Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Month: June 2013

The first lie (or should I say Twisted Truth)

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On June 10, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The second half of Genesis chapter 3 verse 1 records, purportedly the first recorded lie in the scripture. This was spoken by the Devil to Eve, the woman – “And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Careful scrutiny of the words reveal a strategy employed by the Devil in deceiving Eve (2 Corinthians 11:3) and the world (Revelation 12:9).

Notice how the Devil starts of by saying, “Yea” implying that he fakes a position of affirming with what God has commanded his people. Then the next words of the Devil are “hath God said” which is his way of discrediting God by instilling doubt in the minds of men. Then the Devil questions the woman by using the following words “Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?“, which interestingly has every word spoken by God in his command to man, except one. That word is “every”. God had commanded that man must not eat of the tree that is in the middle of the garden – the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but the Devil twisted the words of God, being the father of lies (John 8:44), to include all trees, as the one that God had specifically identified.

Points to ponder:
Even today, the Devil schemes to deceive us, by first faking a false affirmation with God’s command. Then he attempts to instill doubt in our hearts, so that we would not trust God and take him at his word. Finally, he twists the word of God so that we would not see the deception and the lies in his schemes. Let us be careful and pay attention, watching out so that we are not beguiled by the Devil, as was Eve, for he twists the truth.

Jesus said I AM the Truth but the devil twists that truth and wants us to believe that we need every other means to be saved. This is the “Jesus + Something else” gospel that is prevalent in the world. No amount of works can save us, only believing in Jesus can. Jesus is the only means to Salvation, for there is no other name by which man can be saved – Salvation is found in no other (Acts 4:12).

Genesis 3:1 (KJV)
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Subtil serpent; Subtle as serpents

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On June 4, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The first part of Genesis chapter 3 verse 1 states that the serpent was more subtil (clever/crafty/wise) than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. Who is this serpent? In order to understand, who the ‘serpent’ here refers to, we ought to go from the first book of the Bible to the last book of the Bible. Revelation 12:9 and Revelation 20:2 presents the Devil (Satan) as the old (ancient) serpent which deceives the whole world. Jesus calls the Devil, a murderer and a liar, from the beginning (genesis) (John 8:44). So the [old] serpent here refers to the Devil.

So now, with the understanding of who the ‘serpent’ refers to, we can move on to recognize that the Devil is a created being (that the Lord God had made). He is just another creature, subject to the power and authority of God the Creator, which he attempted to usurp.

The verse reads, the serpent (Devil) was subtil than any other beast of field – so how wise was the Devil? To measure the wisdom of the Devil, we ought to search the Scripture to find one who is declared wise and use that person as an yardstick. The Bible records in the book of Daniel, that in all matters of wisdom and understanding, Daniel and his friends were found to be ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in the king’s realm (Daniel 1:17-21) and the Devil (referred to as the King of Tyre in the book of Ezekiel) is said to be even more wiser than Daniel (Ezekiel 28:3). So it is no surprise that the Devil is subtil and shrewd, deceiver of the world.

Finally, it is important to recognize that ‘serpents’ themselves are not evil for God created them as a beast and declared that it was good. Furthermore, the serpent is not figuratively the Devil nor is the Devil solely manifested in the form of a serpent. While this is not impossible for the Devil can transform himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), other parts of the Scripture reveal that the Devil (Satan) of his fallen angels (devils) can possess animals and humans and so it is plausible that one of the creatures (a serpent in the garden) was an agent of (possessed by) the Devil, for just as Satan entered Judas (Luke 22:3; John 13:27) and the legion of devils entered the pigs (Luke 8:33), animals and humans could be possessed. Though the details of the manifestation of the Devil as a serpent is inconsequential, what is of importance is for us to be on guard, lest we are deceived, by the subtil serpent and not let him enter (possess) us.

Points to ponder:
Let us not be deceived by the subtil serpent but let us be wise – wise as serpents (Matthew 10:16). How can we be wise? The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10). To fear God (be wise) and keep his commandments is the conclusion of the matter – the whole duty of all mankind (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Are you wise? Are I wise?

Genesis 3:1-2 (KJV)
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

Revelation 12:9 (KJV)
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 20:2 (KJV)
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Naked and unashamed or ashamed

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On June 3, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the word ‘shame’ as ‘a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety’ and defines the word ‘guilt’ as ‘the fact of having committed a breach of conduct especially violating law and involving a penalty.’

Before man sinned, he was not guilty and hence unashamed even when naked, for Genesis 2:25 states “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” After man sinned, sin entered the world and made each and every one guilty of death (Romans 5:12). The Bible states in the book to the Hebrews that there is no creature that is not manifest in God’s sight, but all things are naked before the eyes of God to whom we must all give account (Hebrews 4:13). There are no hidden (secret) sins as God will bring to light the hidden things of darkness (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Points to ponder:
With each of us, being naked before God, the question that remains is, do you find yourself ashamed or unashamed? The only way we can be unashamed, despite our nakedness before God, is if we are clothed by robes of righteousness. In order to be clothed by robes of righteousness, we ought to believe in the RIGHTEOUS God, Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 23:6), for in believing are we imputed righteousness (Galatians 3:6). So, are you ashamed (guilty of death) before the omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient God or are you unashamed (clothed with the righteousness of Jesus)? Believe and be unashamed.

Genesis 2:25 (KJV)
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Hebrews 4:13 (KJV)
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

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