Weekly Devotional 12-29-14 A Choice Must Be Made
Adam (mans federal head) was given the liberty of making a choice, to believe and obey his Creator (God) or to believe the Serpent. The choice he would make would insure a continued fellowship with God or separation from Him. We read from Genesis 2:15-17; “15Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17but 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.’” Adam chose to believe the Serpent, who was Satan in disguise, and learned that what God had said was true. Upon Adam and Eve’s disobedience, they were separated from God. They immediately died spiritually toward God and the process of physical death was begun in them, a terrible consequence for sure. Of that consequence the Apostle Paul wrote; “12Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12 NKJV ).
What a predicament! But, because God loved Adam (and Eve) and because He loves Adam’s offspring He provided a way of restoration. Like Adam, we have a choice to make; either believe what God has said about His restoration or believe what Satan promotes. Satan says that man can find forgiveness and restoration with God by self effort, but Jesus, God the Son said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NKJV).
Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light and his ministers are transformed into ministers of righteousness (see 2nd Corinthians 11:14-15), but their light is a false light, a deceptive light. Satan and his ministers are not to be believed, but they are. Millions have believed Satan’s gospel. He influences man to believe that by self-effort (works) man can stand righteous before God and be restored in fellowship with Him. But, Paul writes; “8 If we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9 NKJV).
This then, is the choice everyone must make: either believe what God has said through His only begotten Son (Jesus the anointed) and His apostles or believe the false gospel proffered by Satan and those whom he influences. Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote; “8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV). Satan and his emissaries proffer that man merits a righteous standing with God (salvation) by his works.
There are not two truths; there are not two paths to a righteous standing before God. The Bible declares a righteous standing before God is by His grace; Satan suggests that a righteous standing before God must be earned by one’s own efforts. In consideration, one must compare what he (or she) believes and what is being said by those who claim to be servants of God (pastors-priests-teachers, etc.) with what the Bible says. If what you believe or what you are being told is different than what the Bible says, you must make a choice. One must choose one or the other. Remember, though, when Adam and Eve chose to listen, believe, and act on Satan’s council, they died toward (became separated from) God.
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man
www.gbchurch.us