What Was the First Sin?

Well, let’s begin by looking at Gen. 3:1-2, 4-5, “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?  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden . . . And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 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.”  Now, one of the things that I want to point out about these four verses, is that when we look at Eve, what we do not see, very easily, is that both of them (Adam and Eve) were here together.  I say this because of the word, “eat” is an imperfect, second person plural, masculine verb.  When Satan speaks to Eve, because of the form of verb he uses, it makes us ask the question, why did he use that form of speech?  It is because Adam is standing there by Eve.  How do we know?  From the Hebrew language.

Now, if Adam was not there, Satan would have spoken to Eve in the second person, singular, feminine form.  However, in Hebrew, if two or more people are there, it is always the masculine forum.  Also, when men are present, it is always masculine.  Second, in vs. 3, we have Eve saying, “we may eat.”  Now, I understand that in the English, people think that a private conversation is taking place between Eve and Satan.  And, many think that Adam was elsewhere.  But, that simply is not supported by the text.

So, Adam is there, but let’s also take a look at Adam and Eve being ejected from the Garden of Eden, because after Satan has talked to Eve, look what God said that helps us to understand the first sin.  In vs. 9, notice that God did not ask for both of them, but just Adam, “Where art thou?”  But, why not ask for both since both sinned?  Well, just before this, in vs. 5-6, it states, “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. 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.”  Now, notice that the text says that Eve gave to her husband who was with her.

Again, while this shows that Adam was with Eve, I do not believe this is why God called for just Adam in vs. 9.  Look at vs. 17 which says, “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;” Adam did not accidentally eat here.  He hearkened, meaning, he followed Eve’s leadership.  Now, who made her to be the leader?  In vs. 16, Adam was to rule over Eve.  In 1 Tim. 2:13, speaking of the woman and how she is to not be the leader, Paul reminds Timothy that Adam was formed first by God, then Eve, making him the leader.  Thus, the wife is to be submissive.

So, God was saying to Adam in Gen. 3:17, “I gave you the authority.”  But, Adam allowed Eve to battle the serpent all by herself.  Adam said nothing despite the fact that he was suppose to be the spiritual leader, the head of the house.  God created woman for Adam’s companionship and for him to lead her.  And so, when Adam did nothing, that was his sin.

Now, many believe that eating the fruit was the first sin, but not according to God.  Now, I know in Gen. 3, is shows that Eve ate the first fruit, but look at Rom. 5:12-19.  In the text here, it shows that sin came into the world through Adam.  So, if the 1st sin was eating fruit, Eve would have been guilty of committing the 1st sin.  But, this is not true.  The 1st sin was done by Adam by not being the leader and because of it, Eve was deceived.  Adam sat there like a bump on a log.  Now, some say, how could Adam do that?  Well, men do it all the time.  In many congregations, it is the women who drag the children to church.

Now, getting back to Genesis 3 and these forms in the Hebrew language, some say, why didn’t Satan use the right form of words?  Again, the serpent was addressing both of them, but only Eve responded to him.  Now, something strange here is that, you will never find in the Bible Eve being called a sinner.  Adam is called the sinner because Adam transgressed.  And, the closest you will find in the Bible to Eve being called a sinner is found in 1 Tim. 2:14 where it states, “Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”  So, for Eve, she finds herself deceived and tricked.  Adam tripped, he was suppose to make the decisions, standing between Eve and Satan.  But, he was a coward.

So, knowing this, who does God remove from the garden in Gen. 3?  Who does he banish?  I don’t think it was Adam and Eve.  Look at vs. 21, it states that God clothed “them.”  However, in vs. 23, the text says that God sent him forth,”him” that is, Adam.  Now, this word “him,” in Hebrew, is the 3rd person, singular, masculine pronoun.  God did not banish them, God banished him.  It is not the Hebrew word otam “them.”  It is the Hebrew word otah “him.”  And, this is further shown in vs. 24, where it states, “So he drove out the man . . .” This is a masculine, singular noun.

So, Adam sinned, hearkening to his wife (giving her the authority) who brought sin in and was ejected from the Garden of Eden.  But, this brings up another question: how did Eve end up leaving?  Well, Eve has to go because she is with Adam.  She is Adam’s aid or “helpmeet” and as we know in Gen. 2:24, the two, both Adam and Eve, became one flesh.  So, where he went, she went.

Now, as to the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, this was also violation of God’s commands in which it cost both Adam and Eve the possibility of spiritually being separated from God for all eternity.  Which is why in Gen. 3:15, we have God pointing to the cross of Christ, the Redeemer.

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Traditions

I enjoy the last few months of the year for a variety of reasons. I enjoy being outdoors, hunting, shooting and playing golf, and the more mild temperatures of autumn make outdoor activities so much more enjoyable. I love the smell of a fire and the colors of the leaves as they change. I enjoy Thanksgiving and the reminder of how blessed we have been the past year and how I should be thankful for God’s bounty every day! I enjoy relaxing and spending time with family and friends. I love Christmas time, the tree, the lights, THE PRESENTS! But most of all I enjoy the traditions.

Some traditions have been around long before any of us where here. Cookies left out for Santa come to mind as a particular favorite. Some times we begin new traditions and build memories that last for ages to come.

As Christians though I think we should keep in mind that traditions can be bad as well as good. Traditions are bad when they violate scripture. Just because we have always done something (as a church, in our families, or personally) does not mean that it is acceptable to God. Remember that everything that we say or do should be done with authority from Christ and with thanksgiving (Colossians 3:17).

Traditions can be bad if we bind them as law, or when we reject the law of God to hold on to them. This was a major problem with the first century Jews. Jesus said, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). He also told them, “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7:9).

But traditions are great things when kept in harmony with God’s Law. Paul said, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).  Now of course by traditions here Paul was referring to keeping (practicing) the law (teaching) that had been passed on from God to us all. Isn’t that what faithful brethren are trying to do every day?

During this holiday season may we all strive to keep the law of Christ and not allow traditions to violate our calling. Also, pray for the strength to teach and help others to do the same. Remember, “… ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;” (1 Peter 1:18).

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God’s Forgiveness

Man holds grudges. When we do wrong to our fellow man and then repent and apologize, often it is the case that the one we have wronged will say “I forgive you.” and will go ahead and hold a grudge against you. They forgive, but they do not forget and the very next time you offend them, they remind of you of your past offenses and make it clear that they’re still holding them against you. God is not like men, He does not holds grudges against us for our past mistakes, so long as we are penitent and seek forgiveness through His son Jesus the Christ.

It is a part of the human condition to struggle with sin. Each of us may have one particular sin that we struggle with the most often. Perhaps we have committed this sin many times over a period of years. Each time we transgress in that area we feel guilty and we genuinely repent. We know it is wrong and we make ourselves a pledge that we will not commit this particular sin again. We pray that we will be delivered from the temptation with regard to this sin and for the next several months we are successful in our attempts to overcome it.

After some time has gone by, we lose a little bit of our vigilance in this area. It is at this point that perhaps we have a bad couple of days; either we’re very tired or very stressed and this temptation comes before us, and because we are at a moment of weakness and are alone, we give into the temptation once more. Afterward, we come to our self, realizing that have done it again and are struck with grief and self-loathing over it. We’re genuinely sorry for our sin and we repent of it. Once more we pray for forgiveness and for strength in the face of temptation. Once more we dedicate ourselves to never committing this sin again and for the next several weeks or months we are very vigilant towards it.

Then as time goes by we go through a tough stretch; either we’re very tired or very stressed and this temptation comes before us, and because we are at a moment of weakness and are alone, we give into the temptation once more. Afterward, we come to our self, realizing that have done it again and are struck with grief and self-loathing all over again…

Maybe this sequence has played itself out many times in your life and you begin to feel as if you will never overcome it. Perhaps you start thinking that maybe you really have never truly repented and start to question whether God will forgive you again this time. After all, you think, if you had truly repented the times before, you would not have committed the same sin again. Or maybe, you think that God will not believe that you have truly repented and will give up on you. So the question arises in your mind, “Is there a limit to God’s forgiveness? Is there a point at which God will no longer forgive my sins?”

Peter asked our Lord the same question with regard to forgiving others, but the same principle applies with God’s forgiveness. “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” (Matthew 18:21) Some in that day were teaching that one only had to forgive someone three times and that after a fourth transgression, no forgiveness was necessary. But notice Jesus’ answer to this question, “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:22) The number seventy times seven (490) is not to be taken literally in this case, but what he is saying, in essence, is that we must forgive our brother every time he repents. Notice what Jesus said in Luke 17:3-4, “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” (Luke 17:3-4) Observe that forgiveness with our brother is conditioned upon his repentance just like our forgiveness with God is conditioned upon our repentance.

If we are to forgive our brother every time he repents without any limitations, then it stands to reason that with God it is the same. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1 John 1:9) God will forgive His children each time they repent of their sins, without fail and without exception. The one who thinks that God will stop forgiving them because they cannot seem to break the cycle of sin is mistaken. The only sins that God will not forgive are impenitent sins committed out a spirit of rebellion against Him. The very fact that a Christian is earnestly struggling against sin in his life and sincerely repenting of his sins shows that he has not committed this type of sin.

When we first became a Christian, every sin that we had committed prior to our obedience to the gospel was forgiven. “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:16-17). God forgives and then He “forgets” and treats the sin as if it never occurred. If one sins,

 

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Becoming A Child of God

The decision to become a child of God is the most important decision anyone can ever make, even above the decision of marriage and career. Paul proclaimed, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27). To expound upon this great truth, let us learn how one may become a child of God.

It begins with knowledge. Through preserved revelation from God in the Bible, we learn about His eternal plan of redemption, “which he purposed in Christ Jesus, our Lord” (Eph. 3:8-12). In reference to this gracious act, Paul wrote to Timothy, “…which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Tim. 1:9). As a result, it is important for us to learn some things about God and His eternal will (John 6:44- 45). We learn what God did in order for us to become children of God: He sent His only begotten Son (John 3:16). He provides the opportunity to become children of God because of His great love, grace, and mercy. Jesus makes it possible for us to become children of God because of His great sacrifice on Calvary (Rom. 5:6-10). Not only that, we must understand the nature of sin and its repercussions in our lives. Sin separates us from the fellowship of God (Isa. 59:1-2), and it afflicts everyone (Rom. 3:23). Thus, we learn of our eternal jeopardy, and we learn what our Lord paid as a penalty for our sins (Rom. 3:24-26). All of this underscores the importance of hearing the good news of Jesus (Rom. 10:13-17), as well as that of teaching these important truths (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16). Becoming a child of God begins with knowledge—knowledge concerning the nature and will of God, knowledge of sin and the nature of humanity, and knowledge of the good news that makes it possible to become a child of God!

Once one acquires this knowledge, he must place his trust in God by believing the evidence before him. This is the definition of “faith.” It is placing our trust in God because we believe what He says, what He has done, and what He will do for us. This trust and belief is so deep in our heart, soul, and mind that it compels us to follow Jesus and obey Him. No wonder the Hebrew writer succinctly stated, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). As we noted in the introductory paragraph, Paul pronounced that we are the children of God “by faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26). Faith has always been important in developing the proper relationship with God. The apostle Paul sets forth Abraham as our example of saving faith in Romans 4, and even quoted from the Old Testament as he announced his thesis to the epistle: “The just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:16-17; Hab. 2:4).

After one believes with all of his heart, soul, and mind concerning that which pertains to developing a relationship with God as His child, he determines to leave behind that which endangers such a relationship. This is called “repentance.” It is a remorsefulness we have when we understand what sin does to God and to our lives (2 Cor. 7:10). It compels us to change our lives—to begin a life of denying ourselves and serving Christ (Matt. 21:28-31). It is that which God earnestly desires from everyone (Acts 17:30-31; 2 Pet. 3:9).

Such an individual, who has come to the right type of knowledge, believes it with all of his heart, and is willing to repent from all of his sins, is one who will have no problem confessing such to others. He is one who understands the need to clarify his commitment (Acts 8:36-37), as well as one who is overjoyed at the chance to confess his affinity to his Lord (Rom. 10:9-10).

Finally, one becomes a child of God when he submits to the command of baptism: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). It is that which procures us citizenship into the kingdom of God and brings about a new birth (John 3:3-5). It is that which provides remission from our sins and entrance into the church that Jesus built (Acts 2:38). It is that which signifies our relationship in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:3-6).

Therefore, a proper knowledge that leads to faith, repentance, confession, and baptism are necessary to become a child of God.

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UPS: Nothing Short of Sheer Hypocrisy!

From a news story received on November 14th, 2012:

ATLANTA – The UPS Foundation says it will no longer give grants to the Boy Scouts of America as long as the group excludes homosexuals from being scouts or scout leaders.

The philanthropic arm of the Atlanta-based shipping giant made the change after an online petition protesting the foundation’s annual grants to the Boy Scouts attracted more than 80,000 signatures. The UPS Foundation gave more than $85,000 to the Boy Scouts in 2011, according to its federal tax return.

A UPS spokeswoman says groups applying for the grants will have to adhere to the same standards UPS does. The company says it does not discriminate against anyone based on race, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

~Does the sheer and absolute hypocrisy of this scurrilous statement strike anyone else besides me? It is precisely their above stated policy that makes this company a complete liar, because they have just chosen to do exactly what they said they don’t (and not on only one, but on two out of the four facets they say they don’t): Discriminate against the Boy Scouts of America solely because of both the BSA’s “religion” AND “sexual orientation” – that they, the Boy Scouts of America, choose to be and stay and stand for God-defined, male-female, heterosexual relationships! UN–BELIEVABLE!

This is exactly the same, sheer insanity and double-standard hypocrisy as those people display who think that all Americans (and particularly the minority group known as Christian-Americans) are stupid and biblically uninformed enough (See John 8:31-32) not to instantly see through the utter transparency of their statements when they  continually seek to shove down our throats that, “there is no such thing as absolute truth,” – and want us to accept their statement as – guess what – absolute truth! May I restate? UN–BELIEVABLE!

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