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EVE’S DECEPTION 

SATAN DECEIVED EVE, THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL SEEMED HARMLESS. IN FACT IT SEEMED GOOD, PLEASANT AND DESIRABLE TO HER. THE DEVILS TEMPTATION WORKS THAT WAY.

Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

TEMPTATION IS NOT ALWAYS AVOIDABLE BUT WE ALWAYS HAVE A MEANS OF ESCAPE

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

SHE LOOKED, IT SEEMED GOOD, IT WAS PLEASING TO HER AND SHE DESIRED IT SO SHE TOOK IT AND ATE IT. SOMETIMES IT LOOKS GOOD BUT THE EVIL DECEIVER KNOWS THIS AND USES IT AGAINST US. LUCIFER KNOWS THAT WE BEING HUMAN CAN LOOSE IF AT THE FIRST LOOK IT SEEMS GOOD AND HE ALWAYS MAKES IT SEEM GOOD. BUT IN CHRIST WE HAVE POWER OVER THE DECEIVER AND WE HAVE EYES TO SEE AND EARS TO HEAR. SOMETIMES THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT EVIL IS TO RUN FROM IT.

2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

TESTING OUR REASONING; IS IT AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS? JUST BECAUSE IT IS PLEASING IS IT RIGHT? BECAUSE IT IS DESIRABLE DO WE REALLY NEED IT?

1Th 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

ASK YOURSELF IF IT IS GOOD, DESIRABLE AND PLEASING TO GOD.

THE TRUTH OF DECEPTION

Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4-5

So when the woman saw the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6

And the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." Genesis 3:13

…but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty. Numbers 35:30

I have always felt that testing all things by three witnesses is sufficient to insure that I would never be fooled. ( ) Eve however had three witnesses that spoke truth about the Tree of Life; "the tree was good for food, it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise," We know however that her line of reasoning was faulty as she overlooked the truth of God’s word; "…in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Genesis 2: 17 A witness is only as good as the measure of his credibility. Were Eves witnesses credible?

There is a parallel to the three witnesses of Eves reasoning in the temptation of Christ. Luke 4:1-13. It is reasonable to expect a hungry man to eat, a King to own a Kingdom, and angels to perform the duty to which they have been charged. Here again the truths are deceptive. The real truth is that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God, you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only you shall serve, and you shall not tempt the Lord your God.

The wisdom of this world is earthly, sensual, demonic, James 3:15 catering to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. 1 John 2:16 It is not enough to test by two or three witnesses if we do not first test the credibility of the witnesses. Self is not a credible witness. It seeks our friendship by offering immediate short-term solutions. Our body tells us to eat when we are depressed, judge others when we make mistakes, and we deserve better to justify any means to obtain. How can we guard against this deceptive witness?

Romans 12 The importance of renewing our mind by the word of God is the only way to insure that we reason with the mind of Christ and not with our deceptive eyes, flesh, and pride. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil brought death through both branches, good and evil. A blatant lie is evil and brings death. The good knowledge that hides the truth of the word of God also brings death.

How will the very elect be fooled? By believing the good witness.