Thoughts on the Bible Readings for January 2nd (Genesis 3, 4; Psalms 3, 4, 5; Matthew 3, 4)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]In Genesis 3 we have the record of how sin first entered the world through the yielding to temptation by the first created humans - Adam and Eve. The Apostle Paul says also, that at this time death also first came to the Adamic creation as a result of sin - Romans 5verses12. Adam and Eve after their creation - Adam from the dust (Genesis 2verses7), and Eve from Adam's side during a God-induced sleep (2verses20-25) - the man unable to find a suitable partner from the lesser creation; and feeling first, lonely; then joyous with a compatible companion. Chapter 3 commences with an introduction to the snake, who at that era had great powers of observation; limited reasoning capacity; and the ability to talk. The snake suggested that Adam and Eve were being deceived and held back by the Elohim (God). And so, after seeing the fruit of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" was attractive (pleasant to the eyes); it was good, and an excellent quality (good for food); and its clinching appeal - "a tree to be desired to make one wise" (the pride of life. Paul tells us in Philippians 2 that Adam and Eve grasped for equality with God - which thing our Lord Jesus Christ never did when tempted. The Apostle John tells us in his first letter chapter 2verses15-17 that all temptation and sin fall in one or more of these categories. Having sinned they were expelled from the garden; James tells us in chapter 1 the process of sin within every human mind - verses 13-15. Having disobeyed God, He the Almighty must in justice enforce the law He had given. Adam and Eve now had the sentence of death activated within them - this is called "mortality". What was possible before transgressing was now "a law within them" (Romans 7verses21-25) - i.e. now an inevitability. The human race now found that from this point forward all descendants from the first human parents found that sin cannot be overcome in their lives every time that each of us is subjected to temptation - Romans 6 tells us that they were bond slaves to sin. It required God to produce a Saviour, His Son, who although bearing the bias to sin within himself; this being the entail of the effects of Adam and Eve's first sin, would himself be sinless - though Jesus was of our identical nature (Hebrews 2verses12-18. Romans 8verses1-4). This required the production of God's own Son being born of a virgin (Luke 1verses30-35) and is the meaning of Genesis 3verses15. This promise of the coming Redeemer is the first of the Bible's great and precious promises. The "tree of life" was preserved, but the promise of life was now conditional on being one of the true and baptised believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 6; Revelation 2verses7). Adam and Eve attempted to cover their nakedness - itself a biblical symbol of sin - with fig leaves. But the Sovereign's principle was that sin cannot be covered without an offering (blood shedding; Hebrews 9verses22). We know that God slew a lamb in whose skin their nakedness (sinfulness) was covered (John 1verses29; Revelation 5verses6- 14; 7verses9-14; 14verses1-5). Chapter 4 of Genesis tells us of the Bible's first murder of Abel by his brother Cain. Cain was envious of the Almighty's acceptance of Abel's blood offering as his God's commandment required. The lesson is firstly we cannot change what God has required. Cain was expelled because he was not only a murderer of the innocent; he also failed to repent when told to (see Hebrews 11verses4; and 1 John 2; where we are told that hatred for our brother is the seed of murder; John 8 tells the same lesson). The 4th chapter of Genesis tells us the wicked ways of Cain's descendants - one of the worst of whom was Lamech; the 7th generation from Adam and contemporary of Enoch, whom he threatened to murder with impunity, so Hebrews 11verses5 tells us. More comments will be made in tomorrow's readings for chapter 5 of Genesis. Psalm 3 describes David's complete trust in God's providence when fleeing from his murderous usurping son, Absalom. We need not to be overcome by what would appear to be overwhelming distress, but rather be confident in the love, care and readiness of our Sovereign to deliver His children - and may we rest confidently in that peace of mind. Psalm 4 is from the same time when David's nephews - Joab and Abishai - sought to slay the blasphemous and treasonous Benjamite, Shimei. David left all vengeance to the Almighty; but found his nephews unbearable. Let us learn that nothing is gained by taking vengeance for ourselves, rather is everything lost in so doing. Psalm 5 is a prayer of David for his Sovereign to hear and answer his prayer by delivering him from evil when facing calamity. He exalts in the understanding that his Omnipotent deliverer is all powerful and always responsive to the cries of His children. Pause and ponder the power available to them that put their trust in the Almighty. The prophet Ezra put together the order of the Old Testament books in the cannon of the Bible. Psalm 1 is in the Hebrew Scriptures attributed to Enoch. It describes the blessings coming to those whose mind meditates first and foremost on the Word of God. Failure to maintain this focus leads to a decline the psalmist describes; and which was evident in the life of Lot from Genesis 13-19. The lesson starts with the concept that bad company corrupts good morals. Enoch spoke of the certain and imminent judgment of the ungodly times in which he lived as a sure and certain token that the Sovereign of His people will obliterate the ungodly cp Jude verses 14-16 (we will make further comments when speaking about Genesis 4 and 5). Jeremiah himself when meditating on Psalm 1 contrasts the tree drinking deeply from the rivers of waters with the heath of the desert - Jeremiah 17verses5-10 (the man who trusts in himself is self- deceived and contrasts the person whose heart is stayed on God (Isaiah 26verses1-3). The Lord Jesus Christ is the example of the one who lived and breathed in the environment of the Word of God (Isaiah 11verses1-5; see also 2 Timothy 3verses14-17). Psalm 2 is a psalm of the kingdom age at the commencement of the rule of the Lord Jesus Christ and the futility of earthly rulers to resist his rule. Peter tells us in the Acts of the Apostles 4verses23-28 that the incipient fulfilment of these words applied to Herod's, Pilate's and the Jewish authorities' opposition to Christ and the preaching concerning his life, death, resurrection and coming kingdom. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here… [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-bible-readings-for-january-2nd-genesis-3-4-psalms-3-4-5-matthew-3-4/?feed_id=108577&_unique_id=695627acd5965