City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which 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 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, 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 aprons. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:1-8

 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins, and clothed them.

Genesis 3:21

Reflection

At the beginning of Genesis Chapter 3, we find Adam and Eve in a state of holiness. They were as God created them. They walked with God as a man walks with a friend. They were as one as two could be, and ever would be. They were naked and suffered no shame. Their consciences were clear. They reflected, as through a clear glass, the crystal image of God in man. 

Yet, in this state of holiness, Eve is confronted with a choice and armed with the ability to choose. She can choose whether to remain in a state of holiness or abandon it for her immediate desire. Moses, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives us insight into Eve’s mind in the moment of choosing. 

Eve convinces herself that because the tree produced food, the tree was beautiful, and—the serpent said—its fruit could make one wise, that its fruit could not be bad for her (v. 6). Eve chooses to believe God didn’t really know what was best for her in that moment. So, contrary to His word, she eats. And not wanting to be alone in her rebellion, she recruits her husband to eat.

Application

Sound familiar? It should. Even after being forgiven and made new in Christ, Christians are still confronted with a choice and are armed with the ability to choose. The ability to choose to abandon the state of holiness is not the result of a fallen world but a loving God. It is part and parcel of the image of our God, who, though having the choice, always chooses to do what is right. Holiness for the Christian is not a state to achieve but a choice to retain. 

Jesus said that those who have bathed need only to clean their feet and will be completely clean (John 13:8-10). Regardless of whether Jesus was referring to our justification or our sanctification, He was certainly referring to our identification. 

When we believe on Jesus for our salvation, we are born again. We stand holy before God because of our identification with Jesus. When we sin, we do so not because we must but because we choose to abandon our holiness. But, thanks be to God, by seeking God’s forgiveness through the blood of Jesus we can be restored to a state of holiness.

Prayer

Lord, please empower me to always choose holiness and not abandon so easily what You paid so heavily to obtain for me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.