeble minds and weak hearts to fathom.

May we seek Him, and in the seeking find the strength He provides to humbly admit our weaknesses.

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