Enjoy and Die—Put to Death and Live

Enjoy and Die—Put to Death and Live

“And 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.’ So when the woman saw that 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.”

Eve had never thought to do anything but what God said; she had not even looked at the tree. She possessed a simple faith, but the serpent deceived her by promising her that she would be like God, knowing the difference between good and evil. He said that they would surely not die. Eve was deceived by that glory and her mind was corrupted and turned away from the simplicity of faith.

Now Paul feared that the Corinthians had been deceived in the same way. 2 Cor. 11:3. There are very few people who have this simple faith in God’s Word. They use their human reasoning when they read God’s Word. There are a great number of Bible schools where those who are saved can go and learn to interpret and understand God’s Word. They do not learn to believe God’s Word as it is written. 2 Pet. 1:19-21.

Concerning Jesus we read, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Heb. 2:14-15.

Jesus came with a death to the flesh first—a death to the passions and desires. By this death He destroyed the one who had the power of death. By this death we are also redeemed from the death we come into by seeking the glory which the serpent held out to Eve. All the corruption in the world comes through lust. 2 Pet. 1:4.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for . . . .” Heb. 11:1. People believe their lusts. They hope to obtain the glory of which the serpent speaks by following their lusts. However, corruption comes after they have enjoyed their lusts for a short while. Heb. 11:25. Moses chose rather to suffer together with the people of God.

Do not believe in the glory with which the serpent came, because then you will die. Believe in the death with which Jesus came. Then you will be redeemed from all the corruption in the world and from the death with which the serpent came. Rom. 8:13.