Adam and Eve Lost It!
“The fear of Yahveh (the Lord) is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10). The renowned King Solomon at the end of his life, having tasted and seen all of the world’s treasures and pleasures, gained great understanding. Let us take to heart his words and learn from our first parent’s mistake, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Also Apostle John wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
Adam and Eve lacked wholehearted love and reverential fear of their Heavenly Father; this resulted in their vulnerability to deception and disobedience to His one commandment. As Yahshua (Jesus) said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Adam and Eve were not loyal, they did not honor their heavenly Father, instead they dishonored and grieved Him through their rebellious disobedience. Centuries later, in loving mercy for His creation, the Almighty gave the Ten Commandments to fallen man, to the Jews first and to all believing God fearing Gentiles throughout the earth. The 5th Commandment says, “Honor your Father and Mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2-3, Exodus 20:12). Our Heavenly Father is magnifying the importance of honoring and “respecting your parents” in order that we will learn to honor and obey Him, Who gave all The Ten Commandments as the righteous standard by which to be found obedient and holy in His sight (Revelation 22:14 KJV, Leviticus 19:3).
“How can we resist the Enemy of our souls, who we do not acknowledge and recognize?””
Our first parents easily fell prey to the Ancient Serpent because they did not draw near to their heavenly Father and resist the Enemy’s deceptive enticements. The Scripture says, “Submit [your will] … to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). How can we resist the Enemy of our souls, who we do not acknowledge and recognize? It is so important that we know the will of God and have the additional wisdom and discernment to be aware of Satan and his covert wicked schemes. Adam and Eve broke the bonds of love, faith, and obedience to the Almighty Creator; through deception and pride they rebelled thinking they knew what was best for them. A little deception goes a long way, leading to a lot of destruction, with fallen man continually falling downward towards the eternal fires of hell. Man’s free will is so vulnerable to rise up in defiant rebellion against the sovereign rulership and will of the holy God. Adam and Eve, “the appointed rulers of the earth”, through temptation, followed in Satan’s footsteps becoming fallen man to be “cast out of paradise” as Satan and the other rebellious angels were “cast out of heaven to earth” as fallen angels (see Genesis 1:28, 3:24, Revelation 12:9). These “principalities” are the origins of the demonic entities that are continually multiplying and working on earth through deceived humanity (Ephesians 6:12).
“Satan’s goal is to lead mankind away from the loving obedience and worship of the Almighty God and Savior, in order to have rulership and all the worship indirectly given to him””
Satan’s goal is to lead mankind away from the loving obedience and worship of the Almighty God and Savior, in order to have rulership and all the worship indirectly given to him. The devil has masses of humanity so deceived through the preoccupations and focus of attention and affection on anything and everything, from counterfeit religions and their innumerable foreign gods, to the idolatry and lust of the things of this world. Satan has successfully robbed the Almighty of the loving obedience and worship that is due to Him alone; it has been siphoned off by the deceiver and destroyer of men’s souls. The Most High God is very adamant in describing the eternal consequences due to anyone who does not “worship Him in spirit and in truth” and self-righteously defies His sovereign rulership and holy commandments. It is written, “the person who does anything defiantly, … that one is blaspheming the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord Yahveh and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off’ [cast out]” (John 4:24, Numbers 15:30-31). The Almighty says, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you” (Isaiah 59:2).
“Judgment will “begin with the household of God”, with those who are half hearted and “double minded”; confessing Him as “Lord and Savior” but not humbly submitting and surrendering to the Savior’s ruling authority over their redeemed lives””
Satan’s cunning temptations and lies successfully caused Adam and Eve to doubt, deny, defy, and to despise their Father’s word. Despise is the term used referring to lightly esteeming and treating casually our God and Savior’s holy will, expressed through His word and commandments. It is written, “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” leading to separation and sorrow (James 4:17). Apostle Peter said, judgment will “begin with the household of God”, with those who are half hearted and double minded; confessing Him as “Lord and Savior” but not humbly submitting and surrendering to the Savior’s ruling authority over their redeemed lives. Grievously, there is an increasing number of professing believers who give Almighty God superficial lip service, yet they do not seek and obey the His will according to the Holy Scriptures. Yahshua (Jesus) addressed this common malady of so many within the religious system, “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. ‘But in vain do they worship Me …’” (1Peter 4:17, James 1:8, Matthew 7:21, 15:7-9).
“Yahveh [the Lord] knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of Yahshua [Jesus] is to abstain from wickedness” (2 Timothy 2:19). We cannot give a cheap confession of belief in our God and Savior, thinking that that is enough to have the promise of eternal salvation. It is written, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation”. The “called, chosen, and faithful” are actively and prayerfully “fighting the good fight of faith”. They are continually “convicted of sin and righteousness and judgment”. The redeemed remnant are sincerely motivated by the Scripture that says, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” They obediently recognize and “crucify the deeds of the flesh” so that the “fruits of the Spirit” are produced in their lives to the “glory and honor of their God” and Savior (2 Corinthians 7:10, Revelation 17:14, 1 Timothy 6:12, John 16:8, Philippians 2:12, Galatians 5:22-24, 1 Corinthians 10:31).
Apostle John cautions us saying, “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; … No one who is born of God practices sin because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:7-9). When we are born of God we become a spiritual “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Those who are truly “born again” bear the likeness and identity of Yahshua (Jesus). They have the “deposit” of His indwelling Holy Spirit powerfully leading to wise obedient choices rather than the old nature and the self-will leading to continual sin and unrighteousness (John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Acts 5:32).
The writer of Hebrews gives a wake up call of warning and encouragement to all the household of faith, to spur us on to deny our flesh and to live by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is written, “Therefore brethren … Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds … encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. If we [of the redeemed remnant] go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries … How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unholy the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “Yahveh will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God … Therefore, do not throw away your confidence [faithful obedience], which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:19,23-26,29-31, 35-39)
“I discipline my body [my flesh] and keep it under control, lest I be a castaway””
As we continue to learn from Adam and Eve’s mistakes, may we be vigilant in becoming “holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—” (Colossians 1:22) Those who are “lukewarm” and half hearted will be found unrecognizable because they continued to live under the control of the flesh and self will rather than under the rulership of God’s will and the Holy Spirit (Revelation 3:16). “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by deception [like Adam and Eve] “and fall from your secure position” in Yahshua (Jesus) Who is “the way, the truth, and the life” eternal (2 Peter 3:17, John 14:6). The great Apostle Paul understood how important it was to crucify the flesh and make no provision for it, he said, “I discipline my body [my flesh] and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be a castaway.” He emphasized, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Messiah” “who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (1 Corinthians 9:27, 11:1, Hebrews 4:15).
Accompanying Teaching
