Bible Talks

Adam and Eve had blown it big time. They were living in harmony with themselves, nature, and most of all, they walked with God. God walked in the Garden of Eden amongst them, and no doubt they had an amazing fellowship.

However, that was all dashed to pieces because Adam and Eve disobeyed God's only rule:

Genesis 2:16-17:

¹⁶ And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; ¹⁷ but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

They both ate the fruit from the tree, and both 'died'. This was not a natural death, but a sprititual one. Before this, they were at one with God. They could feel his presence, they could talk to him how you might talk to your best friend. Once Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they could perceive sin. They could tell the difference between right and wrong. "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked" (3:7).

Because of this 'eye-opening experience', Adam and Eve both hid from the Lord as he walked in the Garden. God would have been aware of what had happened, but he still asked the question, guiding Adam and Eve towards confessing what had taken place.

The end result of this betrayal of God's trust is that Adam and Eve are banished from the Garden of Eden. However, there's a verse here that most people tend to look over:

Genesis 3:21:

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Even though Adam and Eve had sinned, even though they had disobeyed his single rule, even though they had rejected God himself, he clothed them in the time of their humility. I can't begin to imagine the shame and sorrow that Adam and Eve must've felt (or the argument between them as they left the garden!) but this verse shows us just how much God loves us.

He loves you enough to clothe you in your time of humility.

Feeling like you've had enough? Had a bad week? Does life seem to be getting the better of you?

Why not ask the Lord to step in and cover you with his cloth? Let him replace your feelings of inadequacy with that of his never-ending love.

He really wants to!

It's only by God's grace that our sin has been wiped clean. It's only because he sent his only Son that our place in hell has been wiped out. It's only because the blood of Jesus was shed that a place in heaven exists with your name on the door.

In Romans, Paul states that the "wages of sin are death". He's referring not to physical death, but eternal death where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth". Hardly sounds like fun.

But that's not the end! Sin shall "not be our master, because you are not under law, but under grace". You are free from the clutches of sin. Before Jesus died, the Israelites offered up sacrifices to God to attone for their sins. But that's no longer needed. Instead of the blood of a lamb on the altar, there is the blood of the Lamb of God. He has sealed the deal once and for all.

However, although it is a pleasant thought that our sin is forgiven, but that doesn't mean we don't sin.

Matthew 26:41:

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.

Every day we are under temptation from Satan to sin. It can be oh so subtle, and alternatively right in your face. Going to sleep while still angry? Just taking one 'harmless' glance at a lad's magazine? Thinking thoughts about your boss you wouldn't say to his face? We've all been there. And so has Jesus. He too was tempted in every way:

Hebrews 4:15:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

Jesus has been there. This is why he came. He came and spent 33 years on earth so that whilst he suffered from temptation, he can be a God that we can relate to. We wouldn't be able to relate to a God who walked on the earth and wasn't tempted by our own temptations: gluttony, lust, jealousy, anger… we all get tempted and so did Jesus.

Romans 3:23:

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…"

The word 'fall' here is actually in the present continuous tense. It would be better read as 'keep on falling'. Does that sound familiar? Who here feels like they 'keep on falling short of the glory of God'? I know I do. God despises our sin - in fact, if he were to wipe us from the earth, who could blame him? However, it's by the blood of Jesus that we have been redeemed.

Even though we continue to sin, God forgives. He removes our sin, and places it where it'll never be found. It has been forgotton, done with, destroyed.

I'm reminded of a story of a Catholic nun who was causing quite a stir in her village. She could hear God talking to her, and was the talk of the town. People were coming to her, asking her what she has been hearing and this didn't sit right with the local priest.

So the priest went along to see her, and told her that she was mad, and that God wouldn't talk to her. He said:

"If you really do speak to and hear from God, ask him what sins I confessed this morning in confession."

The nun closed her eyes and prayed, and a small smile broke across her face. She replied:

"God says he doesn't know… He's already forgotten!"

We are blessed, as it says in Psalms 32:

¹Blessed is he
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
² Blessed is the man
whose sin the LORD does not count against him

It's by his blood that we have a permanent reservation at the 'Heavenly Hotel'.

It's by his blood that we can resist temptation.

It's by his blood that we are blessed.

And it's by his blood that we have been saved.

So what is the "Word of God"? Is it merely the spoken words of God as he commanded the israelites through the desert, as he advised kings and rulers, as he conversed with the prophets?

Or maybe it's something bigger? Is it the entirety of the Bible?

2 Timothy 3 16-17 says:

¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

That seems to be a bit better. In fact, the word used for 'God-breathed' is theopneustos meaning inspired. The more and more that I read the Word of God, it's clear that this is not just a collection of stories passed down generation after generation. The bible does touch you directly in your heart - usually right where you need it! This isn't unsuprising. The bible is full of references to the Word of God, and how it has spoken to the writers.

But is this enough to encompass the 'Word of God'? In John 1:14 we see that "The Word became flesh" - that is, the Word of God walked on this planet as Jesus Christ. So we have the Word of God as both written and living.

The written word to guide us through our daily lives. We should "hide it in our hearts" (Ps 119:11) and "meditate on it day and night" (Ps 1:3). Doing so will help us to resist the devil and his attacks.

The Living Word was sent to earth to attone for our sins. Jesus came to earth, and when the time came he accepted our sin as his own, and exchanged it for the grace of God's forgiveness.

By the Word of God the world was created… "Let there be…"

By the Word of God the world was saved… "It is finished…"

And by the Word of God we can enter into a personal relationship with Jesus.