“According to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 3:11
Paul called Jesus Christ the Last Adam. “And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” 1 Corinthians 15:45. In His original creation, God created Eve out of the side of Adam. If the first Adam produced Eve out of his side, then the typology holds that the second Adam produced the church, His wife, out of His side. The powerful symbolism of the spear thrust into Christ’s side thus emerges. The significance of this act cannot be overemphasized. It means that the church was in Christ from the beginning. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1. If the Word was in the beginning, and we are in Christ, then we were in the beginning too! The church is not the result of human will. John 1:12-13. The church has always been the plan of God. Ephesians 1:5-6; 10-11. If the church has this vital relationship to Christ, then we were not just found, espied, permitted or tolerated to be his bride, but were specifically created to be the Bride of Christ!
On this basis, let’s spell out the original purpose of the woman. God created Eve out of Adam’s side to fulfill many roles for her husband.
- A help meet for him. (i.e., suitable, answering to him) Genesis 2:18. Our Creator especially equipped the woman of the species to be supportive, nurturing and able to make life enriching.
- A trusted companion who looks out for the interests of her husband. Proverbs 31:10-12.
- The one who bears children and mothers them. Genesis 1:28; 3:16, 20.
- To be in an exclusive, sacred relationship called marriage. It was always so until Lamech (Genesis 4:19).
- To be the glory of her husband. Proverbs 31:28-31.
- The woman can be more than this, but she must not be in denial of this role. The feminist’s movement has confounded the purpose of womanhood. It has perverted and subverted the concept of equality with man, and has sought to undermine the place and permanence of marriage. It has configured the role of homemaker as a drudgery and a curse. Through reproductive rights (abortion), feminism has violated the role of motherhood. So, what are the spiritual implications of God’s original plan?
God gave birth to us. “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” 1 John 5:1. Therefore, the Bible requires the new birth experience. John 3:3-8. If God gave birth to the church, He did so with a purpose in mind. Whenever we deviate from God’s purpose, we grieve God and sabotage our purpose. Whenever we submit to God’s will, we fulfill our purpose. What is the purpose of the bride of Christ?
- A help suitable for Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12-16
- A trusted companion. (Attendant to God’s house; Defending the church; Wearing the name of Jesus; Doing no harm to the body of Christ
- The bearer of spiritual children. Hebrews 2:9-13.
- Dedicated to an exclusive relationship with Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:15-20
- Designed to glorify Christ, her husband. Eph. 5:25-27
Embrace your purpose! Without purpose, you descend into a nihilistic existence, you de-incentivize life itself and you negate your reason for living. Jesus told Pilate, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world.” John 18:37. Purpose energizes your life!