Genesis 3 continued

The result of sin

Some have asked, "Why couldn’t God have forgiven Adam and Eve and just re-instated them if they were truly sorry for what they had done?" What we need to realise is that there are two types of repentance, one true and one false, and only God knows which is which. Often repentance is based on the effect sin has on us and no thought is taken of its effect on God or others. False repentance is best exemplified by Esau, Jacob’s brother, when he became aware of what he had done in rejecting the birthright.

We are told to take note of his example. "Lest there be any … profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." Hebrews 12:16-17. Esau was not shut out from the privilege of seeking God's favour by repentance, but he could find no means of recovering the birthright because his grief did not spring from conviction of sin; he did not desire to be reconciled to God. He sorrowed because of the results of his sin, but not for the sin itself. Because of his indifference to the divine blessings and requirements, Esau is called in Scripture "a profane person." Verse 16. He represents those who lightly value the redemption purchased for them by Christ, and are ready to sacrifice their everlasting place in heaven for the perishable things of earth.

We know that God did forgive Adam and Eve immediately because that is His nature. Even before we repent He forgives us. Psalm 103:10-14. When we turn to Him in repentance we are just accepting that which He has already given. But another factor had now come into existence. Forgiveness was not enough – there would have to be a cleansing as well. "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. When we do one thing, He does two. The forgiveness He announces when we repent, but the cleansing must be seen, and this is the reason for the judgment. The people of the universe must be able to SEE that what God says is true, for Christians are going to live amongst them.

Let’s continue our reading:

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Genesis 3:

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Adam and Eve both ate of the fruit, and obtained a knowledge which, had they obeyed God, they would never have had – an experience in disobedience and disloyalty to God – the knowledge that they were naked, separated from Him. The garment of innocence, a covering from God, which had surrounded them, had departed; and they tried to supply the place of this heavenly garment by sewing together fig-leaves for aprons, for they could not, while unclothed, meet the eye of God and holy angels.

They now began to see the true character of their sin.

And it’s effects! One of which is accusation and anger.

Adam reproached his companion for her folly in leaving his side and permitting herself to be deceived by the serpent; but, like so many others since, they both flattered themselves that He who had given them so many evidences of His love, would pardon this one transgression, or that they would not be subjected to so terrible a punishment as they had feared.

But in this they did not understand the terrible nature of sin.

What sin does is deaden the moral perceptions (Ephesians 2:1), so that the wrongdoer does not discern the defects of his or her character, nor realize the enormity of the evil he or she has committed; and unless they yield to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit they remains in partial blindness to their sins. Confessions made in this state are not sincere and in earnest. To every acknowledgment of guilt is added an apology in excuse of their behaviour, declaring that if it had not been for certain circumstances, or certain people, they would not have done this or that for which they are reproved.

Let’s see how Adam and Eve got on:

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Genesis 3:

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Another of the effects of sin is fear – and ignorance, for they tried to hide from God behind a tree! When the Son of God called out He knew where they were, but He wanted His companion angels to hear for themselves what had happened. They were to be witnesses to the mental state to which that sin had reduced these children of God.

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Genesis 3:

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The Son of God asked this question for the same reason – the angels must hear for themselves that Adam had changed, not just physically (for that was evident) but also mentally and morally. Their hiding behind trees showed their mental state, but what about their characters?

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Genesis 3:

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Jesus tells that the end result of accusation is murder.

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John 8:

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Adam’s accusation was a half truth. We are told, "Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression," which means that he willingly chose to follow her suggestion.       1 Timothy 2:14. Added to this sin was an even greater one, for he also accused God by implication. "You gave me the woman, so she is Your faulty workmanship!" This implies that he desired the death of God, for it is written, "He that sins against Me wrongs his own soul: all they that hate Me love death." Proverbs 8:36.

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Genesis 3:

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The woman was more honest, but still not truthful for she had chosen in the strength of holiness. The angels had obviously cautioned Eve to beware of separating herself from her husband while occupied in their daily labour in the garden for with him she would be in less danger from temptation than if she were alone. But absorbed in her pleasing task, she unconsciously wandered from his side. She soon found herself gazing with mingled curiosity and admiration upon the forbidden tree. The fruit was very beautiful, and she questioned with herself why God had withheld it from them. Now was the tempter's opportunity. As if he were able to discern the workings of her mind, he addressed her: "Yea, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"

The tempter intimated that the divine warning was not to be actually fulfilled; it was designed merely to intimidate them. Eve really believed the words of Satan, but her belief did not save her from the penalty of sin. She disbelieved the words of God, and this was what led to her fall. In the judgment we will not be condemned because we have conscientiously believed a lie, but because we did not believe the truth, because we neglected the opportunity of learning what is truth.

After the lesson of the "sinful" state of man had been fully appreciated by "the watchers and holy ones" around Him, the LORD removed the fig-leaves and replaced them with another garment. "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." Genesis 3:21.

Where do you get a coat of skin? From a dead animal. Right here Adam and Eve had their first lesson in salvation. For God to forgive and cleanse requires the sacrifice of a life because the "wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23. The death of an animal can not accomplish this of course, but it can bring home to dim-witted sinners the awful fact that the Son of God must "die" to save us. The skin was a stand-in for another robe, the robe of righteousness which He gives us when we come to Him for salvation. Where did those skins come from? Both Adam and Eve had to kill an innocent creature to supply their need. (The two lambs whose lives were taken on that occasion must be held by the Son of God in special regard.)

Lateral thought:

God’s intention was that we should sacrifice one lamb (Christ) at the beginning of our Christian life. We may "hit" the rock once (Exodus 17:6), but after that we need only to "speak to it." Numbers 20:8 and 11. Satan loves to put a twist on God’s word however, for then he is most successful in deceiving us. In this case, he persuaded men that if one sacrifice is good, then more is better!

In another place, it is written, "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10.

This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. "All our righteousness are as filthy rags." Isaiah 64:6. Everything that we can do of ourselves is defiled by sin while we are separated from Him. But the Son of God "was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin." 1 John 3:5.

Sin is defined in one place as "the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.

But transgressions are acts, so what we should see is that "sin" (in the singular) is a state of being, of actually being separated from God, and "sins" (in the plural) are the RESULT of being separated, of doing our own thing.

But Christ was obedient to every requirement of God. He said of Himself, "I delight to do Your will, O My God; yea, Your law is within My heart." Psalm 40:8. When on earth, He said to His disciples, "I have kept My Father's commandments." John 15:10. By His perfect obedience in human nature He has made it possible for every human being to believe that they can obey God's commandments too. When we submit ourselves to Christ, our heart is united with His heart, our will is merged in His will, our mind becomes one with His mind, our thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20.

This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the LORD looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of God.

The king's servants who went out into the highways "gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good." Verse 10. It was a mixed company. Some of them had no more real regard for the giver of the feast than had the ones who rejected the call. The class first called thought they could not afford to sacrifice any worldly advantage for the sake of attending the king's banquet. And of those who accepted the invitation, there were some who thought only of benefiting themselves. They came to share the provisions of the feast, but had no desire to honour the king.

This garment was a gift from the king. By wearing it the guests showed their respect for the giver of the feast. But one man was clothed in his common citizen dress. He had refused to make the preparation required by the king. The garment provided for him at great cost he disdained to wear. Thus he insulted his LORD. To the king's demand, "How came you in hither not having a wedding garment?" he could answer nothing. He was self-condemned. When the king said, "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness," it was the result of his own choice. Verses 11-13.

By the king's examination of the guests at the feast is represented a work of judgment. The guests at the gospel feast are those who profess to serve God, those whose names are written in the book of life. (Revelation 3:5) But not all who profess to be Christians are true disciples. Before the final reward of immortality is given, it must be seen by the angels who are fit to share the inheritance of the righteous. This decision must be made prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven; for when He comes, His reward is with Him, "to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12. Before His coming, then, the character of every man and woman's work will have been determined, and to every one of Christ's followers the reward will have been apportioned according to their deeds.

It is written, "It is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment," therefore it is only after we have stopped sinning because we are dead that the examination can begin. Hebrews 9:27. There is no need for us to be present for Christ is our Advocate or lawyer, our marriage arranger as well as the Bridegroom, and the only question being asked is, "Do we have on the wedding garment?" (See 1 John 2:1.) In the same way that the Son of God is both organiser and bridegroom, there need only be one generation alive to act as the bride, while the others are guests.

Therefore it is while men and women are still dwelling upon the earth that the work of investigative judgment takes place in the courts of heaven. But only the lives of all the dead professed followers of Christ pass in review before God and the angels. All are examined according to the record of the books of heaven, and according to their deeds the destiny of each is forever fixed. Daniel 7:10.

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Our first parents chose to believe the words, as they thought, of a serpent, yet he had given them no tokens of his love. He had done nothing for their happiness and benefit; while God had given them every thing that was good for food, and pleasant to the sight. Everywhere the eye might rest was abundance and beauty; yet Eve was deceived by the serpent to think that there was something withheld which would make them wise, even as God. Instead of believing and confiding in God, she basely mistrusted His goodness and cherished the words of Satan. She believed a lie, or delusion, as all the rejecters must do. 2 Thessalonians 2:11.

Bye for now,

Ron

Psalm 103:10-14

Luke 14:18-20

And they all with one consent began to make excuse.  The first said to Him, “I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray You have me excused.” And another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray You have me excused.” And another said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”   Back

Isaiah 61:10  

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Back

Daniel 7:9-10

I beheld till the thrones were cast down [placed], and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered to Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand [angels] stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. Back

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the LORD shall consume with the spirit of His mouth [by speaking the truth], and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.  Even Him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

And for this cause God shall send [allow] them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.  Back