8: Jesus, Saved by Grace, Part 2- Through Childbearing

Just like every other person (see Is Jesus God? Part 12: Was Jesus always sinless or did he become sinless?), Jesus sinned during his life, though he uniquely completely overcame sin and became sinless and perfect. As explained in previous posts, Jesus had past lives as Adam and David, and they sinned. How then, can Jesus be saved? Did Jesus save himself? Did he pay for his own past sin on the cross? The Bible is not silent on these questions and explicitly explains exactly how Jesus is saved. While Jesus is involved in his salvation, he did not save himself. As Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” God ensured that Jesus would also experience the grace of God in his salvation, and that he too with all other Christians would be unable to boast. This post is also further proof of the reality of reincarnation in both the life of Jesus and of Eve, as this post explains how God will use the future Eve to save the future Adam (so, Jesus, given that Jesus was Adam) based on Scripture. Without reincarnation, this is not possible. I fully acknowledge this paragraph will seem very off to probably any Christian reading this – at a minimum, what I am writing here will be very difficult for people to accept. Please read the Scriptural argument before making a judgment on what I am writing being false. 1 Timothy 2:13-15, which is what this post is largely based on, has (understandably) confused Christians for centuries on Paul’s meaning. God may be speaking through me in this post – please be open. I am open to all feedback and pushback regarding this, though I do think what I write is true.

The below theology explains the above paragraph:

A.  God: Jesus’ Savior

Jesus, at the very least, needed God to save him. God is the ultimate savior of all people, including Jesus (1 Timothy 4:10).

“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.” Hebrews 5:7

“God raised Jesus from the dead…” Romans 8:11

Jesus needed God to save him, just like all people.

B.    Did Jesus pay for his own sin on the cross?

1.     Jesus was a sinner. He sinned as Adam, David, and Jesus, though he fully purified and sanctified himself as Jesus. Scripture is clear that Jesus, as the great high priest, paid for his (Jesus’) sin and the sin of the world. From Part 12 of section 1 of this blog:

“2 Samuel 7:4-17 explicitly reveals that Jesus would sin and be disciplined by God.

“But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me[b]; your throne will be established forever.’”

17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.”

Verses 12-15 are talking about Jesus. He is the only one who the Bible says his kingdom will be established forever. This is clear evidence that Jesus did wrong, and God punished him through men – through a rod and floggings by human hands – this is verbatim what happened to Jesus. He was flogged by humans.

As Hebrews says, Jesus was a perfect high priest and made offering for his sin and the sin of the world. Hebrews 7:27 says, “He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.” The author of Hebrews is explicit: Jesus paid for his own sins and the sin of the world. This means he must have had sin, as was already shown and is revealed in this passage in 2 Samuel verse 14. 

What is more, if Nathan is prophesying that when this son of God, Jesus, does wrong he will be punished with floggings, what else could this mean besides Jesus paid the penalty for his sin? God punished Jesus’ sin through floggings. Just like the high priests of Israel, Jesus as our great high priest paid both for his sin and the sin of the people. Jesus’ sacrifice was the ultimate fulfillment of the Day of Atonement as described in Leviticus 16:6-34:

6 “Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. 7 Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel. 9 And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering, 10 but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.

11 “Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself. 12 And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil 13 and put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die. 14 And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. 16 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. 17 No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. 18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. 19 And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.

20 “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. 22 The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.

23 “Then Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting and shall take off the linen garments that he put on when he went into the Holy Place and shall leave them there. 24 And he shall bathe his body in water in a holy place and put on his garments and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people and make atonement for himself and for the people. 25 And the fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar. 26 And he who lets the goat go to Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. 27 And the bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp. Their skin and their flesh and their dung shall be burned up with fire. 28 And he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.

29 “And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. 30 For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins. 31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever. 32 And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father's place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments. 33 He shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. 34 And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” And Aaron did as the Lord commanded Moses.”

The high priest makes an offering not just for the sins of the people but also for himself. Hebrews 7:27 says this is exactly what Jesus does. Again, Hebrews 7:27 reads, “He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.” The author of Hebrews does not say that Jesus only paid for the sins of the people. The author of Hebrews says here that Jesus sacrificed himself both for his own sins and for the people.”

So, Scripture is clear that Jesus paid for his sin and the sin of the people as the great high priest. But what about the sin of Adam and David? Did Jesus pay for their sin too? As Nathan’s prophecy concerning Jesus being flogged for his sin was to David, Nathan clearly was not talking about Jesus paying for David’s sin, even though Jesus was David in a past life. God punished Jesus for his sin with flogging (2 Samuel 7:14), and Jesus paid for the world’s sin on the cross as a pure and spotless lamb. If Jesus had been paying for Adam’s and David’s sin on the cross, Jesus would not have been a pure and spotless lamb: he would have been bearing his own sin and would have had sin. So, Jesus could not have paid for Adam’s and David’s sin on the cross. God had a different plan for that sin to be paid for.

2.     God is just. All sin must be paid for to satisfy God’s justice.

“He is the Rock, his words are perfect, and all his ways are just.” Deuteronomy 32:4

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.” Psalm 89:14

3.     Salvation is only consistent with God’s justice if that sin is paid for. Christians are “justified freely by his grace” THROUGH faith in Jesus and his “sacrifice of atonement”. It is because of Jesus that God maintains His justice, “so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). See the entire passage below:

“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those have faith in Jesus.”  Romans 3:21-26

So, Adam’s and David’s sin needs to be paid for, just like all sin because of God's justice.  As already established, Jesus could not pay for their sin on the cross. Consider:

1 John 2:2 says, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

This sin could not include the sin from his past lives because he had to be a lamb without blemish or defect, and if he bore their sin on the cross he would have a blemish and defect.

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 

1 Peter 1:18-19

Jesus had no blemish or defect when he gave his life – no sin. Consistent with Old Testament sacrifice, it is only because he had no blemish or defect that he was able to pay for sin on the cross – he was the perfect sacrifice.

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24

If Christ had also been bearing his own sin from his past lives on the cross, he would not have been a lamb without blemish or defect as he would have sin.

“And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins, and in him there is no sin.” 1 John 3:5

“He committed no sin, neither as deceit found in his mouth.”

1 Peter 2:22

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, without sin.”

Hebrews 4:15

“How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

Hebrews 9:14

“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.”

Hebrews 7:26

“God made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 

2 Corinthians 5:21 

Jesus bore “our” sins on the cross and “became” sin – there is no mention of “his” sins. He bore our sins “in” his body on the cross, and “in him” is no sin. How could Jesus still be a lamb without blemish or defect or sin if he was dying for his own in any way or his own past sin dwelt in him in any way “in” his body on the cross?  1 John 2:2 says, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." Yes, he died for the sins of the “whole world” (1 John 2:2), but “world” given the sentence's context and structure refers to all the people outside of Jesus. No one would think in reading that sentence that Jesus was dying for his own sin as well. 

Further, if he was made sin (2 Corinthians 5:21, God made him "to be sin") which included his own sin as Adam and David, having “his sin” in his body on the tree, he would have sin, which contradicts the above passages and would result in him not being able to die as a spotless and blameless lamb. In short, there would be no salvation. So, he couldn’t have died for his own sin. Finally, if Jesus did die for his own sin in any way – if he “had” to go the cross to pay for his sin too or in going to the cross he was also saving himself - the cross would not be grace. His sacrifice was all about dying for others, not himself. He atoned for his sin as Jesus by being flogged (2 Samuel 7:14). Offering his life on the cross was complete grace towards others. Christ did not die for himself on the cross; he died for the world.

Multiple verses affirm this. Romans 4:25 says, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25). Jesus was not delivered over for his sin or raised to life to justify himself, but for the sin of the world and to justify those who put their faith in him. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ did not die for himself. Finally, 1 Corinthians 15:3 says, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…” Jesus died for others. If he died for himself too, this would not be consistent with God’s gospel of grace.

The essence of the gospel is that salvation is a gift received by grace through faith, not by human effort or works. Romans 3:24 says, “[Christians] are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption in Christ Jesus.” Titus 3:7 says, “…so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” God’s gospel is one of grace, and salvation is not earned. Jesus purified himself and then gave his life for the sin of the world. Therefore, of course Christ did not pay for his own sin on the cross to earn salvation. That is not God’s way. That is not the way of love or of grace. God had a different plan for Christ’s salvation. 

C.    How could Christ’s past sin be paid for, if not on the cross?  

1 Timothy 2:13-15 reveals this, though how exactly this happens is not revealed in Scripture. Verse 15 is very mysterious and has understandably confused Christians for centuries.

“For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet he (Note: “he” is a legitimate translation in the Greek, but most translations have “she” or "women") will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.”

1. These verses are talking about what happened in the garden of Eden in 1 Timothy 2:13-14, and the future Adam and Eve in verse 15, given the future verb usage, “if they continue”. Adam and Eve can only continue and make choices regarding continuing in faith, love, holiness, and self-control if they are alive on earth to do so, so this is good evidence for the future reincarnation of Adam and Eve. Further, this is talking about one of them being saved “by childbearing”, presumably through their actions on earth. This passage does not make sense if this is referring to Adam and Eve making moral choices in heaven. Humanity is judged by their actions before God on earth.

2. Jesus was the reincarnation of Adam, so this is referring to Jesus, the last Adam.

3. Moreover, this is referring to Jesus, the last Adam, when he returns, as Paul wrote this after Jesus ascended and the verb is the future tense.

4. In verse 15, one of them is being saved through childbearing. All Bible translations that I could find either say “Yet women will be saved” or “she will be saved.”

5. “Yet women will be saved” is an incorrect translation of the Greek because the verb is 3rd person singular.

6. “She will be saved” cannot be correct either. The Greek word for saved is “sōthēsetai”. In the Bible, this word is used 13 times and is exclusively used to talk about saving from God’s wrath and judgment except in 2 instances – that of Jesus’ healing of Jarius’ dead daughter, who was raised from the dead by Jesus, and in Luke 11:12 referring to Lazarus being raised from the dead. In summary, the word refers to saving both spiritually and in two instances physically raising from the dead (Greek concordance: "sōthēsetai"). This verse cannot refer to Eve, because Jesus saved the whole world, and died for the sins of the whole world, including Eve, and she does not need to be saved from God’s wrath and judgment or saved in terms of being raised from the dead. Eve is already saved from both God’s wrath and judgment and assured of a future resurrection because of Jesus’ death and sacrifice on the cross.

7. However, Adam does need to be saved, both from God’s wrath and judgment and from physical decay and finally death because Jesus did not pay for his past sins as Adam and David on the cross per point B.

8. Therefore, Adam will be "saved through childbearing" – if the future Adam and Eve continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control (1 Timothy 2:13-15).

9. Adam (Jesus when he returns) is being "saved through childbearing". This saving is jointly dependent on him and the future Eve continuing in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

10. In terms of Adam’s role in being saved “by childbirth”, Scripture teaches us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”, so our salvation is part of each Christian’s job “to work out” (Philippians 2:12). Perhaps Adam’s role is to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling, in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

11.   In terms of Eve’s role, if Adam is saved by childbearing, of the two Eve would be the one, as the woman, who is doing the childbearing. No one is saved by literal childbirth, so this childbirth must be referring to a spiritual childbirth. Non-physical childbirth is referenced in the following places in Scripture:

a)     Isaiah 42:14 God describes himself as being a woman in labor referring to how He is about to act on the world such as leading the blind, guiding them, and turning the darkness into light. This usage would not apply to Eve’s childbirth as she is not God.

b)     Isaiah 66:8-9 God is talking about Him giving birth to a joyous Jerusalem. This also would not apply to Eve’s childbirth as she is not God.

c)     John 16:21-22 Jesus is referring to women who give birth and forget their sorrow because of the birth of a new life. He compares it to his death and resurrection. He will die, but the final result will be him raising from the dead, and no one will take joy from the disciples. Jesus is comparing the disciples’ sorrow over his death with childbirth. Eve’s childbirth is connected to a man’s salvation, so this does not relate.

d)    Romans 8:22 Creation is groaning as in childbirth for the final restoration of the world. As this is referring to creation this would not refer to the woman Eve’s childbirth; also this type of childbirth does not include relationships between people.

e)      Revelation 12: This is an end times prophecy in Revelation that describes a woman giving birth to Jesus and the struggle with Satan that ensues as a result. This cannot be referring to Jesus' initial birth in Bethlehem because the passage describes how immediately following Jesus' "birth" here, he is "snatched up to God and to his throne" (verse 5) while the mother flees to the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God (verse 6). It is clear the child is Jesus because in verse 5 it says the male child will rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Verse 10 refers to the kingdom of God and authority of Christ having come as the outcome of the battle with Satan described. Given the symbolism of this passage and Revelation in general, it seems the passage is referring to a symbolic, spiritual birthing, just as 1 Timothy 2:15 is. So, this passage relates to 1 Timothy 2:15. As Adam is Jesus, and 1 Timothy 2:15 refers to his return, Revelation 12 describes Jesus’ return using childbirth as well. God highlights in two places in His Word that Adam’s (Jesus’) return to earth is related to childbirth, so evidently the childbirth metaphor is a helpful way of understanding how Jesus coming back is going to take place.

f)  Galatians 4:19 Paul is in the pains of childbirth until Christ is fully formed in the Galatians. This relates. Paul is in pain until the Galatians reach full salvation and are conformed to Christ. This type of childbirth could be the type stated in 1 Timothy 2:15. However, how could this be true of Christ upon his return? Won't he be fully mature and sinless like Christ was when he ascended? Scripture actually shows that Christ will return with sin and the need to fully mature, which will be addressed in the next post. This is part of why the "childbirth" metaphor regarding Christ's return is appropriate. I fully acknowledge this sounds off, however, please hold your judgment until you finish reading this post and read the following post. There are good Scriptural reasons for me stating Christ will come back with sin temporarily and the need to fully mature.

 12. While the verse says he will be saved “if” this happens, perhaps showing Adam may not be saved, Revelation 20-22, which shows Jesus reigning with other believers forever with God as the “lamp”, absolutely shows that Jesus (Adam) will be saved. Based on these verses, he will be saved by some sort of childbirth. For anyone who thinks it very odd that Jesus would be saved by some sort of childbirth, consider: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). Is it not also odd to be saved because of a man 2000 years ago dying on a Roman cross? There are many things we may find odd in the Bible from our perspective, but that does not mean those things are not true.

13. Again, if Jesus died for his own sin on the cross, he would not experience saving grace because he would die for his own sin and “save himself” in a way. God clearly prioritizes grace so that no one may boast. As Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

14. This is mysterious. The Bible does not explain exactly what this means, God's Word simply says this is how Adam will be saved. Christians are saved by grace through faith; Adam (Jesus) is saved by grace through childbirth. One day we will understand what Paul was revealing here. As 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

    
    

So, Jesus will need saving when he returns, by grace, through childbirth, whatever that may mean. 

D.    An End to Sacrifice and Offering?

“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven’. In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”

Daniel 9:27

“So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”

Matthew 24:15-16

“And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: ‘This is the covenant I will make with them after that time says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.’ Then he adds: ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’ And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.”

Hebrews 10:10-18

Daniel 9:27 must take place after the time of Jesus because Jesus in Matthew 24 speaks of Daniel 9:27 as a future event. At this time, the person in Daniel 9 will “put an end to sacrifice and offering”. Yet in Hebrews 10:18, God’s Word states that “sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.” Didn’t Jesus “put an end to sacrifice and offering”? Why will a future event “put an end to sacrifice and offering”? By “one sacrifice” he has made perfect forever all of his followers. How can Daniel 9:27 point to another, future end to sacrifice and offering?

God’s Word never lies, so all these verses must be true. How can that be?

1.     Jesus died for the sins of all the world. These sins are forgiven because of what he did, and sacrifice for sin is no longer needed for the world that Christ died for.

2.      However, per 1 Timothy 2:13-15 that the future Adam (Jesus when he returns) will be saved through childbirth and Daniel 9:27’s witness to a future end of sacrifice, there will be another sacrifice. The only person left who needs a sacrifice is Jesus himself, and this will happen "through childbirth" and will put an end to sacrifice and offering because at that point everyone’s sin will be paid for.

E. How can Jesus’ past sin be paid for without a sinless sacrifice?

According to the Bible, his sin can’t be paid for without a sinless sacrifice. Jesus was only able to pay for the sin of the world because he had no sin. That is the only type of sacrifice that is acceptable to God. The Old Testament and the New Testament, particularly the verses quoted in point B, witness to this. So, how can this be possible?

Christians are saved by grace through faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for them. Jesus is saved by grace through childbirth (whatever that may mean)… but what about the atoning, sinless sacrifice for his sin? Does the Bible lend any insight into any sinless person sacrificing their life for Christ?

Yes. The answer lies in understanding what really happened in the garden of Eden. A close reading of Genesis 2-4 reveals that Eve was innocent, and that Eve gave her life for Adam. She is also the one involved in the "childbearing" to save Adam in 1 Timothy 2:15. Understanding that Eve was innocent is key to understanding how Jesus is saved by grace through childbearing. As the previous post explains, Eve was innocent.

Just as God required one single sinless atoning sacrifice from Jesus for the world, God requires one single sinless atoning sacrifice for Jesus’ sin. Christians are saved by grace through faith in Jesus’ atoning work on the cross. 1 Timothy 2:15 provides a parallel: Jesus is saved by grace through childbirth by Eve, who gave up eternal life for Adam in the beginning. 

“Helper” is a fitting name for Eve. “Helper” in the Hebrew means “ezer kenegdo”, literally, “a saving strength corresponding to him” (Payne, 2023).  The word means that the woman is able to do something for Adam that he is not capable of doing. All 19 other occurrences of “ezer” in the Bible refer to savior or deliver (Payne, 2023). Eve is, quite literally, Adam’s savior and deliver. Notably, Eve was called Adam's helper, or savior, in Genesis 2:18 right before Adam fell.

Like all Christians, Jesus also sinned and could not save himself. He needs saving just as each person does. While a lot of mystery remains regarding what "saved by childbearing" could mean, the Greek and the Biblical context reveals that this "saving" is salvific. Jesus is saved by grace, through childbearing, with a sinless sacrifice already having been made for him by Eve in the beginning.

F. Objections

1. Adam was the “head” as the man in Adam’s and Eve’s relationship. God places full authority on the man. So, Genesis not mentioning Eve being sent from the garden is because God held Adam to be ultimately responsible, not because Eve had not sinned. It is implied that Eve and Adam would leave the garden together. Eve made no “choice” to leave.  

God is clear in the Bible that each person dies for their own sin, regardless of gender. Deuteronomy 24:16 says, “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.” God never told Eve she would die because of what happened in the garden. He only said that to Adam, and He only sent Adam out of the garden. Further, Jeremiah 31:30 says, “But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.” This verse is especially applicable as it actually gives an example of a man who eats fruit getting the penalty for his own actions. Everyone dies for his own iniquity. Finally, Ezekiel 18:20 says, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” It could be added: the wife shall not suffer for the iniquity of her husband.

The Bible never says that God placed full authority on Adam. Genesis 1:28 says of Adam and Eve that “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” God created them to rule together in partnership. It was only after the fall that God said to Eve, “Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you” (Genesis 3:16). This was not God’s initial intention. God held Adam and Eve individually responsible for their own actions. Otherwise, He would not have responded to each of them separately and differently in Genesis 3 as a result of what happened. Again, it is not a coincidence that God only told Adam he would die for what happened, not Eve.

Given the biblical context of Genesis 1-3, at the end of Genesis 3 when the text reads that God specifically sent the man, Adam, out of the garden, there is no reason to add to and read into the text that in God saying that He was also banning Eve from the garden and eternal life. God told Adam he would die if he ate from the tree, and God repeated at the end of Genesis 3 that that was his consequence. The text neglects to mention Eve not because Adam is the head of the relationship and represents them, as previously in Genesis 1-3 they are described as unique individuals with a unique response from God for their actions, but because Adam is the only one who sinned. God has no problem throughout the Bible in stating sins both men and women commit, and when the fall in the garden is described in the Bible, only Adam is held responsible in Romans 5:12 and 1 Corinthians 15:2-22. Sin and death came through one man; not one man and one woman, according to the Bible. This is notable, as Eve ate the fruit first. Why is Adam held responsible for sin coming into the world? The most logical and biblically coherent answer is, I think, that Eve did not sin.

2. Even if Eve did make the choice to leave the garden for Adam’s sake, isn’t this very different than Jesus dying on a cross for the world’s sins? How could this really “pay” for Adam’s sin? Eve didn’t “shed blood” – isn’t blood necessary for atonement?

What is necessary for an atonement sacrifice according to the Bible?

While the Old Testament witnesses to answering that question, I will highlight passages regarding Jesus being the perfect sacrifice as I am comparing Eve’s sacrifice not to an animal’s, which can never take away sin (Hebrews 10:4), but to Jesus’. Jesus was a “lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19), he bore the world’s sin “in his body” on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), he had “no sin” (1 John 3:5, 1 Peter 2:22), “no blemish” (Hebrews 9:14), he was “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26), and he was made sin for the world though he knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). Additionally, the atonement sacrifice has to die as a sacrifice, as the entire New Testament witnesses to as well as the passages regarding atonement in the Old Testament. In summary, what is necessary is a person who is 1) sinless, 2) bears another’s (or multiple others’) sin, and 3) sacrificially dies.

Does Eve meet those requirements?

1) Sinlessness: yes, as proven in the previous post. Eve was innocent.

2) Bears the consequences for Adam's sin: how did Jesus bear the world’s sin? By taking the penalty of the world’s sin on the cross. By leaving the garden of Eden, giving up eternal life and living in the presence of God, Eve bore Adam’s consequences for his sin in addition to the discipline God gave her in increasing her pain in childbirth. Specifically, Eve in following Adam out of the garden will bear his sin penalty in Genesis 3:19 of physical death. But also, through painful toil she will also eat food. Presumably Eve worked with Adam as any wife would to provide for their family. Eve bore the penalty of Adam’s sin though she did not deserve it. Notably, Adam did not share the discipline God gave Eve: pain in childbirth, desiring her spouse, and her spouse ruling over her. Eve suffered doubly for the fall: first, God’s discipline so she would mature, grow in wisdom, and be like God, and second, bearing Adam’s sin and penalty with him.

3) Sacrificially dies: While Eve did not die a painful death on the cross, she still sacrificially died. God told Adam in Genesis 2:16-17, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Why does God say Adam would die on the day he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Genesis is clear Adam died when he was 930 years old (Genesis 5:5). The same Hebrew word for die, “muth”, is used in both instances (Strong's Hebrew: 4191). He physically died after living 930 years.  Perhaps God is referring to a spiritual death taking place when he ate the fruit which would lead to a final physical death as a result of that spiritual death. He began to die the day he ate the fruit.

Eve had an option. She did not have to leave the garden because God only sent Adam out of the garden, and she had not sinned. She did not have to die, both spiritually and physically, with Adam and bear the penalty for his sin. It was a sacrifice for her to leave the garden and live a mortal life with Adam instead of an immortal life with God: a sacrifice that, quite literally, involved her giving up her life for Adam – both eternal life with God and consequently, physically dying with Adam.  Like Christ, she willingly gave up her life for, in her case one, sinner.

In summary, according to the Bible, Eve meets all the requirements of an atonement sacrifice for sin: 1) she was sinless, 2) she bore Adam’s consequences for his sin, and 3) she sacrificially died.

3. What about Hebrews 9:22? Hebrews 9:22 says, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

As with many passages in the Bible, I do not think this should be taken completely literally. Leviticus 17:11 provides helpful insight, “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” Hebrews 9:22 is saying that without someone dying for another, giving their life, there is no forgiveness. Nothing in Genesis indicates that Eve “shed blood”, though she did sacrificially give her life for Adam. By doing this, she “shed blood”.

Further, 1 Timothy 2:15 indicates that Adam will ultimately be saved through some sort of “childbirth”, and women bleed, shedding blood, when they give birth. 1 Timothy 2:15 also reveals that Adam is not saved “yet”. He WILL be saved through childbearing. What Eve started in the garden with her sinless sacrifice, bearing Adam’s penalty, will be finished with the future Eve and future Adam (Christ when he returns). Given the metaphor of childbirth that always involves blood being shed, and the law requirement for blood being shed in essence meaning someone giving their life, this requirement will be met for Eve to atone for Adam’s sin.

Yet given that this childbirth by the future Eve is spiritual, the “shedding of blood” will probably be metaphorical. At the very least, this means that this future childbearing by Eve for Adam’s sake will be very painful.  

4. What about resurrection? Aren’t Christians saved by Christ’s resurrection too? Eve did not resurrect, or at least there is no indication in the Bible that she did?

Eve’s sacrifice in Genesis began her atonement of Adam, but it only ends when the future Adam (Christ) returns, as set forth in 1 Timothy 2:15. Paul is clear that Christ’s resurrection was absolutely essential for Christians’ sins being paid for. 1 Corinthians 15:17 says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” Why is that? Romans 5:9 says, “We have been justified by his blood.” So, not by his resurrection. Yet Romans 4:25 says Jesus was “delivered up [crucified] for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” So, Jesus’ blood and him raising was necessary for all Christian’s justification. Perhaps Paul is stating that Jesus’ resurrection was proof that Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to pay for sin. Moreover, Jesus was sinless – a requirement for his sacrifice atoning for sin – and sinless people do not stay in the grave. In 1 Corinthians 15:20 Paul affirms, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.” Jesus’ sinless payment for the world’s sin was completely satisfactory given Christ’s righteousness, and this was fully affirmed by God raising him from the dead.

Perhaps 1 Timothy 2:15 refers not only to Eve “shedding her blood” to atone for Adam in some way, as that is a requirement for atonement, but also Eve resurrecting in some way as proof of her character in the garden – as proof of her pure love for God and Adam. Perhaps Eve will need to overcome sin and become fully sanctified and perfect as Jesus did in order to be a pure and blameless sacrifice and atone for his sin.

In conclusion, while the Bible is silent on exactly what Adam being saved through childbirth will look like in the future, the Bible is not silent on this childbearing being salvific for Adam. That much is clear. Again, we see now in part: someday face to face, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

5. What about when God made Adam and Eve clothes out of animal skins (Genesis 3:21)? Was God making a sacrifice for both of their sins? Doesn’t that prove that Eve is not innocent?

The Bible never says that God killing an animal to give Adam and Eve clothes to wear in any way atones for their sin. In fact, the Bible says the opposite. Hebrews 10:4 says, “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” So, God killing an animal to make skin clothes for Adam and Eve would not impact their standing before Him. If Eve had sinned, she would have had to leave the garden with Adam. If Eve had sinned, her consequence would have been death, as the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Eve was innocent. This does not show atonement of sin, rather, this shows God’s care and love for Adam and Eve in clothing them. This could also symbolically point to how God would make a sacrifice of each of them to atone for each other.

6. How can Eve be a sacrifice for Adam if she sins after leaving the garden? The Bible says “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This shows Eve sins at some point, as all humans have sinned.

This does not mean Eve cannot be a sacrifice for Adam. Jesus was still able to sacrifice himself for the world even though he sinned as Adam, David, and Jesus as previously shown. The Bible shows that Jesus sinned but overcame sin as Jesus and atoned for the world’s sin given his pure life. Perhaps the future Eve will need to overcome both her sin like Jesus did and her deceit, and therefore be able to save Jesus by childbirth. Given that for all Christians, Philippians 1:6 stands as promise that God will complete the work He has become in each of us, Eve will overcome her sin just like each Christian. It is not a question of if but when.

Yet the Bible is clear that she gave her life for Adam while she was still pure and blameless. In God’s eyes, Adam died the day he sinned and was sent from the garden, not that he died when he was 930. So, similarly, in God’s eyes, Eve died the day she chose to bear Adam’s sin and follow him after the garden. At the time of her death, then, Eve was pure and blameless, regardless of what happened in the future – and we know from Romans 3:23 that at some point she did sin after this.

Also, in God’s eyes, Eve’s sacrifice was sufficient, provided Adam and Eve continue in “faith, love, holiness, and self-control” (1 Timothy 2:15). 1 Timothy 2:15 proves this. Paul prophesies that Adam will be saved “through childbearing”. Through the childbearing of who? Of the future Eve. God counts her worthy to save Adam. This can only be true if He counted her initial sacrifice in the garden as worthy: as pure and sinless. Only human sacrifices for other people that are pure and sinless can save. Further, this can only be true if, as 1 Timothy 2:15, the future Eve continues in faith, love, holiness, and self-control. God’s standard is high for a sacrifice to be worthy enough to save another person.

Finally, again, while Paul uses the word “if” Eve (and the future Adam) continues in faith, love, holiness, and self-control, Adam will be saved; the end of the Bible provides complete assurance that he will be. In Revelation 20-22 Christ, the Lamb of God, is shown to be reigning with the saints forever and ever (Revelation 22:1-5).

G. Conclusion

The Church is saved by grace, through faith, because of Christ and his sacrifice.

Adam (the future Christ) will be saved by grace, through childbearing, because of Eve and her sacrifice.

H. Implications

1. Jesus is way more like Christians than Christians think, as he also needs grace and saving from his sin.

2. Eve is Jesus’ savior given she 1) gave her life sinlessly for him in the beginning and 2) will play a key role in him being “saved through childbirth” when Adam (Christ) returns.

3. God's way of salvation is always grace, not works. No one can earn their salvation, including Jesus.