Several months ago, God directed me to 2 Corinthians 11:3
"But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.".....(NASB)
...which resulted in a bit of chastisement over the fact that I often suffer spiritually because I disobediently allow myself to get tied in knots over complex aspects of Scripture that I don't readily understand.
I happily adopted the verse as a reminder to always aim for singleness of devotion to Christ Jesus.
That is actually a much healthier perspective than my standard aerobic approach:
When in danger, when in doubt,
Run in circles, scream and shout.
Recently, I realized that I had no personal understanding of what it means to "repent and believe the Gospel" according to Jesus' instruction in Mark 1:14-15
And, that little verse from Matthew 24:13 (But he who endures to the end, the same shall be kept safe. ) has been cause for serious concern about whether God will disown someone after (s)he has truly placed faith in Christ.
I've noticed that there are numerous voices which offer contradictory views. Some present the Good News as simply "trusting in Jesus' finished work on the cross--no strings attached" while others insist that certain specific behavior modification must accompany this trust. James makes it clear that "works" of obedience are proof of saving faith, and the sheer number of "Scripturally based human frameworks for genuine Christian life" are staggering.
Of course, I tend to latch onto the most condemning point of view and immediately begin to doubt whether I've truly been saved. Honestly, I'm not into self-torture, but the concept of standing before God's throne and discovering that I was just a goat is terrifying.
So, we must repent, believe, obey and endure to the end. "Repent of sin and believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father" don't seem to be too hotly disputed. But there appears to be a lot of disagreement about what that "obedient endurance" looks like. What happened to pure simplicity?
This time, I ran to God. Pounded incessantly on His door until He opened it. And wrestled with Him until He agreed to bless me. What else could I do? Only He knows what He meant when He gave the command and I have to know for myself what it means to "repent".
So He sent me to the beginning to discover what actually "went wrong"....
And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them... Genesis 1:27-28
God made the man first.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die" Genesis 2:16-17
Abundant blessing and only one rule. God reserved for Himself the right to discern the difference between right and wrong. Man was originally instructed to accept that ONE directive.
Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." Gen. 2:18
"And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed." Genesis 2:25
Like newborn babies, Adam and Eve had no concept of what it meant to stand before God while unclothed. That is interesting, because it appears that other areas of Scripture suggest that clothing represents righteousness. Man was made in God's image, but he was not an exact representation. He was not perfect, as God is. I think a more appropriate word would be "innocent", in that he had no idea that he had no covering before the Lord. And, as long as the man didn't try to find out what good and evil were, he would not have realized that he was not perfect.
The account states that Satan, in the form of a serpent, opened dialogue with the wife. He called into question the "rightness" of God's command to "not eat".
Interestingly, Eve's version of the instruction doesn't match what God apparently said to Adam.
She said that they weren't even to touch the fruit. Not sure what that means, but it looks like there was already a breakdown of communication somewhere that God was overlooking because the people didn't know any better.
At any rate, the wife was duped into eating as the serpent promised she would not die, but instead would become wise, like God--able to determine for herself what was and was not "good". And, Adam followed suit, thus deliberately disobeying the Lord's one rule.
In their haste to become their own authority, Adam and Eve actually chose to serve the serpent, stepped out from God's protective boundary and realized that they were guilty of sinning against God. They tried on their own to cover their nakedness, but their efforts were not adequate to hide the fact that they had thanklessly disregarded God's gift of a simple life of just getting to know Him and being amazed at all He had given them. There is nothing we can do to cover our own nakedness before the Lord.
God cursed the serpent. And He punished the humans. Spiritually, they were tarnished and would have to physically die. It actually was a merciful thing as it would be a torment to live eternally bearing a burden that human beings were not designed to carry. He provided covering in the form of animal skin and a promise to send a Deliverer Who would clear a way for reconciliation by way of payment for the crime and the necessary covering.
Jesus Christ graciously loves and accepts those who will humble themselves and acknowledge that they are indeed unable to approach the throne of God in their "nakedness". When we continue in this attitude, He is faithful to forgive us when we confess that we have transgressed His law and honestly recognize our failings. If anyone chooses to reject this unmerited, priceless offer, there is no help left as there is no one greater than God.
For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and if every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward,
how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by those who heard Him; Hebrews 2:2-3
I find the Genesis account to be a fascinating parallel to Romans 1:16-25
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
because the thing which may be known of God is clearly revealed within them, for God revealed it to them.
For the unseen things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being realized by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse.
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.
Professing to be wise, they became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves.
For they changed the truth of God into a lie, and they worshiped and served the created thing more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Farther down in Romans ch 1 is an extensive list of sinful behavior that stems from the original attitude of "I want to be god". We "inherited" the tendency to rebel (and enjoy it) from Adam. And we are held responsible for the evil choices that we make. But at the root of everything is the pridefully lifted up heart that does not search for direction from God.
We were not created to take upon ourselves the heavy responsibility of knowing what is good and evil. It literally is what kills us. Our "yoke" was supposed to be light and pleasant as we enjoyed communion with God and explored the wonders of His creation in humble gratitude.
The essence of "enduring, obedient repentance" is the heart that has been "brought low" so as to acknowledge that there is only One who is worthy to be called "Jehovah". It is the agonized cry of the drowning sinner pleading "Lord, save me--COVER me in the sight of Almighty God because I cannot do anything to save myself!" And it is the life that is marked by adoring, single-minded devotion that is expressed toward the heroic, self-sacrificing Rescuer by freely giving to others as we have received.
I do believe I can now see why Jesus said:
"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14
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For consideration:
The Lord to the "king of Babylon": How you are fallen from the heavens, O shining star, 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 go up to the heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.
I will go up above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Isaiah 14:12-14
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank You, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the sophisticated and cunning, and revealed them to babes.
Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
All things are delivered to Me by My Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son will reveal Him.
Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls.
For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. Matthew 11:25-30
Samuel's words to King Saul (Israel's first human king and perhaps representative of Adam). For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idol-worship. Because you have rejected the Word of Jehovah, He has also rejected you from being king! 1 Samuel 15:23
Zedeki'ah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD.
He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnez'zar, who had made him swear by God; he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. 2 Chronicles 36:11-13
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
David: "Deliver me from the guilt of shedding blood, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Jehovah, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
For You do not desire sacrifice; or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shall You be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then they shall offer bulls on Your altar. Psalm 51:14-19
For so says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity; whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, even with the contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
For I will not contend forever, nor will I be always angry; for the spirit should fail before Me, and the souls I have made.
For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid Myself, and was angry, and he went on turning away in the way of his heart.
I have seen his ways, and will heal him. I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.
I create the fruit of the lips; peace, peace, to him far off, and to him near, says Jehovah; and I will heal him.
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, which cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.
There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked. Isaiah 57:15-21
And now be wise, O kings; be instructed, O judges of the earth.
Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled in but a little time.
Blessed are all who put their trust in Him. Psalm 2:10-12