Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
When we observe our world today, however, things are not so good. There are famines, droughts, war, etc. In the physical world, everything tends to wear down, wear out and breaks down becoming less and less useable. In the living world, every animal is continually in a struggle against other animals and against disease, aging, and death. In the cultural world, one civilization rises and declines, and then, over and over again another civilization takes its place for a while. In the spiritual and moral world, people find it easier to do wrong instead of right – It is easier to ‘go with the flow’ drifting downward, then to struggle upward. Our world is full of hatred, crime, war, pollution, selfishness, corruption, and all forms of evil. Did something go wrong with God’s good creation?
Many just do not understand what really happened to the good creation, and tend to ask philosophically: “How could a good and loving God allow such evil things to happen? No religion or “science” can ultimately answer the struggle or craving for Truth. The only way that man can find the Truth of why there is evil in the world is by God’s revelation.
We find the answer in the book of Romans, with Paul referring to Genesis One:
Romans 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:
Our culture today teaches us that we are not personally to blame for our actions. We can blame it on our parents, the neighborhood in which we were brought up, an abusive relative, and on and on, just trying to place the blame somewhere else other than where it squarely lays – our individual selves.
And later on, Paul says: (“creature” actually means “creation”)
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Romans 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
How did this all happen? What evil force caused God’s “very good” creation to become evil as we observe today? Is God either not powerful enough to stop this evil, or not righteous enough so that He condones this evil? Thank God, that Our loving Redeemer gives us assurance and hope and will deliver us out of this world and this hopeless situation in which we are subjected, if we accept His Word.
This lesson is designed, not only to show from God’s Word how this “evil force” was able to change good creation into an evil one, but also who this evil force is, “The First Evolutionist”. There is a way for God’s people to escape the bonds of the evolutionary mindset, and be “set free” by the Word of God. This “Way” or Redeemer is the very Creator Himself, Who gave us His Word.
The study of the “deceiver of the whole world” will begin to give us a glimpse into prophecy and the “Law of Double Reference” in prophecy.
The most important question today is “How will we handle God’s Word? There is only two ways to handle God’s Word, either the way God Himself meant it when He spoke, or the way the “First Evolutionist did, namely twist and pull it out of context. (Add or subtract from it)
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. …
A. The Bible later identifies this “old serpent” as the devil Himself
Revelation 12: 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
1. This “serpent” has lead an age-long rebellion against God
2. This serpent has lead an age-long fight against God’s plan for man
B. This “Lucifer” is spoken of in Isaiah 14
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! {O Lucifer: or, O day star}
Isaiah 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
1. The Context of the above is a prophetic warning to a wicked Babylonian King.
2. But, Isaiah obviously goes beyond this king to the spirit that possessed the king
3. Most of the things said about this king could not be about an earthly king – Can you spot some? (Isaiah 13:1 – 14:23)
C. This Same Being Is Spoken Of In Ezekiel 28
Ezekiel 28:11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 28:12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
Ezekiel 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. {sardius: or, ruby} {beryl: or, chrysolite} {emerald: or, chrysoprase}
Ezekiel 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Ezekiel 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Ezekiel 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Ezekiel 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Ezekiel 28:18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
Ezekiel 28:19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. {a terror: Heb. terrors}
1. The Context of the above is a prophetic warning to a wicked King of Tyre
2. Again, many of the things attributed to him could not be of an earthly king
3. This king was similarly possessed
4. He is addressed as the “anointed cherub that covereth” (Verse 14)
a. He covered the very Throne of God
b. He was the highest created being in all of God’s creation.
5. God had told him that he was created – (Verse 15)
6. There is no doubt that God told him that he and other angels were to be:
Hebrews 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
7. This cherub was pronounced by God to be “perfect in his ways” (Ezekiel 28:15)
8. Lucifer did not sin until later, because:
Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. {And the evening…: Heb. And the evening was, and the morning was etc.}
Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
9. Sometime afterward his heart was lifted up – His beauty corrupted his wisdom (Ezekiel 28:17)
a. He began to doubt God’s Word
b. He deceived himself
c. Thought he could become God (Isaiah 14:14)
1. He began to think that he and God were similar beings
2. He began to think that he could stage a rebellion and overthrow God
d. Can we see that Lucifer thought that neither he nor God was really created?
e. Can we see that Lucifer thought that all probably somehow developed (Or Evolved) from a primordial mass?
f. Can we see that Lucifer thought that an accident of time had given him his position on God’s throne?
g. Isn’t this just the same thing that we teach our children?
1. This complex universe rose by natural processes from primeval chaos
2. The universe is a self-existing, self-sustaining, & self-developing entity
3. That man is god
10. Revelation’s meaning in calling “the deceiver of the whole world” includes himself
11. So, Lucifer, the Day-Star, became:
a. Satan the “adversary” or “accuser”
b. He began opposing God and all of God’s purposes
c. Now he became “the old serpent” by possessing the most clever of the beasts
Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, ….
Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: {thou…: Heb. eating thou shalt eat}
Genesis 2:17 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.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Genesis 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Genesis 3:5 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.
Genesis 3:6 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.
A. The First Subtle Trick - The Serpent “Twisted” God’s Word (Verse 1)
1. The serpent led Eve to question God’s authority and goodness
2. The serpent quoted chapter 2 verse 16, but
3. He left out the “but” in verse 17
B. The Woman’s Response – Adding & Subtracting from God’s Word (Vs. 2-3)
1. The woman left out the name of the tree - God had used it’s name
a. Not calling a thing what it is is deceiving
b. Illustration: “It is not really a lie, just a little white lie”
c. Illustration: “It’s not an abortion, only discarding of an unwanted pregnancy”
d. Illustration: “I’m basically a good person, I deal with God in my own way”
2. The woman added the concept of touching the fruit – God did not say this
C. The Second Subtle Trick – The Serpent Denied God’s Word
1. God’s Word Stated:
Genesis 2:17 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.
2. The fact that God’s warning stated death meant nothing to the serpent
3. Satan said that God only feared that they would learn too much
4. This was the “killing blow”
a. Just twisting God’s Word was not enough
b. The serpent had to deny God’s Word – Called God a liar by stating: “ye shall be as gods”
5. This was the same temptation that led to Satan’s downfall:
Isaiah 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
6. As soon as a person begins to question God’s authority or deny God’s Word, he sets himself up as his own god.
a. Now he is deciding for himself the standards of truth and righteousness
b. God does not anymore set the rules, man does
Genesis 3:6 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. {pleasant: Heb. a desire}
Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. {aprons: or, things to gird about}
Genesis 3:8 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. {cool: Heb. wind}
Genesis 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Genesis 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Genesis 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Genesis 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Genesis 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
A. Eve had allowed her mind and emotions to be affected by the serpent
B. The Satanic influence continued as Eve continued to gaze at the forbidden tree
C. As the Satanic influence of doubt & pride continued it became more beautiful
1. It was “Good for Food”
a. It was appealing to the physical appetite
b. Appealed to the body
2. It was “Pleasant to the Eyes”
a. It was appealing to the emotions or the esthetic senses
b. Appealed to the soul
3. It was “Desired to make one wise”
a. Appealing to pride of knowledge & spiritual insight
b. Appealed to the spirit
I John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
I John 2:16 For 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.
I John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
D. Temptations Can Be Directed Against The Body, Soul Or Spirit – Or Like In Eve’s Case – Against All Three.
E. Eve’s Sin Was Not The Eating Of The Fruit – That Was Only The Result Of The Wrong Mindset
V. The Immediate Consequences of Man’s First Sin
Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. {aprons: or, things to gird about}
Genesis 3:8 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. {cool: Heb. wind}
Genesis 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Genesis 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Genesis 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Genesis 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Genesis 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
A. They Knew They Were Naked
1. They knew no guilt when God the first marriage was consummated
2. The guilt came after Adam’s sin – Why?
3. Remember God’s Command:
Genesis 1:28 … God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, ….
4. Now Adam & Eve realized that the whole line of human life was now corrupted
5. Adam & Eve now knew guilt
a. They now knew they were naked
b. They now knew all of their children would have the seed of rebellion
c. Their guilt was centered on their procreative organs
6. They decided to hide from each other and from God.
B. They Sewed Fig Leaves Together And Made Themselves Aprons
1. These aprons would not & could not hide the guilt of their rebellion to God
2. These aprons only hid their guilt from each other
C. No Longer Had The Fellowship With God Which Is Why They Were Created
1. They Hid Themselves
2. They made excuses for hiding from God’s presence
D. The Fact That They Felt Shame Showed There Was Hope For Their Salvation
1. When sinners have no guilt or shame, the only remedy is judgment & condemnation
2. It isn the Word of God that brings conviction of sin
I Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
A. God’s Word to Moses
Numbers 20:7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 20:8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
B. Moses’ Mindset
Numbers 20:9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
Numbers 20:10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
Numbers 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
C. God’s Response because of Moses’ Mindset
Numbers 20:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
D. Notice God’s Warning Later to the Isrealites:
Deuteronomy 4:1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.
Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Deuteronomy 4:3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.
Deuteronomy 4:4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.
Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
VII. We Are Guilty Today Like Eve & Moses
A. Today, Our Own Garments Of Self Righteousness Will Not Hide Our Guilt
Isaiah 64: 6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
B. Today, We Need The Garments Of Salvation, The Robe Of Righteousness:
Isaiah 64:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
C. We Can’t Escape God’s Judgment With What We Fashion Or Accomplish
D. The Wife of the Lamb Is Seen Clothed
Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. {white: or, bright}
E. The Armies Of Heaven Are Seen With Clothes Provided By God:
Revelation 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
F. The Glorified Son of Man Is Pictured As Clothed With A Garment:
Revelation 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
VIII. Allow Christ To Be Our Example – Not Eve
Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Luke 4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
Luke 4:3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Luke 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Luke 4:6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
Luke 4:7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. {worship me: or, fall down before me}
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Luke 4:9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
Luke 4:10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
Luke 4:11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Luke 4:12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
Luke 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
A. The Second Adam Came Into The World, And Tempted Like We Are
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
B. Christ Was Lead By The Spirit Into The Wilderness To Be Tempted– (Vs. 1-2)
C. The Temptation Was Three In Scope
1. Appeal to the physical appetite – After fasting forty days – (Vs. 3-4)
2. Appeal to the covetous emotional desires – (Possession of worldly kingdoms) – (Vs. 5-8)
3. Appeal to spiritual pride – Offering world-wide recognition and eminence – (Vs. 9-12)
D. Christ Overcame The Wicked One By Reminding Both Himself & Satan God’s Word
E. Christ’s Mindset Was Set On Things Above – Not Below