The Core Problem

1 John 2:16

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Genesis 3:1-7

3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

• How did Satan use deception against Adam and Eve?
• What did Satan directly do to Eve to make her sin?
• What did Satan directly do to the fruit to make it a temptation?
• How does Gen. 3:6 relate to 1 John 2:16?
• How effective was building extra rules around eating the fruit?
• How does Satan use deception to get you to sin?

Harold's Musings:
The core problem is stated in 1 John 2:16. We live in a world full of temporary things that we want. Satan did not change Eve. Satan did not change the fruit. He merely pointed out the fruit to the woman with enough dishonesty that her eyes, flesh, and pride took over. If you look at Gen 2, you will find that God did not say anything about touching the tree; yet Eve was under the impression that it was the rule. Perhaps Adam in an attempt to protect Eve made another rule. Regardless the rule did not work. Oh, Adam was standing right there with Eve and did not stop her. When I sin it is because I choose to believe Satan's lies instead of God's truth, but Satan is just using my eyes, flesh, and pride to his advantage. Dying to self has to involve wanting what God has to offer more than what our self wants to get. Watch for the lies today.