The Beginning of Sin
The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
(They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen; But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.
Romans 1:25, 2 Corinthians 11:3)
The snake was the most clever of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. The snake spoke to the woman and said, “Woman, did God really tell you that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?”
The woman answered the snake, “No, we can eat fruit from the trees in the garden. But there is one tree we must not eat from.
God told us, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden. You must not even touch that tree, or you will die.’”
But the snake said to the woman, “You will not die.* God knows that if you eat the fruit from that tree you will learn about good and evil, and then you will be like God!”
The woman could see that the tree was beautiful and the fruit looked so good to eat. She also liked the idea that it would make her wise. So she took some of the fruit from the tree and ate it. Her husband was there with her, so she gave him some of the fruit, and he ate it.
Then it was as if their eyes opened, and they saw things differently. They saw that they were naked.**
So they got some fig leaves, sewed them together, and wore them for clothes.
“Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
“Since the children have flesh and blood,*** he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death–that is the devil–and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life
* The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
Jesus is talking here.
In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires
2 Corinthians 11:20 – Ephesians 4:22
**”Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief!
Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” So I advise you to buy gold from Me–gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from Me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.
Revelation 16:15 – Revelation 3:18
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
John 12:46 – 1 John 1:6
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
John 3:19
Then Jesus told them, You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light. When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
***But this I say my brethren: flesh and blood cannot inherit The Kingdom of Heaven, neither does corruption inherit indestructibility.
1 Corinthians 15:50
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
John 3:5-6
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
1 Corinthinans 15:33 – John 16:8-11
“Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
God’s Servant Brings Salvation
The LORD makes me very happy.
I am completely happy with my God.
He dressed me in the clothes of salvation.
He put the victory coat on me.
I look like a man dressed for his wedding, like a bride covered with jewels
Isaiah 61:10
The Mighty One, God, the LORD,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
Our God comes
and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
and around him a tempest rages.
He summons the heavens above,
and the earth, that he may judge His people:
“Gather to me this consecrated people,
who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim His righteousness,
for He is a God of justice.
“Listen, My people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.
I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
I have no need of a bull from your stall
or of goats from your pens,
for every animal of the forest is Mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields are Mine.
If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is Mine, and all that is in it.
Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
“Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
and call on Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
But to the wicked person, God says:
“What right have you to recite My laws
or take My covenant on your lips?
You hate My instruction
and cast My words behind you.
When you see a thief, you join with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.
You use your mouth for evil
You sit and testify against your brother
and slander your own mother’s son.
When you did these things and I kept silent,
you thought I was exactly like you.
But I now arraign you
and set my accusations before you.
“Consider this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor Me,
and to the blameless I will show My salvation.”
Prayer is LIVING out God's Word. It is putting Faith into Action...In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
This is how my Father is glorified, when you produce a lot of fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. “‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.
John 15:8 – John 8:31 – Leviticus 26:9
