Satan hasn't changed his tactics since tempting Eve with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She ultimately didn't choose good vs. evil (she had no idea what they were!), but self vs. God. This initial sin was only indicative of all that would follow in many ways. Rejecting the wisdom of God, the trust in His providence and provision, and the fellowship of Him vs. Satan, et cetera. All sin was represented in some capacity in that prototype sin.
We would've done the same thing and ditto Adam and Eve--they were our representatives and we are in effect in solidarity with them or in Adam as the official head of the race. Satan didn't have anything against being good, it was only in an ungodly way apart from God's plan. What is evil, but deprivation or negation of good--it cannot exist without there being good in the first place. Being good without God, that's all. That's what religion tries to do: make you decent, respectable, honorable people without God--or ultimately knowing Him.
Christianity is simply Christ and taking Him out of the equation leaves nothing to live for--it is nothing. You can have Buddhism without Buddha, but not Christianity without Christ you disembowel it as someone has said. The kind of people the world looks up to and admires are the ones who have made good for themselves and achieved the "American dream" et al. Those living the good life or becoming a success in the eyes of man.
Christianity is simply Christ and taking Him out of the equation leaves nothing to live for--it is nothing. You can have Buddhism without Buddha, but not Christianity without Christ you disembowel it as someone has said. The kind of people the world looks up to and admires are the ones who have made good for themselves and achieved the "American dream" et al. Those living the good life or becoming a success in the eyes of man.
People judge a splinter group by their character and say, "They are such fine people." Newsflash: Christ didn't come to make bad people good, but dead people alive! "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins..." (Eph. 2:1). Christianity is not a system of dos and don'ts or a system of ethics, though orthopraxy (right behavior) is the application of orthodoxy (right beliefs).
He wants us to have an "abundant life" and "all these things shall be added unto us" as we seek His kingdom and righteousness. He gives us "richly all things to enjoy" so God is not a killjoy trying to keep us from having fun. Evil is just this: leaving God out of the picture and trying to do it alone without Him. It's a do-it-yourself proposition. Sin can be seen as rejecting God's plan and declaring your independence to do it your way.
We're incurably addicted to doing something for our salvation according to Charles Swindoll and are naturally religious (we have been called Homo religiosus or a religious man). What sin is that Adam and Eve chose was to put self into the center of our existence and live for self--there's no more sure way to personal disaster--the happiest people have learned to serve [live for others], says Albert Schweitzer. True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less according to Rick Warren.
He wants us to have an "abundant life" and "all these things shall be added unto us" as we seek His kingdom and righteousness. He gives us "richly all things to enjoy" so God is not a killjoy trying to keep us from having fun. Evil is just this: leaving God out of the picture and trying to do it alone without Him. It's a do-it-yourself proposition. Sin can be seen as rejecting God's plan and declaring your independence to do it your way.
We're incurably addicted to doing something for our salvation according to Charles Swindoll and are naturally religious (we have been called Homo religiosus or a religious man). What sin is that Adam and Eve chose was to put self into the center of our existence and live for self--there's no more sure way to personal disaster--the happiest people have learned to serve [live for others], says Albert Schweitzer. True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less according to Rick Warren.
The aftermath of the fall was a cover-up and hiding from God and man is still up to this old escape mechanism. We won't take responsibility and own up to our sins. We have to come clean and renounce all sin in our lives and be willing to let Christ transform our souls from the inside out--not turning over a new leaf or making a resolution, but surrendering the will to God's will.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Soli Deo Gloria!
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