Page 49 - No Apologies

direct generation of the Father. All other things came through Christ. Paul says of Christ,
“all things were created through Him and for Him.” As man was created through Christ and
for Christ, we see the parallel truth in Scripture that woman was created through man, and
for man.

• Christ came forth out of the Father.
• Man came forth through Christ.
• Woman was taken out of man.

• Christ has God as head.
• Man has Christ as head.
• Woman has man as head.

The parallels continue. We previously read Christ’s declaration that He came to do the
Father’s will. Similarly, man was created to do Christ’s will, and woman was formed to do
man’s will, being created “for man.” The woman is instructed to obey her husband as the
man is instructed to obey Christ.
A clear pattern emerges as we look at the testimony of Scriptures. Christ modeled
before the creation what is pleasing to the Father. Having the Father as His head, Christ laid
down His life that He might do the will of the Father. Christ did not consider equality with
God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant. Man
is to follow this pattern as he humbles himself before Christ, laying down his life to embrace
the life of Christ. The pattern is completed as the woman humbles herself, taking man as
head, laying aside her life to embrace the life of her husband.
As a man, I have fallen short of the perfection of Christ in many ways. Christ NEVER
did anything of His own initiative. I have done much of my own initiative. Christ did not
seek His own will, but I have often sought my own will. Christ ALWAYS did the will of the
Father, but I have often chosen my will over the will of Christ. James declared, “For we all
stumble in many ways” (James 3:2). John echoed this saying when he wrote, “If we say that
we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (I John 1:8).
Observing the patience Christ has demonstrated toward me, I choose to be patient
with others. The saying is true, “By the judgment you have judged others, you will be
judged, and by the measure you mete to others it will be measured unto you.” The saying
is also true, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,” and “judgment shall be
merciless to the one who has shown no mercy.” I would not judge my sisters in Christ for
their failings any harsher than I would judge myself for my failings. If we are humble in
acknowledging our failings, we will learn to be gentle, patient, and merciful toward others.
At the same time, I must always point to the standard before us which is Christ. He
was perfect, and He has commanded us to be perfect (Matthew 5:48). We are to aim for
nothing less. We are always to strive toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ
Yahshua.
The pride of life would lead men and women to grasp for equality. Man wants to
partner with Christ, and woman wants to partner with man. Christ, however, shows us what
is pleasing to God. Christ humbled Himself. He set aside His soul’s desires to do the will of
the Father. Christ accepted God as His Head and as His Lord. Man must take Christ as Head
and Lord, and woman must take man as head and lord. In each instance the soul must be
crushed as unto death. All who would follow in Christ’s steps must hate their own life.