Detox for the soul #2

April 21, 2020

Today is Tuesday. I normally take Tuesday off, but I promised a follow up yesterday. (Thank you "K" ;)

To know how to detox from sin, we must understand what the toxin is and how it works. How did the devil lure, entice, and seduce Eve? I am sol glad you asked!!!

Genesis 3:6 describes the divide between eternal life and physical and spiritual death. “The woman saw that the tree was beautiful with delicious food and that the tree would provide wisdom, so she took some of its fruit and ate it, and also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” [Genesis 3:6 CEB] The divide occurs with disobedience.

Eve rated the tree and its fruit as “beautiful.” Another way to put it, “it was a delight to the eyes.” [ESV] The eyes are a problem because what you see is not always what it is. Magicians often fool the eye with repetitive hand movements. They will toss a ball in the air several times, then finally hold the ball while making the throwing motion. The mind will see a ball in the air when there is really nothing. Eve’s imagination kicked into gear, giving her permission to disregard God’s word. Paul advised the carnal minded Corinthian believers to break this habit, “For we live by faith, not by sight.” [2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT, CEB, NIV, etc..]

Eve judged the fruit of the tree as “delicious.” Once the imagination is ignited the cravings of the body can be set in motion. In the world of fine dining there are three keys to making a good meal according to one top chef: “presentation, presentation, presentation.” If the eyes see an ordinary meal dressed up, the mind will elevate the expected and possibly realized taste. Eve fell for a bait and switch, she anticipated what the experience would be, and was conned out of a loving relationship with her world, her husband, and her God. Throughout the Bible, when referring to God, the sequence is flipped. “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” [Psalm 34:8 NIV, NLT, BSB, ESV, KJV, CSB, ISV, etc…] 

Eve, finally, determined the fruit would give her the wisdom she desired. Once the cravings of the body take hold, foolish desires kick into gear. The reasoning process has become interrupted by the desires (craving, lust) of the eye and flesh. The mind is attacked. King Solomon, who learned the hard way, advised, “Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life.” [Proverbs 4:23 CEV]

Our desires (cravings, lusts) expose, measure, and determine the heart’s path. Point them in the right direction and we are safe. Allow ourselves to be distracted, and we are into the ditch. 

The toxin is sin. Genesis 3 is where John came up with the toxin's  formula, “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” [1 John 2:16 NLT]

The power of desire is the destruction of reality. What is left is a construct. Adam and Eve already knew good and evil. To obey God is good. To disobey God is evil. They had each other in a beautiful world, they had rightful stewardship of a beautiful world, and they walked physically with God every day in a beautiful world. What more could one want? The real desire (craving, lust) they fell to was “…you will be like God…” [Genesis 3:5] Ever since this event, humans have either played god or tried to invented a god (or gods). At that moment, in that act, catastrophe struck with one rebellious act.

Notice Adam was “with her” in Genesis 3:6. In the Hebrew, it means Adam was physically present during Eve’s conversation with Satan. Adam failed to correct an error, raise an objection to a lie, or take a big stick to the serpent. When Eve offered him the fruit, he ate. He ate knowing he was violating the one, and only, law God had given him. He ate knowing the consequences. Eve was tricked, Adam sinned willfully. Sin spread like a plague with an 100% infection rate and an 100% mortality rate. “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” [Romans 5:12 NLT] 

The consequences for Adam and the rest of humanity are catastrophic. What are those catastrophic consequences? I’m glad you asked!!! Tune in tomorrow.

Detox for the soul

April 20, 2020

Today is Monday. As Americans, we traditionally think of it as the beginning of the week. Beginnings can be scary. At the beginning of any new adventure things can go wrong. Typically, because we are seeing, listening, and believing faulty sources.

When we think of humanity, from a theological point of view, the “first impression” I have is “sin.” Sin, in the Bible is both a noun and a verb. As a noun, sin refers to our “sinful nature.” As a verb, sin refers to what we do (commit) or what we do NOT do (omit) that violates the law of God. This “sinful nature” is inherited from Adam, the first man.

“The Fall” is descriptive of the event that brought all humanity under condemnation and chained us to the self-destructive sinful nature. Simply put, sin is toxic. How do we detoxify ourselves from sin? I am so glad you asked!!!

Speaking about “the Fall,” John Wesley suggested self-will (selfishness) leads to foolish desires. James put it this way, “Everyone is tempted by their own cravings; they are lured away and enticed by them. Once those cravings conceive, they give birth to sin; and when sin grows up, it gives birth to death.” [James 1:14 – 15 CEB] When we exercise unbelief, rebellion, and pride; we put our desires above what is right. Wherever there is sin, there is selfishness. These “cravings” start a chain reaction resulting in sin and death (both spiritual and physical). Or as another translation puts it, “Our desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead.” [James 1:5 CEV]

When Adam sinned, the divine moral image (the "imago dei" for the scholars out there) was lost, rendering us unable to love and obey God as we are designed to do. Our refusal to return God’s love is at the heart of Wesley’s description of the fall of humanity into sin. We become like the ungrateful child, who rather than thinking about the free food, the free clothes, the free place to stay; become focused on what we perceive to be limits place on us. We do not understand God has built the fence to section off the dangerous, harmful, and toxic things of life. God's desire is to keep us safe. The sinful nature demands we live chained, choking inside the toxic confines of the fence, while life and freedom are just outside our reach.

In Genesis 3, Satan began the temptation with a question: “Did God really say that you shouldn’t eat from any tree in the garden?” [Genesis 3:1b CEB]  Notice the devil misquotes God. On top of misquoting God, it is an exaggeration. The exaggeration reframes God’s intent from freedom to restriction. Casting God as someone who wishes to restrict, Satan suggests God is unreasonable. Basically, the power of doubt it the destruction of belief.

“The snake said to the woman, “You won’t die! God knows that on the day you eat from it, you will see clearly and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” [Genesis 3:4 CEB] Satan then lies, suggesting God has lied. The challenge is, who are you going to believe? Continuing to plant doubt, the devil hints God is keeping something good from us. Satan challenges God’s authority to do what is promised and God’s character in wanting the best for us.

Eve made three mistakes. Eve talked to Satan. Notice Adam did not say a word. Adam became passive when his wife needed him the most. Eventually Adam sinned willfully. Eve was tricked, so she is not blamed for the sinful nature of humanity. The second mistake she made, Eve misquotes God. The original prohibition about the tree was given to Adam. It’s reasonable to conclude the origin of the misquote came from Adam. Also notice, Adam did not correct her. Finally, Eve believed Satan. “Unbelief” is not believing God, instead believing the lies Satan tells.

What were the desires that lured and enticed Eve. I am so glad you asked!!! But fortunately this is a blog not a book; so check back tomorrow for the answer!

Genesis 3 Toxic sin and the detoxification from sin.

Genesis 3  

Toxic sin and the detoxification from sin.

Wesley’s progression of thought on the events of “the Fall:” 1.) Unbelief begot pride 2.) Pride begot self-will 3.) Self-will begot foolish desires.

When Adam sinned, “the life of God was extinguished in his soul.”  The human moral image is lost, rendering humankind no longer “capable of God” (able to know love and obey God as we were designed to do).  Thus we become dead to God.  Our refusal to return God’s love is at the heart of Wesley’s description of the fall of humanity into sin.

I.             The Temptation:

                A.            Satan questions the Word of God (“Did God really say…?”) [v 1]

1.                   Notice that Satan MISQUOTES God.

2.                   This misquote is an EXAGERATION.

3.                   This exaggeration REFRAMES God’s intention from freedom to restriction.

4.                   Casting God as someone who wishes to restrict, Satan claims God is UNREASONABLE.

*****The power of doubt is the destruction of belief. ***** [me]

B.            Satan contradicts the Word of God.

1.                   LIE: No you will not die. [v 4] (Challenge to God’s authority to do what is said.)

2.                   LIE: God is keeping something good from you. [v 5] (Challenge to God’s character as wanting the best for us.)

C.            Mistakes in dealing with temptation.

1.            Eve talked to Satan.  (Notice Adam did not… becomes a passive player in the story.)

                        2.            Eve misquotes the Word of God. (Notice Adam did not correct her.)

                        3.            They believed Satan.  (Unbelief is not believing God… believing Satan.)

II.            The desires:

                A.            [v 6] The eyes: Eve saw the tree and fruit was beautiful.)

                        1.            The eyes are a problem because what you see is not always what it is…

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” [2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV, ESV, etc.]

                        2.            This got Eve’s imagination and feelings going…

            3.            Doubt of God’s Word leads to a disregard. 

*****The power of disregarding belief is the destruction of trust. *****

(The lack of trust creates false sense independence.  This false independence is PRIDE.)

                B.            [v 6] The flesh: Eve thought the fruit would taste delicious.

1.            Once the eyes touched the imagination then the passions of the body were set in motion.

2.            Interesting that sin started with eating… God’s response was also in eating (The Lord’s Supper).

C.            [v 6] The desire: Eve’s self-will kicked into gear.

                       1.            We see this foolish desire moved her to action.

“Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life.” [Proverbs 4:23 CEV]

               

·         “Thoughts”… typically translated “heart” meaning what is the kernel, the center, the substance of the person.

·         Not the physical heart… it is the ethical, moral, emotional, intellect place were decisions are made.

2.            Our desires measure the heart:  Want to know what’s in the heart?  Check the DESIRES.

***** The power of desire is the destruction of reality. ***** (me)

III.           The Consequences:

               

A.            Self-determination to find happiness in our hands.

                1.            Notice there is a direct correlation between becoming unholy and unhappy.

                2.            Degradation, slavery, and ruin of the soul in sin.

                3.            General discontent… (e.g. complaining)

B.            Separation from God (“spiritual death”) and from each other.

                1.            [v 7] Shame from being naked.

                2.            [v 7] Attempted to cover themselves… unsuccessfully.

                3.            [v 8] They hid from God.

                4.            [v 10] They became afraid of God.

C.            Straight- out refused responsibility by blaming someone else.

                1.            [v 12] Adam blames the woman (who was a gift of God… blaming God).

                2.            [v 13] Eve blames the woman (“tricked me”)

D.            Sin’s curse is pronounced.

                1.            To Satan: crawl and eat dust [v 14], contempt and total failure [v 15]

                2.            To Eve: painful pregnancy [v 16], ruled by men [v 16]

                3.            To Adam:  struggle to survive [v 17], physical death [v 19]

***** The power of a reality broken by sin is the destroying pain of every kind. ***** (me)

IV.          Salvation is offered.

A.            Satan would be crushed by the “seed of the woman.” [v 15] 

1.            “Proto-evangelical”

2.            Jesus, born of a virgin… crucified (heal) but resurrected and returning (head).

B.          God clothed them in leather [v 21].  

1.            The first death they had seen.

2.            This became the foundation for the “blood sacrifice” to atone [meaning “cover”] for sin.)

3.            BECAUCE the consequence of sin is death (spiritual and physical) then the redemption of sin would also be death (the blood of Jesus).

“…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”  [Hebrews 9:22b ESV]

C.            God drove them out of Eden [v 24].  

1.            The irreversible loss of Eden puts in us the feeling this world is broken and unnatural.  (It’s why we ask “why?” when something bad happens.)

2.            The desire is to find or make Eden on earth… which is not possible since only God could create Eden.

3.            So we live with this uneasy discord between the unlimited potential of what we were created to be and the reality of the grip and slavery to sin.  (Death is a mercy in dealing with that life-long frustration.)

4.            This should motivate us to seek salvation from sin (consequences and power) in Jesus (who happens to be “the Word.”).

5.            It’s here we discover that our potential is fulfilled in being loved by God and loving God back (no matter how imperfect our love may be).

***** The power of God’s love, demonstrated on the cross, is the destroying of sin’s control of our daily lives, our eternal destiny, our current potential. ***** (me)