LESSON 4

Genesis 3:1-5:32

THE FALL OF MANKIND, FALL OF THE WORLD,PRE-FLOOD WORLD

 

Chptrs. 1-2- A Comment

 

The first 2 chapters of Genesis contain for us the record of creation. God gives but the briefest details of creation of things pertaining to the natural and material realm. The creation of heaven and earth, waters and oceans, seeds and herbs, fruit trees yielding fruit, sun, moon, and stars, fish and fowl, beasts and mankind are covered in a few Scriptures. This is, a little over 2 chapters. The remainder of Scriptures including Genesis takes up the natural, the material or the created things and uses such to be symbolic of things pertaining to redemption.

 

Genesis Chapter 3

 

Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made………

The serpent what did he really look like?

Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made………

 

(LORD GOD MEANING JEHOVAH GOD, ROOT WORDS YAHWEH (I AM) AND HAVAH ( TO BE CONTINUALLY REVEALED); I AM WHO IS TO BE MORE AND MORE CONTINUALLY REVEALED TO MANKIND.

The book of Revelation is the completing of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

(Gen 3:1a)  Now the serpent (Hebrew nachash) was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made……..

 

nachash: Phonetic Spelling: (naw-khawsh’)–Short Definition: serpent

Other definitions

1. as biting,  rod becomes c. as hissing Jeremiah 46:22 d. as crafty tempter Genesis 3:1,2,4,13,14, shining as brass, whisperer,  crafty enchanter, eating dust Is. 65:2, Micah 7:17

 

Since God created everything good, the serpent was not the loathsome creature it is now. satan and his insubordinate demons had the power to embody themselves in the flesh of humans and even some animals.

Gen. 3:1 Some scholars believe the word serpent/nachash is translated in error as serpent’  in Genesis  because he was called serpent in Revelation. Some believe the created being that conversed with Eve in the garden was not an animal. In the Hebrew this being is called ‘Nachash.’ The Hebrew word Nachash is translated to “shine” (like brass) or whisper (as in enchantment). The Nachash was, to use literal Hebrew, a ‘shining enchanter.’ He was also ‘shrewd’ (smooth or slick), as a descriptive term in the Hebrew for ‘naked and cunning’ in deceiving Eve. Scripture goes on to say that the Nachash was – “above” (higher in intelligence) than any living thing ‘of the field’ that the Lord had made.

Disclaimer:

Take note that the name of satan and related names are not capitalized. We choose not to acknowledge him, even to the point if violating grammatical rules.

 

Mark 5:12-13  So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.”13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

Revelation 12:7-9 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 20:1-2 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the devil and satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

satan-Hebrew- (sah-tahn) the opponent, the hater, the accuser, adversary, one who resists, obstructs, or hinders that which is good; hateful enemy.

Job 1:7 And the Lord said to satan, “From where do you come?” So satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

John 10:1-2 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold (earth) by the door,(birth) but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.(satan)2 “But he who enters by the door(birth on earth) is the shepherd of the sheep.(Jesus)

John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

 

satan is a fixed devil:

Eze. 28:13-18—“until iniquity was found in thee.”

Isa. 14:14—“I will be like the most High God.”

Isa. 14:15—“yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

Ezek. 28:16—“I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God and I will destroy thee”

satan’s Entrance into Humanity.

Rev. 12:9—“the great dragon, that old serpent, devil, and satan who deceives the whole world.”

Rom. 8:20,21–God “subjected the creation unto vanity in hope of delivering them from the bondage of corruption into glorious liberty  of the sons of God.”

Rom. 11:32—“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.”

1 Cor. 11:19—“There must be heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.”

Heb. 5:8—“Though he were a son, yet he learned obedience by the things he suffered.”

Matt. 4:3—“Jesus was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

(Gen 3:1)  Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said to the woman, Is it so that God has said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

The first question asked in the Bible was asked by satan himself through the voice of the serpent.

 

The New King James Version says it this way in Genesis 3:1 ” Hath God indeed said?”

 

The question was in regard to God Almighty’s word of “personal prophecy” to Adam and Eve. satan first questions the accuracy of the personal prophesy and then he attributes a selfish motive to the “Prophet” doing the prophesying.

 

He then implied that the Prophet (GOD) was using personal prophetic words to manipulate and keep them under His control and that He did not have their best interest at heart but rather His words to them were for His own personal gain.

 

“God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

 

satan created enough doubt in the accuracy of the words of the “Prophet” and suspicion concerning the Prophet’s motive to the extent that Eve did not take her word seriously causing her to lose confidence in her personal prophetic word from the “Great Prophet”.

 

In consequence, she ate of the forbidden fruit and gave it to her husband, causing sin and death to come upon the whole human race. Thus, we find the beginning of sin, shame, and sorrow in the human race was started because someone brought confusion and accusation against a Word from God.

Gen.3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;3 “but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’

EVE DIDN’T BELIEVE GOD’S WORD.  SHE ALSO ADDED TO GOD’S WORD AND MISQUOTED IT. GOD DID NOT SAY NOT TO TOUCH IT.

 (Gen 2:16-17)  And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat of every tree in the garden, but you shall not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. MKJV

(lest you die) (literal translation in dying you shall die) 2 DEATHS, SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL.

Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” KJV (IN DYING YOU SHALL DIE)

Gen.3:4  Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.5 “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,(literally you will be as gods), knowing good and evil.”

Adam and Eve were already made in the likeness and image of God, a little lower than Elohim. They were already like God. They were already little gods! Evidently Eve didn’t know that. This, of course, was a lie.

John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

satan CASTS DOUBT ON GOD’S WORD; EVE TAMPERED WITH GOD’S WORD. satan CONTRADICTS GOD’S WORD, LIED ABOUT IT.

satan was suggesting to Eve the same wicked thought that came into his own heart and brought his downfall.

Different views of satan and lucifer

lucifer and satan One View:

Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.

Original Sin:

The first sin in the universe was pride and the first being to sin was lucifer, an Arch angel who dwelled in the very presence of God in heaven. There are three key Scriptures that describe this tragic beginning of sin – Isaiah 14:12-18,Ezekiel 28:12-18, and Revelation 12:1-13.

Theologians believe that lucifer was the worship leader in heaven, in the very presence of God. He was exceedingly beautiful and endowed with special abilities. As we see in the passage from Isaiah 14, lucifer looked upon his own beauty and wisdom – attributes created in him by the Lord – and he decided that he would raise his throne above God. He foolishly declared, “I will make myself like the Most High.”:

“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations!  But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’  Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit. Those who see you will gaze at you. They will ponder over you, saying, ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like a wilderness and overthrew its cities, who did not allow his prisoners to go home?’”  (Isaiah 14:12-18).

There are many people today, both believers and non-believers, who have great fear of lucifer, now known as satan or the devil. Yet Isaiah tells us that the day will come when, “Those who see you will gaze at you, They will ponder over you, saying, ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble.” It is important to remember that satan is a finite, created being.   At Calvary, Jesus defeated satan once and for all time.

Another key verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Though it addressed to the king of Tyre, most theologians believe that this passage describes the fall of lucifer from heaven. Here we see that lucifer’s heart was filled with pride after considering his own beauty. “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor”:

“Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, you had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you. By the abundance of your trade you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned; Therefore I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, that they may see you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought fire from the midst of you; It has consumed you, and I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the eyes of all who see you (Ezekiel 28:12-18 NASB).

A final passage that helps to piece together the fall of satan is from John’s Revelation. Here we see that somehow Lucifer convinced 1/3rd of the angels to follow him in his rebellion. They were cast from heaven to earth, becoming the fallen angels. Theologians believe that the woman in this prophetic story represents spiritual Israel and the child is Jesus.

“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.’ And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.” (Revelation 12:1-13 NASB).

5 I wills of lucifer:

1. I will ascend to heaven;
2. I will raise my throne above the stars of God,
3. and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north.
4.  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
5. I will make myself like the Most High.’ (Isaiah 14:12-18).

Notice this about who lucifer was and his fate and who we are in Christ. (believers in bold lettering)

lucifer:

Is. 14- ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;  

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

Believers:

We are seated in heavenly places in Christ.

(Eph 1:20)  which He wrought in the Christ, having raised him out of the dead, and did set him at His right hand in the heavenly places ,

 

(Eph 2:6)  and did raise us up together, and did seat us together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

 

We are made in the image and likeness of God. Gen 1:26

 

Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.

satan descended.

We ascend.

(Rev 4:1)  After these things I looked, and behold, a door was opened in Heaven. And the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you what must occur after these things.

Ez. 28- You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire.

You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you.

We have been made righteous by the blood of the Lamb.

(Rom 5:19)  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.

(2Co 5:21)  For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

We are beautiful in the sight of God.

(Rom 10:15)  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!”

 

(Zec 2:8)  For so says Jehovah of Hosts: He has sent me after glory, to the nations who stripped you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.

 

you were in Eden, the garden of God;

Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you.

On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there.

We are God’s precious stones.

(1Pe 2:4)  For having been drawn to Him, a living Stone, indeed rejected by men, but elect, precious with God;

As the Bride we : (Rev 21:11)  having the glory of God. And its light was like a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

Therefore I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God.

I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, that they may see you.

It has consumed you, and I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the eyes of all who see you.

Rev.12- And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.’ For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them.

Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.”

View 2 of lucifer and satan

Who, and what, lucifer is.  And what he did:

1)    lucifer fell from Heaven (Union with God)

2)    lucifer is called, The Son of the Morning, Morning Star.

3)    lucifer, tried to be like God

4)    lucifer is a MAN.

satan, who, is also called the devil.

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and satan, which deceives the whole world:

satan does not appear to be a Man, anywhere in scripture. satan seems to be  found inside people, in the midst of people. It seems almost as if satan is in man’s thoughts, tempting them, as Satan tempted Peter, Judas, as well as a score of others in scripture, and us in the world.

When we are tempted by satan, the temptation manifests as “thoughts” in our mind. There is no literal serpent who slithers up to us and whispers in our ears. And when we see people who are wicked, it is as if satan is inside them, possessing them if you will.  Why is this?

When we are tempted we are drawn away by our own lusts. You’ll find these lusts to be the spirit (thoughts) of satan itself.

When Christ called Peter, satan, he was talking to Peter , not another man. At that moment, Peter was Christ’s adversary. Peter was trying to talk him out of his great purpose, because Peter didn’t understand the things of God at that moment, he only knew the things of man. Which is the only thing satan concerns himself with.

(Luke 4:8)  And Jesus answered and said to him, Get behind me, satan! For it is written, “you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.”

 

Christ also called Judas, The Son of Perdition, and we saw how satan entered Judas, to get Judus to “do what he must”. Judas, most likely believed he was doing the will of God. He, also, didn’t understand the mystery of Christ that was working in Jesus. He saw it as error and betrayed him, because, like Peter, he only understood the things of man.

Jesus called Judas the Son of Perdition as well as many others. When speaking to the Jews, he said they were the children of satan. Why?

Because they did not understand the truth.

(John 8:43-45)  Why do you not know My speech? Because you cannot hear My Word.You are of the Devil as father, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not abide in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me.

 

Now many picture satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness, as appearing to him as some spooky snake, horned beasts, or angelic like creature.

However, scripture tells us Jesus was tempted the same way we are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15 – For we have not an high priest (Jesus) which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus was tempted like we are tempted. Now if we take this literally, this means, that Jesus was being tempted by the thoughts of man (carnal things) which is what satan does. Jesus was tempted by worldly things… and ALL that is in the World is the (Lust of the Flesh, The Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life.)

Many fail to see the allegory of Christ’s temptation. They picture satan whispering in Jesus’s ears. Many take Jesus’s temptation much the same way. Many see Jesus being wisked away to the top of some temple and being tempted to worship satan. But Jesus was tempted the exact same way we are. We also, are asked to turn stones (religious law) into bread (life giving Truth). We too, when we enter religion are tempted to find life through our works instead of every word that comes out of God. We too, are tempted to give in to everyone one of our lusts, believing we can rule the world. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life = temptation. And satan is the father of it, and satan tempts us from within, which means in our thoughts..

satan is not a man, as Lucifer is. But a spirit. And Jesus casts out the spirit of devils, the thoughts, lusts and lies of man.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The darkness (their ignorance/lie) was overcome by the Light (Truth).

According to View 2

Adam (lucifer) is the man that caused the nations such trouble.

ADAM =lucifer, MAN, FALLEN

SATAN = WASTER, DESTROYER, FATHER OF LIES, TEMPTER, SPIRIT

Who really fell in the Garden?

lucifer(ADAM)

How you are fallen from heaven, O lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.”

Lucifer (ADAM) a MAN in the Garden who wanted to be like God, and ended up in DEATH.

Facts About The devil

1. God does not create evil.
   1. God created lucifer; he turned evil
   2. lucifer means “son of the morning” and was the anointed cherub
   who covered the throne of God.
   3. he was in Eden , the Garden of God, different than Garden of Eden, and was perfect until iniquity was found in him.
   4. lucifer made a decision to be evil and became satan. (the other view is that Lucifer was Adam)
   5. he became proud—Isaiah 14:12-17.
   6. Evil came out of his own heart.
   B. When he fell, he took a third of the angels with him.
2.  satan hates us because we are made in the image of God.
3. Something happened between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2.(Great Gap theory)
   1. Jeremiah tells us God created the earth perfect and inhabited and
   that it fell into desolation.
   2. God put lucifer over the earth but when he fell, he lost that
   authority.
   3. lucifer ruined the earth and brought chaos—Jeremiah 4:23-26.
   4. God sent the Holy Spirit to bring cosmos out of chaos.
   5. Peter says the earth was under a tremendous amount of water
   —II Peter 3:5-7.
4. lucifer was over the inhabitants of the earth and when he fell, they
   were judged too.
   1. The spirits of these people became demonic spirits. (theory)
   2. They go about trying to get into men’s bodies because they lost
   theirs; they want to destroy men.
5. Angels don’t try to inhabit men.
6. Angels “fly” through the air and demons do not—Daniel 9:21.
7. Fallen angels inhabited the heavenlies and not the earth. However, in Jude it is recorded that the fallen angels are bound in chains.
   1. satan is the ruler of the power of the air—Ephesians 2:2.
   2. Fallen angels are in the air and come over nations; they are the
   principalities and powers and rulers of darkness
   —Ephesians 6:12.
   3. We sit in heavenly places with Christ and will judge these
   principalities and powers of the air.
8. demon spirits are on the earth and seek habitations.
   1. When “legion” was cast out of the demoniac, the demons asked
   to enter into the pigs.
   2. When demons are cast out, they walk through dry places looking
   for another person to enter—Matthew 12:43.
9. Angels have bodies but demons don’t.
10. The Bible calls demons “evil spirits,” “unclean spirits,” and “demons.”
11. demons have personalities; can think, speak, act, and carry out
    satan’s evil plans and purposes against mankind.
    1. demons believe in Jesus and tremble.
12.  demons are intelligent, have a will, and are able to act according to
    their evil natures.
13. They are invisible, like the one which manifested through the boy
    who had convulsions and threw himself into the fire.

Very Good news:  THEY ARE CONQUERED…. They cannot hurt us

Col 2:15  

Having stripped rulers and authorities, He made a show of them publicly, triumphing over them in it.

 

Luke 10:19

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. NKJ

 

I do not focus on the devil, but on Christ!!

 

Article about the Demise of the devil.

 

Briefly, let’s look at some of the facts:

 

Before Jesus died, He told about the devil who came to steal, kill, and to destroy (Jn. 10:10).

 

Then, JESUS DIED –

He was slain for our sin (Jn. 1:29, Rev. 5:9).

He died that we could live (Jn. 14:19)!

Now we are not guilty (Rom. 5:9).

He brought us salvation (rescue, safety, deliverance, forgiveness, protection, health, prosperity, preservation, freedom, liberty, peace, righteousness, and victory — Heb. 5:9, 1 Pet. 1:3-5, Eph. 6:17, Acts 4:10-12, etc).

He gave us His wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30) and His success (Col. 1:13-14, Eph. 1:20-21). We are brought into total companionship with God

 

JESUS WON THE WAR – ALREADY (Rom 6:9-10).

 

He said it is FINISHED (Jn. 19:30).

He has the keys of hell and death (Rev. 1:18).

His death obtained eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:11-12).

Now, there is no more death required (Heb. 10:18).

His blood was shed for the remission of our sins (Matt. 26:28, Jn. 1:29).

 

Through His death, we are presented holy, unblameable, and unreproveable (Col. 1:22). God gives us victory (1 Cor. 15:37). We are Christ’s (1 Cor. 3:21).

 

WE HAVE DIED WITH HIM yet we live (Gal. 2:20, Rom. 6:4-5).

 

That means, we don’t have to keep on dying to self. It’s a done deal. We reckon ourselves dead to self and alive to Christ. All accusations are over because we were crucified with Christ, (Gal 2:20). All our worries, diseases, inabilities, lack, and failure are nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14). We are already buried with Him (Rom. 6:4). (renew your mind to these facts)

 

WE WERE RAISED WITH HIM (Col. 2:12).

 

We are justified with Him (Rom. 3:24, 5:1). We sit at the right hand of God with Christ (Eph. 2:6). The “New Creation” LIVES AND PRAYS FROM THIS RULING POSITION OF REST.

 

WE LIVE WITH HIM (2 Cor. 13:4, Gal. 2:20).

 

We are passed from death to life (John 5:24). We are now ALIVE with Him (1 Cor. 15:22, Rom 6:11-12). Because HE lives, we also live (Jn. 14:19). His LIFE dwells in us (Jn. 3:36, 1 Jn. 5:12). WE share the same identical abundant LIFE that Jesus has (Gal. 4:6-7, Jn. 17:21-23).

 

satan RULES THE WORLD SYSTEM- for now

 

satan has absolutely no power over the Kingdom of God nor the people of God. But, he remains the ruler of this world system (Jn. 12:31, 14:31, 16:11). World = (kosmos, world systems) Yes, he has total legal authority over the un-believing world system.

satan is the god of this WORLD SYSTEM. (Jn. 14:30, 16:11).

satan “deceives” the whole WORLD (Rev. 12:9).

satan promises the blessings of this WORLD to those who obey him: (Mtt. 4:8-9).

 

Believers love not the WORLD, nor the things in the WORLD (1 Jn. 2:15). JESUS SAID HIS KINGDOM WAS NOT OF THIS WORLD (Jn. 8:23, Jn. 18:36).

 

Jesus is the Light of the WORLD (Jn. 9:5).

Jesus overcame this WORLD (Jn. 16:33).

Jesus is greater than he that’s in the WORLD. (1 John 4:4).

His Kingdom comes on EARTH as it is in heaven (Mtt. 6:10).

We live in this WORLD but are not a part of it (2 Cor. 10:3).

Greater is He that is in you than he (speaking of the spirit of the antichrist) that is in the WORLD (1 Jn. 4:4).

The believer overcomes the WORLD through faith, the faith of God (1 John 5:4-5).

As He is, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD (1 Jn. 4:17, Jn. 17:18, 20:21)).

Jesus said, “NOW is the judgment of this WORLD: NOW shall the prince of this WORLD be cast out” (John 2:31 KJV).

 

TO THE CHRISTIAN, THE devil IS DEFEATED (James 2:19).

 

In the Old Testament, evil forces could hinder prayers from being answered. These people had to struggle against emissaries of the devil (I.E. Daniel 10:10-13). That’s because Jesus had not yet conquered the devil. Now the devil (the defeated enemy) cannot prohibit our prayers (Mat. 7:7-8) – because we KNOW that we have the petitions that we desire (1 Jn. 5:15). God will allow what you allow so if prayers are hindered, you allowed it.

 

One of Jesus’ primary purposes of coming to earth was to spoil (disarm, confiscate the weapons, and effectively neutralize–bruising satan’s head with a death blow) principalities and powers, and make a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Col 2:13-15).  I like to say, “he drug him in the dust through the street!”

 

We must never doubt that our reality of this victory is revealed in the Person of Christ.

 

Jesus came to purposefully destroy the works of the evil one (1 Jn. 3:8). HE FINISHED HIS WORK.

 

satan is a conquered foe (John 12:31). Did Jesus Christ do it? Is it finished? Ask yourself, “Is it finished in me?”

Jesus rose in victory over satan (Eph. 1:20-22, Heb. 2:14).

satan has NO dominion over believers (1 Jn. 4:4, Rom. 6:14, 1 Jn. 5:18). No lie can take away our security.

Jesus taught the disciples to cast out devils from unbelievers (Mark 16:15-17, Luke 8:27-33, Mark 7:24-29). He said to go to the “lost sheep”…. and cast out devils (Mtt. 10:7). He said, “Go into all nations” (ethenos – heathen tribes, Mtt. 28:19)… and “Go into all the WORLD… and drive out devils” (Mk 16:17).

 

WE ARE TOTALLY DELIVERED FROM satan’s POWER — NOW

 

Christ is our life (Col. 3:4).

Salvation totally reconciles us to God (2 Cor. 5:18). Jesus did all that was necessary to accomplish this fact. He doesn’t have to die again!

Our faith quenches ALL the fiery darts of the wicked one (Eph. 6:16).

We are rescued from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Col. 1:13).

Jesus said that satan is judged, condemned, and the final verdict is already passed against him (lit. translation of Jn. 16:11).

Through Jesus’ death, satan is stripped of all authority over the believer (Rev. 1:18). Jesus said that it was impossible for the prince of this world to have even the tiniest connection with Him (Jn. 14:30 TLB). The devil’s arena of power is outside the Body of Christ. He has no authority among the believer. The wicked one cannot touch us (1 Jn. 5:18). He must flee from us (James 4:7). satan has no power in a believer’s life unless it is conceded to him.

 

Disclaimer:

 

Take note that the name of satan and related names are not capitalized. We choose not to acknowledge him, even to the point if violating grammatical rules.

 

Also, please note that my writing style capitalizes certain pronouns in Scripture that refer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and may differ from other styles.

 

OVERCOMERS

The manchild/manifested sons are the overcomers. Rev. 12:5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

 

According to the spiritualist interpretation of Rev. 12:5, this passage should read :  She (the woman) bore a Male Child (the Remnant) who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.  (ruling and reigning now with Christ) And her Child was caught up to God and His throne (spiritually).

Symbolically/spiritually:  Manchild/Bride/Manifested sons of God are the overcomers (Rev. 2:16-17), who will rule with a rod of iron (v. 5) The rod of iron stands for a word of correction given in love.

Psalm 2:8-10 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”

Through lucifer, sin entered the universe, and through his temptation and the fall of Adam, sin entered the world. But we see a wonderful promise in this passage from Revelation – in Christ we overcome sin, satan and the world, “…because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”

“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives” (Hebrews 2:14-15 NASB).

“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; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:7-8 NASB).

Jesus won the victory, defeating satan and his fallen angels as he declared from the cross that “it is finished.”

“In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ” (Colossians 2:15 NLT).

(Gen 3:4-5)  And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die, for God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as God, knowing good and evil.

Knowing good and evil, means awareness of good and evil.  God knows evil only to abhor it.  Innocent man and woman could only know evil to participate in it.

Gen.3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

The kind of fruit is not specified. It was often identified as a fig in the early Middle Ages; but an irresistable pun eventually settled the matter for Christians: malum in Latin meant both “apple” and “evil.”

THERE WERE TWO TREES IN THE GARDEN (Gen 2:9)

 

And out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food. The tree of life also was in the middle of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

(WE MAKE A CHOICE EVERYDAY in our thought life and in our words and deeds)

 

Tree of Life- FAITH

Jesus is the Tree of  Life,

grace and mercy (fruit of the Spirit-LOVE)

(Source of life)

 

The Word is Spirit and Life

 

2 Cor. 3:6

 

Ministry of Reconciliation

2 Cor. 5:18

Fruit of this Tree-Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 

 

Tree of the Knowledge

of Good and Evil- FEAR

Example of the Law,  works of the flesh,  self-centeredness

(Source of death)

1 Cor. 15:56

 

Ministry of death, ministry of condemnation

2 Cor. 3:7-9

 

Fruit  of this Tree–

 

Gal. 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

Unrighteousness and self righteousness are from the same tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Righteousness is from the tree of Life. Many move from carnal actions (unrighteousness) to legalistic religion(self righteousness) and think they have changed their eating habits. The truth is they are eating off the same tree, just a different side. Only when you move to true oneness in relationship with the Spirit is righteousness brought forth from the tree of Life.

 

Note: Jesus was crucified on a tree according to the books of “Acts” and “1 Peter”.

 

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

 

Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

 

 

Acts 13:28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.30 But God raised him from the dead:

1 Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

 

In the physical what Jesus carried to Golgatha was a cross beam of wood. And He didn’t carry it all the way by himself.

 

Did Jesus or Simon of Cyrene carry the cross?

Matthew 27:31-32; Mark 15:20-21; Luke 23:26 and John 19:17

1. Simon of Cyrene
   1. (Matthew 27:31-32)–“And after they had mocked Him, they took His robe off and put His garments on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. 32And as they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.”
   2. (Mark 15:20-21)–“And after they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, and put His garments on Him. And they *led Him out to crucify Him. 21And they pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.”
   3. (Luke 23:26)–“And when they led Him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.”
2. Jesus
   1. (John 19:17)–“They took Jesus therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.”

Both carried the cross.  John 19:17 does not say that Jesus carried the cross alone.  It says he bore his own cross. He carried the cross until he couldn’t carry any more than Simon assisted.

 

Jesus was crucified on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (self)

 

(John 19:30)  Then when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, It is finished! And He bowed His head and gave up the spirit.

 

 

 

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He was referring to completing everything that He came to do for mankind (John 19:30).

1. Faith in Christ is faith in the finished work. ( the faith of Christ Gal. 2:20)

2.Any attempt to secure your salvation or righteousness through your own self-effort is doubt, unbelief, and dishonor toward Jesus.

 

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

3 sins: sin of the body (saw that the tree was good for food,

lust of the flesh senses, physical pleasure)

sin of the soul ( pleasant to the eyes, lust of the eyes, lust for things) sin of the spirit ( tree desired to make one wise; wisdom only comes from the Lord

pride of life, pride in ourselves, self -centeredness, worldly fame.

The 2^nd Adam, Christ, was tempted with in like manner on the Mount of Temptation  Luke 4:1-13

Lust of the eye and lust of the flesh

 

(Luke 4:1-8)  And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness forty days, being tempted by the Devil. And in those days He ate nothing. And they being ended, He afterward was hungry. And the Devil said to Him, If you are the Son of God, speak to this stone that it might become bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.”And the Devil, leading Him up into a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the Devil said to Him, All this power I will give you, and the glory of them; for it has been delivered to me. And I give it to whomever I will. Therefore if you will worship me, all shall be yours. And Jesus answered and said to him, Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.”

 

Pride of life

 

(Luke 4:9-13 )  And he brought Him to Jerusalem and sat Him on a pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here. For it is written, “He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep You;)  and in their hands they shall bear You up, lest at any time You dash Your foot against a stone.” And Jesus answering said to him, It has been said, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” And when the Devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him for a time.

 

(1Jn 2:15-17 )  Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever.

 

Jesus overcame so we can.

(John 16:33)  I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.

(1Jn 4:4)  You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

 

Summary of the 3 Temptations:

 

THE THREE TEMPTATIONS OF ADAM/EVE

AND THE THREE TEMPTATIONS OF CHRIST

 

Both Adam/Eve and Christ faced the 3 aspects of temptation. Adam/Eve yielded, bringing upon humankind sin and death. Christ resisted, resulting in justification and life for those who would believe.

 

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

 

Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food,(LUST OF THE FLESH) that it was pleasant to the eyes, (LUST OF THE EYE) and a tree desirable to make one wise, (PRIDE OF LIFE)she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

 

Luke 4:1-13 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”(LUST OF THE FLESH)4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”

 

Deuteronomy 8:3 “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

 

Luke 4: 5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.7 “Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”(LUST OF THE EYE)8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

 

(Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20 -13 “You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.

 

Luke 4: 9 Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.10 “For it is written: 1 ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,’ 11 “and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ (PRIDE OF LIFE)” Luke 4:12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

 

(Deuteronomy 6:16 “You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah.)

 

Luke4:13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

 

The 3 temptations: Just as Jesus was about to fulfill the Law in Spirit, he was faced with the temptations to manifest (work miracles, rule, and experience protection) via self rather than Spirit. Whatever areas of life the soul is about to be renewed in, there is a final voice of an old paradigm just before it becomes simply a memory. Afterward, ‘self’ is now Spirit controlled; after denying the temptation to change a rock into bread, he changed water into wine by the Spirit’s leading.

 

Temptation

Heb. 2:18—“He  ( Jesus Christ) himself hath suffered being tempted”

Heb. 4:15—“”In all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Heb. 5:8—“Yet learned he obedience by the things he suffered.”

James 1:2—“Count it all joy when you are tempted.”

James 1:14—“Man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.”

James 1:15—“When lust has conceived.”

 

The sin problem has been taken care of.

 

The Two Trees Cont’:

 

This Scripture is the dividing line for the two trees:

 

(John 10:10)  The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. (tree of knowledge of good and evil) ( parallel to the works of the flesh)

 

I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (tree of life) (parallel to the fruit of the Spirit)

 

 

Eating of the tree of life is overcoming.

We can overcome because Jesus did. We have already overcome.

 

(John 16:33)  I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.

 

OVERCOMER

 

The overcomer; perseverance, endurance.

 

KEY SCRIPTURES: Num. 13-14; Josh. 14; Matt. 24:13; Rev. 3:21; 21:7.

FOUNDATIONAL INFORMATION: Caleb was one of the 12 spies sent by Moses to investigate the land of Canaan. Ten returned with an evil report, fearful of giants and great walled cities. Along with Joshua, Caleb remained a man of faith. “Caleb” is from the Hebrew “Kaleb” (Strong’s #3612) which means “forcible.” It is taken from the root “keleb” (Strong’s #3611) which means “to yelp, or else to attack; a dog.” “Caleb” has also been translated as “bold, fearless, ferocious to enemies, impetuous.” Israel in 40 years, only Caleb and Joshua would live to possess the land. Caleb was 85 years old when he was given Hebron as his inheritance. “Hebron” means “union, united, joined together, brotherhood, community.”

 

FULFILLED IN CHRIST: Jesus Christ is the Overcomer (Jn. 16:33; Rev. 3:21), the Pattern Son who endured the cross (Heb. 12:2). His inheritance is a community of redeemed people made one in Him (Jn. 17). Like Caleb, He has fearlessly entered the promised land within the veil as a Forerunner for us (Heb. 6:19-20). He is our constant Encourager, for He knows that in Him we are well able to go up and take the land (Num. 13:30). There is “another Spirit” with Him (Num. 14:24), even “another Comforter” (Jn. 14:16). Like Caleb, Jesus wholly followed the Father (Josh. 14:14; Jn. 8:29).

 

APPLIED TO THE CHRISTIAN: Believers are to overcome as Jesus overcame (Rev. 3:21; 21:7), boldly entering the holiest by the blood of the Lamb (Heb. 10:19-22; Rev. 12:11; 14:1-5). Some are content with tasting but the firstripe grapes (Num. 13:20), the in-part Feast of Pentecost (Rom. 8:23; Eph. 1:13-14). Many will provoke the Lord by their unbelief, not mixing the Word with faith (Heb. 3:7-4:2). But we have been apprehended to go on to perfection, to full maturity in Christ (Eph. 4:13; Phil. 3:12-14; Heb. 6:1-3). There remains a sabbath rest for the people of God (Heb. 4:9). Like Caleb, our youth shall be renewed like the eagle’s (Josh. 14:11; Psa. 103:5). The man that endures to the end shall be saved (Matt. 24:13).

 

Promises to the Overcomer:

 

The Overcomer: An overcomer is one who is called to overcome whatever comes our way that would challenge our submission, our obedience and our faith to God. Scripture admonishes us to overcome as He  (Christ Jesus) overcame. John 16:33; 1 John 5:4; Romans 12:21; 1 John 2:13-14 ; 1 John 4:4

 

The enemy that you decide to defeat will decide the quality of your life.

 

All these promises are to overcomers: (8 listed here)

 

1. SALVATION- Rev. 2:7

 

2. ETERNAL LIFE- Rev. 2:11

 

3. PROVISION, DESTINY- Rev. 2:17

 

The white stone means we are acquitted, found not guilty. Paul admonished, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5).  Believers have been gifted with the mind of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ thusly the mind of Christ…. who makes “intercession for the saints according to the will of God” Rom. 8:27).  Paul declared that “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16).

 

This is what repentance is:

 

TRUE MEANING OF REPENTANCE

Jesus often said in the gospels, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”  Jesus often used this word but why?  But then I learned its true meaning and significance. I discovered that the word “repent” (metanoia) actually means a change of mind or having a new mind. The word suggests a radical transformation of how we process reality. Metanoia literally means “beyond the mind.” It’s the idea of stretching or pushing beyond the boundaries with which we normally think and feel.

 

The overcomers who stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion have “His Father’s name” (the same kind of relationship that Jesus had with the Father) in their forehead. (Rev. 14:1-5; 22:4;  1 Cor. 1:10)

 

4. NEW REALM OF AUTHORITY- Rev. 2:26

 

5. RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS, FULFILLING DESTINY, AFFIRMING YOU- Rev. 3:5

 

6. IMMOVABLE, NEW NAME, BRIDE OF CHRIST- Rev. 3:12

 

7. RULING AND REIGNING- Rev. 3:21

 

THRONE (thronos – place or stately throne seat of authority, with a footstool),  A THRONE – a royal position and authority (Matt. 28:19-20). Romans 14:17; Eph. 1:20-23

 

8. MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD- Rev. 21:7

 

Another take: 21 promises to overcomers:

 

For The Overcomers in Revelation 2-3

1. In Rev. 2-3, Jesus spoke of 22 rewards that would motivate and stabilize His people during the End-Times when He pours out His glory and judgments as described in the Book of Revelation.

1) Eat from the tree of life in the midst of Paradise (2:7);

2) Receive the crown of life (2:10);

3) Not to be hurt by the second death (2:11);

4) Eat hidden manna (2:17);

5) Receive a white stone (2:17);

6) Receive a new name written on the stone (2:17);

7) Have power over the nations (2:26);

8) Receive the morning star (2:28);

9) Receive white garments (Rev 3:5);

10)Receive a name that’s not blotted from the Book of Life (3:5);

11) For Jesus to confess one’s name before the Father & angels. (3:5);

12) For one’s persecutors to worship before their feet (3:9);

13) For one’s persecutors to know that Jesus loves them (3:9);

14) Be made a pillar in God’s temple (3:12);

15) Have God’s name, the New Jerusalem

16) And Jesus’ new name written on them (3:12);

17) Receive gold to make one rich (3:18);

18) Receive white garments that one’s shame not be revealed (3:18);

19) Have anointed eyes to see more (3:18);

20) Eat with Jesus (3:20)

21) And sit on His Throne. (3:21).

 

End Note: “What challenges are you facing right now? Overcoming is a given. It’s not a question of will I overcome, it is a question of HOW.”

 

Adam/Eve Summary- Life Lessons:

 

Eve was deceived by satan when he got her to doubt God’s goodness, by focusing on the one thing she couldn’t have. She forgot all of the good things God had blessed her with in the garden. She became discontented, feeling sorry for herself, because she could not share in God’s knowledge of good and evil. Eve allowed satan to subvert her trust in God.

 

Although she shared a close relationship with God and her husband, Eve failed to consult either one of them when confronted with satan’s suggestions. She acted impulsively, independent of her authority. Once entangled in sin, she invited her husband to join her. Like Adam, when confronted with her sin, Eve blamed someone else (satan), instead of taking personal responsibility for what she had done.

 

We learn from Eve that women share in God’s image. There are feminine qualities to the character of God. God’s purpose for creation could not be fulfilled without the equal participation of “womankind.” Just like we learned from Adam’s life, Eve also teaches us that God wants us to freely choose to follow and obey him out of love. Nothing we do is hidden from God. Likewise, it does not benefit us to blame others for our own failings. We must accept personal responsibility for what we do.

 

We must understand everything that works against your soul’s wholeness is a pattern of deception, first it gains a foothold then it reveals its true intent and makes all out war against your inner man. The serpent was a spirit of deception to the soul of man, and when that deception grows (dragon) in the soul it makes war against the Spirit dwelling in you. Gal.5:17~ The flesh (deception) wars against the Spirit (truth) and the Spirit against the flesh. The soul wins by submitting to the Spirit of Truth (mind of Christ). That’s true repentance.

 

 

ADAM’S TRANSGRESSION

“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” (1 Timothy 2:14 NKJV)

Some have wondered if Adam willingly sinned, or whether he was “tricked” by Eve. Some have even ascribed a noble motive to his actions, namely that when Adam saw Eve eating from the fruit, he knew that she would be damned and thus wanted to force a way of salvation. One commentator states, “Milton ( “Paradise Lost”) represents it as dictated by the generous resolution of self-martyrdom with his beautiful partner, whom his penetrating mind now saw had become the victim of momentary rashness” (Genesis 3:6 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary).

 

Yet these are wrong for so many reasons:

•  Adam transgressed – The sin of Adam is called the TRANSGRESSION of Adam: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned – (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.” (Romans 5:12-14 NKJV)

 

•  Adam was warned – Adam not only received a strict command of what he should not do, but also received a clear warning regarding the consequences of disobedience to that command. He was not only told WHAT, but WHY.
•  Adam understood the consequences – One author indicates that Adam was familiar with death itself: “No lawgiver would annex a penalty to the breach of a command unless the party to whom it is addressed were acquainted with what they were to forfeit. The announcement to the first pair of the condition consequent on eating the fruit of the forbidden tree implies that they knew well what death was.” (Genesis 2:17 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary)
•  Adam sinned willfully – Some have implied that Adam did not sin because he was not deceived. Yet this only indicates that Adam sinned willfully, whereas the woman did so under deception. Adam was fully accountable for his sin, whereas the woman could at least truthfully indicate that she was deceived.
•  Adam participated in the sin – Adam was with Eve the entire time: “She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6 NKJV) This demonstrates that Adam had dominion over all the creatures. Adam could have commanded the serpent to cease speaking and the serpent would have had no choice but to obey immediately.
•  Adam chose death – Adam chose to not believe the promise that eating of the fruit would produce death, but chose to believe the lie that eating from the fruit would produce something good.
•  Adam never protected the woman – Adam abdicated his responsibility – Adam remained silent, (did he not communicate with Eve?) and did not take his rightful place as leader. Adam allowed Eve, who was the weaker vessel, to talk back to the serpent, who was more cunning than any beast of the field.

 

.     Adam did not instruct Eve properly. Adam did not properly exercise his headship and authority.  Or did he properly instruct her about the forbidden fruit?

•  Adam blamed the woman – The idea that Adam was willing to sacrifice his own salvation for the sake of the woman indicates Adam’s willingness to suffer for the woman. Yet Adam’s behavior demonstrates the exact opposite, for the first thing he did was blame the woman: “Then the man said, ‘The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.’” (Genesis 3:12 NKJV)

 

Some contend that all of Gen. 3 was allegorical.

 

Last Adam’s Comments: Matt. 19:4, 5: “[Jesus] said: ‘Did you not read [at Genesis 1:27; 2:24] that he who created them [Adam and Eve] from the beginning made them male and female and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh”?’” (Since Jesus believed the Genesis account to be factual, should we not believe it too?)

 

Gen.3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

 The body itself is not a nasty thing.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

MAN SINCE THE FALL HAS ALWAYS TRIED TO COVER HIMSELF.

Related Scriptures:

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

1 Timothy 2:13-14 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

EVE WAS DECEIVED; ADAM SINNED WILLFULLY; EVE THOUGHT THE FRUIT OF THIS TREE WOULD MAKE ONE WISE. WISDOM ONLY COMES FROM GOD.

Gen.3:9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

 

When Adam ate the fruit notice God didn’t say, “WHY did you sin, but rather ” Where are you?”

 

It’s not about the fruit/behavior; it’s about the WHERE are you IN the Son. Are you into ‘yourself’ or IN THE SON.

 

1 Timothy 2:14 – “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

 

The word “beguiled” in Genesis 3:13 (KJ) means, “deceived.” Then in 1 Timothy 2:14 we see that word “deceived” two more times.

 

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF ADAM’S SIN: SHAME, FEAR OF GOD’S PRESENCE, GUILT, MAKING EXCUSE FOR HIS SIN AND CASTING THE BLAME UPON GOD. EVE BLAMES THE SERPENT RATHER THAN HERSELF. ADAM BLAMES EVE.

 

Notice the first question in the New Testament. It is the question in reverse of the 2^ndAdam, Jesus.

 

Matthew 2:22 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

Gen.3:14 So the Lord God said to the serpent:  “Because you have done this,

You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field;

On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.

 

Gen.3:15 And I will put enmity between you (satan) and the woman,

And between your seed and her Seed (Jesus Christ); He shall bruise your head, (Hebrew, crush, break, overwhelm, snap) And you shall bruise His heel.”(Christ and His Church)

 

FIRST MESSIANIC PROPHECY; 430 more in the Old Testament

 

Romans 16:20 And the God of peace will crush satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

The serpent injects doubt into the first humans’ understanding of their relationship to God. God’s word is questioned

(1), His motives and love subtly denied

(2), and His warnings flatly contradicted. Moral and psychological consequences accompany the act of sin. The man and the woman are crushed by guilt and shame.

(3) and try to hide their deed from God. The just Lord must pronounce judgment upon them, but He begins with grace and hope: here is given the first proclamation of what Jesus will eventually come to do.

“He shall bruise your *head”

(3:15).This statement is the inaugural declaration that God will triumph over satan. Seen prophetically, God declares that one would come from a woman to fulfill this sentence of death on the devil. All believers participate, TRIUMPH OVER satan, by believing the gospel of Jesus, thus being united with Him in His victory over satan. Believers also demonstrate this overthrow with each work of power the Holy Spirit performs through them.  We enforce what has already been done by the finished work of Christ.

 

When God revealed to Adam and Eve that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head, I am sure they saw the truth only in its embryo form. They saw the woman as Eve, and the seed as Seth. They only had a limited vision. God does not reveal all truth at one time. But we know that through the line of their son Seth, that Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary, the Seed of the Holy Ghost. Who, because of his love for this world was willing to fall into the ground and die, that a great harvest of that same seed, might at this end of the age deal the final blow to the serpent. Paul makes this revealing statement in Rom 16:20, “And the God of peace shall bruise satan under your feet shortly.” Still a future advent, so the saints can be nothing else but the seed of the woman.

 

The final blow comes from us.

 

UNCONDITIONAL COVENANT OF SALVATION PROMISED AND ESTABLISHED BY GOD.

 

Covenant -keeping God:  YAHWEH

Hebrews 2:14-15  Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Commentary:

“And the Lord God said unto the serpent… upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Gen. 3:14-15)

“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads… and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” (Rev. 12:3-5)

Once again we are drawn to a set of highly symbolic and prophetic passages. Perhaps the most striking element of these passages is the metamorphosis of the lowly serpent to a huge dragon. It seems that he has grown more heads, horns, crowns, wings, and legs. What type of nutrition could provide such prolific growth?…DUST!

“The first man was from the earth, made of dust- earth minded… Now those who are made of the dust are like him who was first made of the dust- earth minded…” (1 Cor. 15:47-48 Amplified Bible). It is the dust mentality of the Adam nature that has made the dragon what he is in Revelation chapter 12. However, let us not forget the Father’s prophetic decree concerning the Offspring of the woman; the Offspring “shall bruise thy (the serpent’s) head.” (Gen. 3:15)

I believe that the Father is birthing a corporate Son, a Manchild, a mature people who are “caught up” to the Throne – understanding that they ARE seated IN Christ, far ABOVE the powers of darkness. (Eph. 1:21; 2:6) This Offspring (“For  we are also His offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God…” Acts 17:29), this mature people are appropriating the finished work of the Cross, enforcing the bruising of the head of the serpent that happened on the cross of Jesus Christ.

The glory of God permeated the first man as well as his perfect garden (Gen. 1:31) In the beginning, God is all and in all (Gen. 1:1), and in the end of all things when all evil and death will be swallowed up in life, then God is again all and in all (I Cor. 15:28). God will be all and in all in his redeemed creation I Cor. 15:22-28.

First Creation—1:26– God made man a spirit being,(perfect spirit man)

Second creation—2:7–God blew the Spirit man into a body and gave him a form.

Gen. 2:7—God‘s perfect man.

Gen. 2:23– Man was made both male and female until Eve was taken out of him.

Gen 2:8—God‘s perfect garden. The perfect environment didn‘t cover the whole earth. Adam was meant to dominion over the whole earth.

Gen 3:1—serpent/satan appeared as an angle of light, or presented to them what seemed reasonable.

Gen. 2:17—All yeses, only one no, or should I say only one Law in the whole discourse.

Gen. 3:19—discourse

Gen.3:14-17—God condemned satan, but gave man merciful consequences that would draw him back home.

Summary:

These first sinners tried to hide from God, but this is impossible.

Psalm 139:7-10 Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? [8] If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. [9] If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, [10] Even there Thy hand will lead me, And Thy right hand will lay hold of me.

Psalm 90:8 Thou hast placed our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy presence.

Adam points to the woman, but the responsibility for his sin was his own.

Ezekiel 18:20 “The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.”

Of course this is Old Covenant. The good news is:

(Gal 3:13)  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone having been hanged on a tree”);

Meet the Adam Family

The left column deals with the first Adam, the one who disobeyed his Creator in Genesis 3. The right column concerns the Second Adam, the One who has never disobeyed His heavenly Father.

FIRST ADAM                                                         SECOND ADAM (Jesus Christ)

“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” I Corinthians 15:45 

 

Similarities

BOTH HUMAN BEINGS

BOTH DIED

BOTH GIVEN AUTHORITY, JESUS RESTORED AUTHORITY

Differences

Not born (formed by God)                          Born of a virgin

Sin imputed                                                  Righteousness imputed, Grace given

Death reigned                                               Eternal life, redeemed man from death

Brought condemnation                              Brought justification

Disobedient                                                  Obedience

Sin increased                                                Grace increased

 

Romans 5:12-21 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

WHAT IS SIN?

The only real sin, is believing you are separate from God… which is doubt/unbelief. So, there is only one sin and it is doubt/unbelief.

 

Many scriptures quote the word sin not sins.

 

(Rom 6:11)  So do you also reckon that you are dead to sin, but alive unto God, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:2-4 KJV)

 

 

All “sinful actions” issue from the lie, that you are separate from God! This is seen in the allegory of Eve responding to the serpent’s voice (carnal reasoning) by reaching out side of herself for God’s likeness. This act, was the birthing of all religions.

 

The tree of knowledge of good and evil = DEATH, is not what we are to live by, it is the thing that caused the FALL, that brought forth death, now the death of Jesus took care the death in the garden, so death only exist  apart from Christ. We are waking up in the NEW CREATION where there is only LIFE. Jesus said I come that you may have LIFE and that more Abundantly. WE have the MIND of CHRIST, (NEW CREATION).

 

Did you know that the righteousness of the law was fulfilled in you if you are in Jesus Christ? “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:2-4 KJV)

 

Paul refers to Adam as a “type” of Christ. The term type refers to a “form, figure, pattern, example.” When types are found in Scripture, they are historical persons, events, things, or institutions that prefigure or foreshadow persons, events, things, or institutions yet to come in God’s plan. Types, then, are prophetic, predictive. They depict not only someone or something that has already played a role in history but someone or something that will yet play a role in history. In Romans 5, Paul uses Adam as a prefigurement of Jesus Christ. In certain ways, Adam and his actions foretell certain truths about Jesus Christ. But these truths, as Paul lays them out, are negative on Adam’s side but positive on Jesus’ side. In other words, Adam is a type of Christ because he failed to do in a perfect environment what Jesus did successfully in a sin-ridden environment. So Paul contrasts Adam and Jesus far more than he compares them.

 

2 Races of People

Old Man                                                                                            New Man(in Christ)

1^st Adam                                             Cross                                      2nd Adam

Filter

 

“IN ADAM”

“The Lord God… breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” Gen. 2:7.

“The first man Adam became a living soul.” 1 Cor. 15:45.

“In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Gen. 2:17.

“As in Adam all die.” 1 Cor. 15:22.

“The law of sin and of death.” Rom. 8:2.

“He also is flesh.” Gen. 6:3.

“The flesh profiteth nothing.” John 6:63.

“I” – Failure. Rom. 7.

“The old man that waxeth corrupt.” Eph. 4:22.

“The mind of the flesh.” Rom. 8:6.

“In my flesh… no good thing.” Rom. 7:18.

“Of the flesh… corruption.” Gal. 6:8.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” John 3:6.

“The end… death.” Rom. 6:21.

“IN CHRIST”

“He breathed on them, and saith unto them Receive ye the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22.

“The last Adam… a life-giving spirit.” 1 Cor. 15:45.

“Newness of life.” Rom. 6:4.

“In Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Cor. 15:22.

“The law of the Spirit of life.” Rom. 8:2.

“Spirit” – Victory. Rom. 8.

“The new man… created in righteousness and holiness of truth.” Eph. 4:24.

“The new man.” Col. 3:10.

“Newness of the spirit.” Rom. 7:6.

“In the likeness of his resurrection.” Rom. 6:5.

“Have crucified the flesh.” Gal. 5:24.

“Our old man was crucified.” Rom. 6:6.

ALL IS IN CHRIST

The Creation is IN Christ.

The Life is IN Christ.

The Acceptance is IN Christ.

The Redemption is IN Christ.

The Righteousness is IN Christ.

The Sanctification is IN Christ.

The Hope is IN Christ.

The Spiritual Blessings are IN Christ.

The Consolation is IN Christ.

The Peace is IN Christ.

The Effectual Prayer is only IN Christ.

The Strength and Riches are IN Christ.

The Eternal Purpose is IN Christ.

The New Creation is IN Christ.

The Promises are IN Christ.

The Escape from Condemnation is IN Christ.

The One Body is IN Christ.

The Perseverance is IN Christ.

The Gathering into One is IN Christ.

The “No Separation” is IN Christ.

The Perfect Man is IN Christ.

The Helpers Together are IN Christ.

There are the Churches IN Christ.

There are the Dead IN Christ.

There is the One New Man and the Perfect Man IN Christ. We are Complete IN Christ.

Time and space will not permit to list all the Scriptures that speak of the DEATH of the OLD MAN (such as Romans 6:1-14), where all the verbs are aorist or perfect.

There are TWO MEN on the planet-CHRIST and ADAM, Beauty and the Beast! The nickname for CHRIST is “the TRUTH” (Eph. 4:15,21). The nickname for ADAM is “the LIE” (Eph. 4:22,25).

There are not TWO natures in the believer, just ONE-CHRIST, the NEW MAN (Eph. 2:15; 4:13,24; Col. 3:10)!

2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV Therefore if any man be IN CHRIST, he is a NEW CEATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW (kainos – fresh, unprecedented, unused, brand new; “the old has gone, the new has come!” – NIV).

As we pursue the heavenly calling (Phil. 3:12-14), we are fighting a memory, the  ghost of Adam. As a believer, the old man is DEAD! Don’t commit the abomination of spiritual necromancy and try to call him up (Deut. 18:11). Even his memory shall perish Isa. 26:13-14)!

We also have a choice and it is this, “For whosoever will save his life (psuche in Greek- the soulish life) shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”(Matthew 16:25). You can choose to live in the soulish Adamic man, or you can choose to live in the Christ-man who is the REAL you. “For in Him we live, and move, and have our BEING…”(Acts 17:28). 

Here is the very good news!

Eph 1:10)  for an administration of the fullness of times, to head up all things in Christ, both the things in Heaven, and the things on earth, even in Him, 1:10 In the economy (oikonomia) of the fullness of time, everything culminates in Christ;all that is in heaven and all that is on earth is reconciled in Him

ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN SUMMED UP IN CHRIST; IN CHRIST ALL THE PIECES FIT; THE MYSTERY IS REVEALED (1Pe 1:10-12)

1. God summed up our salvation in Christ Acts 4:12; Gal. 2:20
2. The sin of Adam which brought sin, death, and condemnation upon the human race,
3. God summed up and reversed in Christ. Roman 5:17-19

Back to Adam and Eve’s sin.

Adam sinned willfully

Eve was deceived. She has a better plea by pointing to the devil, who is the master deceiver.

The devil has no one to blame for his iniquity.

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Gen.3:16 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”

 

Gen.3:17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.”

 

Notice because you have heeded the voice of your wife (not the voice of God).

 

Obedience to the voice of God

Hearing God’s voice as a lifestyle, listening to Him day by day. It expedites things to a tremendous degree. God is going to talk to you in your own personal life about the things for which you have responsibility and authority. This is the lifestyle of listening. God talking to us in our personal life. God wants to speak to us about our intimate relationship with Him. He wants to speak to us in order to bring us into an intimate relationship with Him.

Mark 14:36 says, “And He said, Abba Father, all things are possible unto You. Take away this cup from me, nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”

So Jesus is speaking to the Father, and He calls Him, Abba. Abba is Aramaic for the Father. In our vernacular, it might be “daddy” or “papa.” It is an intimate term. Again, we find this in

Romans 8:15. “You have not received a spirit of bondage to begin to fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father.”

 

Another part of hearing God’s voice in everyday life is for encouragement and for strength. God wants to encourage us and sustain us, never to condemn us.

 

“Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.”

 

Thorns and thistles were part of the curse. Good news:  Instead of the thorn, the fir and instead of the brier, the myrtle! Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, Gen 3:18

 

Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, thorns cause pain and suffering……..no more curse………By the grace of God we are fir and myrtle trees; Saints are myrtle trees, ( Zechariah 1:10 ) , because they are goodly to look at, of a sweet smell, ever green, flourish in watery places, and bring forth fruit:

 

Symbolically: Thorns, briers, thistles represent sin, sorrow and hardship.

Notice the underlying meaning is that thorns cause physical damage and pain.

This makes it clear that thorns would cause suffering.

 

References:

1. Matthew 7:16
   By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
2. Matthew 13:7
   Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
3. Matthew 13:22
   The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
4. Matthew 27:29
   and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.

 

 

Fir and myrtle represent divine generosity. When Adam was sent packing from the Garden of Eden he was allowed to take a few nice things with him.(commentators agree and disagree with this)  In supposition one of the plants he took with him was the myrtle tree. He brought this plant because of its exquisitely fragrant blooms. It may not have fed the body but the exquisite fragrance fed his spirit! God could have put him out with nothing but his fig leaf. He let him take some myrtle with him, an early act of generosity.

 

Jesus Christ made the provision for that wearing a crown of thorns.

 

Thorn- in Scripture

 

 ^{Ez. 28:24}“And there shall no longer be a pricking brier or a painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord God.”

 

Crown of, mockingly put on Jesus’ head, Matt. 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2,5.

John 19:2-5And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe.3 Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

 

Figurative or Symbolism of the Thorn: 2 Cor. 12:7. Of the adversities of the wicked, Prov. 22:5. Of the evils that spring from the heart to choke the truth, Matt. 13:7,22.

 

Has “a thorn in the flesh,’’ 2 Cor. 12:7-9; Persecutions of, 1 Thess. 2:2; Heb. 10:34.

 

Persecutions Endured by Paul: Acts 9:16,23-25,29; Acts 16:19-25 vs. 2:24; Acts 20:22-24; Acts 21:13,27-33; Acts 22:22-24; Acts 23:10,12-15

 

Acts 23:10-15Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”12 And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.13 Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy.14 They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.15 “Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

 

Rom. 8:35-37;1 Cor. 4:9,11-13; 2 Cor. 1:8-10; 2 Cor. 4:8-12; 2 Cor. 6:4,5,8-10; 2 Cor. 11:23-27,32,33; 2 Cor. 12:10; Gal. 5:11; Gal. 6:17 1 Thess. 3:4; Phil. 1:30; Phil.2:17,18; Col. 1:24; 1 Thess. 2:2,14,15; 2 Tim. 1:12; 2 Tim. 2:9,10; 2 Tim. 3:11,12; 2 Tim. 4:16,17

 

The thorn in the flesh was persecution not sickness. Paul asked that the thorn in the flesh be removed; the answer was a promise of grace

(His freely given power that works in us) to take care of it. 2 Cor. 12:8,9. Never mentioned again. Paul lived a long life.

 

HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT!!

 

The impact of sin upon human life, upon the relationship between men and women, and upon nature is explained . Suffering is a natural consequence of sin. Sin disrupts the relationship between the Creator and His creatures, and the humans are banished from Eden.

 

Patriarchalists often argue that the reference to woman being created as man’s “helper” in Genesis reflects her subordinate status. But the compound word for “helper” here— ezer kenegdo –suggests a sort of military ally, or a partner in a difficult task, and is most often used in Scripture to describe God, who is not generally regarded by patriarchalists as a subordinate.)

 

It is within the context of judgment, not creation, that hierarchy and subjugation enter the Bible’s story of man and woman.

 

“Your desire will be for your husband, but he will rule over you.” 

 

Where there was once mutuality, sin brought subjugation. Where there was once harmony, sin initiated a power-struggle.  The writer of the Genesis, who undoubtedly had observed this power-struggle in his own world, calls it for what it is: a tragedy, an example of our collective brokenness and our desperate need for redemption.

 

We can observe the effects of this sin in our world today.

 

OUTLINE OF THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH FALLEN MAN MUST LIVE- CONDITIONS THAT WILL LAST UNTIL THE  KINGDOM AGE

 

IMPACT OF THE FALL

Through disobedience to the term of his rule, mankind fell thus experiencing the deception that this was lost:

 

(All of this was deception; really wasn’t lost, the thief of John 10:10 no longer exists, conquered)

 

1. Restored Matt. 4:8-9

After the fall satan assumed possession of the earth

2. Authority- Man’s rule was assumatively forfeited to satan. Restored Matt. 28:1-2
3. Fellowship with God (alienated from the life of God) veil rent, Restored
4. Eternal life. Restored John 10:10
5. Spirit Functioning- Spiritual darkness (spiritual death) making necessary a need for mankind’s redemption- Restored- John 3:16, 2 Cor. 4:6

 

(Psa 82:5)  They neither know nor will understand; they walk on in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

 

6. Health- We have been redeemed from physical death, sickness, pain and disease Restored 1 Peter 2:24
7. Prosperity- redeemed from poverty -Restored 3 John 2

 

Conditions of the curse:  danger to a woman’s seed, multiplied sorrow in childbirth, conditions of subservience to husband, earth cursed, thorns, predatory beasts, storms, earthquakes, seasonal dysfunctions, hard labor, return of man to dust, degradation of human body, sorrow, disappointments and betrayal.

 

Genesis 3 gives us an account of the “fall” (or “rebellion”) of humans. Between verses 14 and 19 we learn that because of the fall:

 

• there will be hostility between snakes and people (vs. 15)
• women will experience pain in child birth (vs. 16)
• the earth will be stubborn in yielding vegetation (vss. 17 & 19)
• vegetation will now contain thorns and thistles (vs. 18)
• humans physically will die (vs. 19)

 

The world we now live in is cursed, out of order. This means that the laws of nature that have naturally brought about hostile snakes, pain in childbirth, hard-to-till soil, thorns and thistles and death are not altogether “natural.” They do not conform to God’s creational ideal. They rather reflect a nature under a curse.

 

The Argument from Cosmic Redemption

The New Testament teaches that Christ died not just to redeem humans; he died to restore that which was lost; (Mat 18:11)  For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

 

the entire creation or “all things” as Paul states in Col. 1:19-20.

 

(Col 1:19-20)  For it pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell. And through Him having made peace through the blood of His cross, it pleased the Father to reconcile all things to Himself through Him, whether the things on earth or the things in Heaven.

 

He also says the whole creation is groaning to be “liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God” (Rom. 8:21). Clearly, the creation we currently live in is not the creation God originally spoke into being. It’s been corrupted. The good news is, it will be restored.

 

Gen.3:20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

 

Note that Eve was not named Eve until after the fall. She was Adam.

 

In the 2^nd Chapter of Genesis, the woman is designed to be ezer kenegdo, a term which is notably difficult to translate, to the man. Kenegdomeans “alongside, opposite, a counterpart to him”, and ezer means active intervention on behalf of the other person. God’s naming of the elements of the cosmos in Genesis 1 illustrated his authority over creation; now the man’s naming of the animals (and of woman) illustrates his authority within creation.

The woman is called ishah, Woman, with an explanation that this is because she was taken from ish, meaning “man”; the two words are not in fact connected. Later, after the story of the Garden is complete, she will be given a name, Hawwah, Eve. This means “living” in Hebrew, from a root that can also mean “snake”. A long-standing exegetical tradition holds that the use of a chamber from man’s side emphasizes that both man and woman have equal dignity, for woman was created from the same material as man, shaped and given life by the same processes. In fact, the word traditionally translated “rib” in English can also mean side, chamber, or beam.

Eve was in Adam. Could it be he had to rename her because of the fall? Being that her nature, purpose had changed.

In parallel we are now in Christ, receiving a new name.

(Isa 62:2)  And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

 

He that overcomes (ongoing) receives a new name.

 

(Rev 2:17)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

 

(Rev 3:12)  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

 

 

FIRST BLOOD COVENANT; SIN ATONED(REDEEMED) FOR THROUGH BLOOD COVERING:

 

Right at the beginning of creation, God commanded that living creatures, greatly beloved of Adam, must be slaughtered by Him and their blood must be shed to supply a covering for Adam’s and Eve’s obvious nakedness.  Fig leaves were insufficient because they were made by human effort. So animals were slaughtered, and after the blood was shed, Adam and Eve were covered with skins.  This is a foreshadowing of the Lamb of God who was slain from the foundations of the world for not just a covering, but to wash away our sins.  Covering denotes clothing.  We are covered in God’s righteousness. (right standing with God because of Christ’s sacrifice)

 

The theme of Christ’s shedding of blood for our benefit is a central one in the New Testament. Its roots go all the way back here to Genesis 3:21, where God spilled the first innocent animal blood to provide clothing for Adam and Eve after they sinned against Him. Many Old Testament events recount the shedding of innocent blood to deal with someone’s wrongdoing. Isaiah 53, Hebrews 9 and 10, and 1 Peter 1:17–19 show fully how precious Jesus’ shed blood is and what it has accomplished for us.

 

FIRST BLOOD COVENANT/ Adamic Covenant

 

The Old Testament covenant name of Yahweh, is composed of the four Hebrew consonants YHWH.

 

And Yahewh God made for the man and for his wife tunics of skin and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)

 

BLOOD- Blood is the vital fluid of life the Bible says in Leviticus 17:11, “..the life of the flesh is in the blood.”

 

When man disobeyed God and partook of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, he became aware that he was naked.  His solution was to make aprons of fig leaves.  This was not good enough.  God made them coats of skins.  Animals had to shed their blood and die to cover the results of sin.  This then was the beginning of the blood covenant between God and man.

 

Covenant in Hebrew is beriyth (ber-eeth’) in the sense of cutting; a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh); – confederacy, [con-]feder[-ate], covenant, league. The covenant is an agreement sealed by blood. It is based on trust, unlimited responsibility, and cannot be broken. It is a binding together of two separate individuals into one. In each covenant there is a vow made, an interweaving of identity, a sign or mark, and the shedding of blood. It is a promise between the agreeing parties that is irrevocable.

 

The New Covenant is written on our hearts and in our minds. It is sealed by the Spirit of God who dwells within us as a guarantee.  We look to the day of the redemption of our bodies.

 

The New Covenant of hope, peace, prosperity, and heritage in Jesus Christ is irrevocable. It is as eternal and everlasting as God. It is entered through the belief that Jesus Christ died for our sin and that God has raised Him from the dead to life eternal. It is a covenant of victory through the blood of Jesus Christ and the testimony of the saints. It costs us nothing because the price has already been paid.

 

God did not clothe Adam with the skin of a slain animal because of a divine need to be appeased, but because of their unconditional love for Adam; they spoke the language of Adam’s own judgment: Adam, not God, was embarrassed about his nakedness. The clothing was not to make God look at Adam differently, but to make Adam feel better about himself! And ultimately it was to prepare Adam for the unveiling of the mystery of mankind’s redemption in the incarnation. Here Deity would clothe themselves in human skin in a son, and the Lion of Judah, would become the Lamb of God, in order to free our minds to re discover his image and likeness in our skin! Humankind is tailor-made for God!

 

Col 3:9 That old life was a lie, foreign to our design! Those garments of disguise are now thoroughly stripped off us in our understanding of our union with Christ in his death and resurrection. We are no longer obliged to live under the identity and rule of the robes we wore before, neither are we cheating anyone through false pretensions. (The garments an actor would wear define his part in the play but cannot define him.) 3:10 We stand fully identified in the new creation renewed in knowledge according to the pattern of the exact image of our Creator.

 

Adam and Eve chose to hide from God because of their sin, but God came down and restored relationship with them, He encouraged them, He prophesied over them, He clothed them and He protected them by removing them from the garden. He cursed the devil and the ground but surprisingly not Adam or Eve.

 

The Blood Took Care of It All–The Lamb Slain from the foundation of the World

 

Revelation 13:8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast — all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. (NIV)

 

Jesus is the Lamb of God who died for the sins of the world (John 1:29). Jesus mission became clear to mankind only after He had been crucified on the cross. Yet the scriptures reveals in Revelations 13:8 that “the Lamb was slain from the creation of the world”

 

Peter repeats this truth in even more detail when he writes about the precious blood of Christ.

 

1 Peter 1:18-20 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. (NIV)

 

The reality is this. The blood of Jesus was shed for us before the creation of the world, but was only revealed to us when Jesus was crucified on the cross, died and rose again. Not even satan knew about the shed blood until then. This truth, once understood, should have great implications for our faith and victorious living over satan, sin and sickness.

 

Firstly Peter makes it clear (in verses 18 and 19 above) that we are “redeemed from the empty way of life by the blood of Christ” and that this was accomplished “before the creation of the world” In other words, the fall of mankind did not destroy God’s purpose in creating mankind. God is omniscient (all knowing) and nothing takes him unaware or unprepared . God does not go running after Satan trying to sort out the mess he (satan) creates. Rather, the blood of Jesus has already taken care of it.

 

There is nothing satan, sin or sickness can bring that the blood has not already made provision for. Our redemption is in the blood. The blood is God’s answer to everything that satan brings. You can be sure that God has made certain that the blood of Jesus has enough authority and power to meet all mankind’s needs. And you know what ? Not even satan understood the redemptive power in the blood until after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 2:7-10 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” — 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (NIV)

The next time you go to the presence of God with a need, don’t encourage unbelief by trying to work out in your mind how God will provide the answer. Take comfort in the fact that the blood of Jesus is the answer. The blood is our omnipotent God’s provision for all our needs. If Jesus’ blood had not been shed from the creation of the world, then we might have had a good reason to worry. God would had overlooked a vital fact. But glory be to God. In His all knowing wisdom He has slain the lamb before the “creation of the world” and our redemption, every need and provision has been provided for by the blood.

It is as if to say, God had taken out an insurance policy before creating mankind. It is a fully comprehensive insurance that pays for all damages no matter what, and even promises to “restore back as new”. That insurance is the blood of Jesus. The main strength of the insurance (just like any normal insurance policy) is that it was taken out before the incident. That is why it covers everything. Jesus’ death on the cross was not an afterthought by God, rushed through after the event. No. It had been settled before.

 

Revealing the blood

The third chapter of Genesis records the fall of mankind. The twenty first verse records God’s response to their nakedness, a result of the fall

Genesis 3:21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. (NIV)

 

The garments of skin are a clear indication of the shedding of blood of an animal (or two). Earlier on in verse seven Adam and Eve had employed leaves to cover themselves. God no doubt found this inadequate. The skin of an animal (or animals) was used instead. A lamb (or animal) for a person was being revealed. Needless to say that it was the shed blood which was of more importance. The blood was covering their sins, physically and spiritually. The first time we witness the bloodshed in the Old Testament has to do with the payment of sins. God made this even more clear in Leviticus.

 

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. (NIV)

 

The twelfth chapter of Exodus again records God requesting the slaying of an animal for each family to observe the Passover. The significance of the Passover lamb is rooted in the “lamb slain from the foundation of the world”. An animal for a family is being revealed.

 

In Exodus chapter thirty God instructs Moses to have an animal shed for the nation of Israel. Do you get the trend now?

 

Genesis chapter three – The blood of a lamb for a person.
Exodus chapter twelve – The blood of a lamb for a family.
Exodus chapter thirty – The blood of a lamb for a nation.
John 1:29 – The blood of a Lamb for the world.

God has all along been revealing the “Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world”. However this is just the beginning of the revelation. And you know what! The knowledge of this alone, when received into our hearts can cause us to walk in the abundance of riches that Christ’s death made available to us.

 

The Law of First Mention,” which simply means that the very first time any important word is mentioned in the Bible [usually, of course, is in Genesis, the first book of the Bible, the seed book] Scripture gives that word its most complete, and accurate, meaning to not only serve as a “key” in understanding the word’s Biblical concept, but to also provide a foundation for its fuller development in later parts of the Bible.

 

Examples of this phenomenon are as follows:

 

Light Genesis 1:3

Vision Genesis 15:1

Blood Genesis 3:20;4:10

Shield Genesis 15:1

Grace Genesis 6:8

Reward Genesis 15:1

Just [Righteous] Genesis 6:9 “I Am” Genesis 15:1

Perfect Genesis 6:9

Word Genesis 15:1

Atonement [Pitch] Genesis 6:14

Imputed {Counted] Genesis 15:6

Covenant Genesis 6:18

Righteousness Genesis 16:6

Altar Genesis 8:20

Angel of the Lord Genesis 16:7

Shed [Pour out] Genesis 9:6

Worship [bow down] Genesis 18:2

Wine Genesis 9:21

Mercy Genesis 19:16

Drunken Genesis 12:15

Fire Genesis 19:24

Praise [Command] Genesis 12:15

Obey Genesis 22:18

Peace [Salem] Genesis 14:18

Sow Genesis 26:12

Tithes Genesis 14:20

Salvation Genesis 49:18

 

 

COMPARISON OF THE TWO LEAVES

FIG LEAVES (TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD/EVIL & LEAVES OF THE TREE OF LIFE

 

Genesis 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

 

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil/ Self/Law

The fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil- the Good( Heb. 2896 tobe- good) what seems right to self. Evil ( Hebrew poneros-evil) full of labors, hardships and annoyances.

 

FIG TREE – SYMBOL OF THE LAW AND ISRAEL-Man’s effort to cover himself by works.

 

 

A TREE IS KNOWN

BY ITS FRUIT

 

Tree of Life

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

 

Hope is in the Tree of Life—JESUS

 

All manifestation of goodness or righteousness is only found in the life of Christ. So, therefore it was called “The Tree of Life.” The tree of life represents the person of Christ, Himself. The tree of Life represent Christ‘s own mind, full of wisdom, truth and grace.The Cross is the centerfold or fulcrum to the manifested Life of Christ. So there is a hidden cross right in the center of the tree. Christ and the Cross are synonymous with each other. Actually, the gospel says, Christ hung on a tree. The Cross represents death and resurrection united together as one reality.

Contrast

Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

(Gal 5:19-21a)  Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, fightings, jealousies, angers, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkennesses, revelings, and things like these………..

 

 

ADAM LOST THE MIND OF CHRIST- HE JUDGED HIMSELF ACCORDING TO THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL (law/self).

JESUS CAME AND RESTORED THE WAY TO JUDGE OURSELVES ACCORDING TO THE TREE OF LIFE. (fulfillment of the law, Jesus Christ)(NOW WE JUDGE OURSELVES RIGHTEOUS)

 

The Tree of Life

The fruit of the Tree of Life/Jesus is walking in your original design, the Christ Life unveiled and redeemed.

 

Leaves of the Tree of Life/Jesus

 

Revelation 22:2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. John 15:5“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

 

I can’t over emphasize the Two Trees in the Garden. Choose the correct tree to  partake of/eat from everyday.

 

Gen.3:8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:11a And He said, “Who told you that you were naked?

 

“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden, in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”

“And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, where are you?” Gen 3:8-9.

Adam hid from the presence of the Lord because he had transgressed the word of the Lord to him. The Lord asked this question, not because He did not know where Adam was hiding, but rather to expose the condition of his heart in order to restore fellowship with him. Here, man is hiding, but the Lord is seeking restored fellowship. We should be encouraged in knowing that our Lord takes the initiative in seeking fellowship with us.

 

satan deceived Adam and Eve, and  supposedly robbed them of the authority they had been given. He assumed their authority. But when they hid from the presence of the Lord, it was the Lord who sought to restore that which had been lost. Our “salvation” is the beginning point of this restoration and has two purposes. The first is to prepare us for eternity, which is much emphasized. But there is a present restoration of all that Adam lost which is much neglected.

God created the earth and placed man on it with a purpose. He came “in the cool of the evening” during which there was a special atmosphere, in order to walk and fellowship with man. He found pleasure in doing this.

“And the Lord took the man, and put him in the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it.” Gen 2:15.

That which the Lord had created was perfect in every way. But Adam was to change or improve what God had created, and during the day, he did this very thing.

 

Then in the evening, in “the cool of the day,” God came to see what Adam had accomplished or changed in the garden during the day. He moved, sheared, and gave it shape; he improved what God had created.

 

What was the dialogue of God and Adam? My interpretation:

 

Then in the evening, the Lord came and said, “Adam, I would like to go for a walk with you, to see what you did in the garden today.” And Adam said, “Lord, I trimmed this, and then, I moved it to a different place.” And God found pleasure in the fact that He had created a man with a freedom of will and ability. Although the Lord had created innumerable Angels, he never found this level of pleasure and satisfaction in them.

But an enemy came and  supposedly marred it by destroying the place of dependence and intimate relationship that Adam had with his creator. Now, by sweat amongst thorns, he would function, and life has become very difficult for all of us. This is the result of sin. But the Lord’s intention is to bring a restoration of the dominion that Adam forfeited. All that was lost is to be restored before there is any physical return of our Lord.

Genesis 3:11b …………Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”

 

God already knew they had eaten before the question was asked.

 

Gen. 3:8-11 Cont.:

 

Just in case you missed it.

 

REVIEW: THERE WERE TWO TREES IN THE GARDEN

 

Another quality resource on this subject is” There Were Two Trees in the Garden by Rick Joyner

 

Tree of Life

Example  of Jesus, grace and mercy (fruit of the Spirit)(Source of life) The Word is Spirit and Life–2 Cor. 3:6

 

Ministry of Reconciliation

2 Cor. 5:18–FRUIT OF THE TREES–GAL. 5:22-

 

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil–Example of the Law,  works of the flesh, self-centeredness (Source of death)1 Cor. 15:56

 

Ministry of death, ministry of condemnation

2 Cor. 3:7-9

 

THANK GOD FOR GRACE

 

Gal. 2:21“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” 2 Cor. 5:21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Romans 5:19For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law, for righteousness to everyone who believes.

 

The Tree of Life is in Us

Jesus Christ, the Tree of Life said, “After this manner THEREFORE pray ye.” The word translated as “therefore” is oun in Greek. It is a primary word which means CERTAINLY! We can pray certainly! We can pray CERTAINLY when Christ, the Tree of Life within us, brings forth a prayer/ declaration/confession in His Name, in His nature!

 

 

Types and Shadows of Jesus Christ- Yeshua Ha Messiah

 

• The tree (of knowledge of good and evil/self),the forbidden fruit in Eden, Gen 3:6, which brought death to us all,
• and the tree of the cross (Tree of Life who is Jesus) which brought eternal life to us all, Acts 5:30.

 

(Gen 3:12-21)   Summary and Review:

 

The “Adamic” Covenant. Gen. 3:14-16.

 

This Covenant, like the first, was given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before their expulsion. It ushered in as some timelines and Dispensationalists claim the “Dispensation of Conscience.” It was without conditions, and embodied a “Curse” and a “Promise.”

 

Dispensationalist Timeline View:

 

 

 

 

You must understand that the curse came because of cause and effect/ sowing and reaping.

 

Understand…God/ Our Source never rewards virtue, and never punishes sin. The sin problem has been taken care of. Sin punishes sin.

 

Sin was not imputed to mankind until the law.

(Rom 5:11-17)  And not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation. Therefore, even as through one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed on all men inasmuch as all sinned: for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is the type of Him who was to come; but the free giftshall not be also like the offense. For if by the offense of the one many died, much more the grace of God, and the gift in grace; which is of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the free gift shall not be as by one having sinned; (for indeed the judgment wasof one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses to justification. For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one, much more they who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.)

 

JESUS TOOK CARE OF THE SIN PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL.

 

Also you must understand the causative and permissive verbage used in the Old Testament.

 

IN OLD TESTAMENT  PASSAGES RELATING TO GOD DID IT (ACTIVE VOICE)

 

Mistranslation is because of verb tense:

 

Active Verbs have been translated in the causative sense when they should have been translated in the permissive sense.

 

AN EXAMPLE IS IN  Exodus 15:26

 

“If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”

 

The literal Hebrew reads: (permissive tense)

 

I will not allow to be put upon you none of the diseases which I have allowed to be brought on the Egyptians.

 

We will teach further on the character of God in upcoming lessons.

 

1. The “Curse and the Allowing of the Curse

 

1. As to the serpent.

 

The serpent was satan’s tool, and from being a most beautiful and attractive creature became a loathsome reptile. It still retains traces of its former beauty and grace. It was condemned to crawl upon its belly and eat dust.

 

God cursed satan not mankind.

 

A SUMMARY OF THE JUDGMENT AGAINST THE SERPENT 

1. The serpent is cursed above all cattle and all wild animals.
2. The serpent, upon thy belly shalt thou go.
3. The serpent shall eat dust all the days of his life.
4. Hatred shall be put between the serpent and Israel.
5. Hatred shall be between the offspring of the serpent and the offspring of Israel, the Messiah. This may also mean hatred between the children of the devil and the children of God.
6. The Seed of the woman, the Messiah, will crush the serpent’s head. The serpent will strike the heel of the Seed of the woman, the Messiah.

 

What really happened when Adam fell?  Most think it’s obvious the ‘birthright’ was sold to the devil that Adam committed high treason and he ( the devil) is in charge now, after all he is the prince of the power of the air! Many in the church do hold the view that satan now has the authority in the earth. Let’s look at what actually happened in the garden for a moment, “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art CURSED above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and DUST shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall BRUISE THY HEAD, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15) Where’s this supposed transfer of authority from Adam to the devil? I don’t claim to be a great theologian, but cursed and eating dust doesn’t sound like any transfer of authority to me!

 

Summary of the Curse

1. God allowed curse of painful childbearing

 

Her (Eve’s) state was changed in three particulars.

 

(l)-Multiplied Conception. If Adam and Eve had any children before the “Fall” it is not revealed. It is certain Cain was not conceived until after their expulsion from the Garden. Gen. 4:1. By “Multiplied Conception”  (remember females were not mentioned) is probably meant that there would be several children born at a time. This would be necessary to rapidly replenish the earth.

 

(2)-Sorrowful Motherhood. That is, child-birth was to be accompanied with much pain and anguish. If sin had not entered, child-birth would doubtless have been painless, and motherhood a pleasure and children a delight. Motherhood is a pleasure and delight! (fallen womanhood sometimes do not perceive this to be true)

 

(3)-Headship of Man. Woman was created the equal of man, comparable, but because she caused his fall she lost her equality and man was given the Headship over her. Gen. 3:16. ( this was reversed by Jesus Christ) Back to the original Gen. 2:17

 

Note: Man & woman were created equal in God’s eyes. It was only because of the fall that a hierarchy came into being. Anyone or any institution that elevates the position of men above women is choosing to walk in Adam’s lineage & not the lineage of Jesus.

 

Jesus redeemed us from the curse and equality was restored.

 

1. The Ground. The ground was allowed to be cursed for his sake, and whereas it had been a pleasure to look after the Garden, now he would have to secure a living from the soil by hard labor and the “sweat of his face, ” which would wear out his system and end in physical death.

 

1. As to the Ground. Henceforth it was allowed to be cursed with “thorns” and “thistles.” That is, with everything that would make the cultivation of the earth difficult.

 

(Heb 6:8)  But that which bears thorns and briers is rejected and is a curse, whose end is to be burned.)

 

Jesus Christ reversed that taking the crown of thorns at crucifixion (notes on this in earlier teaching)

 

2. The “Promise.” The Promise was that the “Seed” of the Woman (Christ) should bruise the “serpent’s” head, while his “seed” should bruise Christ’s heel. Here is the Promise that Christ shall redeem the world from the assumed power of satan, and restore the human race and the Earth to their condition before the “Fall.” God never cursed Adam or Eve. He did not curse the earth; it was a result of the fall. He allowed it because mankind has dominion over the earth.

 

VERY GOOD NEWS:

 

(Gal 3:13)  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone having been hanged on a tree”);

 

Gen. 3- The Curse Continued:

 

As we said before, much of the curse resulted from the Law of Sowing and Reaping

 

Law of Sowing and Reaping, a Kingdom Principle

 

“Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Gal. 6:9).

 

The Law of Sowing and Reaping

 

What is the law of sowing and reaping?

The law of sowing and reaping is mentioned in several Scripture passages (Job 4:8; Hosea 8:7; 10:12). But the primary text is found in Paul’s letter to the Galatians:

 

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Galatians 6:7-9).

This passage teaches that each of us is a “sower” who will reap the harvest of his own planting. If you sow to the Spirit, you will reap a harvest of blessing. If you sow to the flesh, you will reap a harvest of sorrow and adversity.

 

What does it mean to sow to the Spirit?

 

The immediate context of Galatians 6 gives several examples of sowing to the Spirit. When you bear another’s burdens, you are sowing to the Spirit (6:2).  Sowing is more than money but when you financially support ministries (good soil) you are sowing to the Spirit. The larger context of the book of Galatians teaches us many ways to sow to the Spirit. Obedience to Scripture is sowing to the Spirit. Expressing Christ-like attitudes is sowing to the Spirit. To manifest love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control is to sow to the Spirit (5:22-23). To be led by the Spirit and to walk in the Spirit is sowing to the Spirit (5:16, 25).

 

When you choose to forgive and not harbor resentful feelings, you are sowing to the Spirit. When you bring your imagination and thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ, you are sowing to the Spirit (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). When you refuse to tell something negative about another person (even though it is true!), you are sowing to the Spirit. Each time you speak the truth, honor your word, pay your bills, offer praise to God for His goodness, you are sowing to the Spirit.

What does it mean to sow to the flesh?

Paul lists many practices that illustrate sowing to the flesh. Such things as marital unfaithfulness, sexual impurity, indecency, sensuality, involvement with the occult, hatred, quarrels, fits of temper, selfish ambition, dissension, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and allowing other things to take God’s place in our life are ways one sows to the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Sowing to the flesh begins in the thought-life. Every time you hold a grudge, entertain an impure fantasy, wallow in self-pity, speak ill of another person, or fail to carry out your responsibilities through procrastination or laziness, you are sowing to the flesh. To be self-centered, critical of others, or envious of others is sowing to the flesh (Galatians 5:15, 26).

 

What are the ultimate results of reaping what we sow?

 

Paul states that if you sow to the flesh, you will of the flesh reap corruption. “Corruption” speaks of physical decay and moral rottenness that ultimately leads to eternal death in Hell. If you sow to the Spirit, you will of the Spirit reap life everlasting. The essence of everlasting life is to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ His Son (John 17:3; 1 John 5:11). As believers, we will enjoy this relationship throughout eternity on the New Earth.

 

What if you fully reaped for all your sins?

but Jesus paid the price for that. God is gracious and full of mercy. He does not continue to punish His children for past sins. Yes, there will be reaping in this present life: some sins lead to disease and other sins destroy marriages and families. The Christian is not exempt from the law of sowing and reaping. But God is not adding up all your past sins and making sure you pay for all of them. He forgives sin. He deals with His children in love. Even when He chastens them, (by His Word) He is doing so in order to bring them back to a right relationship with Him (Hebrews 12:9-12).

 

What are some principles of the law of sowing and reaping?

You reap WHAT you sow.

 

If you sow wheat, you will reap wheat. If you sow a kindness, you will reap a kindness. If you sow a lie, unfaithfulness, or discord, you will reap the same. The warning, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” behooves you to be very careful what you sow.

 

You reap in a DIFFERENT SEASON than you sow.

Notice that Galatians 6:7 starts by saying, “Do not be deceived.” Why does Paul begin with this warning? The answer is found in the fact that your reaping does not come immediately after you act. Because of this, you can be deceived into thinking that the reaping will not come. Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.” If you could see the long-term results of your choices, you would always sow to the Spirit.

 

The harvest comes in God’s time—His appointed season. An example of this is seen for the Hebrew nation in the Old Testament.

What are some implications of the law of sowing and reaping?

What you are tomorrow will depend on what you do today. Right now you are making choices that will affect the rest of your life. It is imperative that you sow good seeds of obedience. In the future, they will bloom into a harvest of righteousness, not just for you, but also for your children and grand-children. As the saying goes, “Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”

 

It is easy to become discouraged in doing good. The harvest often seems a long way off. But you must remind yourself of the importance of perseverance. God promises that you will reap if you don’t give up.

 

Summary  Gen 3 (1):

 

Disobedience the devil.

 

To the devil, who took the form of a serpent, God establishes that form as a symbol. Any serpent, to most people, is a thing to be dreaded.  Like a serpent, the enmity toward the woman and her seed would be fulfilled in the conflict between Christ and the devil. Christ won that conflict.

 

Seed of Woman

 

It is contrary to normal usage to speak of the “seed of woman.”

 

The common usage is “seed of man.” The unique thing about Jesus was that he was the “Seed of woman.”

 

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (Compare Matthew 1:20-23.)

 

Paul confirms this virgin birth “Seed” in:

 

Galatians 4:4, But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law….

 

The conflict between Jesus and the devil fulfills this early prophecy.

 

satan’s minor victories  (let’s say skirmish) over Jesus did little damage, so could be described as bruising Him only on his heel. (Compare the devil’s little victory in Mark 5.)

 

A “legion” of demons possessed a man, and when they knew that Jesus intended to cast them out, they pleaded to be sent into a herd of swine. When Jesus complied, the demons made the swine drown themselves in the Sea of Galilee. The fearful people of the region asked Jesus to leave them.

 

The major victory of Jesus over the devil was like “bruising his head.”

 

Hebrews 2:14-15 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; [15] and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

 

1 John 3:8 ….the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

 

A WORD ABOUT THE BRUSING OF the devil’s HEAD:

 

BRUISING THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT by Doug Fortune

 

Let us put off the “devil consciousness” mentality, and bruise the ‘head’ of the serpent.) “And the Lord God said unto the serpent… upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Gen. 3:14-15) “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads… and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” (Rev. 12:3-5)

 

Once again we are drawn to a set of highly symbolic and prophetic passages. Perhaps the most striking element of these passages is the metamorphosis of the lowly serpent to a huge dragon. It seems that he has grown more heads, horns, crowns, wings, and legs. What type of nutrition could provide such prolific growth?… DUST!

 

“The first man was from the earth, made of dust- earth minded… Now those who are made of the dust are like him who was first made of the dust- earth minded…” (1 Cor. 15:47-48 Amplified Bible). It is the dust mentality of the Adam nature that has made the dragon what he is in Revelation chapter 12.

 

However, let us not forget the Father’s prophetic decree concerning the Offspring of the woman; the Offspring “shall bruise thy (the serpent’s) head.” (Gen. 3:15) I believe that the Father is birthing a corporate Son, a Manchild, a mature people who are “caught up” to the Throne – understanding that they ARE seated IN Christ, far ABOVE the powers of darkness. (Eph. 1:21; 2:6)

 

This Offspring (“For WE are also His offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God…” Acts 17:29), this mature people are appropriating the finished work of the Cross, enforcing the bruising of the head of the serpent that happened on the cross of Jesus Christ. We know that the “head” is usually symbolic of authority and mentality. The Father is birthing a people who are treading upon the “authority” of the serpent… they are reclaiming that which the serpent has illegally seized. These are also a people who are challenging inaccurate mentalities. One of those inaccurate mentalities being challenged is “sin-consciousness”… and then there is its close relative “devil-consciousness”.

 

Unfortunately, there is a large segment of modern Christendom who are more focused on and conscious of the devil, than on the purposes of God in the earth. They have made the lowly serpent into a great dragon. They have even proclaimed that he will one day rule the world under a One World Government. However, Daniel states it clearly, “And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they SHALL NOT CLEAVE one to another, even as iron is NOT MIXED with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdom, which shall NEVER be destroyed: and the Kingdom shall NOT be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and CONSUME all these kingdoms, and it shall stand FOREVER.” (Dan. 2:42-44)

 

Yes, you read that correctly, the toes- the ten kingdoms “shall NOT cleave one to another…” Many throughout history have attempted it, Hitler and Communism being some of the most recent, but we will NOT see the One World Government, nor the resurgence of the Roman Empire the devil would like us to believe in.

 

Rather we ARE seeing a progressive fulfillment of Dan. 2:44 as the Kingdom of God “shall break in pieces and CONSUME all these kingdoms, and it shall stand FOREVER.” Enough with the “devil consciousness” mentality!… let us tread upon the “head” of the serpent. However, in the treading upon the head of the serpent, we also have a prophetic promise that most of us would like to ignore, BRUISING THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT. As the serpent “shall bruise his heel” (Gen.3:15)… OUCH! The word translated as heel, aqeb in Hebrew, means “a protuberant, hence a track.” Think about this for a moment; as you take a step, what part of you touches ground first?… your heel! Obviously, Jesus Christ fulfilled this “bruising” as He went to the cross, “yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…” (Isaiah 53:4-5);

 

But I believe there is also an element that applies to us as the Body of Christ. There are those “heels” in the Body, those forerunners who dare to step out and tread upon the serpent’s authority and “devil-conscious” mentality, reclaiming territory that is rightfully the Lord’s. We can expect “bruise” in this routing of the enemy. Many times those “bruises” will come from sources you don’t expect, as the serpent shall “lie in wait and bruise his heel.” (Gen. 3:15 Amplified Bible)

 

So, you’re going along treading upon enemy territory, pulling down strongholds of inaccurate devil-conscious mentalities to set people free… and it seems that all hell is breaking loose around you, you’re getting bruised up. Well, this is probably somewhat normal. It would seem that the only way to stop getting bruised is to retreat… big mistake! Remember that dragon in Revelation chapter 12?… well, he is poised right in the path of your “retreat” waiting to eat your lunch. We must keep pressing onward, treading upon the usurped authority of the serpent and devil-conscious mentality, understanding that there is redemptive PURPOSE in our getting bruised up. “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” (Phil. 3:10-11)

 

You see, it is through the “fellowship of His sufferings” that we are made “conformable unto His death”; and only from the foundation of HUMILITY in being made “conformable unto His death” can we be EXALTED in Resurrection Life! I love the way the Amplified Bible reads in Phil.3:11, “That if possible I may attain to the spiritual and moral resurrection that lifts me out from among the dead EVEN WHILE in the body…” It is this Resurrection Life we enter into as we are “caught up” to the Throne, and from our position in the Throne we bruise the “head” of the serpent! Let us not focus on our bruises, let us focus on treading upon the serpent, reclaiming territory and restoring accurate mentalities that the Kingdom of God may advance!

 

WHAT IS GOD’S WRATH?

 

The effects of the disobedience were the opposite to what the natural guilty world would expect God’s reaction to be. We would think God would, in anger and wrath, turn His back on the two. But it was precisely the other way around. It was Adam who hid from God, not God from Adam. Here was God “walking in the garden in the cool of the day” and looking for Adam. But where was Adam? Hidden in the bushes. Nor was God displaying some wrathful retaliation, but only questioning Adam to bring the reality of the disobedience home to him.

 

For when He came face to face with the three, the serpent and Adam and Eve, there was not a word of condemnation or wrath against the two, but only His full curse on Satan. To Adam and Eve everything God said was to clarify to them the “beneficial” consequence which they, thankfully, could not escape – a way of life which always has sorrow at its roots. God said in effect, “Eve, you will have sorrow one way; Adam, you will have sorrow another way.” That was all. And of course, the point of the sorrow would be that the whole human race through all its centuries of history would always he inwardly miserable, always knowing they were missing the mark and meaning of life, always seeking a phony happiness which would always escape them… and thus, always at the heart of every man, however covered up, is a sense of lostness and a longing for fulfillment. That alone was God’s judgment on His disobedient children, a judgment totally for their benefit.

 

Where then is what we would think of – and what the Bible often refers to – as God’s wrath? The answer is that the wrath is not in His eternal person, for He is only love. But it is in the human race, who all have their being in Him; for always, no matter how apparently apart from Him in their way of life they be, they actually live and move in His being (which was Paul’s unique revelation to the men of Athens, in Acts 17).

 

The consequence must always be that we, in our separation from God in His perfect personhood as love, have all the effects in our persons of our wrong way of living; and those constitute the wrath of God, experienced not in Him but in us.

 

This was well put by Paul in speaking of the effects of certain sins in Romans 1 – that we receive in ourselves that recompense of our error which is meet. Quite naturally, to fallen man – seeing only with the external eye – it appears as though God is the God of wrath imposing punishment on us; and it is good in our blindness that we do see it as that, for then the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But to continue in that misconception of God as the God of punishment and wrath after we have become His children by grace, and so should know better, leaves so many people who are justified squirming under the misapprehension that God is punishing them or has deserted them.

 

Even when we read the words of Moses or Paul about God hardening Pharaoh’s heart and that God raised him up to show His power through the hardening we should understand that the hardening was actually in Pharaoh’s persistent refusal to respond to Moses’ word of the Lord to him; so the hardening was of his own heart and in himself, as one who had his being in God and was misusing his being.

 

That is the truth of God’s wrath in His rebellious sons, for as Paul said, the truth concerning Him is that “God has shut them all up in unbelief that He might have mercy on all” (Rom. 11:32, margin), not judgment on them.

 

Actually, what did God give Adam and Eve in that crisis interview? The answer is in what was addressed to the serpent: “You have sown your seed of enmity in My human family, so that they are your children. But I have a seed [one seed, Galatians 3:16] of this woman, My eternal Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world; and in all who receive Him, that Seed will destroy your seed and crush your head, though wounded by you in the process.

 

Gen.3:22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

 

In Genesis Chapter 3, the “flaming sword” was placed in front of the Tree of Life, “Lest Adam put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” (Genesis 3:22). Adam had to come regularly and partake of the Tree of Life in order to live. All that the Lord did, in order to allow death to set in, was to hinder him from partaking. If Adam and Eve had partaken then they would live eternally in their sin. The cherubim and flaming sword was for their protection.

 

The flaming sword again became a friend on the day of Pentecost. It descended and sat upon the head of each one. It stopped there, because it had to be invited to come within. Israel was offered the manifest presence of the Lord and rejected it. Therefore, the Lord is seeking an invitation from us, that He is welcomed.

 

Symbolically the Tree of Life and Flaming Sword:

 

and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the WAY of the Tree of Life.” (Genesis 3:24)

 

The Literal Bible reads, “flaming the sword whirling around to GUARD the WAY of the Tree of Life.” The word translated as “the WAY of” is derek in Hebrew. It means a road (as trodden), figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, a lifestyle. It is the equivalent of hodos in Greek. You see, the flaming whirling Sword is there to GUARD the “course of life or lifestyle” which leads to the Tree of Life. As we pass through this flaming whirling Sword, “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17), which is “sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul (carnality) and spirit” (Hebrews 4:12), indeed our lifestyle, our manner of thinking, feeling, deciding is transformed. All this leads to the Tree of Life, Who is none other than Christ Himself. The Tree of Life within us in turn brings forth a prayer that heals the nations; “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the Tree of Life… and the leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:2)

 

The Tree of Life is Now in Us

 

One with Christ, Joined Together

 

BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. [Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 3:1-29; II Tim. 3:16.] And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. [Jer. 17:7, 8.] (Psalm 1:1-3 AMP)

 

(John 15:5)  I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

 

(Rev 22:2)  In the midst of its street, and of the river, from here and from there, was the Tree of Life, which bore twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit according to one month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

 

 

In regards to prayer:

 

We can pray with CERTAINLY when Christ, the Tree of Life within us, brings forth a prayer in His Name, in His nature!

 

A Poem: THE TREE OF LIFE/LIGHT WITHIN

 

The Kingdom of God is a tree

The Tree of Life inside of you

The Tree of Light

The seed of which is Jesus

Planted when you first believed

And put your trust in Him.

That seed fell on good ground

And has been kept watered by the word of God

And nurtured by the Holy Spirit of God.

It has grown and spread within you

Overtaking more and more of your life

Conforming you into the very image

Of that Tree within.

And from its branches

Springs forth much fruit

First thirty-fold

Then sixty-fold

And now very soon

As it comes into full maturity

A hundred-fold.

It is good for eating

And even its leaves

Are for the healing of the nations.

This Tree within you

Is planted by a river

The River of Life that flows within you.

And now as this present age draws to a close

That Tree is beginning

To break forth from within you

To be food for many who come

And eat the fruit—the seed—thereof.

The many sons of God

Are being brought to glory

The glory of the Father.

Can you feel it?

It feels like any moment

That you are going to burst open

To give that glorious Tree space

To grow well beyond who you have ever been

Or had ever hoped to be.

Rejoice! For your redemption is NO!!

 

 

More on Spiritually Dead/Darkened

Adam and Eve became spiritually dead (darkened), in the state of the natural, or unregenerate man.  The sinner is spiritually dead (darkened) until he acknowledges Christ.

I don’t like to say spiritually dead as some writers say because without spirit the body dies. So the spirit was darkened.

I still read many accounts where scholars say the spirit is dead until salvation.

Here is the reasoning:

Scriptures:

Rev.”To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

Eph. 2:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

Romans 8:10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

Matthew 8:22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”

Luke 9:60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”

2 Corinthians 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

John 5:2 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

Luke 15:24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Luke 15:32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

Hosea 13:1 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling He exalted himself in Israel, But through Baal he did wrong and died.

Romans 7:8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

Romans 7:10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;

2 Corinthians 3:6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Jeremiah 21:8 “You shall also say to this people, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Romans 7:9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;

2 Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was,

Spiritually dead means that we are separated from God, that we are unable to hear His voice, we are unable to obey His laws, that we have no fellowship with God. The mind becomes darkened by the things of this world, and those who are spiritually dead cannot perceive God, nor understand spiritual things. The Bible makes no sense to them, because the words are spiritually tuned to those who are alive in Christ. Since the Bible is a living book, it can only make sense to those who are spiritually alive, those who have acknowledged Jesus as Savior and Lord, and allowed the Holy Spirit to come into them so they can be reborn- or made alive to God again.

As for hearing God’s voice, many did without a functioning spirit. Pilates’ wife, etc.

In reality the spirit is not functioning properly; It is a lack of spiritual life, an absence of proper spiritual functioning. We are blinded before rebirth, in darkness.

(Joh 12:40)  “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.”

(2Co 4:4)  in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving ones, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (who is the image of God) should not dawn on them.

(1Jn 2:11)  But he who hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because darkness has blinded his eyes.

You decide. The unbeliever is spiritually dead/ darkened.

Now this could happen:

(2Co 4:6)  For it is God who said, “Out of darkness Light shall shine;” who shone in our hearts to give the brightness of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

(Col 1:12-14)  giving thanks to the Father, who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. For He has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son; in whom we have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins.

 

(Psa 82:5)  They neither know nor will understand; they walk on in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

(Scripture says dead in sin and trespasses, not dead in spirit.)

In Adam-darkened

 

 

After the death of the body, spiritual death/darkness becomes seemingly a state of separation from God. Rev. 20:6,14.

Adam and Eve had to be kept from eating the tree of life or they would have been eternally separated from God, forever spiritually dead/darkened, never dying.

The glory of God permeated the first man as well as his perfect garden (Gen. 1:31) In the beginning, God is all and in all (Gen. 1:1), and in the end of all things when all evil and death will be swallowed up in life, then God is again all and in all (I Cor. 15:28). God will be all and in all in his redeemed creation I Cor. 15:22-28.

Summary Gen. 3 Cont:

The Curse and Sin Nature

Is Sin Nature Imputed?

Is sin nature imputed to a newborn child?

 

I am rethinking the teaching that: All people inherited sin from Adam and Eve, specifically from Adam. When Adam fell into sin, the result was every one of his descendants also being “infected” with sin. David lamented this fact in one of his Psalms: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). This does not mean that his mother bore him illegitimately; rather, his mother had inherited a sin nature from her parents, and they from their parents, and so on. David inherited sin from his parents, just as we all do. Even if we live the best life possible, we are still sinners as a result of inherited sin. Being born sinners results in the fact that we all sin.

I am beginning to disagree with this. Of course, you can disagree with me, we are still One in Christ.

Since we were all born from above. Gen. 1:26 made in His image and likeness. We are born pure in spirit. It’s the worlds’ influence that develops in our soulish realm, being broken, not whole.

Some of these problems are (1) how the so-called ‘sin nature’ is transmitted from parents to children, (2) how we can be held guilty for the sin of Adam; a sin in which we did not participate, and (3) how did Jesus not inherit the guilt that this ‘sin nature’ supposedly carries, even though He was born of a woman.(some say this is because his blood was not tainted from Mary.)

I am beginning to believe the ‘sinful nature’ in not something inherited at all.  It is a lack of God’s holiness/wholeness within a person.  Jesus, being God, would not have lacked that holiness. However, he drained all of that when he came to earth and was born. Jesus, although existing in a human body and being tempted in all ways as are we (Hebrews 2:18, 4:15), had the power and ability to resist any temptation to sin and thus remained sinless.  This same power, supplied by the Holy Spirit, is available today. It’s a matter of acknowledging Jesus Christ (confessing with your mouth, believing in your heart (Romans 10:10) who is already in you, ( since you were born from above in Gen. 1:26) It is becoming  who and what you already are, becoming whole again.

Also, my question is how can a believer conceive in sin if they have a pure spiritual nature that’s already in them?  (I understand sin can manifest through the soulish realm.)As for a child I feel that the sinful nature is taught, and spoke over them. Example, he’s going to be just like his father, chasing women! This is something really to think about.

Are We Condemned by the Sin of Adam and Eve?

What Adam and Eve’s sin did was to cause the human race to fall into the practice of sin. We are born to imperfect parents, whose sin negatively influences us. We become accustomed to committing sins without regard to their negative impact on our lives and the lives of others. However, God, in His love, provided the means by which all people could become completely righteous before Him, thus inheriting eternal life.

The Word says that God has created people to be upright, but they have chosen to do evil. “Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.” (Ecclesiastes 7:29)

We are not condemned on the basis of Adam and Eve’s original sin, but our own. I was and is our choice. God is not responsible for our sin; the sin problem has been taken care of.  But we as Paul said are drawn away by our own lusts. However, God, in His love, has provided a way of escape for those who recognize their own inability to live up to God’s holy standards. Jesus Christ died for our sin to reconcile us to God. Trust Jesus to change you into the person you really want to be!

 

Quick Summary Chptrs. 1-3

First Creation—1:26– God made mankind spirit beings

Gen. 2:7—God‘s perfect man.

Second creation—2:7–God blew the Spirit man into a body and gave him a form.

Gen. 2:23– Man was made both male and female until Eve was taken out of him.

Gen 2:8—God‘s perfect garden. The perfect environment didn‘t cover the whole earth. Adam was meant to dominion over the whole earth.

Gen. 2:17— (Gen 2:17)  but you shall not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

All yes, only one no, or should I say only one Law in the whole discourse.

Gen 3:1—God‘s serpent. Satan appeared as an angle of light, or presented to them what seemed reasonable.

Gen. 3:19— (Gen 3:19)  In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.(discourse)

Gen.3:14-17—God condemned satan, but gave man merciful consequences that would draw him back home.

Continued Summaries of Genesis  3

The Garden of Eden:

Gen. 2:7—God’s perfect man.

Gen. 2:8—God’s perfect garden.

Gen. 3:1–the serpent

Rom. 8:20—“the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.”

Gen. 3:14-17—God cursed satan, not man.”

God is Good, He Permits evil (He allows what you allow)

Isa. 45:7—“I form light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil. I the Lord do all these things.” God created light, good; evil darkness is the absence.

Gen. 50:20—“You thought evil against me, but God meant it for good.”

Isa. 10:5—“Assyria, the rod of my anger”

Isa. 45:3—“I will give you the treasures of darkness.”(of course God did not create darkness, darkness is the absence of light.)

Exodus 4:11—“Who made the dumb, or the deaf, or the seeing, or the blind?  Is it not I, the Lord?

Job 12:16—“the deceived and the deceiver are his.”

Jer. 42:10—“the evil which I did to you.”

Many other Scriptures which should have used the permissive tense verbs.

The Results of Mankind’s Fall.

John 3:19-21—“light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light.”

Eph. 2:1—“Dead  (darkened) in trespasses and sins.” ( I don’t like to say the spirit if dead because if this were so then we would be dead, spirit is what keeps us alive.)

Before Salvation:

Eph. 2:2—“the spirit that works in children of disobedience.”

Eph. 2:1-3—“they were by nature children of wrath.”

Rom. 1:27—“received in themselves the recompense of their error”

Act 13:46—“judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life”

1 John 3:10—“Children of the devil.”

John 8:44—“Ye are of your father the devil.”

Rom. 6:17—“Slaves of sin.”

1 Peter 3:19—“Spirits in prison.”

Rom. 9:23—“Vessels of wrath.”

 

 

CreationAdam and Eve	After the FallFear entered
Gen. 2:7-25	Old Testament times
“I give you dominion and authority.” The world in its pure state.	MosesThe Law is given; giving a shadow of things to come
Adam and Eve saw clearly	Mankind was in a shadow
	Man had little or no sight

 

WE ARE NOT UNDER A CURSE ANY LONGER

To assume that some BELIEVERS who happen to be sick or hungry are under a CURSE – while other believers (who are healthy and full) are not CURSED – is wrong. Not only is this unkind and judgmental — it’s a misuse of scripture.

(Gal 3:13)  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone having been hanged on a tree”);

Those who fully trust the Gospel of Salvation know that we are not Old Covenant people. Jesus (our Deliverer, Mediator, Savior) proclaimed a new covenant – a replacement for the “schoolmaster.” Hebrews makes it plain (8:13), “By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear” NIV.

Jesus gave us the guarantee of our inheritance NOW (Rom. 11:26, 27, Eph. 1:12-14). We are MADE ALIVE in Him (1 Cor. 15:22). The iniquities of previous generations can have no LEGAL jurisdiction in the lives of the NEW CREATION. We are not affected by our old nature any longer; neither do we partake of the sins of our past — nor the sins of others.

THE devil CAN’T DO IT:

Our freedom doesn’t come through repeating specific phrases to the devil about our rights.  Why do we talk to him? Scriptures everywhere teach that it’s NOT the devil who holds our destiny in his hands. God is absolutely in control. James 4:7 tells us, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. DRAW NEAR TO GOD…” James didn’t say anything about repeating expressions, or formulas that could supposedly take away satan’s “legal rights….satan has no legal rights!”

John gives us great assurance when he says: “He who has been born of God keeps Himself and the wicked one DOES NOT TOUCH (harm) HIM” (1 John 5:18). This word for touch in Greek is “hapto” and means to fasten onto or to lay hold. Essentially, John says that if we’re born of God, the devil can’t affect our lives anymore. (See also Gal. 3:23-28.)

And what could ever separate us from the love of Christ? Not trouble or hardship, not persecution or famine, not nakedness or danger. (NOTHING. Not our past mistakes, Not words or curses that others have said.) Not death nor life, not angels nor demons, not the present nor the future, nor any powers…not anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:38).

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31 NIV). (Who can be against us? The answer is NO ONE — NOTHING!) The devil is eternally defeated, and we are delivered from the power of darkness into the kingdom of light. Christ’s work is totally FINISHED in us! We now sit in heavenly places (Eph. 2:5-6).

WHAT WE KNOW:

If after becoming a Christian, we continue to act with ungodly behavior similar to that of previous generations, then we just don’t understand the reality of the fullness of our salvation. Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (“soteria,” to be delivered from the bondage of sin, to be whole, rescued, salvaged, be in health).We have been redeemed for sin, sickness and poverty.

NIV Col 1:12-14, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” NIV.

There must be a transition for all of us … a full transformation into the REDEMPTIVE TRUTH that CHRIST lives IN US and we live IN HIM. We need our understanding baptized with TRUTH. We need to apprehend what the cross has already provided.

If we believe that our failures and disappointments are due to our past failures — or those of our ancestors, then we forfeit the need for our own accountability. Galatians 2:19-21 says, “I HAVE BEEN crucified (past tense) with Christ and I NO LONGER LIVE, but Christ lives in me. (The sins of my old life – and my fallen nature no longer exist for me.) The life I live in the body, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” NIV.

(Rom 5:1-5)  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice on the hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we glory in afflictions also, knowing that afflictions work out patience, and patience works out experience, and experience works out hope. And hope does not make us ashamed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us.

 

(Rom 8:1-8)  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. But the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; so that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For they who are according to the flesh mind the things of flesh, but they who are according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be. So then they who are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

For those who live In Christ Jesus, THERE ARE NO GENERATIONAL CURSES.  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law.(Gal 3:13)  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Out of ignorance or unbelief man sucuumbs to generational curses.

Even after Adam and Eve sinned, sin was not imputed to them… this did not happen until the law was given.

(Rom 5:12-13)  Therefore, even as through one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed on all men inasmuch as all sinned: for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

 

Ironically, Paul CURSED those who presented a false gospel – these are the ones that required Christians to keep Old Testament laws and concepts: “As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9, 4:21). The stronghold that really needs to be pulled down is the one of lack of knowledge!

Conclusions and Commentaries Genesis Chapter 3

Perhaps we need to change our “terminology” – because we’re not under a “CURSE!” However, as believers, we do need to repent.(Repent meaning from the original Greek text the word metanoia, from metanous, meta, together with, and nous, mind. So repent means to think what God thinks. It really means to change your mind and come back to the mind of Christ who is in us)

We need to become transformed by the renewing of our minds… and become whole. We all do have “environmental tendencies” that need to be recognized and changed. All inclinations, predispositions, propensities toward wrong behavior need to be modified and adjusted; we all have wrong habits that need to be addressed. But those are not CURSES. They are pivotal CHARACTER issues that we need to deal with. In most cases results of our unredeemed thought life.

2 Cor 5:18-21, All this is from God, who RECONCILED us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, NOT COUNTING MEN’S SIN’S against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

**Gal 4:8-10, “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God — or rather are known by God — HOW IS IT THAT YOU ARE TURNING BACK TO THOSE WEAK AND MISERABLE PRINCIPLES? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? NIV

**Titus 2:13-15 also makes it very clear “…. Jesus Christ … gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. THESE THEN ARE THE THINGS YOU SHOULD TEACH. ENCOURAGE AND REBUKE with all authority.” NIV

Out of our own ashes, we emerge as the mature company of believers. We’ve freed ourselves from wrong behavior by incorporating the truth that Christ has redeemed us from every curse. We’ve taken our own accountability for wrong-doing. We’ve changed our responses. Now, with undeserved vindication, we glimpse into the nowness of the eternal resurrection life and we manifest the Image of the Overcoming Son.

I have often wondered–Why the other Tree and why the temptation in the Garden?

An Answer by Francois duTois

I think the picture that we are presented with in the garden, and the 2 trees and the temptation, presents us inevitably with the full scope of our design!

We are not robots who are to simply respond to our Maker in remote control fashion.

The eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (self) will continually be re-enforced by feelings of shame, guilt, inferiority in who we are and competing, which sadly brings with it every shade of hostility and frustration.

The temptation was to follow the suggestion of an alternative idea that maybe we are not perfect by design; maybe, we thought, even Elohim know that we are not really what they had in mind, and would therefore feel threatened by our knowledge of good and evil; maybe that is why they didn’t want us to eat of the fruit of the “other” tree, we reasoned!

The quest to prove my I am-ness would now become my constant drive; instead of finding and celebrating me in fellowship with my Maker and my fellow human being, and also in my harmonious co-existence with paradise nature, I have to now strive for it in the fruit of my own efforts to become something I already am by design, perfect and esteemed.

However the invitation to eat of the Tree of Life, Jesus, we were presented with the opportunity to consciously and spontaneously have fellowship with our Maker and to explore the dynamics of our own being there; and from that place of knowing that we are known we would reflect what we discover in fellowship union and intimacy in Elohim and in one another! We were designed to explore the limitless dimensions of our being as referenced in our Source.

The love of God, the Engineer of our being, demonstrated in the unveiling of our inclusion in the death of Jesus, and our joint descent into hell, and our co-quickening and co-resurrection with Jesus Christ, reveals that we are rescued from the lies that we have believed about ourselves, about our Maker and about one another! We are presented with a brand new beginning! The old things have passed away! Behold, everything has become new!

Now immediately engage your thoughts with the reality of your co-seatedness in Christ in the highest dominion of life, and discover there the bliss of your redeemed innocence and your eternal oneness!

Actually, what did God give Adam and Eve in that crisis interview? The answer is in what was addressed to the serpent: “You have sown your seed of enmity in My human family, so that they are your children. But I have a seed [one seed, Galatians 3:16] of this woman, My eternal Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world; and in all who receive Him, that Seed will destroy your seed and crush your head, though wounded by you in the process.” That promise was experienced in its truth by Adam and Eve’s second son Abel, to whom God first witnessed that he was justified with the offering of a slain lamb, the first symbol of an atoning death as the gateway to life. And Adam and Eve, as they covered themselves in the skins from slain animals, with which God provided them, must have seen this as the first symbol of atonement. So all God gave them, after this first disobedience that separated them and us from Him, was His all-conquering grace. That grace was in the One who, from that first moment, they could and did receive by faith, and who freed them from eternal death.

To give ultimate context to the setting of paradise beauty, we were presented with the opportunity to consciously and spontaneously fellowship with our invisible Maker and to explore the dynamics of our own being there; and from that place of knowing that we are known we would reflect what we discover in fellowship union and intimacy in Elohim and in one another! We were designed to explore the limitless dimensions of our being as referenced in our Source.

The temptation was to follow the suggestion of an alternative idea that maybe we are not perfect by design; maybe, we thought, even Elohim know that we are not really what they had in mind, and would therefore feel threatened by our knowledge of good and evil; maybe that is why they didn’t want us to eat of the fruit of the “other” tree, we reasoned!

The alternative tree gives us the opportunity to engage an alternative system, whereby we have to now prove to ourselves, and to one another, as well as to our own ideas of deity (religion) that we can manage and possibly master our own being and destiny, independent of our Source!

The quest to prove my I am-ness would now become my constant drive; instead of finding and celebrating me in fellowship with my Maker and my fellow human being, and also in my harmonious co-existence with paradise nature, I have to now strive for it in the fruit of my own efforts to become something I already am by design, perfect and esteemed.

And so we have exchanged God’s perfect approval of us, based on his perfect knowledge of us, for our imperfect knowledge of ourselves and of one another, proved by the inevitable evidence in our disappointment with ourselves and with one another.

The “I am not-tree-system” would continually be re-enforced by feelings of shame, guilt, inferiority and competing, which sadly brings with it every shade of hostility and frustration and the corruption that our history and societies have borne such horrid witness to. The law expresses and confirms the existence of these systems and their dominance in societies and philosophies for many centuries.

The love of God, the Engineer of our being, demonstrated in the unveiling of our inclusion in the death of Jesus, and our joint decent into hell, and our co-quickening and co-resurrection with Jesus Christ, reveals that we are rescued from the lies that we have believed about ourselves, about our Maker and about one another! We are presented with a brand new beginning! The old things have passed away! Behold, everything has become new!

Now immediately engage your thoughts with the reality of your co-seatedness in Christ in the highest dominion of life, and discover there the bliss of your redeemed innocence and your eternal oneness!

Religion in the Garden:

We can see a”religious” devil in the Garden of Eden. Remember what tree Adam and Eve ended up eating from? Religion is all about right and wrong, all about performance. It has never been about right and wrong; it has always been about life and death! They ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil… the tree of right and wrong… the tree of religion! And what was the result?  It killed them; “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) In one form or another, religion has been killing people for millennias! Remember, one religious devils’ name was LEGION. I believe that Legion speaks of the “pack mentality” where people behave in a certain way only because others are behaving in that certain way. We can see it manifesting in the Garden with Adam. He probably wouldn’t have eaten of the wrong tree if Eve had not eaten first. Religion is filled with the “pack mentality” where individuality is usually suppressed. After all, we behave THIS certain way at our church, because others behave THIS certain way, and we have always behaved THIS certain way.

Some Research on 666 in Creation and the Garden.

666 in Scripture–Hebrew numbers assigned to words

Let us begin in the beginning. The Number 666 figures prominently in the Creation.

We also should note that the Hebrew description of the dimensions of the cubic Holy of Holies, which God specified to be exactly 20 x 20 x 20 cubits, also evaluates to 666:

The Number 666 also appears in two other fundamentally important creation passages. In Jeremiah 10.12 we read: He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.

Revelation 13.18: “Here is wisdom.” The Number 6 is the Number of both Man and Cosmos. It appears twice in Isaiah 42.5:

Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

The Number 666 also appears in the Fourth Day: And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons,and for days, and years:

Let there be lights-Yahi Moroth= 666  666 was then unblemished

666 in the Garden

The perfection of the Number Six remained unblemished until the serpent entered the Garden and tempted Adam and Eve to sin.

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.

Returning to the theme of 666: The lying promise of the devil was that Adam and Eve would be “as gods” [KJV]. They were already like God but the connotation here is the sin of lucifer.

In any case, we have the identity God.

After succumbing to the tempation, God cursed the serpent.  The curse on the earth was specifically related to work – hence the Number 6. Adam and Eve were then driven from the Garden, and God placed cherubim and a flaming sword to keep the way of the Tree of Life: and a flaming sword [Gen 3.24] V’et Lahat HaCherev= 666

The False Prophet [Rev 20.10]

 

Returning to the theme of 666: The lying promise of the devil was that Adam and Eve would be “as gods” [KJV]. They were already like God but the connotation; here is the sin of lucifer.

 

In any case, we have the identity: God (sof)K’Elohim= 666

 

After succumbing to the tempation, God cursed the serpent.  The curse on the earth was specifically related to work – hence the Number 6. Adam and Eve were then driven from the Garden, and God placed cherubim and a flaming sword to keep the way of the Tree of Life:

 

and a flaming sword [Gen 3.24]

V’et Lahat HaCherev

= 666

 

666 and Labor under the Sun

Forever after the Fall, the Number 6 would be marked with the sin of Man and the suffering Work he would be subject to all the days he would live upon this earth, under the sun. The relation between this vain work and the number 666 is seen in this passage from Ecclesiastes (vs.

1.2f):Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profithath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

 

Summary Gen. 3:20-24

1. God shows Adam and Eve mercy, then removes them from His garden. (for their own good)
2. Verse 20 shows the honor that Adam gave to his wife.
3. Her name would be Eve, because she WAS the mother of all the living.
4. The Scripture here does not say that she WAS TO BE the mother of all, leading some to believe that she gave birth to Cain before leaving the Garden.
5. This conclusion does not fit well with the early verses in chapter 4.
6. Verse 21 says that God made skin garments for Adam and Eve.
7. They had clothed themselves by sewing fig leaves together. (Verse 7)
8. Many primitive societies today use both plants and skins for clothing.
9. God’s expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden was His way to keep them from taking fruit from the “tree of life.”
10. Apparently, Adam and Eve had not eaten of this fruit, before eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
11. They had to be removed from the Garden, and forced to cultivate and populate the land where they would dwell until their physical death.
12. The Cherubim commissioned to guard the entrance to the garden appears with a sword, a common vision of angels. (A “Cherubim” was probably one of an order of angels, distinguished from Seraphim [Isaiah 6:2].)

(the verses below  are encounters with the Angel of the Lord, Jesus and Captain of the host of the Lord, Jesus )

1. Numbers 22:31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of the Lord (Jesus) standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground.
2. Joshua 5:13-15 Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” [14] And he said, “No, rather I indeed come now as Captain of the Host of the Lord.(Jesus)” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” [15] And the captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
3. 1 Chronicles 21:16 Then David lifted up his eyes and saw the Angel of the Lord(Jesus) standing between earth and heaven, with his drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, covered with sackcloth, fell on their faces.

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Why did Jesus have to be born? God chose to make covenant with man; in actuality the covenant was with Himself. Jesus came in the form of a man with a body of a man in order to have dominion and authority. Jesus Christ was a Man anointed with Holy Ghost. This made it perfectly legal for Jesus to destroy the works of the devil.

The seed Mary received was the Word, the incorruptible seed that took on flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus Christ is the living Word of God. His name is Emmanuel meaning, “God with us.” Now it is “God in us.”

Luke 2:11 “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Is. 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born,  (Son of God) Unto us a Son is given; (Son of Man) And the government will be upon His shoulder.(Body of Christ) And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice.

More Discourse on Gen. 3:

 

Life is not a tree, for the Bible says that “He that hath life hath the Son.” So life is a person. The tree of life represents the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The tree of death also represents a person. It represents satan, the author of death. Why then did God call the evil tree, the tree of knowledge. A tree isn‘t knowledge either. Yet if Adam and Eve partook of that tree they would acquire another knowledge different from what they already had. Since the “tree of death,” represented satan, then the knowledge they would acquire was satan‘s very own consciousness or mind. What is this knowledge? It is the knowledge of independence and separation from God; it is the knowledge of false faith in oneself; it is the knowledge that the creation has its own life or power source; it is the knowledge of being puffed-up and arrogant; it is the knowledge of over glorified self; it is the knowledge of self-sufficiency; it is the knowledge of being ashamed and overcome with self-hatred; and it is the knowledge of excusing and justifying ourselves and blaming others for our own foolishness and sins. It is the knowledge of death.

 

What is the knowledge in the “tree of life?” The Tree of Life represented Christ‘s own consciousness or mind, Himself. What is this knowledge? It is the knowledge of oneness with the Father as my life source; it is the knowledge of the Cross; it is the knowledge of harmony and peace; it is the knowledge of self-less other–love; it is the knowledge of unceasing joy; and it is the knowledge of God Himself, because it is the mind of Christ. Didn‘t Adam and Eve already have the mind of Christ? Yes, but they had no experienced knowledge of what that meant. They had nothing to compare it to. So, therefore their divine minds were not mature, they were infantile, and childlike. They were inexperienced, unchallenged and without awareness and consciousness of themselves. Their self-awareness was so limited that they didn‘t even know that they were naked (Gen. 2:25).

 

The question is, “Would Adam and Eve walk by faith not trusting their own wisdom, or would they function separate from God trusting in their own understanding and sufficiency‘s?” If they choose to function apart from God, relying on their own understanding, although, stimulated by satan, then they would inherit satan‘s fallen knowledge of good and evil.

 

Let us look at this evil tree. The tree of death is the tree of satanic understanding. satan‘s fallen knowledge divides itself into two opposites, a good and an evil. What most don‘t understand is that these two opposites are both evil. The good in this knowledge is pharisaical or religious good. It looks good, it self-justifies, and is even religious, but at its root, it is really very evil. Doesn‘t the Bible say that satan disguises himself as “an angel of light” (II Cor. 11:14)? Wasn‘t Jesus hardest on the religious leaders, and didn‘t he say that their father was the devil (John 8:44)? This pharisaical evil is very deceptively hidden because it is subtle and not so obvious. The good in this tree can put on a nice three piece suit, go to church, sing in the choir, donate money to good causes, and still be a disguised devil at heart.

 

Final note in Genesis Chapter 3

 

Before Adam was put to sleep by the Lord God himself, there was no reference or mention of the sinister serpent. When the Lord affirms the two becoming one in Genesis 2 {Husband and Wife}, and that whatever God joins together, let no one put asunder, following in chapter 3 verse 1 you hear of the subtle and sneaky serpent. Why? For in a sense, the serpent was attracted now to the POWER of the Two Witnesses which was to produce and manifest after their kind, according to God’s intended purpose. When the serpent saw the two as ONE, he knew he was diametrically oppose to the power of Witness, Covenant, Testimony, Agreement, and Union {UNITY}. As long as Adam the man was the discussion of the day, prior to the creation and formation of the woman {Wombed Man, female man, man with a womb – via, MAN – read also Genesis 5:2} you hear of no beguiling serpent or any attempt to beguile…until…

 

Truth is, our ONE-ness together in the appointed and divine dimensions of God flushes out of the bushes and brushes the serpent, the nemesis, the diametrically opposed adversary and worthy opponent… some would say. In one sense, YOU create your own enemy, the divinely ordained resistance that is earmarked and highlighted throughout scripture. Your coming forth also brings out of the hidden places your greatest challenge, your appointed opposition mandated of God for our testing, buffeting, scourging, and maturity. God forms the light and creates darkness, He makes peace and creates evil, “I the Lord do all these things” according to the words of Isaiah the prophet.

 

When the Lord affirmed who Job was, satan was furious and made every attempt to shake job to the core. For in this, it was the principle of what God had spoken concerning Job, and not what a man himself had merely affirmed concerning Job. Your adversary is not necessarily after your stuff, or your toys, but is drawn to engage in conflict and contesting with you for what you were born to BE and to DO. For out of the glory of the Lord we came, and satan showed up to check out what God was doing.

 

Continued Final word for Genesis 3:

 

God IS Love, and He cannot cease to be God. He cannot cease to be Love, or to act in Love. He communicated o the first couple in the garden that He would bring forth the Seed, Christ in their lineage.

 

Messianic Promises: (partial list, there are many more)

 

 

1. The first proclamation of the gospel(Gen. 3:15)
   All the riches, mercy, sorrow and glory included in GOD’s redemptive work are proclaimed alongside the judgment that goes with the Fall.

This verse contains the first declaration of the gospel. Here we encounter, in summary, all the riches, mercy, pain and glory of God’s redemptive work for humanity. God promises to bring a redeemer out of the “seed of the woman”; he will be completely human, but divinely conceived. “The old serpent, who is called devil and satan”, will make war with the “seed” (see Rev. 12) and will bite it. But while the serpent bites his heel, his foot comes down, crushing the serpent’s head. In Christ’s life and death this Scripture is fulfilled. Divinely conceived, but completely human, he would defeat and publicly display the powers of hell through his life, death and resurrection (Col. 2:15). This first messianic promise is one of the most succinct assertions of the gospel that we can find.

 

2. Jesus, the prophet of a better covenant(Deut. 18:18,19)
   Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant and the prophet who fulfills the requirements of the old covenant.

To the religious Jews of Jesus’ time, nobody was greater than Moses. GOD had given the Law through him; he was the person whom GOD used to transmit the entire Israelite religious system. They were also aware that GOD had said that another prophet like Moses would come. When the Pharisees asked John the Baptist if he was “the prophet” (John 1:21), they were referring to this passage of Scripture.

Thus as Moses gave the old covenant, Jesus came to bring the new. John says “For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). The writer of Hebrews tells us that Christ was the mediator of a better covenant (Heb. 8:6). Jesus, as prophet, came to fulfill the requirements of the old covenant, so that the new covenant could be established between GOD and mankind.

 

3. The incarnation of the Messiah(Is. 9:6)
   This verse contains a reference about one of the greatest and most incomprehensible truths, that of the incarnation.

In this verse we have one of the most beautiful poetic promises of the coming kingdom of the Messiah. It’s recited annually and we hear it sung when we celebrate Christmas. However, it also refers to one of the greatest and most mysterious truths of the Bible: the incarnation, “unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given”. GOD would become part of the human race. A newborn baby would be called “mighty GOD, eternal Father”. We can accept this truth by faith, but we can’t fully comprehend what it means, for the second person of the Trinity, to abandon his divine estate and reclothe himself with human nature. But Paul tells us that he took the form of a servant and came to earth as a human being. “Wherefore GOD also highly exalted him, and gave him a name above every name” (Phil. 2:7,9).

 

4. The birth of Christ by a young virgin(Is. 7:14)
   Christ is presented as born of a virgin, a young woman.

The prophecy of the virgin birth has been a source of notable controversy due to the use of the Hebrew‘almah, which can be translated indistinguishably as “young woman” or “virgin”. Isaiah used ‘almah under the inspiration of the Spirit because the LORD had made a double prophesy in this passage. The LORD had informed King Ahaz of the conception and birth of an infant, as is recorded in chapter 8. But the Holy Spirit also referred to the Messiah who would come, and that baby would be born of a virgin. The fact that Christ was born of a virgin is indisputable, according to the usage of the Greek word parthenos in Matthew and Luke, where it definitively refers to a “virgin” (Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:27).

 

5. The Messiah born in Bethlehem(Micah 5:2,4,5)
   The scribes should have known where Christ would be born, but they didn’t go; we should follow the direction and words of GOD in order to see how his promises are fulfilled.

The name Bethlehem means “House of bread”, and in “the House of bread” would be born the Bread of Life.

The scribes knew that the Messiah would be born here. When the Magi asked about the birth of the new King, the scribes indicated the prophecy of Micah (Matt. 2:1-12). But none of the theologians bothered to accompany the Magi to see for sure if the Messiah had come. Today, the little city of Bethlehem is a pilgrimage destination for thousands of people. But we learn that the scribes didn’t make that first pilgrimage; our orthodox biblical knowledge, our religious position, doesn’t guarantee that we’ll perceive what GOD is doing today in our midst. We must be prepared to follow GOD’s direction and his Word if we desire to see the fulfillment of his promise.

 

6. LORD of Lords or a rabbi upon a donkey?(Zech. 11:12,13)
   The people expected a great king, while the LORD passed by them toward the greatest triumph in history.

This is the prophecy about the triumphal entrance of the LORD. We find testimony of its fulfillment in Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; and John 12:12-19. We see once more in this verse how different GOD’s ways are from man’s ways. Human beings expected a conquering king, of great fame and renown, coming to free Jerusalem at the head of a powerful army. Instead, they saw a poor and humble rabbi, riding upon an ass and surrounded by a multitude of country folk. He didn’t look like a conqueror, but a week later he had been raised from the dead, after having conquered death and hell.

 

7. A detailed story of the betrayal of the Messiah(Psa. 41:9; Zech. 11:12,13)
   David, a thousand years before Christ, and Zechariah, 500 years before Christ, prophesied in detail Judas’ betrayal.

David, author of Psalm 41, lived about 500 years before Zechariah, who in turn, lived more than 500 years before Christ. However, the words of both men together form a single prophecy that was fulfilled in every detail. David prophesied that the trusted friend would be the betrayer of the LORD and Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, betrayed him (Matt. 26:14-16; Luke 22:1-6). Zechariah went further, since he specified the amount the traitor would be paid, predicting also that it would be thrown down in the temple and used to buy a plot of ground. Each point was fulfilled in detail: the chief priests gave Judas thirty silver coins (Matt. 26:15); Judas, due to his remorse, returned the money and threw it in the temple (Matt. 27:5); then, the priests used it to buy the potter’s field (Mat. 27:6-10). The fulfillment of this prophecy, down to its minutest details, formed a true testimony of the divine sovereign and his intervention in human affairs.

 

8. Details about the Messiah’s death(Psa. 22:1-31)
   The jeers of the multitude, his hands and feet pierced, the lots that were cast for his clothes and the separation from the Father are mentioned here.

In this psalm there are various prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus’ death. Lets have a look at four of them. First, it predicts the masses making fun of him (verses 7,8). The same expressions were heard from the lips of the chief priests before the cross (Matt. 27:36-44). Second, verse 16 specifically predicts that his hands and feet would be pierced. This was fulfilled in the death of Jesus (see John 20:25). Moreover, the casting of lots for Jesus’ garments (John 19:23,24) was prophesied in verse 18. But perhaps the most significant declaration in the psalm is in verse 1, which Jesus cited on the cross (Matt. 27:46). The word “forsaken” describes the loneliness of the beloved Son, who bore the sins of the world. Jesus suffered the sentence of humanity, not only that of death, but also the sentence of separation from GOD. In this moment, Jesus experienced the darkest time of his life and endured it for us.

 

THE CHRIST OF THE PSALMS
Psalm	Description	Fulfillment
2:7	Son of GOD	Matt. 3:17
8:2	Praised by the children	Matt. 21:15,16
8:6	LORD of all	Hebrews 2:18
16:10	Resurrected	Matthew 28:7
22:1	Forsaken by GORD	Matt. 27:46
22:7,8	Laughed at by his enemies	Luke 23:35
22:16	Pierced in hands and feet	John 20:27
22:18	They compete for his clothes	Matt. 27:35,36
34:20	His legs aren’t broken	John 19:32,33,36
35:10	Accused by false witnesses	Mark 14:57
35:19	Hated without cause	John 15:25
40:7,8	Rejoices fulfilling GOD’s will	Heb. 10:7
41:9	Betrayed by a friend	Luke 22:47
45:6	Eternal King	Heb. 1:8
68:18	Ascended to Heaven	Acts 1:9-11
69:9	Zealous of the house of GOD	John 2:17
69:21	He’s given vinegar with honey	Matt. 27:34
109:4	He prays for his enemies	Luke 23:34
109:8	The punishment of the one who betrayed him	Acts 1:20
110:1	He reigns over his enemies	Matt. 22:44
110:4	Priest forever	Heb. 5:6
118:22	Rock, cornerstone of GOD’s building	Matt. 21:42
118:26	Comes in the name of the LORD	Matt. 21:9

 

9. Purposes of the crucifixion, expiation and the abundant life(Is. 53:1-12)
   Christ suffered for our sins, but also so we might receive healing and peace nowadays.

This is the best known prophecy in the Bible, so much that Matthew (Matt. 8:17) as well as Peter (I Pet. 2:24) quoted it. Eight centuries before Christ, Isaiah referred to the facts of the crucifixion in an incredibly accurate way; but even more important, he spoke of the purpose of the cross. Christ bore more than our sins in his suffering and death. The wages of sin is death, but he didn’t have to suffer as he did to put an end to our guilt. This chapter speaks to us of the reason for his suffering: he suffered to carry our pains and infirmities (v. 4), and to offer us peace and healing (v. 5).

Certainly, the expiation of our sins constituted our greatest need, but GOD, by sending his Son to suffer and die, provided more than a way to escape justice: He arranged the immediate start of an abundant life (see John 10:10).

 

10. “Declared Son of GOD with power”(Psa. 16:10)
    The sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice is powerfully announced in the resurrection.

The apostles clearly recognized that this verse predicted the resurrection of Jesus. Peter cited it in his sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:27) and Paul also used it in one of his first preachings in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:35).

The sufficiency of Christ’s expiatory work is declared in the resurrection (Rom. 6; II Tim. 1:10; Heb. 2:9-18; I Pet. 2:18); by means of it Jesus was “declared Son of GOD with power” (Rom. 1:4). Upon completing the work he came to accomplish, he ascended to the right hand of the Father. Now we look ahead hopefully because, having destroyed the power of death, the LORD has offered the promise of eternal life to all those who receive him as Messiah (John 6:40).

 

 

Final, Final Note for Gen. 3

 

(Eph 1:4)  according as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

 

According as he chose us before the fall of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

 

(The implications of the fall are completely cancelled out. Paul uses the word, 1katabalo, meaning “to fall away, to put in a lower place,” instead of themelios, meaning “foundation” [see 2:20]; thus, translated “the fall of the world,” instead of “the foundation of the world,” as in most other translations. God found us in Christ before he lost us in Adam! We are presented in blameless innocence before him! The word, 2katenopion, suggests the closest possible proximity, face-to-face!)[Ephesians 1:4] Mirror Bible

 

 

INTRODUCTION to Genesis Chapter 4– We are now entering a section of the book that shows the populating of the earth, along with some description of the good and evil to be found in mankind.

Genesis Chapter 4

 

Gen.4:1a Now Adam knew Eve his wife

 

Knew- The Hebrew word is “yada” (ידע), and it is actually the exact word for “knew”, as in “he knew that something had happened”. In modern Hebrew, this meaning (know like: aware of… holds a knowledge of…) is the main meaning of the word, and the sexual sense of it is used in the higher registers of the language.

 

Eve- (Hebrew Havvah, literally means “ the living one or life giving one,” foreshadowing that Eve shall be the mother of the lineage of the life giving One, Christ.

 

It was not the burning self-desire of Adam that caused Eve to come forth, but the purpose of God! It was God Himself that initiated the whole process. for the record states, And the LORD GOD said, It is not good for the man to be alone; I WILL MAKE Him an help meet for him” (Gen. 2:18). Eve was God’s idea! “Meet” in the expression “help meet” is an old English word meaning “suitable, fit, proper.” The whole flavor of the word “meet” is to fit, join, agree, be in union, be together. No hostility here! No war between the sexes! And no division. God made a helper to properly and suitably fit, join, combine, agree, be in union with, yes, to be ONE with Adam, and he ONE with her!

 

This was God’s intent from the beginning, now named Eve, the Life Giving One.

 

4:1b and she conceived and bore Cain,

 

(The name Cain is identical to the Hebrew word קין (qyn) meaning spear, coming from the root cluster קנה ,קין and קנן: striking fast)

 

and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.”

 

Gen. 4:2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel.

 

(From the Hebrew name הֶבֶל (Hevel) or הָבֶל (Havel) which meant “breath, vapor”)

 

* CAIN *

 

Vagabond, fugitive;  symbolic of the spirit of antichrist.

 

KEY SCRIPTURES:  Gen. 4; Heb. 11:4; 1 Jn. 2:18-22; 3:12; Jude 1:11.

 

FOUNDATIONAL INFORMATION:  Cain was the oldest son of Adam and Eve and the brother of Abel, whom he murdered.  “Cain” is derived from the Hebrew “qayin” (Strong’s #7013) which means “fixity; a lance (as striking fast).”  It stems from the root “quwn” (Strong’s #6969) which means “to strike a musical note, chant or wail (at a funeral).”  “Cain” has also been translated as “possession, acquisition, centralization, draws to itself, to its own center, selfishness.”   Farmer Cain brought the fruits of the ground as a offering to God while shepherd Abel sacrificed a lamb from his flock.  The Lord accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s.

 

FULFILLED IN CHRIST:  Jesus Christ is the Heavenly Abel, the Good Shepherd, who was slain by wicked men (Jn. 10:11).  He offered the more excellent sacrifice to obtain a more excellent name and ministry (Heb. 1:4; 8:6).  Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission or forgiveness (Heb. 9:22).  The only way to the Father is by the blood sacrifice of His Son (Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12).  The spirit of antichrist seeks to enter by some other way (Jn. 10:1-8; 1 Jn. 2:18-22).

 

APPLIED TO THE CHRISTIAN:  Cain was preoccupied with the dust–earthly things, his own unrighteous works (1 Jn. 3:11-12).  We are to seek those things which are above (Col. 3:1-3).  Those who go out from the presence of the Lord are marked men(Gen. 4:15-16)–“fugitives” (to waver) and “vagabonds” (to wander).  These spiritual beggars wander about from house to house and church to church (Gen. 4:12; Psa. 109:10; 1 Tim. 5:13).  Those who have “gone in the way of Cain” speak evil of those things which they know not, corrupting themselves (Jude 1:10-11).  In the New Testament, John declared that “whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer” (1 Jn. 3:15).

 

Further Study: Ex. 13:12; Num. 18:12, 17; Lev. 17:11; Judg. 12:4;2 Kg. 25:11; Psa. 19:14; 20:3; 78:70-72; Isa. 15:5; Ezek. 17:21; Matt. 22:7; Lk. 11:51; Jn. 8:44; Acts 7:52; 19:13; Rom. 5:9; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Heb. 13:15; 1 Jn. 4:1-3; 2 Jn. 1:7; Rev. 21:8; 22:15.

 

Gen. 4:2b Now Abel (Hebrew  Abel means breath, temporary or meaningless) was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

 

Gen. 4:3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. (sacrifice from human effort) 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering,

 

The narrative is unclear about why God rejected Cain’s offering and accepted Abel’s. One interpretation is based on the word “choicest” of Abel’s offering. Abel brought his very best, whereas Cain was satisfied with the leftovers.

 

In a Midrash (Genesis Rabbah 22: 7) there are three opinions as to why the brothers quarreled. According to one opinion the brothers divided the world between them, one taking all the land, the other all the movables. The one who took the land ordered the other to get off his land and fly in the air. The one who took the movables ordered the other to strip naked because the clothes belonged to him.

 

Another opinion is that the quarrel was about in whose territory the Temple was to be built.

 

A third opinion is that Cain had a twin sister (Genesis 4: 17 says that Cain took a wife and otherwise whom did he marry?) but Abel had two sisters born at the same time as him (i.e. they were triplets). Abel claimed both his sisters for himself but Cain wanted the additional one by his right as a first-born to have a double portion.

 

RIGHT APPROACH TO GOD, BLOOD SACRIFICE. Lev. 17:11, Lev. 3:16-17

However,

 

At the proper time Abel brought to God an acceptable sacrifice.  Note: Animal blood never redeemed man. Animal blood never atoned one sin. Animal blood never restored fellowship with God and man. Animal blood was only a TYPE that pointed to a Blood that would one day come. Each drop of animal blood that spilled on the cursed ground was a PROPHECY of the CROSS! Every spilled drop proclaimed “there is One Who will be the final sacrifice, to redeem us all.

 

Hebrews 11:44 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Types and Shadows of Jesus Christ- Yeshua Ha Messiah

• Jesus Christ is the “first fruit” sacrifice of Abel.

 

Gen.4:5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?7 “If you do well, will you not be accepted? (literally, Is there not forgiveness if you do well?)And if you do not do well, sin (Hebrew, rabisum, demon) lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

 

Sin/satan had dominion over Cain.

 

“It is sin and the lies of the enemy of the soul that creates murder.  When Cain killed Able, the first murder recorded, it was out of the same spirit.  The father of lies is also the killer, robber and destroyer.

 

As a believers sin or sickness/satan does not have dominion over us.

 

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

1 John 3:12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.                  

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Gen.4:8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

 

1 John 3:11-12 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

Some Answers:

WHY CAIN’S OFFERING WAS NOT ACCEPTED

Cain’s offering (first-fruits of the harvest)

1 John 3:11-12 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

1. Work of his hands, self-effort
2.  From the ground which was cursed
3. Disobeyed God; ignored the explicit instructions of the Lord. God had already rejected the self-made covering of fig leaves; this info had been passed along to Cain and Abel.
4. Tried to approach God on his own terms.
5. Grain offering was given between men,(tribute, present or donation) blood offering from man to God.
6. Product of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (self-will and pride)secular humanism Jude1:11; Romans 1:21

(Jude 1:11)  Woe to them! For they went the way of Cain, and gave themselves up to the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying (rebellion) of Korah.

 

Error of Balaam

 

Balaam (Bilam), (Numbers 22) was hired to curse Israel, but he could not curse them. His first problem was that he was told by the LORD to go with the princes that Balak sent only if they called him by name to go with them (Balaam had told them the day before that he was not going, but that they should stay the night there before leaving). His second problem was that he continued to follow Balak to different (three of them) mountain tops to try and curse Israel even though he had already stated that God would not curse them but would bless them instead. His third problem was that by continually prophesying why God would not curse Israel he gave Balak and the others the key to use. So, the error of Balaam was to not stand on what God said in the first place and continue on in pride (and possibly the love of money) and allowing the heathen/evil/satan to persuade you.

 

Jesus said to the Church of Ephesus: (Rev 2:14)  But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication.

 

Rebellion of Korah

 

The story of the rebellion of Korah is recorded in Numbers 16. The rebellion of Korah demonstrates the grim consequences of usurping the authority of God and of those whom He has chosen to be leaders of His people. He led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, accusing them of exalting themselves above the congregation of the Lord (Numbers 16:1-3). Obviously, Korah thought that he could do a better job leading the people than Moses was doing. But by leading this revolt against God’s divinely appointed leaders, Korah was actually revolting against God (Numbers 16:11). The characteristics of false teachers within the church include pride, selfishness, jealousy, greed, lust for power, and disregard for the will of God.

 

Cain was guilty of unbelief, disobedience, pride, all of the above.

(Rom 1:21)  Because, knowing God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were thankful. But they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

 

Abel’s Offering (firstborn of his flock and its fat)

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

1. Blood sacrifice, blood of the covenant
2. Offered by faith
3. Obedience to the Word
4.  Correct approach to God  Hebrews 11
5. Sin offering
6.  Product of the Tree of Life (Jesus Christ, His Precious Blood)

Progression of Cain’s Sin—jealousy, anger, hate, murder, disprect

 

1. Self -willed: Religious, wanted to set his own rules.
2. Becomes Angry with God: The Lord was gracious to Cain, but he had no intention of yielding
3. Murders his Brother, Abel: Instead of repenting, he hardened his heart; anger, hate gave way to murder.
4. Lies to God: Disrespectful  and defiant to God
5. Becomes a Vagabond:  shows no remorse until he knew he was in danger
6. Founds a Godless Civilization:  Left God’s presence, built a civilization founded on materialism; later his descendants introduced polygamy

 

Summary Gen. 4:3-7

1. God introduces the principle of blood sacrifice for sin.
2. Cain’s decision to offer “the fruit of the ground” reflects his choice of vocation.
3. In the law of Moses, offerings from the “fruit of the ground” were commanded, and acceptable to God. Deuteronomy 18:3-4 “Now this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep, of which they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. [4] You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first shearing of your sheep.”
4. At that time, there was no significance to this kind of grain offering, except to provide food for the priests. The grain offering later though was given to resolve relationships with each other.
5. Abel’s coincidental choice of a livelihood matched the acceptable sacrifice chosen by God.
6. God’s respect for Abel’s offering does not imply that God decided which type of offering would be acceptable, after they were made.
7. Abel’s sacrifice was a work of faith. Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.”

(1)The acceptance of Abel’s sacrifice by God testifies that Abel was “righteous.” (Compare 1 John 3:7 “Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous…”)

(2)If Cain had offered an animal from the flock, in the same “faith” as his brother, he would have been accepted as righteous, also. See Vs. 7, above, and also 1 John 3:11-12. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; [12] not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.

(3) NOTE: These New Testament passages help us to draw the necessary conclusion that Abel’s sacrifice conformed to the command of God, even though the Genesis account does not say so specifically.

1. Abel’s offering of the “firstlings of the flock, and of the fat portions” set the precedent for all the subsequent offerings for sin in the Law of Moses. Leviticus 4:27-31 “Now if anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and becomes guilty, [28] if his sin, which he has committed is made known to him, then he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without defect, for his sin which he has committed. [29] And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering at the place of the burnt offering. [30] And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; and all the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar. [31] Then he shall remove all its fat, just as the fat was removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar for a soothing aroma to the Lord. Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.”
2. The offering of the best of the flock, or herd, has a spiritual significance beyond the “sin offering” of the Old Covenant.

(1)In the later Law of Moses, all sin offerings had to be blood sacrifices, in atonement for sin. Leviticus 4:32-34 “…if (a sinner) brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring it, a female without defect. [33] ‘And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they slay the burnt offering. [34] And the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; and all the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar.”

(2)This pattern of offering is fulfilled in the final “offering” of Jesus Christ.

(a)Romans 8:3 “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh…”

(b)Hebrews 9:14 “…how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your Gems from Genesis 14 conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

(c) Hebrews 12:24 (You have come) “…to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”

1. Cain compounded his failure to choose the right sacrifice by not heeding the rebuke of God.
2. God told Cain that his sin was seductive, and that he must “master it.”
3. The concept of the seductiveness of sin is confirmed in other places. Romans 7:7-8 “What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, ‘You shall not COVET.’ [8] But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.”
4. Holy Spirit helps us conquer the appeal of sin. Romans 6:12 “There- fore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts.”
5. Cain’s jealousy and anger continued, and led to the murder of his brother.
6. Jesus confirms the connection of hatred and murder. Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ [22] But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”
7. The Apostle John also confirms this connection. 1 John 3:15 “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

Gen.4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”10 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.

 

Here is God’s voice asking another question. “What have you done?”

 

Same as: (Gen 3:9)  And Jehovah God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you? (Gen 3:11)  And He said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree which I commanded you that you should not eat?

 

 

PROPHECY THAT THE BLOOD OF JESUS WOULD CRY OUT FROM THE EARTH WITH THE GREATEST MESSAGE CREATION WOULD EVER HEAR.

 

Hebrews 12:24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

THE BLOOD COVENANT: The Blood Speaks.

First mention in (Gen 3:21)  And for Adam and his wife Jehovah God made coats of skins, and clothed them.

Second mention in Gen. 4:10b The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.

 

 “But you are come… to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the BLOOD of sprinkling, that SPEAKS better things than that of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:24) 

According to Genesis 4:10, the blood of Abel cries from the ‘ground’, adamah in Hebrew, the vantage point of the earthy Adamic nature, and we are reaping the result because we have joined our voice, we are resonating the earthy vantage point.

However, there is other blood that speaks from the vantage point of heaven; “Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks BETTER things than that of Abel, Him that speaks from heaven.” (Hebrews 12:24-25)

And just what is the Voice from heaven speaking? “Then said Jesus, Father, FORGIVE THEM; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Remember, He is speaking of the people who are in the process of crucifying Him! So what does He mean by saying “They know not what they do.” Perhaps the Voice from heaven is saying to us, “Whose sins you remit/ forgive, they are remitted, forgiven unto them; and whose sins you retain, they are retained.” (John 20:23) Could it be that we have decreed the sins of the world are to be retained, and therefore the world in which we live is reaping the wages thereof?

“For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:17-19) They condemn themselves by loving the darkness. When we speak a word of sin and guilt and condemnation, we only strengthen the very darkness that has a stronghold upon them. Remember the phenomenon of resonance? Just like in Genesis 1:4, we are to separate darkness from Light, by speaking LIGHT into the lives of those who are “void and without form”.

Ask yourself this simple question: Has the traditional Christian message of sin and guilt and condemnation really been effective in advancing the Kingdom of God in the earth? I don’t think you have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out. Does that message even work in our own lives? It may keep us from misbehaving too badly for fear we’ll suffer retribution, but it certainly does not empower us to manifest the nature of Christ.

Our words, our thoughts and our lives are sending out frequencies into the airways. Is our spirituality based upon fear (I’m not speaking of the reverential fear of the Lord), feeding upon a diet of the message of sin and guilt and condemnation? If so, then we are sending out frequencies, resonating with the blood of Abel, the vantage point of the earthy Adamic nature. Let us join our voice, resonating with the blood of Christ which speaks better things, such as,

 

Woman, where are the ones who accused you? Did not one give judgment against you? And she said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said to her, Neither do I give judgment. Go, and sin no more .(John 8:10-11)

 

FIRST  AND SECOND INSTANCE OF REDEMPTION

 

Gen 3:21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.

Every sacrificial animal slaughtered, and every drop of blood that spilled to the ground prophesied of that day on the cross.

 

SECOND INSTANCE OF REDEMPTION

This next picture we see in this redemption picture is a seed truth of inner life breaking forth through the shell, showing to the world LIFE: Cain and Abel contrast the picture of acceptable sacrifice. Cain offers that which is from the earth, while Abel offers that which cost a life–a life that pointed to the cross. The Cain sacrifice of vegetation led to jealousy, and jealousy lead to murder. Ironically, the offering of blood leads to producing fruit, and the offering of vegetation to the works of the flesh.

 

Gal 3:26-28 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. NASU

The plan of redemption allows us to walk as a son of God, clothed with Him, and adorned with His radiant beauty. We see both bookends: on one side we see God covering Adam’s nakedness, and on the other end we find our true identity as the bride and city of God, joined to Jesus, and remaining clothed for eternity in Him. Our identity is in Him, and there is nothing more for Him to do. It is finished. The plan of redemption is complete.

 

 

20 Things the Blood of Jesus Does (by Frank Viola)

 

1. It remits sin [Matt. 26:28]

 

2. It gives life to those who consume it (John 6:53).

 

3. It causes us to dwell in Christ and He in us (John 6:56).

 

4. It is the means by which Jesus purchased the church (Acts 20:28).

 

5. It is the means by which Jesus becomes our atonement through faith (Rom. 3:25).

 

6. It justifies us and saves us from wrath (Rom. 5:9).

 

7. It redeems us (Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 5:9).

 

8. It brings those who were far away from God near to Him (Eph. 2:13).

 

9. It grants us the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:14).

 

10. It brings peace and reconciliation to God (Col. 1:20).

 

11. It has obtained eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:12).

 

12. It cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Heb. 9:14).

 

13. It is the means by which we enter the most holy place with boldness (Heb. 10:19).

 

14. It speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Heb. 12:24, NIV).

 

15. It sanctifies us (Heb. 13:12).

 

16. It makes us complete for every good work (Heb. 13:20-21, NKJV).

 

17. It cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

 

18. It bears witness in the earth along with the Spirit and the water (1 John 5:8, KJV).

 

19. It is the means by which Jesus washes us (Rev. 1:5; 7:14).

 

20. It is the means by which we overcome the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:11).

 

Summary: Thank God for the “precious” blood of Christ . . . the “sprinkled” blood of Christ . . . the blood of “the new covenant” . . . the blood of “the eternal covenant” (1 Pet. 1:19; Heb. 12:24; Luke 22:20; Heb. 13:20).

 

“The life is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11).

 

Gen.4:11 “So now you are cursed (hated) from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.12 “When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.”

 

Notice God did not curse Cain rather he said you are hated by the earth. In other words he succumbed to the fall or curse which was on the earth. Cain was a farmer and the earth would no longer produce for him.

 

Gen. 4:13 And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear!14 “Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.”

 

Gen.4:15 And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. 16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.

 

Summary Gen. 4:9-15

 

The consequences of the first murder.

 

1. An indictment against Cain for his murder of Abel.

 

1. Cain’s first response is almost defiant.
2. He says first that he has no knowledge of his brother’s location.
3. God knew, however, and said that Abel’s shed blood cried for vengeance.

 

(1)Joel 3:19-20 “Egypt will become a waste, and Edom will become a desolate

wilderness, because of the violence done to the sons of Judah, in whose land they have shed innocent blood. [20] But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem for all generations.

 

2. After God’s decree,(some say God’s punishment, but it really wasn’t; God had mercy on Cain) we believe Cain was more humble and submissive.

 

1. He claimed that this was “unbearable.”

 

(1)God did not require capital punishment for the crime at that time, but made it a precept after the flood of Noah’s time. Genesis 9:6 “Who-ever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.”

 

(a)Before the flood, violence prevailed. Genesis 6:11 “…the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence.”

 

(b)Other murders had been committed without the execution of the murderer. (See the boast of Lamech below, in verse 23.)

 

(2)Cain realized that someone of his family might take vengeance.

 

(a)There would be a seven-fold” vengeance on anyone who might slay Cain.

 

(b)God marked Cain in a way that would deter avengers from killing him. (that in itself is mercy)

 

1. i) It is common today for people to say of murderers, “He has the mark of Cain.” ii) Speculation on what this mark might have been is fruitless.

 

1. Personal vengeance was later allowed by God under the law of Moses. Numbers 35:26-27 “…if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the border of his city of refuge to which he may flee, [27] and the blood avenger finds him outside the border of his city of refuge, and the blood avenger kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood…”

 

God allows Cain to live a life of wandering and puts a mark on him, as a sign that he is protected and no one must kill him. (The expression “the brand of Cain” for a murderer is based on a misunderstanding. Cain was not “branded” in order to mark him as a murderer but rather to protect him from himself becoming a victim of murder.)

 

Gen.4:17 And Cain knew his wife and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son—Enoch.

 

Where Did Cain Find a Wife?

 

Finding a Wife for Cain

 

The question concerning possible candidates for marriage to Cain comes near the top of the list of most frequently asked questions. It stems from the apparent problem of the first couple’s having only three sons, Cain, Abel, and Seth. Cain, the firstborn, after murdering Abel was banished to a land towards the east called Nod. If we are all descended from Adam and Eve, where could Cain have found a wife? The problem is actually more serious yet. According to Genesis 4, Cain not only found a wife, but by the time of the birth of his son Enoch, he found enough people to help him build and populate a city. Furthermore, Adam and Eve did not give birth to Seth until after Cain murdered Abel and was banished to Nod.

 

Resolving the Population Problem

 

The first step in the solution of this problem is to recognize that Adam and Eve had many more children than Cain, Abel, and Seth. Genesis 5:4 says that “after Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years,” and it also tells us that “he had other sons and daughters.” In fact, the genealogy of Genesis 5 records that every descendant of Adam down to Lamech had “other sons and daughters.” These other sons and daughters were born to men even older than 187 years. Considering the long life spans recorded in Genesis 5 (which I take seriously based on evidences described in Facts & Faith, v.5, no.2, pp. 4-5) and assuming that couples remained reproductive for about half their lifetime, the possibility existed for a veritable population explosion. In fact, the world’s population could have approached a few billion by the time of Adam’s death at the age of 930 (see table).

Table:

Expected Population Growth in Adam’s Lifetime

According to Genesis 5, life spans from Adam to Noah averaged 912 years. Each of the patriarchs mentioned had “other sons and daughters” in addition to the sons recorded by name. The table calculations are based on:

life span = 900 years, first child comes at age 50, child bearing years =500, and one child every 5 years during child bearing years.

 

year	reproducing couples	children born	total population
0	1	0	2
50	1	0	2
100	1	10	12
150	6	30	42
200	21	100	142
250	71	352	494
300	247	1210	1704
350	852	4180	5884
400	2941	14,450	20,334
450	10,167	49,892	70,226
500	35,113	172,358	242,584
550	121,292	595,378	837,962
600	418,980	2,056,530	2,894,492
650	1,447,245	7,103,862	9,998,364
700	4,999,176	24,538,536	34,536,930
750	17,268,444	84,762,338	119,299,368
800	59,649,613	292,790,780	412,090,500
850	206,045,003	1,011,374,120	1,423,465,830
900	711,732,063	3,493,544,650	4,917,014,660

According to the simple mathematics, if Cain waited to marry until he was about 200 years old, he probably had several women to choose from, providing some migrated eastward to Nod with other family members. If he waited another 200 years to build a city, he could have had at least a few thousand people to help him, again assuming some migration occurred. It is not entirely impossible that Cain had sisters from whom to take a wife even before his banishment and the birth of Seth. The text does not tell us. Archeological evidence indicates that population growth did not take off explosively in the pre-Flood era. What happened? My view is that the sin of Cain eventually grew out of control. Murder may well have become the number one cause of death. This scenario would explain the very strong language God used with Noah in Genesis 9:6, commanding Noah’s descendants to exercise whatever means necessary; up to the death penalty to restrain the sin of murder. The latter part of the fourth chapter of Genesis suggests, however; that the sin of murder took several generations to reach catastrophic proportions. Thus, the numbers suggested above for Cain’s marriage candidates and fellow citizens are not likely to have been significantly affected.

 

Resolving the “Incest” Problem

 

Given that we are all descended from Adam and Eve, either Cain or one of his brothers must have married a sister. This would seem to violate the commands recorded in the book of Leviticus forbidding marriage between brothers and sisters. The Levitical laws, however, must be considered in their proper historical context. Though the book of Genesis condemns sexual relations between children and their parents, it nowhere prohibits a man from marrying his sister or niece. Abraham, for example, married his half-sister without compunction. Not until the time of Moses were laws established forbidding a man from marrying a sister or niece. The timing of this command makes perfect sense biologically, for genetic defects as a result of intra-family marriage would not begin to crop up until after the first few dozen generations.

 

The Mystery of Cain’s Mark

 

Genesis 4 tells us that God found it necessary to put a mark on Cain as a warning to other humans not to take vengeance upon him. The necessity of this mark indicates that the population of the human race had reached (or would reach) such a level that mistaking Cain for someone else would be a problem. The text says nothing about what kind of mark Cain received or about its being passed on to his progeny. I see no basis for believing that any one of the races of man carries the mark of Cain.

 

Summary and Lessons Learned from Cain:

 

1. The self- will of Cain

 

Cain was religious, wanted to set his own rules, do things his own way. Cain disregarded the cursed ground and brought fruit which could not b accepted as an offering.

 

2.Cain became angry with God

A reference to Cain in 1 John.

 

(1Jn 3:11-12)  For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. And for what did he kill him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s things were righteous.

 

Nevertheless, God in His mercy condescended to reason with Cain. He assured him that he too would be approved is he did right. Cain’s offering had been rejected of the Divine Way. Nonetheless, God gave Cain another chance; nothing could have been shut out from the blessing on Cain except his own self- will. Self- will has its own way regardless of the consequences.

 

3. Cain murders his brother Abel

 

Instead of repenting Cain became hardened and determined. His was a process 9 see progression of sin in Cain). Cain’s anger was mounting all the time until it reached a point where he lost all sense of reason. This was a spirit of anger which claimed Saul when he attempted to murder David.

 

(1Sa 18:10-11)  And it happened on the next day the evil spirit from God came on Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house. And David played with his hand, as at other times. And a spear was in Saul’s hand. And Saul threw the spear. For he said, I will strike David even to the wall. And David drew back out of his presence twice.

 

4. Can lies to God

 

God asks him where is his brother. Cain in his rebellious condition is not even respectful to God  “Am I my brother’s keeper?” he asks. In all essence, yes you are.

 

(1Jn 3:10)  In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the Devil: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God, also he who does not love his brother.

 

(1Jn 3:14)  We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brothers. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

 

(1Jn 3:17)  But whoever has this world’s goods and sees his brother having need, and shuts up his bowels from him, how does the love of God dwell in him?

 

(1Jn 4:20)  If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For if he does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

 

(1Jn 4:21)  And we have this commandment from Him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.

 

 

5. Cain becomes a vagabond.

 

Cain shows no remorse until his skin is in danger. As he says, ……..”My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold! You have driven me out from the face of the earth today, and I shall be hidden from Your face. And I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth, and it shall be that anyone who finds me shall kill me.” Gen. 4:13-14

 

Yet in all this, God shows grace and mercy.

 

6. Cain founds a Godless civilization Cain leaves God’s presence and went to the Land of Nod. There he built a city and established the first civilization. It was a city founded on materialism. Industries sprang up using iron and brass. The arts were fostered. The harp and organ were invented (Gen. 4:21-220 Lamech, 6^th from Cain introduced polygamy. He too was a murderer. Lamech pleaded innocence by reason of self defense; but in this he appears to be bigamous (Gen. :23-24)

 

Unrighteous acts have consequences.

 

Cain’s seed:

 

 

 

ALL THE BEGETS GENESIS 4:18 – GEN.4:26…………………….

 

The beginning of genealogies.

 

1.The descendants of Cain are revealed down through Tubal-Cain, and his sister, Naamah. (7 generations)

 

2.The genealogy of the descendants of Seth will be given in Chapter 5, below.

 

3.There is no specific answer in Scripture to the question, “Where did Cain (and those in his lineage) find wives?” (see teaching earlier where did Cain find a wife)

 

a.Speculation runs from the “creation” of a wife for Cain, to the skeptic’s assumption that a race of men had an existence before the Adam “myth.”

 

1. The most likely answer is that Cain married a sister, a niece, or a cousin. ( see previous chart)

 

The genealogy in chapter 5 shows that all the descendants of Adam had both “sons and daughters,” except Noah, the last in the list.

 

(2)There would be a measure of incest in these early marriages.

 

(a)Abraham married a half-sister.

(b)Abraham’s son, Isaac, and his son, Jacob, married cousins.

(c) God would eventually make incest a sin in the Law of Moses. Leviticus 18:6 “None of you shall approach to any that are near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am Jehovah.”

 

(3)The first case of polygamy is in verse 19 above.

(a)Several Patriarchs, beginning with Abraham, had multiple wives.

(b)The extreme case of polygamy is that of Solomon’s 700 wives.

 

In the descendants of Lamech are found those who developed intelligent skills beyond the farming of Cain and the animal husbandry of Abel.

1. Jabal was the originator of the Nomadic form of animal husbandry.
2. Jubal was the first recognized instrumental musician.
3. Tubal-Cain was the first worker in iron and bronze.

 

Special notes and conclusion to Genesis chapters 3 & 4

 

A study of Genesis 3-4 reveals a number of the enemy’s devices.

We note the device, its reference and God’s answer.
– DISTRACTION (Drawn Away, Turn Right or Left) – 3:1, “the serpent said” – The Helmet of Salvation.
– DOUBT (Unbelief) – 3:1, “Hath God said?” – The Shield of Faith.
– DISTORTION (Lies) – 3:1, “Ye shall not eat of every tree” – The Girdle of Truth
– DENIAL (Fantasy, Idolatry) – 3:4, “Ye shall not surely die” – the Holy Spirit.
– DECEPTION (Beguile) – 3:5, “Ye shall be as gods” – The Sword of the Word.
– DESIRE (Entice, Seduce, Tempt, Provoke) – 3:6, “saw…it was a tree to be desired” – Watch and Pray.
– DISTRESS (Fear, Anxiety) – 3:7-10, “I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid…” – Perfect Love.
– DIVISION (Discord) – 4:2-4, separate lives and offerings – The Unity of the Spirit.
– DISDAIN (Hate, Anger, Envy, Bitterness) – 4:5, “Cain was very wroth” – Praise and Worship.
– DESTRUCTION (Disease, Death, Calamity) – 4:8, Cain slew Able – The Shoes of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace.
– DERISION (Accuse, Slander, Gossip, Condemnation) – 4:9, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” – The Breastplate of Righteousness.
– DESPAIR (Weaken, Wear Out) – 4:13, “My punishment is greater than I can bear” – The Joy of the Lord.
– DEPRESSION (Guilt, unforgiveness, worldly sorrow) – 4:14, “Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth” – Forgiveness.

Genesis Chapter 5

 

GENESIS 5:1-21   Begets cont.’

(Gen 5:1)  This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.

(Gen 5:2)  He created them male and female, and blessed them. And He called their name man in the day when they were created.

(Gen 5:3)  And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years and fathered a son in his own likeness, after his own image. And he called his name Seth.

(Gen 5:4)  And the days of Adam after he had fathered Seth were eight hundred years. And he fathered sons and daughters.

(Gen 5:5)  And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years. And he died.

 

Notice, no one lived 1,000 years. Reason?

(Gen 2:17)  but you shall not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. For in the daythat you eat of it you shall surely die.

A day with the Lord is 1,000 years.

(2Pe 3:8)  But, beloved, let not this one thing be hidden from you, that one day is with theLord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

(Gen 5:6)  And Seth lived one hundred and five years and fathered Enos.

(Gen 5:7)  And after he fathered Enos, Seth lived eight hundred and seven years. And he fathered sons and daughters.

(Gen 5:8)  And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years. And he died.

(Gen 5:9)  And Enosh lived ninety years and fathered Cainan.

(Gen 5:10)  And after he fathered Cainan, Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years. And he fathered sons and daughters.

(Gen 5:11)  And all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years. And he died.

(Gen 5:12)  And Cainan lived seventy years and fathered Mahalaleel.

(Gen 5:13)  And after he fathered Mahalaleel, Cainan lived eight hundred and forty years. And he fathered sons and daughters.

(Gen 5:14)  And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died.

(Gen 5:15)  And Mahalaleel lived sixty-five years and fathered Jared.

(Gen 5:16)  And after he fathered Jared, Mahalaleel lived eight hundred and thirty years. And he fathered sons and daughters.

(Gen 5:17)  And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred and ninety-five years. And he died.

(Gen 5:18)  And Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years and fathered Enoch.

(Gen 5:19)  And after he fathered Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years. And he fathered sons and daughters.

(Gen 5:20)  And all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years. And he died.

Genesis 5:21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah.

God has created all mankind from one blood (Acts 17:26; Genesis 5). Today researchers have discovered that we have all descended from one gene pool. For example, a 1995 study of a section of Y chromosomes from 38 men from different ethnic groups around the world was consistent with the biblical teaching that we all come from one man (Adam).

THIS IS THE RIGHTEOUS LINE WHICH WILL BRING FORTH JESUS.

 

 

 

 

RIGHTEOUS LINE

————————————–ADAM/EVE————————————-

SETH

NOAH

 

HAM                                                  SHEM                                JAPETH

 

Canaanites                                  Terah                                            Goyiim=Gentiles

 

Haran                                     Abraham                                                                                                                                                             Nahor-Europeans

 

wives

Lot                                     Hagar   Sarah         Keturah                               Bethuel

Daughters

 

 

Moab-Ben-Ammi          Ishmael    Isaac       Midian(nites)       Laban/Rebekah

wife

 

 

Moabites/Ammonites  Arabs            Rebekah                                Leah Rachel

 

 

Esau  (2 wives)    Jacob (2 wives)

 

 

2 Cannanites Leah-Rachel

 

 

Judah & 11 tribes (12 total)

 

KING DAVID

 

KING SOLOMOM

 

JOSEPH /MARY

 

JESUS THE CHRIST

US (IN CHRIST)

 

                                                                       

 

 

Gen.5:21 Enoch (7^th from Adam;7 the number of spiritual perfection, name means dedicated, consecrated, separated teacher) lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah.22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

 

365 years parallel to 365 days, the earth’s revolution around the sun.

 

ENOCH LOOKED AHEAD AND SAW  THAT HE COULD BE CAUGHT UP AND APPROPRIATED THIS PROMISE WITH HIS FAITH.

 

Jude 14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints ,Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Elijah was also caught up. (2 Kings 2:11) Perhaps Moses was caught up since the word says God buried him. (Deut. 34:5-7)

Present Day Truth about Enoch and the Catching Up

Enoch’s translation was not an arbitrary decision by God. Heb. 11:5 states, “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Enoch’s faith transitioned him into another realm. There was something of the creative spark of God in Enoch’s faith that initiated his being taken. There is something very interesting in the way Enoch walked with God and it bears examining because it is the very same faith God has created in His sons today.

Jude:14 It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones,15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

In the seventh generation from Adam Enoch prophesied saying, “Behold the Lord came…” The Greek word for “came” is erchomai. In the English language “came” is past tense. It means it’s happened already. But the word erchomai is used only in the present or imperfect tense. The imperfect tense indicates continuous or repeated actions in the past. The present tense indicates continual action in the present. It infers on-going motion, not a one time happening. These definitions of how the word erchomai is used reveal Enoch was not seeing some future event that occurs in time. He was caught up in the reality of Spirit. In the realm of  the Spirit there is no past, present, or future as we know it in time. There is just the “eternal now” and that is the realm God manifests Himself in.

Enoch’s faith projected him into the fulfillment of prophecies that would not even be spoken for a couple of thousand years. His faith transcended the time realm. It was a living faith. In two different places in the New Testament Paul tells us that what was written in past days was for our instruction. Thus, Enoch becomes a key for us in understanding our transition into full sonship. The creative faith Enoch moved in that led to him being caught up into fulfillment is not a faith we can conjure up on a whim. It is a faith God has created in us, the faith of God. (Gal. 2:20) The faith is opening us up to be His sons now. The faith to bypasses the time realm such as Enoch did. This is where the sons of God are now.

Gen.5:25 Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lamech.26 After he begot Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had sons and daughters.27 So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nineyears; and he died. 28 Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son.29 And he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord has cursed.”30 After he begot Noah, Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years, and had sons and daughters.31 So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died. 32 And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Methuselah was the oldest known living man, 967.

Notice  again no one lived 1,000 years. Reason?

(Gen 2:17)  but you shall not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. For in the daythat you eat of it you shall surely die.

A day with the Lord is 1,000 years.

(2Pe 3:8)  But, beloved, let not this one thing be hidden from you, that one day is with theLord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

LONG LIFE

What is the promise of long life to us?

Until we are satisfied:

We’re promised 120 years according to Genesis 6:3?

(Gen 6:3)  And Jehovah said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, in his erring; he is flesh. Yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.

Yet Ps 90:10 says “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by strength they are fourscore years, (70)yet their pride is labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”……v12 Teach us to number of our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom

Some say the 70 to 80 is a curse that only applied to the generation of Korah who followed the golden calf crowd.

Jude 11: “Woe to them! For they have run riotously in the way of Cain, and have abandoned themselves for the sake of gain the error of Balaam, and perished in rebellion (like that) of Korah!” (Amplified Bible)

The Way of Korah – Numbers Chapters 16

Of course, we know we have been redeemed from any curse. As far as life span is concerned, since the flood our atmosphere has so changed that our lives are shorter because of it. The amount of water, oxygen, pressure, and the protection from harmful rays from the sun, all add up to shorter lives.

 

The following Scriptures will help you live to a ripe old age. Obey His Word and you will enjoy a long life, and a healthy fulfilling maturity.

Exodus 20:12 – Ephesians 6:2-3 – Genesis 15:15 – Genesis 16:16 –Genesis 17:1 –Genesis 21:5 – Genesis 25:8 –Genesis 50:26 -Exodus 7:7 –Numbers 33:39 –Deuteronomy 4:40 – Deuteronomy 34:7 –Joshua 14:10 – Joshua 24:29 –Judges 8:32 –1 Chronicles 29:28 –2 Chronicles 24:15 –Job 42:17 -Proverbs 3:16 –Psalm 71:9 –Psalm 91:16-Psalm 92:14 –Isaiah 46:4 –Luke 1:36

SUMMARY:

Adam and Eve are comforted for Abel’s death by the birth of a third son, Seth.

1. From Seth, the father of Enosh, the genealogy of chapter 5 continues.
2. “Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.”
3. This may indicate that the righteous offerings of Abel were resumed. However, the killing of animals for food was not implemented until after the Flood.
4. From this point for the next several generations, mankind is divided into the “sons of God,” and the “sons of men.”

Enoch’s life is distinctive, in that he did not die. (see previous teaching)

The text here in Genesis does not contain the information.

2. A New Testament reference confirms it. Hebrews 11:5 “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.”
3. Enoch is noticed in other references in the New Testament.
4. Luke lists him in the genealogy of Jesus. Luke 3:37 “…the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan…”
5. A previously unwritten prophecy of Enoch is revealed in Jude 1:14-15. “And about these also Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, [15] to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.’”

My thoughts on Enoch: Enoch walked with God and was not. There is a consciousness we must walk in where we walk with God and we ARE NOT. No we and them, no us and GOD. Only God, true oneness with God. To be known as we are known. To know that I AM in Christ, Christ is in me. How can this be? You transcend human thinking. You don’t think in duality any longer, you only see one.

Noah is the last of the generations listed, and lives beyond the “flood.”

1. Using the numbers in the text, from Adam to the birth of Noah is 1,056 years.
2. Noah was 600 years old at the time of the flood. (Genesis 7:6)
3. This extends the period from Adam to the flood to 1,656 years.
4. Scholars say that the numbers given are unreliable, due to the numbering system used by the writers of the Hebrew text.

THE BEGETS ARE VERY IMPORTANT!

As one reads through the Bible, there are many parts they would automatically skip over because they do not seem relevant or all that interesting. One example would be the genealogies. Yet there is something truly amazing in the very first genealogy in Genesis 5:

As mentioned, in the earliest chapters of the Book of Genesis, God had already laid out His plan of redemption for the predicament of mankind.  The Bible is an integrated message system, the product of supernatural engineering. Every number, every place, name, every detail, every jot and tittle IS THERE FOR OUR LEARNING, OUR DISCOVERY.

It is basically a list of ten names- from Adam to Noah, but what we read is a transliteration from the original Hebrew, but what do they read in English?

Adam’s name means ‘man’- Him being the first man makes that straightforward. Adam’s son was named Seth which means “appointed” – as Eve said “For God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.”Seth’s son was named Enosh which means “mortal” “Frail” or “miserable”- it is from the root word ‘anash’ which means ‘uncurable.’ Enosh’s son was called Kenan which can mean “sorrow.” Kenan’s som was Mahalalel which means “Blessed/praise God.” Mahalalel’s son was named Jared from the verb ‘yaradh’ meaning “descent” or “shall come down.” Jared’s son was Enoch which means “teaching.” Enoch’s son was Methuselah whose name comes from the root ‘muth’- “death” and’shalach’-“to bring.” Methuselah’s was the father of Lamech whose name is still rooted in our English word “lament” – and it suggests despairing.And Lamech is the father of Noah- which means “rest” or comfort” as it is derived from the word ‘nacham’- ‘to bring relief.’

Summary

The genealogy of Adam through Noah, the Hebrew names translated into English mean:

 

Hebrew                      English

Adam                         Man

Seth                            Appointed

Enosh                         Mortal

Kenan                        Sorrow

Mahalalel                  The Blessed God

Jared                          Shall come down

Enoch                         Teaching

Methuselah               His death shall bring

Lamech                      The despairing

Noah                           Rest or comfort

 

Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow; (but) the Blessed God shall come down teaching (that) His death shall bring (the) despairing rest.

 

This is the summary of Gods plan- the gospel- hidden in a geneology in Genesis…an astronomical co-incidence? Or further evidence that there is the God.

Christ Revealed in Genesis

 

Creation days so beautifully recorded in the 1st chapter of Genesis is but a revelation of the redemptive work and plan of Jesus Christ. The entire Old Testament should be studied in the “Light of Redemption.”

 

Jesus Christ- Yeshua Ha Messiah

 

• Jesus Christ created the heavens and earth (Colossians 1:15-16).
• He is the Light created on the 4^th Day- 4,000 years from Adam- Jesus came into this world, “He is the Light of the World.”
• GOD created man in His image, Gen 1:27, and GOD (Jesus Christ) was born in the image of man, Luke 2:7.
• Adam is a ‘type’ of Christ,
• The tree (of knowledge of good and evil/self),the forbidden fruit in Eden, Gen 3:6, which brought death to us all, and the tree of the cross(Tree of Life who is Jesus) which brought eternal life to us all, Acts 5:30. Jesus was crucified on a tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,” “for it is written: `Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree”‘ (Galatians 3:13), see also Deuteronomy 21:23.
• Jesus Christ is the “first fruit” sacrifice of Abel.

 

 

Additional Summaries and teaching from Gen. 3&4

 

THE CURSE EXPLAINED

 

The Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy) explained (Psalm 102:25-26).

 

(Psa 102:25-26)  In the beginning, LORD, you laid the earth’s foundation and created the heavens. They will all disappear and wear out like clothes. You change them, as you would a coat, but you last forever.

 

This law states that everything in the universe is running down, deteriorating, constantly becoming less and less orderly. Entropy (disorder) entered – resulting in the curse on the earth.

 

Most believe that God put a curse on the earth. Not so, He simply allowed it since Adam and Eve allowed it— the law of Entropy to happen.

 

God did not curse Adam and Eve, nor did he curse the serpent or the ground. God simply provided an accurate description of the painful consequences of Adam and Eve’s wrongful actions.

 

(Gen 3:17)  And to Adam He said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it! The ground is cursed for your sake. In pain shall you eat of it all the days of your life.

 

(Rom 8:20-22)  For the creation was not willingly subjected to vanity, but because of Him who subjected it on hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. And we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.

 

Historically most people believed the universe was unchangeable. Yet modern science verifies that the universe is wearing out “grow(ing) old like a garment” (Hebrews 1:11)

 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but then restored.

 

• Jesus said: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35 – NIV).
• Paul says to the Corinthians: “For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18 – NKJV). Among the things which are seen are heaven and earth, therefore heaven and earth also are temporary. Yet will be renewed to last eternally.
• Peter says in his second epistle: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

 

The good news is this will all be restored.

 

Yes, heaven and earth shall pass away but will be restored back to the original, no pollution.

 

Ezekiel 36:35–And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.

 

Revelation 21:1–And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

 

 A Renewed Planet!

 

Ecclesiastes 1:4 A generation passes away, and a generation comes; but the earth remains forever.

 

Generations come and go, but the earth will remain forever.

 

Psalms 37:9-11, 29, 34

(Psa 37:9-11)  For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on Jehovah, they shall inherit the earth. It is but a little while, and the wicked shall not be; yea, you shall search his place, and he shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the overflowing of peace.

 

(Psa 37:29)  The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever.

 

(Psa 37:34)  Wait on Jehovah, and keep His way, and He shall lift you up to inherit the earth; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

 

The meek (gentle) people will inherit the earth and live on it forever.

 

(Isa 2:2-4)  And it shall be, in the last days the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow into it.

And many people shall go and say, Come, and let us go to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob. And He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go out the Law, and the Word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

 

All people will serve one God and will no longer wage war.

 

(Isa 35:4-7)  Say to those of a hasty heart, Be strong, fear not; behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the full dealing of God. He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness waters shall break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land shall become springs of water in the home of jackals, in its lair, and a place for the reed and rush.

 

No physical disabilities will exist for humans on the renewed earth – new earth.

 

(Isa 65:17)  For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. And the things before will not be remembered, nor come to mind.

 

(Isa 65:21-25)  And they will build houses and live in them; and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build, and another live in them; they will not plant, and another eat. For like the days of a tree are the days of My people, and My elect will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor bring forth for terror. For they are the seed of the beloved of Jehovah, and their offspring with them. And it will be, before they call I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the food of the snake. They will not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, says Jehovah.

 

The earth will be renewed, no one will labor in vain, everyone will live peacefully, including the animals.

 

Revelation 21:1-5

 

(Rev 21:1-5)  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And the sea no longer is. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband. And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away. And He sitting on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said to me, Write, for these words are true and faithful.

 

All made new – no more wickededness and no more sorrow, pain or death.

 

Earth & World Restored!!

 

Final Word and Encouragement. Mankind has been restored from the fall. ACKNOWLEDGE THAT!!

 

(1Pe 1:2-3)  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has regenerated us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

 

Your original identity is defined by what God, the Father of humanity has always cherished about you; how your pre-Adamic innocence would be preserved in the prophetic word and redeemed through the obedience of Jesus Christ and the effect of the sprinkling of his blood. Realizing his grace and peace exceeds any definition of contradiction or reward. So let us brag about it and bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with articulate acclaim! He has reconnected us with our original genesis; through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead! This new birth celebrates the hope of the ages; God’s eternal love dream concludes in life! The resurrection of Jesus from the dead endorses humanity’s rebirth! Mirror Bible

 

Through the years I  found out who I was. The effortless change that radical grace produces has totally ruined me for the toil of laboring to become something I found out I already was.

 

YOU AND I are the DIVINE expression-photograph of GOD. (back to the original)

 

The true context of Genesis and of Scripture is so much more than its historic and prophetic setting; it is a drama of redemption where the Maker of man succeeds to redeem his likeness and image in human form and thus reconcile himself with hostile humanity.

 

Yes, Genesis Chapter 3 is about the fall, but know this: God has rescued the authentic and original blueprint of his likeness in man, and presents fallen man again blameless and innocent before him in love.