Everything is in balance God has created a perfect world for man and women. Now
lets take an in-depth look at the when that world was destroyed by sin.
Let's
examine the Genesis account of the temptation of (Eve) to the temptation of (Christ)
recorded in Matthew Chapter four. First let's look at the avenues that Satan uses
to attack each.
(1 John 2:16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but
is of the world.
Now the serpent was more subtle 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? (Satan was making an opening statement that
God had denied everything from them) 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We
may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which
is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall
ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely
die (Satan was making a statement to confuse the issue or to raise a question
or cause one to doubt God) 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. (Then
he made it appears as if God was unjustly trying to keep them from knowing and then
he told a very clever lie that was somewhat true there eyes would be open they would
know evil and good but they would not be God) 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 (Dummy) 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.· 1 John 2:16 For all
that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride
of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Eve was tempted and
fell into sin because she:
· Listened to Satan
· Whispered
in her ear that God was not fair was trying to rob them of joy of knowledge and they
could be equal with God. · Tampered with the truth
· Outright
denial, added to the word of God misquote · Open denial of the punishments
·
Jealousy
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,
Temptation of Christ
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness
to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights,
he was afterward an hungered. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou
be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread (Lust of the Flesh
is what Satan tried on the Lord Jesus Christ). 4 But he answered and said, It
is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth
him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God,
cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning
thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy
foot against a stone. (Here Satan tries to Get Jesus to fall for the pride of
life) 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord
thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth
him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9And saith unto him, All
these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me (Satan was
trying to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ with the lust of the eye). 10 Then saith
Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the
Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and,
behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Six results of the fall of
Adam and Eve.
Upon themselves
(1.) "shame, a
sense of degradation and pollution;
(2.) Lost the relationship with
God dread of the displeasure of God, or a sense of guilt, and the consequent
desire to hide from his presence. These effects were unavoidable. They prove the
loss not only of innocence but also of original righteousness, and, with it, of the
favour and fellowship of God. The state therefore to which Adam was reduced by his
disobedience, so far as his subjective condition is concerned, was analogous to that
of the fallen angels. He was entirely and absolutely ruined". But the unbelief
and disobedience of our first parents brought not only on themselves this misery
and ruin, it entailed also the same sad consequences on all their descendants.
Upon
the rest of human race to follow:
(1.)The guilt, i.e., liability
to punishment, of that sin comes by imputation upon all men, because all were
represented by Adam in the covenant of works (q.v.). the sin of Adam is imputed to
all his descendants, i.e., it is reckoned as theirs, and they are dealt with therefore
as guilty; The effects of this first sin upon our first parents themselves were
(2.)
Hence, also, all his descendants inherit a corrupt nature. In all by nature there
is an inherent and prevailing tendency to sin. This universal depravity is taught
by universal experience. All men sin as soon as they are capable of moral actions.
The testimony of the Scriptures to the same effects is most abundant (Rom. 1; 2;
3:1-19, etc.).
(3.) This innate depravity is total: we are by nature
"dead in trespasses and sins," and must be "born again" before
we can enter into the kingdom (John 3:7, etc.).
(4.) Resulting from this
"corruption of our whole nature" is our absolute moral inability to
change our nature or to obey the law of God.
· Conflict between Flesh and
Spirit
· Infuriating Frustration
· (Romans 7:14-17) For we
know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (How can I resolve
the struggle within myself?) {15} For that which I do I allow not: for what I would,
that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. {16} If then I do that which I would not,
I consent unto the law that it is good. {17} Now then it is no more I that do it,
but sin that dwelleth in me.
· Inherent Hostility
· (Romans 7:18-21)
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will
is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. {19} For the
good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. {20} Now if
I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. {21}
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
· Two
natures reside in each Christian, the carnal nature or the flesh, is the part of
us that enjoys doing evil. · The nature of Christ is the new man who enjoys obeying
God's law.
· Inevitable Conflict
· In Relation to the Flesh
and the Spirit,
· (Galatians 5:16-18) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit,
and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. {17} For the flesh lusteth against
the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the
other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. {18} But if ye be led of the
Spirit, ye are not under the law.
· Works of the flesh
· (Galatians
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, · Sins of a Spiritual Nature (Galatians 5:20) Idolatry,
witchcraft, · Sins of a Social Nature hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies, · Sins of a Societal Nature · (Galatians 5:21) Envyings, murders,
drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have
also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the
kingdom of God.
· Living in the Spirit
· (Galatians 5:22-23) But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, {23} Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
5. Love is
the overarching virture of the fruit of the Holy Spirit
6. Joy, the second
virture of the fruit of the Spirit, contrasts with happiness, and elusive will-o-the-wisp
that all people pursue. Happiness is a superficial emotion that depends on circumstances
or hope. Joy on the other hand, is deep seated sense of well-being that does
not depend on circumstances or prospects.
Longsuffering is conquering patience
and endurance
1. Gentleness--Spirit led believers exhibit the same
manner of kindness to the people in their circle of influence.
2. Goodness--is
the sixth virtue of the fruit of the Spirit. As God's goodness is designed to led
to repentance, the goodness of the Spirit in our lives convicts others and points
them to Christ.
3. Faith, is the only virtue that is both a fruit of
the Spirit and a gift of the Spirit.
4. Meekness is a product of the
Spirit-filled life. Unlike the contemporary meaning of the word, however the biblical
term means being considerate, teachable, and submissive to the will of God.
5.
The virtue of temperance is the quality of self control. It means possessing
self-mastery in all aspects of life
Two fold living
(Galatians
5:24-25) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections
and lusts. {25} If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
1.
Crucify self! 2. Dethrone sin! 3. Yield you body to Christ
