Mark Vestal Supporter Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

God gave us the garden of Eden so that we might not perish. The garden of Eden was paradise before mankind brought in the curse. The purpose of the garden was to show humanity who we are by nature. Satan indeed manifested the temptation, but the hearts of men are evil regardless of Satan's presence.

Gen 6:5
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

Rom 3:10-18
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes."

God wants us to want Him. He desires true love, so He made us with the ability to either seek Him (good, truth, light), or continue loving the darkness through our wicked thoughts and evil hearts.

John 3:19-21
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

Satan truly beguiled Eve, but Adam knew the transgression that he was about to commit. What were the traits of the forbidden fruit that drove them to choose to partake regardless?

Gen 3:5-6
"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."

The tree was "good for food" and "pleasant to the eyes" to satisfy the flesh. It was desirous "to make one wise" regarding good and evil, for possessing the knowledge "as gods" would have. If mankind was good, he would not follow the temptations of Satan. 

The realization that we are all sinners must come before one sees a need for God's grace. Jesus Christ crucified is proof of God's love for humanity even though we are undeserving of His gift.

Rom 5:6-8
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Rom 5:12
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"

July 29 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report