Part3

We chose the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil over the Tree of Life (which is Jesus): John 1:1-5; 11:25,26; 14:5-7; Revelation 2:7; 22:12-16.

We wanted to be like God, knowing good and evil, but unlike God, we did not know how to handle/ master this knowledge, and it would soon master us. Good would give way to evil. God knew this and kept us from eating of the Tree of Life, living forever as a ruined creation, separated from God.

Sin is death because it separates us from God, who is Life.

We chose the way of flesh: “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will NOT inherit the Kingdom.” Why? Because all of the above is contrary to who God is, and God is Holy.

But the fruit of the Spirit is the very nature of God: “Love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law”. Galatians 5:16-23.

People want to make God in their own image. They want to love God on their own terms (death) instead of on God’s terms (Life). Romans 6:19-23; Romans 1:18-22; John15:18-25; 2 Timothy 3:1-4.

By the time Noah walked the earth, the evil reached such a point that God regretted that He had made human beings on the earth, “that every inclination of the thought of human beings was evil all the time”, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord”. The word of God says: “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.” Genesis 6.

Part 4

Read the following scriptures. They are a rich resource for your benefit:

1) Job 38-42: The Lord addresses speaking about Him without knowledge. 2) Joshua 24:14-28: Joshua challenging/exhorting the Israelites to serve God with all faithfulness. 3) Ezekiel 3:1-11: God encouraging Ezekiel to speak His Word though the Israelites were hardened and obstinate. 4)Ezekiel 18: Man accusing God of unfairness. 5) Malachi 1;2;3: God’s love for His people in spite of their sin and His having to deal with it. 6) Hebrews 1:8-13: Jesus, God’s final word. 7) Romans 5: Reconciliation of man to God through Jesus Christ. 8) Romans 1:18-29: God’s wrath against sinful humanity, and God’s righteous judgement. 9) Hebrew 11-12: 17: Faith, and God’s discipline, out of love, for His children. 10) Romans 8:1-17: Life through the Spirit. 11) John 3: 1-21: We must be born again. 12) Revelation 22:12-17: The Lord’s invitation, warning and promise. 13) Psalm 95:1-11: We are encouraged to worship and exhorted not to harden our hearts. 14) Isaiah 45: 5-7: What God says. 15) Isaiah 45:22-25: Turn to God and be saved. 16) Philippians 2:1-16a: Imitating Christ and what our posture (attitude) should be. 17) Psalm 2: What comes of conspiring against God. 18) Hebrews 12:22-29: God shaking what can be shaken so that what can not be shaken may remain.