“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said …” Gen. 3:1, NASB
With his words, the evil one slyly snared Eve. Deceived her. The rest is history … and modern day reality. Increasingly, biblical truths long respected and upheld are undergoing fierce attack. Clouds of confusion hover over issues that once appeared clear. Entertaining the devil’s deceptions—even for a second—is wreaking havoc within the body of Christ.
“Has God said …?”
Completely unlike Almighty God, satan lacks creativity. Repeatedly he implements the same tactics he’s succeeded with throughout time. Regarding contemporary topics like pre-marital sex, homosexual behavior, and wives submitting to their husbands, his deceptions often follow the pattern he initiated in the Garden: questioning God’s Word. Easily this train of thought prevails in the world, but sadly the church is influenced as well. If we desire to be salty salt and illuminating light, we as Christians absolutely must study God’s Word and yield to its complete authority. We must “stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:11) by taking up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).
“Indeed, has God said …?”
- “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Heb. 13:4
- “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Cor. 6:9-10
- “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” Eph. 5:22
YES. Even though it might offend or unsettle us to have certain behaviors designated as sin, they’re sin because God says so. Even though Jesus didn’t discuss certain sins during His life on earth, He does definitively speak about them in His Word (paraphrase, Bill Morrison). Countless sins exist and we as the human race—Christians included—grievously sin every day. But most beautifully, God approaches us in our sin with…
LOVE.
These four letters excellently communicate God’s magnificent heart towards all. No matter our wealth of sin and inability to overcome it, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
Honestly, I don’t like being called a sinner—I’m probably not alone in that. Yet it’s true because God says so. And thankfully, God has shown me the truth about myself. But He didn’t stop there…
CHRIST DIED.
Jesus, God’s only beloved Son, died as payment for my sins … and yours.
We don’t have to live life deceived by the enemy of our souls, the one who belligerently, slyly questions God’s Word. We can place our faith in Christ (Acts 16:31), know God’s freeing truth (Jn. 8:32), and live the abundant life Christ came to give us (Jn. 10:10).
Because God says so.
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