Woman: A Spiritual Son of God

By Candace D. Keller

Throughout centuries, the identity of a woman has suffered because she has not been taught to understand the truth about her created identity and her potential for overcoming deception. The Bible contains scriptures that hold the key to unlocking the ordained path that will lead to a woman’s personal fulfillment as well as her destiny by knowing God through intimate fellowship with Him. It is a message that is powerful, liberating, and life-changing.

In a thought-provoking exploration of this fascinating topic, Candace Keller, a certified lay speaker with the United Methodist Church, details how scripture defines a woman. It addresses how and why the first woman was named Eve, scrutinizes the consequence of mankind’s fall that impacted the identity of all women that existed after her. It examines how the current condition of the woman differs from the original intent and design of God and what that means to each individual woman today.

Woman: A Spiritual Son of God provides a detailed analysis of the Bible’s definition of a woman and how she has learned to discover her identity through embracing His unconditional love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9798385018079

Candace D. Keller

Candace Keller is a wife, mother, and grandmother, Sunday school teacher, and certified lay speaker with the United Methodist Church. Her search to discover and understand how the Bible defines a woman first began in the mid-1990s. Candace has been invited to speak in several churches and taught at a Bible college in Nagpur, India. She lives in Panama City, Florida.

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Copyright © 2024 Candace D. Keller.

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This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1806-2 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1807-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024902102

WestBow Press rev. date: 03/07/2024

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1   Creation Observations

Chapter 2   The Fall and the Judgments

Chapter 3   The Proverbs 31 Woman

Chapter 4   The Power of Purity

Chapter 5   Other Areas of Empowerment

Chapter 6   Woman as the Glory of Man

Chapter 7   An Equal Inheritance

Glossary of Words by Chapter

Appendix

About the Author

PREFACE

Our current time period is called postmodern, and it has produced an unprecedented identity crisis of profound proportions in women. There exist so many voices with mixed messages calling to the woman that her mind is unable to evaluate and distinguish the relevance of the messages affecting her personal life and happiness. Sadly, therefore, each individual often chooses the most expedient voice (and its message) applicable to life circumstances rather than the wisest one.

The most persuasive words that we hear are often those offering the utmost convenience. The source of these words can carry the greatest potential for personal devastation because the author of this voice attempts to deceive or preoccupy the soul through lies and misinformation while often involving a negligible amount of effort from her. This call is cloaking hidden dangers that perpetrate lies against the woman because the message from the world system never carries any genuine concern for truth. It rather attempts to promote its own selfish and/or provocative agenda.

Truth is not a concept. He is a person. He was present and active in all elements of creation in both the seen and the unseen worlds. However, He now resides here in spirit. The Way, the Truth, and the Life calls to every human being on planet Earth as God the creator, in order that all individuals may have an opportunity to discover and authenticate his or her purpose on the earth. The sovereign God makes no apology for the only source document that He inspired men to write as well as provides the true and complete revelation of His reason for all human existence.

The Bible contains the Holy Scriptures that hold the only key to revealing and unlocking the specific path, which will lead to a woman’s personal fulfillment as well as her destiny by knowing God through intimate fellowship with His son Jesus. The Bible is unlike all other books because the Holy Spirit avails Himself to the reader to help promote an accurate and total understanding of Biblical truth while giving each person the ability to recognize and dispel any former lies previously believed and/or embraced.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I have written this book to thank

my husband, Fred M. Keller Jr.

He prays for me and encourages me

to humbly follow the Lord our Savior.

It would be impossible to recall the names of the countless Christians that God used to fashion in me a logical approach to understanding the Bible, as well as raise an expectation to believe those scriptures through reading and studying them. I appreciate listening to many inspired messages from passionate preachers and teachers, as well as observing the exemplary lives of genuine believers, each and every one motivated me to systematically study the Bible for myself.

I also want to remember my mother for her continual support toward the daughter that God gave to her. Mom said in her final years when a decline in health caused her to question whether she would live much longer, I was her reason for living. In her frailty that day, I saw a very humble and precious glimpse of the devoted love of our Savior.

Although the gift of her charitable words was immeasurable, I credit God alone in his sovereignty for silently fashioning me in her womb. While my mother often demonstrated her own personal confidence to me growing up, I needed to discover in my own heart and mind that the only person qualified to teach and impart personal liberty to me was the Lord. It has become a gradual and challenging process that involves yielding both all that I am and all that I have to my Creator.

God spoke light into existence.

The Word was present and active in all of creation.

Jesus Christ is the Word.

God formed the first man.

God fashioned the first woman.

God created each gender separately.

Revealing His intent,

His omniscience, and His omnipotence,

God caused the man to sleep

When He fashioned the woman.

I have written this book to thank

My husband, Fred M. Keller Jr.

He prays for me and encourages me

To humbly follow the Lord our Savior.

INTRODUCTION

Does the title of this book seem a bit provocative to you? Perhaps it is, but I believe it is an accurate interpretation of Genesis 5:1–2. Just prior to the Bible’s record of the genealogy of Adam, a very curious statement is made about a particular day.

God … called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

I believe that the day being referred to is the sixth day of creation when God made man—male and female, blessed them, and gave them dominion. This book will address how and why the first woman was later named Eve, and the impact of mankind’s fall that impacted the identity of all women that existed after her. We will examine how the current condition of the woman differs from the original intent and design of God and what that means to each individual woman today.

The task of determining the woman’s true identity from the Scriptures continues to cause enormous anxiety today. These postmodern days that require humans to be data banks of knowledge are unprecedented, and the passage of time has not satisfied nor eliminated the need for us to understand the reason for our human existence. Although Godly women, who have walked the narrow way of faith in generations past, have provided us with a remarkable legacy that should be appreciated; all women need to learn to hold themselves in high esteem regardless of the period of history into which God has appointed them to be born. All people everywhere have been given a divine potential to display that they are image-bearers of God regardless of race, intellect, gender, or past sins.

In order to identify the commonality that all women share and also dispel any crises arising from the lack of truth, every woman must reverently seek an answer from the only one who indisputably knows what the woman is and graciously embraces His answer. It is a grave error during the gift of life to underestimate the grains of sand that cause pearls to be produced in us. If indeed it were possible to eliminate all the painful irritants in our lives, most would choose to do so. However, in the skillful hands of God, these sources of suffering become valuable tools that can fashion soundness, goodness, and wisdom.

In the New Testament, 2 Timothy 3:16–17 says,

All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

It is not my intention to address doctrinal issues in this book because they will most often be determined by one’s denomination or church environment. I have also found that any subsequent debate often opens a door to controversy and tremendous conflict, even the best Bible scholars cannot resolve the resulting division and hurt feelings. We need to allow God to discipline His children because He is the only one who is qualified. God’s Spirit loves us so much and knows us so well that He tenderly allows each one of us to experience conviction and repentance privately.

However, I am extremely interested in instruction in righteousness because it produces peace in the heart and mind. Learning how to live a mature life that pleases God is a lofty aim as well as being both challenging and rewarding. A wise Bible student should consider personal application as the end goal of that which has been learned (with discernment being equally vital). Although I share with many others the privilege of having sat under some great teaching, as well as some questionable at best, the Holy Spirit, our heavenly teacher, is not limited by any flawed human logic or opinions. An incident at church in the mid-1990s resulted in becoming a personal irritant that created a glorious journey I never expected. I heard a well-respected Christian evangelist declare from the pulpit, Women were created inferior and they should just accept it.

Although those words went unchallenged, as far as I know, they provoked a notable inner disturbance in me. Not long afterward, a prayerful query came up from deep inside my soul, Oh, God, am I inferior to a man? What am I? Tell me, Lord, so that I may believe. Little did I know a search to discover and understand how the Bible defined a woman would begin that very day! The overwhelming and surprising passion to know God’s purpose for creating the woman and be able to share my findings with others was like a fire in my bones. I began to recognize that a great controversy had developed, as some strived to defend, while others strived to abolish the historical concepts regarding a woman’s role in Christianity. In an effort to define and limit the woman, some unwittingly debased the image of God and rejected the specific representation of His nature as displayed in the feminine gender.

Which is the sadder commentary concerning these two statements?

1. *Believing that the woman, responsible for helping the man, has been created inferior to him, thereby causing both to question her image as adequate or equal to his.

2. *Believing that the woman, responsible for helping the man, must create her own agenda to establish a level playing field, whereby causing others to acknowledge her image was, is, and always will be equal to his.

(Both convictions 1 and 2 are visible in Christianity and promote divisive attitudes.)

While demeaning viewpoints from the first opinion as well as the self-proclamation view from the second opinion are pervasive in Christianity today and have been embraced by sincere men and women, they are largely responsible for a lack of reconciliation today that continues to exist today between the men and the women. Many Christians dogmatically hold to their beliefs simply because of high regard (almost worship) for some particular mentor. Instruction is systematically accepted or rejected basing their attentiveness to acceptable dogma or whether an individual teacher agrees with their doctrine (or vice versa). This prejudice has been largely responsible for repressing the liberty of expression for many believers while perpetuating thoughts and views that simply parrot unbiblical or illogical views.

Regardless of the background, the church environment, or the period of history that anyone belongs to, the Bible can radiate its light on our finite human understanding if it is read without prejudice. The revelation of scriptural truth is timeless and remains perfectly applicable to the entire issue of the feminine identity. The definition of the woman desperately needs to be addressed by women for the woman’s sake. The fact is that God chose that the mystery of woman’s creation be veiled from the man while he slept, and she still remains an enigma to most men today. My approach to this subject is fashioned by these two premises stated below.

1. Thorough and unbiased research into the Bible’s definition of a woman will promote right thinking as well as subsequent virtuous behavior and speech.

2. The Bible is a spiritual book of absolute truth. God is both willing and able to reveal answers to any person humbly seeking His truth.

The teaching function of the Holy Spirit is to enlighten the Word of God for us in a way that we are able to understand it. It would be presumptuous for me to suggest that the following chapters are a completely exhaustive work; however, it is a labor of my love for both the Creator and His creation. Conceived in faith and by the very nature of gestation, it required birthing. I desire that the work be full-term while proliferating hope to anyone who reads it. I believe that the words in the book will confirm that I have no personal axes to grind, but instead they will be a mental and spiritual experience that promotes love and confidence through sound thinking. My heart’s desire can be best summed up in a scripture quotation from Isaiah 54:1–8 below. As women, we need to enlarge the tent of our minds by stretching and strengthening our resolve to be all God created us to be.

Sing, O barren, thou that did not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, says the LORD.

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

Fear not; for thou shall not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shall not be put to shame: for thou shall forget the shame of thy youth, and shall not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called.

For the LORD has called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou was refused, says God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, says the LORD thy Redeemer.

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CREATION OBSERVATIONS

Chapter questions to be answered:

26681.jpg How does scripture define the woman?

26681.jpg What is the significance of order in creation?

26681.jpg What determines value in creation?

26681.jpg Why was the male created first and the female second?

26681.jpg What is the meaning of the name Adam?

26681.jpg What does help really mean?

26681.jpg Why are the names of the first man and first woman significant?

A study of the seven -d ay chronicle in Genesis 1:1 through 2:3 reveals that the biblical account of creation is a brief summary of each day’s events while the verses that follow in Genesis 2:4–25 enhance certain details from the sixth day. Although the creation account is as complete as we need it to be, there is a lack of information regarding the creation of the woman. When we read chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis, we discover that by examining order, design, and purpose in the overall creation account, as well as how these relate to the woman’s origin, we are able to identify her significance as it is defined by God in the Bible. We will ascertain when, why, and what the woman was created t o be.

I hope that all of the readers of this book have had a teacher in their secondary education impress upon them the validity of asking questions in the pursuit of knowledge, and more specifically, asking who, what, when, where, why, how, and how much. In their quest for learning, however, students must accept the fact that one or more of these questions may be unanswerable and should recognize that an incessant why can sometimes become a stumbling block.

My personal approach to scripture is to look for the revelation of God and His activity, and my responsibility is to be transformed by learning about Him. Therefore, I make a concerted effort to stay God-centered in my Bible studies and not human-centered. That means that my goal is that all knowledge should lead me to a greater appreciation and respect for God rather than to an attitude emulating egotistical self-absorption. Therefore, the test of enlightenment will be—have I acquired a new or better understanding of the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God? My response to any new revelation will dictate if any true wisdom has been gained. I encourage the reader to imitate this philosophy.

As we develop a thoughtful and provocative study of the definition of woman as outlined in scripture, we must be cognitive that fact and truth are not always synonymous. While facts contribute to the discovery of truth, the truth can sometimes be elusive. Although I will not assert that this book is a comprehensive work on this subject, I will continually point the reader to the only inerrant substantive book in existence. The Bible is the only text in existence that has the author present (in spirit) to explain and illuminate the meaning of its words. While I have tried to avoid doctrinal or religious issues, applications to personal life can be found in suggestions to the reader at the end of each chapter.

There is a myriad of factors that affect an individual’s life that do not operate in the realm of choice. Some of these include the family we are born into, the religious heritage of our ancestors, the color of our skin, our native country, and our children and their inherent traits. Therefore, while we have breath, we have a tremendous opportunity to respond to or make choices regarding a life given to us by God, which is mostly comprised of those circumstances that we do not choose. This is the manner in which we are able to develop into the created image that is clearly stated in Genesis 1 by responding or choosing rightly.

If the order of the created elements and entities in Genesis 1 is examined, the first question we should answer is what does the created order signify? The following is a brief listing of the six-day account of creation:

Day 1—light was created.

Day 2—firmament (or expanse) was created.

Day 3—seas were gathered, dry land appeared, and plants were created.

Day 4—sun, moon, and stars were created.

Day 5—birds, fish, and water creatures were created.

Day 6—creeping things, land animals, and humankind were created.

Day 7—God ended His work and rested.

This sequential order above demonstrates an intelligent arrangement that dispels any possible conclusion of random activity. For example, the environment (light, earth, and moisture) needed to sustain vegetation was brought into existence before the plants were created. The fish were not expected to hold their breath while the sea was prepared. With regard to the creation of everything in Genesis, including humankind, the order displays the supreme intelligence of a Creator that deliberately forethought, understood, and integrated the interrelating parts vital to the outcome of the whole. The order is so specific that perfect logic and harmony