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Category: Through the Bible Page 41 of 46

The consequences of Adam’s disobedience

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On July 3, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

After Adam and Eve sinned, God told Adam, ”All the days of your life, you shall eat of the ground (herb of the field) which he cursed,  in sorrow, and by the sweat of you face shall you eat bread and return to the ground as dust that you are and were fashioned out of.” (Genesis 3:17-19), because he heeded more to the voice of the devil through his wife, than of God.

First and foremost, while many regard this to be the curse of Adam, it is important for us to recognize that, upon the disobedience of man and the woman, God did NOT curse the man, Adam, but instead he cursed the ground as he continued to reveal the elements of his masterplan of redemption through Jesus Christ. The consequences of one man’s sin was sorrow from toil, (just as it was of the woman), thorns and thistles, sweat and death.

Adam did not have to toil laboriously before his sinned to eat of the produce of the ground, but now he would have to, for before he sinned, all that was good for food and pleasing to the eyes is what the ground produced (Genesis 2:9). Now thorns and thistles, would it also produce, adding to the sorrow of his travail and he would have to sweat for his sustenance (bread). Apostle Paul remin the church of Thessalonica, Apostle Paul reminds the Church of Thessalonica of this consequence of sin, for he wrote that if one does not work, then that person should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Then God said that he (Adam) who was made a living soul (Genesis 2:7), would return to the dust, meaning that he would die. Death came into the world by one man, Adam and it continues to this day (Romans 5:12).

Points to ponder:
Sorrow, thorns and thistles, sweat, and death are the consequences of sin. Adam sin’s warranted a Savior who could annul the curse on the ground, brought about by Adam. Jesus became the curse for he was crucified on a tree/cross, for it is written that anyone who hangs on the tree is accursed (Galatians 3:13). Jesus was described as a man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3). Thorns were used to mock and crown Jesus (John 19:2). His agony for bearing the wrath of God was so intense that he started to sweat blood (Luke 22:44) and Jesus became obedient unto death, even death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). 

All of the consequences of man’s sin was poured out on Jesus, God’s only begotten son. He who knew no sin was made sin for us and he was made a man of sorrows to bear our sorrow. He was pierced with a crown of thorns and had to languish so much so that he sweat blood in his agony. And then Jesus died in our place so that we need not die. 

As physical child of the first Adam, we are conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5) and sinful.
As the spiritual children of God, we are imputed the righteousness of God (because Jesus became sin for us) and are saved.
Through the first Adam’s sin – death entered the world. (Romans 5:12)
Through the last Adam’s (Jesus’) sacrifice – life (resurrection from the dead) entered the world.

(1 Corinthians 15:21)

Which Adam are you the child of?

Genesis 3:17-19 (KJV)
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Romans 5:12 (KJV)
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (KJV)
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

The consequences of the woman’s disobedience

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On July 2, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

After Adam and Eve sinned, God told the woman, “I will multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow you shall bring forth children; and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

First and foremost, while many regard this to be the curse of Eve, it is important for us to recognize that, upon the disobedience of man and the woman (who was yet to be named Eve) , God did NOT curse the woman, as he did the serpent and the ground (Genesis 3:14; 3:17), but instead told her the consequences of her selfish lusts. The consequences of her sin was sorrow.

Often the increase in the sorrow of the woman in conception and childbirth is taught to us, as an increase in the pain of labor during childbirth, but the Scripture does not necessarily state an increase in pain, as a consequence of sin, but refers more to the condition of the woman, in conception and childbirth, as one of sorrow (and travail). At this point it is also important to recognize that the pangs of child birth are momentary, only to be replaced with joy upon child birth. Reflectively, God was continuing his revelation of his plan of redemption (Salvation) unto the woman. After he had confirmed the enmity between the serpent (Satan) and the woman (the Church), he was now confirming with the woman (the Church) that the woman (the Church) will be in a state of sorrow and travail, as a woman in labor, when her hour will come, as her bridegroom (Jesus) will be taken away from her, to the Father. The hour of the Church to act for God is here and now, for when we look around, we see that it is not received in a friendly manner by the world. Instead the pangs of the Church to have those who are not part of God’s family to be born (again) into his kingdom is an arduous and travailing task, often combined with sorrow, as many are put into situations such as torture (verbal, mental, physical), separation from their loved ones, beaten, imprisoned, and in some case even death. Jesus himself expressed the very state of sorrow that his disciples will be subject too, but then went on to assure that the present state of suffering (sorrow) will be turned into a state of joy, for just as a woman has sorrow when she is in travail because her hour has come, upon the delivery of her child, she remembers her anguish no more, because of the joy she experiences when a man is born into the world (John 16:21).

Additionally, God told the woman, that her desire will be to her husband, and he will rule over her. Some teach that this means that the woman’s disobedience led to her losing her position of equality with man, for though she was made as a help meet for him, her husband would now rule over her. Though this is certainly plausible, a more thorough scrutiny of the Scripture, reveals a hidden treasure in it, for the text does not read, the woman’s desire will be to rule over her husband, but instead she would be ruled over. Reflectively, this is actually a continuation of God’s revelation of his masterplan of restoration after redemption as to how the desire of the woman (the Church) will be her husband (Jesus Christ who will wed the Church – Revelation 19), and (not but) he (Jesus) shall rule over her.

Points to ponder:
The consequences of sin is sorrow – the sorrow (or anxiety) of being separated from our Savior (the bridegroom) and until he returns in the clouds (Revelation 1:7) and takes us to his Father’s mansion (John 14:2) to be with him (John 14:3), we as the Church have to travail as a woman in child birth. To have people be born again into the family of God, so that they can address God as Abba Father (Romans 8:15), the Church has to toil, but Jesus has promised that in a little while, we shall see him again (John 16:16) and when we do, our sorrows shall be turned into joy and we shall remember our anguish no more (John 16:21). Are you still in a state of sorrow? If yes, repent. If not, let us look forward to the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ, diligently, when he shall turn our sorrows into joy.

Genesis 3:16 (KJV)
16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

John 16:1-7; 16-22 (KJV)
1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
…
16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

The first Gospel – cure for the first curse

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On July 1, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 3:14 records the first curse of God on Satan, the ancient serpent, who beguiled man (and woman) to fall from the glory of God, but God in his infinite wisdom, announces his masterplan of Salvation for the very first time, following the first curse. This in other words is the first mention of the cure for the fallen state of man. Genesis 3:15 states that God will put enmity between the serpent (Satan) and the woman and between his seed and the seed of the woman and while Satan can merely bruise the heel of the seed of the woman, this God ordained seed will bruise the head of Satan. This announcement of God is often referred to as proto-evangelium, which means, the first Gospel.

Enmity here means – no friendship one with another – for friendship with one is in essence enmity with the other (James 4:4) and the Bible makes it clear that there can be no communion between righteousness (light) and unrighteousness (darkness) (2 Corinthians 6:14). Those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, who have believed in him, are the light of the world and they belong to the church (the bride (woman) of God). Enmity between the serpent and the Church (woman) has been thus announced, implying that those who belong to the church of Jesus Christ can have no friendship with the world or its god, which is Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4).

The seed of the woman here is speaking of The Messiah, who in God’s appointed time, will be made of a woman. This is a direct and explicit prophecy of the first coming of Jesus Christ (Galatians 4:4).

The bruising of his heel is in one sense reflective of the nails that pierced the heels of Jesus, when he was crucified and in the other sense could be looked at how the devil impedes the progress of the Church but it can never prevail completely against it (Matthew 16:18).

Since the devil does not have any physical progeny, who could the seed of the serpent be indicative of? The seed of the serpent is reflective of the spiritual descendants of Satan, who refuse to believe in Jesus (John 8:45-46) whom Jesus himself referred to as children of the devil (John 8:44).

The bruising of the head of the serpent (Satan) is the prophecy of how Jesus will completely destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) – for when you strike the head of a serpent (and not its tail), it will be killed (2 Timothy 1:10; 1 John 3:8). By Jesus’ first coming (manifestation) and his shedding of blood, death and resurrection from death, he destroyed the power of sin and death (works of the devil) and upon his second coming Jesus will forever destroy the devil himself in the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:10) and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain for these former things will pass away (Revelation 21:4).

Points to ponder:
The cure for the first curse was announced as the first Gospel by God himself. Have you heard this Gospel of Jesus Christ as to how he has destroyed the works of the devil and will eventually destroy him (crush his head) forever. When we believe in him, we will no longer be children of the darkness (or the devil), but children of God and we can address God as Abba Father. Can you address God as Abba Father?

Genesis 3;15 (KJV)
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The first curse; Go on your belly and eat dust

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On June 28, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

God asked Adam, where he was and if he had eaten the fruit of the tree that he had commanded him not to eat of. God asked the woman (who was beguiled by Satan) as to what she had done. But God did not ask, Satan, where he was (for God knew that he had fallen from heaven to earth – Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:9), or if he had rebelled against God (which was not new for Satan – Ezekiel 28), but instead cursed him for his deception.

Though man had sinned against God, the first curse was on Satan, who brought it upon himself for God said “Because thou (Satan) has done this (beguiling man to sin), you are cursed above all cattle and every beast of the field.” (Genesis 3:14).

The first curse of God can be exposited as being both literal and reflective. Literally, serpents crawl on their belly but what about eating dust? Snakes don’t eat dust or do they? Snakes have been observed to flick their tongue and lick the dust of the earth and take odor particles from the dust to an olfactory sensory organ (Jacobson’s organ) that is found in the roof of their mouth (buccal cavity). Once these particles reach the organ, the chemical compounds in these odor particles bind to receptors in the organ and sensory messages are sent to the brain. These organs helps snakes to hunt and track their prey, which in a sense is akin to eating (licking) dust to eat (hunt and track).

Reflectively, this first curse of God was on Satan, the ancient serpent (Revelation 20:2). The Bible teaches us that the things that go on their belly in an abomination (Leviticus 11:42). God told man that he was dust and to dust he shall return (Genesis 3:19). The Bible also teaches us that Satan is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (eat) (1 Peter 5:8). So reflectively, to eat the dust for the rest of his life implies that Satan will continue to seek to devour mankind, till his appointed time.

To go (crawl) on the belly is a sign of disgust (abomination) To eat dust is a sign of despondency (Micah 7:17) which is the current cursed and future (the rest of his life) state of Satan

Points to ponder:
Sin brings with it a curse – the curse of death for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and the soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20). Let us be sober (in the Lord) and watchful and not allow ourselves to be devoured as dust by Satan but let us be transformed now by believing in Jesus and look forward to the transformation of our bodies of dust (jars of clay – 2 Corinthians 4:7) to an eternal celestial glorious one like his (Philippians 3:21).

Genesis 3:14 (KJV)
14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Leviticus 11:42 (KJV)
42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

Micah 7:17 (KJV)
17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the Lord our God, and shall fear because of thee.

The blame game – Who is to be blamed?

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On June 27, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Quite arguably the oldest game in the history of mankind is the “blame game” which has its origins in the garden of Eden, after the fall of man, when man sinned against God. When God questioned Adam, if he had eaten the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and of evil, which God had commanded him not to eat of, Adam fessed up that he did eat. However, before his confession, he frivolously attempts to blame it on his woman and then audaciously attempts to blame his sin on God (Genesis 3:12). Then when God asked the woman, “What is that you have done?”, she also fessed up that she did eat, but before she confessed, she also attempted to shift the blame on the serpent (the devil) whom she said beguiled her (Genesis 3:13).

Eve blamed the devil (ancient serpent – Revelation 12:9), who is guilty as charged, for he is a  deceiver of the world (Revelation 12:9), but did you notice, Adam, not only tried to blame the woman (who was made to be his help meet), but he also tried to blame God by saying, the woman that you (God) have given to be with me, is the one who made him sin.

Points to ponder:
Even today, there are those who futilely attempt to blame their circumstances or others for their personal failures in the spiritual realms. Some go so far as to even blame God but the scripture makes it very clear that God cannot be tempted with evil nor does he tempt anyone, but each man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed, as was Eve and Adam (James 1:13-14).

Infact, the devil is the tempter (Matthew 4:3), but it is man and woman who sins out of their own lusts. We have no one to blame but ourselves when we disobey God to gratify our selfish desires. If we are playing the blame game, for our sinful lifestyle and personal disobediences against God’s commandments, let us stop playing this blame game, blaming others and certainly not, blame our failures on God. Instead let us watch and pray that we shall not fall into temptations and let us endure it, for when we are tried, we shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him (James 1:12).

Genesis 3:12-13 (KJV)
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

James 1:13-14 (KJV)
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

James 1:12 (KJV)
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Not to con but to confess

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On June 26, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The two questions that God asked Adam, after God had asked him where he was (after Adam had sinned) are: “Who told you that you were naked?” and “Have you eaten of the tree that I commanded you that you should not eat?”.

The first question goes unanswered and in the article entitled ‘The Naked Question“, an exposition of the first question from God was given. The second question gets answered even though the question itself may seem quite absurd and rhetorical to an omniscient God. The question was “Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou should not eat?” and Adam answered, after attempting some frivolous excuses and playing the “blame game”, “I did eat.”

The significance of God’s questioning and Adam’s response lies in the fact that God is showing us his character. Though he knew of Adam’s sin, he asked Adam instead of accusing him. God wanted Adam to confess for those who confess shall find mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

Adam eventually fessed up saying “I did eat” (Genesis 3:12). Imagine for a moment, what Adam’s consequence would have been, if he had try to con God, or denied his sin. If Adam had refused to accept him sinfulness, implying that he was without sin, he would have made God a liar (1 John 1:10). The Bible teaches us that God is not a man that he should lie nor the son of man that he should repent (change his mind) (Numbers 23:19). It is man, that needs to repent, when he/she sins, with a change and renewing of the mind, so that it does not conform to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2). The Bible states that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) and whoever covers sins will not prosper, but he that confesses (his sins) and forsakes (his sinful life) shall find mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

The wages of sin is death, but instead of punishing Adam and Eve with death, which they deserved, God was merciful in letting them live, but since God is a Holy God, and no unholiness can dwell in his presence, sinful man and woman had to be removed from the garden of God, where God came to commune with man. Though God is a Holy God, he does not accuse man of their sins and is a merciful and forgiving God.

Points to ponder:
Let us not make God a liar but let us find mercy and forgiveness from God. This comes by us,  acknowledging our unrepented sinfulness and confessing our sins, so that he, who is faithful, will have mercy upon us and forgive us, because of his faithfulness. God wants us not to con him, but to confess to him. Have I fessed up? Have you fessed up?

Genesis 3:11-12 (KJV)
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Proverbs 28:13 (KJV)
13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

The ‘Naked’ Question

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On June 25, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When God asked Adam, “Where are you?”, Adam responded that he was hiding because he was naked. God followed Adam’s response with two additional questions. He asked Adam, “Who told you that you were naked?” and secondly, “Have you disobeyed my commandment to refrain from eating the fruit of the forbidden tree?”

From Genesis 3:7, we learn that Adam and Eve had sewn themselves aprons of fig to cover themselves; so physically they were not naked. Then why did Adam say he was (still) naked? It is not physical nakedness that Adam and God are dialoging about here, but spiritual nakedness. Since there are no secret (hidden) sins from the sight of God, everyone stands exposed (spiritually naked) before God to whom we must each give our account (1 Corinthians 4:5; Hebrews 4:13). We are counseled to buy white raiment (clothes/robes) so that we may be clothed and the shame of our nakedness does not appear (Revelation 3:18).

So who told Adam that he was naked? At that point in time, besides God and his creation of living things, which included the plants, the animals, the man Adam and the woman Eve – the other creature that was on earth, was the adversary (Satan). Satan had been kicked out of the presence of the Lord God (Isaiah 14:12) and he established his dominion on the earth as its god (2 Corinthians 4:4). He was walking to and fro on the earth (Job 1:7) as a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8) and he was in the garden of Eden (Ezekiel 28:13). God did not accuse Adam and Eve, but instead questioned Adam if he had disobeyed God, we can assume that it was not The Lord God who told Adam that he was naked. And since the plants and animals are not known to have natural vocal abilities, the plausible option is to speculate that it was Satan, that could have told Adam (and Eve) of their spiritual nakedness, for he is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). However, this is merely a conjecture as the scripture does not explicitly confirm this.

The Scripture does tell us that the eyes of Adam and Eve was opened and then they realized that they were naked. When Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone” and stooped to write in the ground, the Bible records, that the accusers of the adulteress, were convicted by their own conscience (John 8:9) and they left her, one by one. Jesus also said, that when the Holy Spirit of God comes upon you, he will convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment (John 16:8-11). When the breath of life (Holy Spirit of God) was breathed into the lifeless body of dust (of Adam), Adam became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). It is more plausible that the Holy Spirit convicted Adam and Eve of their sin and of righteousness and judgment; of sin (that they disobeyed God and were beguiled by Satan), of righteousness (that they had fallen short of God’s glory and found themselves to be spiritually naked needing now robes of righteousness) and of judgment (that made them afraid for along with the prince of this world, they would also be judged unless they are clothed in righteousness).

Points to ponder:
There is no condemnation to those who are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit of God (Romans 8:1). It is not quiet as important as to who tells us that we are spiritually naked – be it the accusation of the adversary (Satan), or the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our own conscience, when we sin. What is of critical importance is, that, when God calls for us saying “Where are you?”, will we find ourselves saying that we are spiritually “naked”? – that is the question. Let us be clothed with the white robes of Jesus’ righteousness, being imputed on us, when we believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only son and Savior, so that when The Lord God comes looking for us, we will not have to hide, as a result of our spiritual nakedness. Are you (spiritually) naked (and hiding) – that is the question?

Genesis 3:11 (KJV)
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Revelation 3:18 (KJV)
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

“Where art thou?” asks God – Did God not know?

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On June 24, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

After Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord God, they heard his voice as he walked, in the garden, in the cool of the day; and they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God. And the Lord God called out to Adam and asked “Where art thou?” To this Adam responds, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked and so I hid myself.”

Now God’s question to Adam, “Where art thou?” In a way, puts into question the omniscience of God. Did God not know where Adam (and Eve) was?

From Adam’s response, we can learn that Adam and Eve were hiding themselves from the presence of an Lord God, but the scripture informs us that the Lord God is omniscient (all-knowing) and that there is no place where anyone or anything can hide from him (Job 28:24, 1 John 3:19-20, Hebrews 4:13, Psalm 139:1-10).

From this, we can exposit that God, despite his omniscience, wanted Adam (and Eve) to acknowledge and recognize that disobedience (sin) causes a severance in the relationship, one has, with God. This God makes evidently clear, through his prophet Isaiah, who recorded, ‘Our iniquities separates us from God and our sins have made him hide his face from us (Isaiah 59:2).’

Adam and Eve were hiding from the presence of a searching and seeking God who loved them. They were hiding, because their willful disobedience had cause a break in the relationship man had with God which made God have to search and seek them by calling out “Where art thou?”

Points to ponder:
Even today, there are many who are futilely trying to hide behind human efforts (fig leaves), from the presence of the Lord God. And he is searching and seeking and calling out for you, asking “Where art thou?”

“Where art thou?” asks God, not because he does not know, but because he wants you to confess with your mouth your very state and place in your relationship with God.
What is your response going to be? Is it going to be “I am here, Lord” or is it going to be “I heard your voice, and I hid myself, because I was afraid?”
Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have no reason to be afraid or to hide themselves. Do you believe?
God is calling out to you now saying – Where art thou?

Genesis 3:8-10 (KJV)
8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Psalm 139:2-10 (KJV)
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

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.

Aprons of fig leaves – FAIL

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On June 21, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

After Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, disobey God, they became aware (their eyes were opened) of their folly and they realized that they were exposed and unclothed. So they make a vain attempt to sew fig leaves together and made themselves the first aprons (clothes) to cover their shame. Then they hear the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day; and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God. (Genesis 3:6-8)

When this account is viewed cursorily, one tends to miss out certain key aspects of the consequences of sin and some characteristics of God. First, sin brings with it nakedness and shame when exposed. Can you even fathom telling  your closest friend or family member, all of the sins that you have committed or are still committing? It creates a shameful situation, doesn’t it? When we disobey God, we are naked before him for there can be no secret (hidden) sins (Psalm 90:8). Second, in their effort to cover their shame that resulted from their willful disobedience, Adam and his wife attempted to cover their sinful state, with their own human efforts – sewing themselves the first aprons from fig leaves. But when they hear the Lord God walking in the garden, they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God, implying that their efforts to cover their sin was insufficient (an epic FAILure) to cover their sinful state of shame. Third, we see that in the cool of the day, God came to visit man as a Father seeking his lost son, and his voice was heard.

Points to ponder:
First, when we sin we are naked before God – in a state of sinful shame that needs to be covered. Since all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), we are all exposed before God. Second, no human effort can cover sin. In fact, the very attempt of man to achieve salvation on his or her own efforts is cursed. Remember, how Jesus cursed the fig tree which had no fruit but just leaves (Matthew 21:19; Mark 11:13-14) – leaves that could be sewn to make aprons to cover sin (Genesis 3:7).  The remission of sin takes the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22; Matthew 26:28) and it takes a sacrifice to cover the shame of sin. God had to shed blood to cover man with a hide that could hide God’s wrath from man (Genesis 3:21).It takes the blood of Jesus alone to cover our sinful state. Third, no amount of sin can keep God away from us. His beckoning call as an eager father seeking his lost son, is ever present and his voice heard, asking us to repent, irrespective of our sinfulness. If we believe in Jesus Christ, whom God the Father gave out of his love for us, to be THE SACRIFICE to cover our sin and shame, we have no reason to hid ourselves from the presence of the Lord God. If we don’t believe, then we have absolutely no covering whatsoever, in heaven or earth or in it, to protect us from God’s holy judgment and wrath. Let us believe and not have the need to sew aprons, to hide ourselves from the presence of a loving God, I beseech you.

Genesis 3:6-8 (KJV)
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

 

“Ye shall be as gods” – The God complex (in heaven and earth)

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On June 20, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The first recorded citation of “The God complex” can be attributed to Ernest Jones’ 1913 publication of Volume II of the Essays in Applied Psychoanalysis. In this Mr. Jones describes the God complex as belief that one is God. However, this God complex did not necessarily have its genesis in the early part of the 1900s, but it can be dated back to the time in the garden of Eden, when man was first created, and furthermore even to the very creation of God’s angels, before the creation of man. The God complex has its roots in prideful heart of Lucifer, one of God’s created angel, who set his heart as the heart of God (Ezekiel 28:6) and said in his heart, “I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:12-14). In other words, Lucifer purposed in his heart and said “I shall be as God.” for which he was kicked out of heaven, from the presence of the Lord Most High and falling from  God’s presence in heaven (Isaiah 14:12), he was brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit (Isaiah 14:15). He was there in the garden of Eden (Ezekiel 28:13) where God placed the man he had created in his own image (Genesis 1:27), whom God crowned with with glory and honor (Psalm 8:5).

Having been exiled from the presence of the Lord Most High, Lucifer, the wise and perfect creation of God (Ezekiel 28:12) becomes the adversary (Satan) of God. From his very own experience, he knew that the one who tries to elevate himself or herself to be God, will be banished from God’s presence. With this knowledge, Lucifer (the deceiving ancient serpent) beguiles Eve, by appealing to her God complex. She like Adam was made perfect in the image of God, but was not God, and when she caved to the temptation of the God complex, both Adam and Eve had to face the same consequences, as that of Lucifer – banishment from God’s presence.

Points to ponder:
No one can be God except God himself. We are commanded to be perfect (Holy) as God is; that is, we need to become like God, but not God. In other words, we need to be made perfect, which comes solely by believing in Jesus, God’s Only begotten Son, for when we believe in Jesus, Jesus’ (God’s) righteousness is credited (imputed) on us.

Though the lie of the God complex [“Ye shall be as gods”], began in heaven, it is still prevalent today. Today, it comes from the very pit of hell from the evil one and so we must not succumb to it as have many world religions and sects – hinduism (The Bhagavad Gita alludes to the notion that the atman (soul) of a person and the Brahman (the essence of God) are one and the same), mormonism (who leaders Snow said in 1840 – “As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.”), etc.. The only way we can be restored into the image (or likeness) of God is by believing in Jesus, and not elevating our hearts with an abominable pride, as the adversary did.

On a side note, if you notice the words of the devil as he was tricking Eve, you will find that he said, “Ye shall be as gods” – gods, here implying Elohim (which is in the plural). “The Lord our God is One LORD (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29). Given the devil was referring to God as Elohim, when he said “gods”, he was inadvertently testifying to the Trinity of God, with the difference being that God is One God in three persons (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) and not three gods as one. 

Genesis 3:5 (KJV)
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Isaiah 14:12-15 (KJV)
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

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