Sin is not a very common word found in “churches” today. No one really wants the conviction of their sin, but often call for the punishment of those who “sin” against them. Let us start at the beginning to add to our understanding and help us see more clearly how Jehovah sees our sin and His warnings, which often go unheeded.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"
As a reminder to all of us, we cannot blame Satan for our own actions and sins. We have free choice, an amazing mind, Bibles everywhere, “churches” in every city in the U.S., and creation, which should leave us amazed and speechless. Needless to say, Satan often starts by questioning our knowledge of Jehovah’s Word.
3:2 The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3:3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'"
Did Jehovah actually say all of this? Where did she come up with not touching this fruit? She had most likely heard this from Adam, but in whatever time has elapsed, either Adam, Eve, or both of them added touching.
Gen 2:16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; Gen 2:17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."
3:4 The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die!
We now go from Satan questioning our understanding of what Jehovah said, to now stating that what we had heard was wrong or worse, that Jehovah lied to us.
3:5 "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Jehovah never mentioned how to understand what evil meant other than it was opposite of good. Satan presents this as something worthy of pursuing. Jehovah knows both so why shouldn’t Adam and Even know? What is Jehovah withholding from them (and us).
3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
While we know that the temptation in of itself is not sin, but by dwelling on it for even a few seconds more can lead to sin.
James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
1:14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
1:15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
How long of a look at a beautiful women will it take for many men to go from tempted to sin? How long of a look would it take for women to do the same to a handsome man? What about your friends new car of house? Coveting, lusting, letting anger fester, etc. all our ways temptation leads to sin.
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 loin coverings.
Eyes open to entice you to sin is not a good thing.
R Zaccharias — 'Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
More next Saturday.