The first recorded lie in the Bible was one of the biggest ever told. It had the biggest impact on humanity in history. In Genesis 3, Satan convinced Eve to eat the “forbidden fruit” because she wouldn’t die. She would only be “like God.” What he forgot to mention is that they were already like God.
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26 NKJV
God had already made man in His image. There was not anything that Adam and Eve could have done at that time to become more like Him.
However, when God said in Genesis 2:17 that if they ate of the tree of knowledge, they would surely die, He did not lie.
“but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:17 NKJV
The death that God was talking about was not an instant physical death, as Satan tried to convince Adam and Eve. It was the death talked about in the Bible which is separation from God.
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2 NIV
The first lie, which caused our “spiritual death” is the reason Christ came to this world. He chose to become human, to live a sinless life because of that lie.
He willingly allowed Himself to be arrested, tortured to the point of mutilation, becoming almost unrecognizable. He then allowed Himself to be crucified, not for anything He had done but for the sins of His creation. For the sin of all people. All we must do is accept His gift of His sacrifice and His grace. It is not something we deserve, nor can we do anything to earn it. It is a gift that we can only accept.
“For by grace, you have been saved by faith. Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the love gift from God that brought us to Christ! So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving.” Ephesians 2:8-9 TPT
Regardless of what you think, or what anyone says, no amount of “good deeds” or work will make us eligible for Salvation, it is only God’s gift of Love and Grace through the sacrifice of Christ that can give us access to Eternal Life with God. Before the fruit was eaten, we were already like God. However, that first sin did kill us spiritually. It separated us from God. The one and only solution to the sin problem was provided by God when He sent Jesus to earth.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6 AMP
by Jeff Jasper, Total Worship Radio.
Listen to Jeff’s show, “Soaring Through the Weekend” on Saturday & Sunday’s 6-9 PM.