Monday, November 25, 2013

“Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4)



References to Satan, or the devil, are considered rather medieval. Surely nobody believes Satan really exists. Surely we have advanced beyond the superstitious thinking of the “dark ages.” How embarrassing!!! And yet, Jesus speaks of his existence. When castigating the religious leaders of His day, He likens them to the devil whom, He calls a “murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). The pervasive and diverse forms of the occult today, not only testify to the reality of this being, but to his power. It is worth noting that the Bible gives far more attention to his character and actions than to his existence.

Genesis 3:4 reveals a being who challenges what God has said. The LORD warned Adam with the words, “you will surely die” (Gen 2:17) and Satan opposes with “You will not surely die.” Both cannot be true! One is a liar.

The battle continues to this day. Satan continues to question, challenge and deny what it written in the Bible. There is no Satan, no judgment to come, no salvation, no God.

The question is ..... who do you believe? One is a murderer the other, a forgiving God.

Friday, November 8, 2013

"In the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”” (Genesis 2:16,17)



“And the Lord God commanded the man [Adam], saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil  you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”” (Genesis 2:16,17)

The death penalty for eating fruit from a tree seems extremely harsh!! We would judge any society inflicting such a severe penalty as brutal and barbaric. Yet, God’s judgment is clear and emphatic. “You will surely die.” We could paraphrase it, “Be absolutely clear, you will most certainly die.” If the Bible shows us who God really is, then does this reveal a barbaric God?

The LORD’s command to Adam was a simple test of obedience. It did not require great intelligence, might or will power. The test revealed whether or not Adam would acknowledge God as sovereign. To eat of the tree was to send a message that God had no right to tell him what he could or, could not do. This is the essence of what the Bible calls “sin.” It is man refusing God the right to be God. The LORD’s answer to such rebellion is, “you shall surely die.”

We can never appreciate the necessity of  Christ’s crucifixion until we see the true nature of God. Jesus did not die on the cross as a martyr. He died because of the demands of a holy God.