1Ti 2:14-15 “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”
At a casual glance, we might assume that Paul is saying that Eve was at the root of the transgression. He clearly states that the woman was the one deceived and she was in the transgression. She heeded the Serpent’s lie. She is the one who gave the fruit to Adam.
But we need to take a very close look at the first part of Paul’s statement. Adam was not deceived. The Serpent did not deceive Adam. The woman did not deceive Adam.
If we look at this from Eve’s perspective, what she heard the Serpent say was that she and Adam would not die. She heard him say that she and Adam would be wise. She heard a promise made that she would be able to live with this man she loved without any separation, and they would prosper. They would even be as gods. How easy it is for the Serpent to make us believe he is offering good things.
Eve’s focus was not on breaking God’s law. Her focus had been shifted to all the supposed benefits that lay before her. We do not always transgress with the attitude that we are going to deliberately show disrespect to God. That realization often comes after the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life have led us into transgression.
The woman was deceived. That did not remove her from the transgression, but it does indicate that her focus was not to deliberately go against God. But Adam was not deceived. He walked into the transgression with his eyes wide open, sinning willfully against God. This is why our Adam nature needs to be constantly guarded against.
How is the woman saved in childbearing? Certainly, the act of childbearing could not possibly be the means into God’s eternal favor. If that were the case, all those who have been, are, or will be barren would have no hope. However, it was foretold that Emmanuel (God with us) would be born into this world by a virgin.
While Jesus’ death on the cross washed us clean of our sins and transgressions, we cannot overlook that there was a purpose in His life. He is our example of how to live by faith. He is our example of what it means to have charity. His life shows us what it means to live a holy life and walk with a sound mind (with sobriety).
His example to us of how to live in this present world is where the seeming condition (if) of this saving resides. The joy of His salvation is made real to us here as we live obedient to His word. The fact of our eternal life is a gift from the Son to those that the Father has given Him (John 17:2).
May God give us the grace to guard against deception, and may He give us the strength to resist our Adamic nature’s tendency toward willful sin!
