Genesis 3:1, commentary and pictures

Satan himself spoke through the serpent as his disguised medium at the one forbidden tree, concealing his fallen identity behind a beautiful, bright, winged creature to gain a hearing he could not have gained openly. He found Eve alone apart from her husband, lingering in curiosity around the forbidden fruit, and opened with a questioning insinuation about what God had commanded in order to invite doubt, discussion and distrust of God's goodness, wisdom and truthfulness. By flattery, false promise of higher wisdom and denial that death would follow, he led her to judge for herself, eat and give to Adam, so that unbelief became disobedience to a plain command under penalty of death. Their yielding brought sin into the world, loss of Eden and innocence, a depraved nature subject to death, and subjection to Satan's claimed dominion, opening floodgates of suffering and evil upon the race. Christ passed over the same ground of appetite and God's Word where Adam fell and overcame without swerving, making obedience possible again, while Satan still uses the same questioning of God's Word to deceive, so safety is only in refusing to parley and holding fast to what God has said.

Serpent Speaker and Setting

The speaker in the verse is Satan himself, disguised in and speaking through the serpent as his medium, concealing his identity, character and purpose because the pair had been warned against him and would have repulsed an open approach. He entered Eden in the form of a serpent and spoke through it from the tree of knowledge, assuming another form to manifest interest for man and working in the most subtle, artful manner to gain his first victory. His opening question challenged God's command, insinuated against God's truthfulness to create doubt whether God meant what He said, excited curiosity, and led them to pry into God's unsearchable plans and reason about the restriction, repeating his own sin.

At that time the serpent was a fascinating creature of beautiful, bright appearance, one of earth's wisest and most beautiful creatures, wise and able to attract attention and delight the eye. It was winged for flying through the air, dazzling with the color and brilliancy of burnished gold, eating fruit like humans and resting in the rich-laden branches of the forbidden tree and eating its delicious fruit so as to arrest attention. Satan chose it as a disguise well adapted and suited to deception.

The serpent had no power of speech of its own; Satan entered it by supernatural power and spoke through it from the tree, and Eve was astonished at power of speech and thought the serpent itself was speaking and knew her thoughts and must be wise. She took its apparent knowledge of her mind as evidence of wisdom, which opened conversation for contradiction and deception.

Satan is not a monstrous being with hoofs and horns or an imp with bat wings, but a fallen exalted angel who retains high intellectual greatness mingled with cruelty and corruption, capable of charming minds with attractive representations and taking them captive by delusion. He conceals true character and purposes, presenting himself as humanity's friend and benefactor so people do not recognize him as an enemy, transforming as an angel of light as when he accosted both Eve and later Christ, and insinuating himself even into the circles of the most educated and refined because he once held high responsibility among the heavenly hosts. His subtlety in practicing upon the human mind has kept increasing since Eden with the one purpose of completing the ruin begun there.

The scene is a garden at a dense leafy fruit-bearing tree with two people reaching toward its branches; Satan was permitted to gain access only at the one forbidden tree of knowledge if they investigated it, with no danger in approaching any other tree while obedient. His subtlety was focused there where he waited to endanger them by attracting them to eat what God had said they should not do, and his first insinuations put the command about that tree at issue. Obedience kept them safe from his power, while yielding brought the penalty of transgression.

Holy angels had warned Adam and Eve about Satan's rebellion and fall, telling them of the disobedience and disaffection of the highest created being, cautioning them not to separate but remain together in employment lest they meet him, and assuring them that while obedient he could have no power to harm them and every angel in heaven would be sent to their help if needed. They had been charged to follow closely what God had directed, because only in perfect obedience were they safe and only then could Satan have no power over them. Satan was not permitted to follow them with continual temptation and could gain access only at the forbidden tree, while the destroyer lurked in the garden of peace watching for prey.

The earth was then holy, beautiful and pronounced very good, with every flower, shrub and tree answering its Creator's purpose and filling the mind with thoughts of God's love, and Eden was beautiful and holy, yet holiness of place does not shut out the tempter and both tempter and tempted have access even where God planted His work. Satan found entrance into it as the serpent and left sin and disobedience there, his motive being to counteract divine love flowing to the race, but his work instead called forth deeper manifestations of mercy and goodness. The enemy found entrance at the gates of Paradise, gaining access even in Eden, so no mountain home or secluded place in bush or woods can shut him out or by seclusion sanctify from moral defilement.

Other worlds also have a forbidden tree under the same probation with two trees bearing beautiful fruit and power to eat of both but one forbidden, and their inhabitants have not eaten and would fall if they did, in contrast with earth's disobedience. They have lived in strict obedience to God's commandments and have not fallen, while those on earth fell by eating what God forbade.

Eve Alone at Tree

Temptation found Eve alone apart from her husband after she had unconsciously wandered from his side while absorbed in her pleasing task and then lingered around the forbidden tree. Her fall came in ordered steps of first wandering from her husband, next lingering around the forbidden tree, next listening to the tempter's voice, then daring to doubt, eating, and offering to her husband and tempting him by relating all the serpent had said. Satan began his work with her alone in that separation to cause disobedience, meeting her as she had wandered and lingered there.

Angelic caution had been that they remain together in their daily garden labor, for there would be less danger from temptation if they did not separate in their employment. Eve felt apprehension at the danger of being alone, yet she dismissed her fears, deciding she had sufficient wisdom and strength to discern evil and withstand it. Only in perfect obedience were they safe, and while obedient he could have no power to harm them.

She stood gazing with mingled curiosity and admiration upon the forbidden tree whose fruit was very beautiful, inwardly questioning why God had withheld it. She dwelt on that restriction even while affirming that all the other trees were freely given to enjoy, pleased with all provided for every want yet thinking about the tree of knowledge. That forbidden tree was as attractive and lovely as any other tree in the garden.

Though surrounded by fruit of every variety she could freely eat, the forbidden fruit appeared more desirable to her than all the rest, which means intemperate desire with appetite controlling reason. From that intemperate desire she ate, and through her influence her husband ate also.

The tempter spoke in a musical, gentle, pleasant and seductive voice, with subtle praise of her surpassing loveliness that was not displeasing to her. Instead of fleeing she lingered wonderingly to hear a serpent speak, listening instead of seeking her husband's counsel and entering into discussion with him. That persuasive, seemingly wise address charmed her and opened the way for deception, illustrating the danger of seductive ideas that draw listeners from keeping God's word clearly in mind. The mild, insinuating manner was like that later used by promoters of error, against which believers must remain on guard and be strengthened by Scripture.

She had no thought that the fascinating serpent could become the medium of the fallen foe, whereas address by a being like the angels would have excited her fears. She mistook the serpent for a friend concerned for her welfare, deceived into thinking God had withheld something that would make them wise. That trust in his influence led her to distrust God's goodness and choose the serpent's words over her Creator's.

If she had gone to Adam and they had told their Maker what the serpent said, they would have been delivered from the temptation. If she had sought her husband and brought the serpent's words to God, they would have been freed from it.

When the serpent's words differed from God's words they should have turned away from the tempter at once rather than reason with him. Drawing into discussion and holding converse leads to defeat, for suggesting doubts and then captivating the mind by arguments is his working, and such suggestions should be resisted at once rather than reasoned with lest trust weaken. Entering into argument gave him advantage and opened the way for his hypnotic power, whereas refusing to parley, holding fast to what God said, repeating His words and refusing to speak unbelief leaves him no triumph. God compels obedience from no one but leaves each person free to choose.

Question Doubting God's Word

The question about whether God had forbidden eating from every tree was a device to invite doubt and argument concerning His requirements. Eve would have been safe while she refused discussion, but by venturing to parley and enter into controversy with the tempter instead of fleeing and obeying she fell a victim to his wiles. In the same way many are still overcome when they doubt and argue instead of obeying the divine commands and accept human theories that disguise Satan's devices. Entering into argument gives him the advantage, while refusing controversy and resting on God's word leaves him no chance of triumphing.

That refusal still overcomes him: holding fast to what God has said, repeating His words, declaring belief and trust and refusal to distrust Him, and refusing to speak unbelief defeats him when he says God has forsaken sinners or questions His mercy, goodness and love. If Adam and Eve had kept saying He hath said, and I believe His word, I will not distrust Him, they would not have been overcome. Their reasoning opened the way for Satan to exercise his power of hypnotism over them. Infidel cavils and objections follow that same serpent work and must be turned from as from a serpent, for a hidden sting in them wounds the soul, and giving them any place sows seeds of doubt that Satan causes to germinate in temptation into fruit until sacred things are lightly regarded and the soul is ruined and the habit of caviling, doubting, questioning and criticizing God's Word is formed.

The question came as the echo of Eve's own inner thoughts, for she was questioning within herself why God had withheld the very beautiful fruit. The tempter addressed her as if able to discern the workings of her mind, repeating thoughts she had spoken aloud. She was surprised and startled and took his apparent knowledge of her mind as evidence that he was wise, which opened conversation for his contradiction and deception and his claim that the prohibition withheld knowledge and power. Though factually framed, the question carried disguised contempt for God's words with a covert negative, a denial, a doubt of His truthfulness. It aimed to plant in Eve the thought that God would not do as He had said, to make her distrust God, to excite curiosity and lead to prying into His unsearchable plans and reasoning about His restriction, repeating Satan's own sin.

It insinuated that withholding such beautiful fruit contradicted His love, compassion, goodness, wisdom, and that He was unkindly withholding great good, and it clothed the Creator and Benefactor with Satan's own attributes. It represented God as severe, revengeful, tyrannical and unforgiving, even worse than Satan himself, to justify malignity and rebellion and excuse expulsion from heaven for not submitting to so unjust a governor. It shifted Satan's own horrible cruelty upon the heavenly Father while presenting liberty under his own mild sway in contrast with bondage under stern decrees, to lure souls from allegiance. The same deceiver seeks to overcome men today in the same way, and were it not for the interposition of divine power not one son or daughter of Adam would escape his net, for God is love and all He created was pure, holy and lovely until sin was brought in by the first great rebel, and cruelty is Satanic.

God's express command was that man might freely eat of every tree except the tree of knowledge of good and evil under penalty of sure death, and the question was a lie and wily insinuation against His character and a false assertion against that command. Eve answered that God forbade eating or touching the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden lest they die, adding neither shall ye touch it which God did not say. Believing Satan's lie was the beginning of disobedience and transgression in this world, bringing the knowledge of guilt which God did not want them to have and opening the floodgates of woe upon the world, while His requirements are founded on infinite love and wisdom. Her disobedience became the first example of letting appetite rule reason and flattering herself the consequences would not be as serious as warned, a pattern continued through history.

The question begins his effort to flatter them into believing they could be raised above the sphere of humanity instead of obeying within it, to be as gods knowing good and evil with higher perceptions, wisdom, power and greater happiness. He persuaded them God was withholding good and did not have their welfare at heart, while presenting himself as interested in their advancement and promising greater knowledge and godlike status like the angels. He persuaded Eve that the particular prohibition claiming one tree as His own was arbitrary authority, and that disobedience would not bring death but would open eyes. He concealed that transgression had made him an outcast from heaven, his apparent truth hiding falsehood to lead Eve to distrust God's wisdom and reject faith. They listened and accepted his suggestions that by forbidding the fruit God was defrauding them of rich blessings, honor and exaltation by right, and so they fell, and the same work of temptation still goes on zealously over those not watching unto prayer.

Satan, originator of sin and alpha and omega of so-called higher science theories, began with Yea, hath God said to lead Eve to question God's words, and that same deceiving work he carries on today leading men to question God's words with flattering inducements into sin and against God and His commandments, grasping sentiments that exalt man where God should be contrary to His purpose that men be one with Christ as stewards doing His will. That continuing work from Adam to the present with great success tempts to distrust love and doubt wisdom, stirring irreverent curiosity and restless desire to penetrate secrets of divine wisdom and power withheld, so that while straining after the hidden multitudes overlook revealed truths essential to salvation, and the offer of a wonderful field of knowledge through disobedience elates with progression while trampling requirements into degradation and death, continuing into the closing rebellion when evil powers unite to lead souls to ruin. He used very subtle argument questioning God's word to make a lie appear a very desirable fact, with truth glossed over by falsehood to make transgression appear a real blessing and gain. He works on the mind by sophistry putting a theory in place of God's word that doing this or that will make men as gods, leading to transgression, and portrays gains to seduce as he seduced angels, though rewards are deceitful, fruits bitter, end death, happy if bitterness is learned in time. He tempted first upon appetite, seducing Eve to disregard prohibition and believe God would not do as said, denying death would follow and producing false experience of new exalted pleasurable life with no ill effects, setting feeling against positive command, and Adam let himself be seduced by her experience, establishing the pattern still repeated when men follow inclination then claim divine leading while sentence delayed emboldens evil, whereas true experience harmonizes with natural and divine law and false opposes laws of life and precepts.

He found Eve willing to listen and read in her a disposition to distrust the Word of God, and listening cost the beautiful Eden home, for the sin was not poison in the fruit or failure of appetite but disobedience to God's law. Experience against clear command does not make disobedience right or show approval; true experience agrees with will and law while false opposes them. She even dared to doubt what God had said about dying in the day of eating, thinking perhaps He did not mean just as said, and became jealous that He had withheld what was really for their good. Eve believed Satan's words yet disbelieved God's words, and that disbelief led to her fall. Sincere and even conscientious belief in a lie does not save from sin's penalty; in judgment people are condemned not because they conscientiously believed a lie but because they did not believe the truth and neglected opportunity to learn what is truth. Disobeying God is always disastrous, hearts must be set to know truth, all placed on record in His Word is for warning and instruction to save from deception, neglect results in ruin, and whatever contradicts His Word proceeds from Satan.

Deception Leading to Disobedience

Satan drew the pair toward the one forbidden tree by cunning, plausible speech, though there was no danger in approaching any other tree, laying hold of flattery, envy, distrust, questioning and unbelief. His arguments to Eve were flattery creating envy and distrust and exciting desire for self-exaltation, glory and supremacy to seek the forbidden knowledge, and those same arguments still please men and women today. He could endanger them by only that tree of knowledge, planning to attract the holy pair to do the very thing God had forbidden, proving he can be neither idle nor harmless. His cunning at the first proves far greater cunning now after thousands of years of experience, yet those abiding in obedience through living connection with the Source of light are given wisdom proportionate to his arts.

He must first lead them to disobey to forfeit favor, incur the frown, and bring them under direct influence of himself and his angels, since while obedient their happiness could not be taken. His question insinuated against God's truthfulness to create doubt whether God meant what He said, excited curiosity, and led them to pry into the unsearchable plans of God and reason about the cause of the restriction, which was the very sin of which he himself had been guilty. The desire to know what God had not intended humanity to know led to disobedience, by which evil and death entered and Eden was lost. That restless, inquisitive desire to penetrate secrets of divine wisdom and power still tempts men to distrust love and doubt wisdom, so that while straining after the hidden they overlook revealed truths essential to salvation, and elated with progression trample requirements into degradation and death. The same error is committed when impatient refusal to trust and wait drives restless souls from communion and prayer to familiar spirits and mediums to tear the veil from the future, gaining only knowledge of evil.

Eve thought she could judge right and wrong for herself and was drawn by the flattering hope of gaining greater knowledge, mistaking the serpent for a welfare-concerned friend. She imagined she was becoming wise and outgrowing ignorance and narrow sense of right and wrong, exchanging heavenly wisdom for limited human judgment, showing a little knowledge produces conceit while deeper knowledge of self and God steadies on truth's side. That working to make her believe herself wiser than her Creator and follow human wisdom above God's commands is repeated by parents who in self-confidence think they know a better way of training children than His word, neglecting prayer and restraint until forward selfish habits render them unloving and unlovable, as with Eli to disaster and death.

Satan coiled in disguise in the serpent speaking specious temptation by a deceptive science of scientific problems, seductive falsehood, sophistry and hypnotism to lead them to question and distrust God and believe words of satanic origin, by which delusive snare he led them astray. That species of scientific devising, sophistry and hypnotic deceptive influence used misleading representations to deceive Eve, the same science used in the heavenly courts, and still blinds so men do not know what spirit possesses them. He still fills minds with false science exalting science above God, creating infidels and ending in making Christ nothingness, so every soul accepting that study is as surely in satanic deception as were Adam and Eve, and ministers, physicians and members are drawn into the snare and made to mislead and betray. He instigates spies into conferences and churches with deceptive representations to make believers disregard warnings and stealthily sow evil, casting a spell of spiritual blindness and control.

He pressed them through curiosity and ambition until God's restraint was snapped asunder, then their education under the teacher of lies began, giving the knowledge God had refused, the knowledge of the consequence of transgression and practical knowledge of evil, in contrast to true holiness opening the gates of the city and the tree of life for healing. By listening to deceptive talk of a richly endowed fallen being who could talk knowingly, they obtained a knowledge God never designed, a knowledge of transgression. They came under another teacher declaring God withheld higher education to make them as gods, weaving seductive theories like a deadly viper and deadening sensibilities by hypnotism, which loyal subjects must refuse even to hear rather than exchange Christ's teachings for lies. They had light but refused admonitions and guidance of the Holy Spirit and accepted the leader of heaven's rebellion.

Eating from the forbidden tree brought ruin through accepting good and evil mingled together. If untouched, God would have imparted knowledge free from sin's curse bringing everlasting joy; instead disobedience estranged humanity from God, separated earth from heaven, and gained only acquaintance with sin and its results at cost of all worth possessing. That spurious knowledge of evil and sin entered through cunning, pursued from inquisitiveness, presumption, unsanctified desires and unholy aims contrary to God's will, dearly bought and better unlearned, resulting as with Eve in loss of Eden repeated by Adam's sons and daughters.

The temptation was upon appetite, the fruit looking pleasant and desirable to taste, seducing Eve to disregard prohibition and believe God would not do as He said. The serpent denied death would follow and produced a false experience of a new exalted pleasurable life with no ill effects, setting feeling against positive command, and Adam let himself be seduced by her experience. He told her there was nothing bad in the tree and its fruit would give increased knowledge, presenting law-breaking as gain, though the fruit itself was not injurious but merely a test of obedience, and yielding met terrible loss showing all indulgence against God's law ends in fearful loss. That fall through intemperate desire to gratify taste made lustful appetite the prevailing sin, by which he comes to fallen man more successfully than otherwise, introducing sin and, with one person's wrong influence over another, accumulating indescribable misery. The pattern repeats when transgressors follow inclination then claim wonderful mental exercise as divine leading while impressed as Eve was, growing bold because sentence is not speedily executed, though true experience harmonizes with natural and divine law and false opposes life's laws and precepts. Regaining Eden requires firm denial of appetite and passion, since self-control preserves mental and moral strength to discern right.

After taking fruit pleasing to eye and pleasant to taste and eating, she told Adam all the serpent had said and tempted her husband, and both ate, broke command and became sinners. They had been privileged to behold beauty and eat of all trees except one, yet yielded, causing sorrow in heaven, expulsion, and guarding of immortality fruit by cherubim and flaming sword lest man eat and become immortal sinners. Eve was deceived while Adam was not deceived; after she repeated the serpent's words he began to doubt whether God meant what He commanded and rashly ate, an inexcusable presumptuous act. She prevailed saying no harm had come to her, and he, influenced by his wife and unable to endure separation, yielded, ate and fell from integrity, or as others hold, from love joined her to share her fate.

Adam went directly against express command without considering consequences, and disobedience is sin because it departs from stated will even without deliberate defiance, its consequences showing its seriousness. He discarded plain words heeding Satan's, losing Eden to prove transgression does not pay, and the same transgression will cause loss of heaven, forcing choice of side, for this is truth not idle tales. He listened to deceptive false reasoning receiving it as truth from one fallen from first estate, receiving hypnotic influence, and by listening sinned, opening the door for ever-after access to human beings and losing spiritual life by continual endowment. He reasoned with the enemy thereby giving advantage, where Christ later conquered by meekness, humility and reliance on the Word so Satan knew no triumph, though striving from desert to cross to make Him swerve from allegiance. The tempter's insinuating seducing words were yielded to in doing what was forbidden, though the heart had been created pure and undefiled, and death penalty was stayed only because the beloved Son volunteered as ransom and atonement, since pardon without atonement would immortalize sin into unrestrained boldness.

Selfishness led Adam to take the forbidden fruit, seeming small yet opening floodgates of woe traceable in all present violence and crime, and since sin was then new, any present violation of justice and mercy in word or deed is of far greater magnitude. The temptation was the false statement he could attain more than enjoyed and be as God, and yielding sowed seeds of selfishness, for all sin is selfishness. Sin entered through desire for self-exaltation by which dominion over the fair earth was lost, redeemable only by Christ through self-abnegation, and inheritable by the meek who overcome through humility and surrender. Presumption led the first parents to break law trusting great love would save from consequences, while true faith would have trusted love and obeyed; claiming promises to excuse disobedience is presumption not faith, and claiming favor without meeting mercy's conditions is not faith.

They were on trial under God's government, man placed under law as indispensable condition of existence, with the tree of knowledge near the tree of life in the midst set as test of obedience, faith and love to restrain self-indulgence at the foundation of Satan's fall. Created innocent and holy as free moral agents capable of appreciating wisdom, benevolence and justice, with full liberty to obey or disobey and not eternally secure without trial, they were to meet temptation with communion with God and angels. They were permitted free eating of every other tree but forbidden this on pain of death, allowed exposure with promise endurance would place them beyond Satan's power in perpetual favor. Adam was required to render perfect obedience not for himself alone but for posterity, with promise standing would establish holiness, happiness and blessings to descendants, but revolt made all descendants sinners. The prohibition tested fidelity, love and loyalty against deceptive reasoning, already warned of Satan's fall and danger of listening; obedience kept safe from power while yielding brought penalty, putting the command at issue. Enduring would have secured favor, but treating the serpent as concerned friend, distrusting goodness, choosing his words over the Creator's, and failing to bring his words to God and husband, brought the fall.

When they yielded by taking from the forbidden tree sin entered the world, violating law unto expulsion from Eden. Satan in serpent disguise challenging command led toward false promise of being as gods, deceived and introduced sin exulting he had overcome through insinuations and appeal to appetite, using it to boast he could defeat Christ, concealing character as friend and benefactor to lead into sin and death. Their disobedience estranged humanity and separated earth from heaven. The verse begins the full explicit account of temptation, fall and punishment following Eden's law with penalty, given as warning that wages of sin is death, retributive justice never failing, exacting strict regard as definite as Sinai. It begins inspired history of sin's introduction after holy innocency and communion, whose hidden jewels strengthen intellect beyond philosophy and present ennobling boundless field above unsanctified imagination, recording true battle with a relentless fallen foe ejected from heaven over receiving Satan's words in place of God's, a test far less than Christ's in fallen yet uncorrupted nature which He kept. It records holy happy Paradise and fall witnessed by Adam near a thousand years to nine generations, treasuring revelation, repeating Paradise, sufferings teaching strict adherence, and merciful salvation, though few heeded and reproached him for woe. It belongs to past history taught to prophets' sons and Israel to prepare for the advent.

Fall Results for World

Their failure to resist placed them under Satan's jurisdiction and gave him supremacy over the human race, so that by yielding they chose him as ruler and he claimed possession of this world and the fallen race as his rightful subjects, founding on that victory his claim to be prince of this world.
Having overcome them through insinuations and appeal to appetite, he believed his subtlety had thwarted God's purpose in creating humanity and exulted in that success, and that success emboldened him to boast he could overcome even Christ.
Moved by envy and jealousy at the home prepared for them and at the bliss forever lost to himself, he determined to ruin them and plunge them into his own misery, to change their love to distrust and their praise to reproach, and thereby to dishonor God, counteract divine love, and cause grief in heaven.

Continuing on earth the rebellion and self-seeking begun in heaven where Lucifer desired to be first in power and to rule, he accomplished the fall through temptation to self-indulgence and ambition, drawing the human family into revolt, defacing God's image in man, and placing his own throne where God's should be to receive willing homage.
By that disloyalty sin entered the world and death by sin, and Adam's violation of God's law brought expulsion from Eden, with cherubim and flaming sword guarding the tree of life so that guilty man could not eat and become immortal sinners.
They ventured to transgress and lost Eden through expulsion from the garden, the tree of life, and God's visible presence, losing their beautiful home by one act over eating and beginning humanity's long experience of sin, suffering, and death.

That disobedience opened the floodgates of woe, disappointment, sorrow, suffering, misery, evil and crime upon the world, making sin a universal dreadful evil extending from Paradise down through the ages, steadily increasing even to the flood and since.
The act looked like a small matter and sin was new to them, yet it was not a small sin but a fearful evil whose consequences are felt through all time, for it is not the greatness of the disobedience but the disobedience itself which is the crime, and unfaithfulness in the least soon leads to greater transgression.
Their listening and disobeying brought a change in nature that depraved nature, lessened strength to resist evil, and opened readier access to Satan, so that marred by sin's curse nature now gives only imperfect testimony and cannot reveal God's character perfectly.

By yielding, though made in God's image, they lost innocence, became transgressors and disloyal subjects, effaced the divine likeness and received Satan's selfish image; physical powers were weakened, mental capacity lessened, spiritual vision dimmed, light departed, and they became subject to disease and death.
The verse belongs to the account of humanity's fall from a perfect holy state through transgression, after which disease, suffering, misery and crime filled the world, entire cities were blotted out, thousands became premature wrecks, and the world was made a vast hospital.
That fall made two parties in the world with no middle ground, one acknowledging Satan as head under the banner of darkness and the other standing under Christ's banner, and every person stands on one side or the other.

As a result every human being is a transgressor sold under sin and in bondage serving Satan unless repenting and converted, helpless to withstand Satan without Christ's atonement, since only through faith is the perfect obedience by which man is justified possible.
The first sin by nature spreads and increases from generation to generation like a contagious disease, dividing even their own family when Cain chose to serve Satan and killed Abel, and passing on disease, enfeebled intellects, polluted morals and moral weakness to children in ongoing decline.
The verse is part of the authentic history of the beginning of the world telling creation, fall, and introduction of sin, giving dependable knowledge guarding against fables yet practically rejected wholly or in part by many professing Christians.

It begins the inspired step-by-step record of disobedience and just retribution whose hidden treasures when searched give strength of intellect beyond all philosophy and present a boundless ennobling field for imagination far above unsanctified creations.
It begins the outline of the fall, a grand truth of sacred history as far-reaching as eternity whose knowledge is among the most important to be gained.

Christ Undoing Adam's Failure

Adam's disobedience to the express command lost divine favor and happiness and plunged the race into misery and despair, and Christ passed over the very ground where Adam stumbled and fell and endured the test Adam failed, overcoming Satan's temptations to redeem that disgraceful fall and make salvation possible. He came to take up the battle in man's behalf where Adam fell, meeting and contending with the powers of darkness and winning precious victories at every point of Adam's failure, so working out a way by which men may be saved. That transgression had let Satan exercise power upon the human family and claim the whole race, pointing to calamities and diseases as proof God would have no mercy and spreading the feeling that man cannot keep God's law, and Christ saw this condition and gave His life, laying aside royal robe and crown to clothe humanity with divinity and bring human beings under His rule so they would not follow Adam's example. When man sinned Christ offered to stand as substitute and surety to provide a way for the guilty race to return to loyalty, meeting without swerving the temptations that beset man and making His righteousness distinctly apparent, and because He conquered in man's behalf temptation need not overcome anyone, for in His strength every assault can be successfully resisted.

Adam was tempted in Eden while still free from sin's taint, standing in the full strength, purity and balance of perfect manhood with full vigor of body and mind, with none of sin's effects upon him, surrounded by the glories of Eden and in daily communion with heavenly beings. Everything he needed had been provided and only one prohibition laid on him not to eat of the tree of knowledge, whose fruit was not injurious or possessed of any peculiar harmful quality but merely a test of obedience, yet he believed Satan's charming lie and did not reach above his humanity for divine power, becoming Satan's bondslave and failing the smallest test the Lord could devise. He and Eve stumbled and fell because they did not live by every word proceeding from God's mouth, and if they had they never would have fallen and never would have lost the right to the tree of life. His fall opened the way for sin to enter and left human beings unable in their own strength to overcome, opening the floodgates of woe and making posterity depraved so that by one man's disobedience many are made sinners, while Christ as the second Adam begins where the first Adam began but in every way less favorably situated.

Christ later faced Satan's temptations in fallen human nature, bearing the race's weaknesses, sins, infirmities and degeneracy after physical, mental and moral decline had prevailed for four thousand years, coping single-handed upon all points wherewith man would be assailed. After His baptism He went into the desolate wilderness where for forty days and forty nights He fasted and was then tempted, meeting the contest at disadvantage with strength reduced by hunger and with nothing done to remove temptation from Him, whereas temptation had been removed as far as possible from Adam. Those wilderness temptations were in every way greater than those brought upon Adam, a hundredfold weaker in Eden and a hundredfold severer upon Christ, stronger than any temptation ever brought or ever to be brought upon the race, yet He did not swerve a hairsbreadth from allegiance to God. Where Adam turned his back upon the light of his home, Christ overcame there in order to elevate fallen man and bring him up from degradation.

He gained the victory by using the Word of God, a weapon within the reach of all, referring to the inspired record and answering that it is written until Satan left the field a beaten foe. Where Adam failed by reasoning with the enemy and thereby giving him advantage, and falling under his hypnotic power, Christ conquered by meekness and humility and reliance on God's Word, so that after Scripture was quoted Satan knew he had no chance of triumphing, though he strove to make Christ sin against God. The subtle temptation was too powerful for man to overcome in his own strength, so Christ came in person from the courts of heaven to bear that test, steadfastly resisting, entering into no controversy, meeting the tempter with the Word as Conqueror in behalf of the race and foiling him, bringing triumph to heaven. Earnest prayer brings Jesus to the tempted one's side as Helper to gain the victory in the same manner.

That victory opened the way for every son and daughter of Adam to gain victory over the enemy in Jesus' name, bringing moral power united with human effort so man may conquer when the same temptations are presented. Satan had used Adam's disobedience to declare that no man could keep God's law afterward and to claim the whole race under his control, and Christ came as man to pass over the same ground to reveal that men can keep it. The future welfare of the world depended on that wilderness battle, and Satan left a conquered foe, giving assurance that through divine help men can also come off victorious. The first Adam as a free moral agent abused his freedom and let appetite overcome him, losing innocence and separating himself from God's favor by his own free will, in contrast to the second Adam who as a free moral agent surrounded by intensely subtle and misleading influences in far less favorable circumstances in the midst of sinners resisted every temptation and maintained His innocence ever sinless. Through union with divine nature sin is not a necessity, divinity cooperating with humanity to elevate and purify character.

Adam and Eve in Eden were placed under most favorable circumstances, with communion with God and angels, without condemnation of sin, with the light of God and angels with them and around them and the Author of existence as teacher, yet they fell beneath the power of the artful foe on the point of appetite, and where they fell Christ in the wilderness achieved victory on appetite making it possible for man in all future time in His name to overcome appetite's strength. The ruin of the race began on appetite when Adam fell by indulgence under Satan's tempting, whose strength can be measured only by Christ's longsuffering in nearly six weeks of fasting and His victory over Satan's powers. Christ's victory over temptation while fasting redeemed that disgrace brought through failure in the test of appetite. The human race cannot alone overcome appetite's power, but Jesus made infinite sacrifice to break it, bringing divine power to unite with human effort and uniting finite man to the infinite God and connecting earth with heaven.

To carry out salvation Christ took up redemption just where ruin began, breaking appetite's power for all who accept divine aid, making it impossible for Satan to destroy the race through indulged appetite and possible for men and women in His strength to live a Christian life. Through His merits by denial of appetite the sons of God may gain the Eden Adam and Eve lost, and every youth and man and woman may overcome in His name and power. Those who believe must guard appetite like Him and begin reform just where degeneracy is keenly felt, ceasing self-indulgence at infinite cost to connect with Christ, cleansing the soul temple of defilement and being brought into right relations with God. The Son saw man could not overcome for himself and came to give divine power for victory.

Satan's claim through Adam's fall had to be met and demonstrated false by Christ in human nature entering a world disloyal and marred by rebellion's curse, withstood though tempted a hundredfold more severely with the deceiver presenting himself as an angel of light, thereby redeeming Adam's fall, saving the world and giving hope to all who receive Him as personal Saviour. His victory was complete in contrast to Adam's failure. Their disobedience had grave consequences bringing guilt and sorrow into the world, and its cost was so great that the Son of God left heaven, suffered insult, rejection and crucifixion, and was sacrificed to save humanity from sin's penalty, warning that God does not treat transgression lightly.

The law's transgression made sacrifice necessary, Christ dying so people could escape death's penalty while God's law remained honored, and the sacrificial system taught humility about fallen condition, led to repentance, and taught trust in God alone for pardon through the promised Redeemer. By yielding Adam and Eve chose Satan as ruler, and Satan claimed possession of this world and that the fallen race were his rightful subjects because forgiveness was impossible, making the very world he claimed the place where the great controversy begun in heaven was to be decided. That claim was met by God giving His own dear Son, one equal with Himself, to bear transgression's penalty so fallen humanity might be restored to favor and brought back to the Eden home, Christ undertaking to redeem man and rescue the world from Satan's grasp. This earth became the battle field where Christ and Satan engage to settle how God can be just and true to His law yet justify the sinner, which could only be done by the Son's sacrifice testifying to the law's immutability, witnessed not only by heavenly intelligences but by all worlds God created.

What was lost through yielding to Satan could be regained through Christ, for God did not abandon them to their choice's results but gave the promise of a Deliverer bringing hope, though they were brought into fallen helpless condition under the prince of darkness. By infinite love and mercy the plan of salvation was devised and probation granted, whose work is to restore in man his Maker's image, bring him back to created perfection, and promote development of body, mind and soul. The verse belongs to the opening of that great plan culminating in Christ's death on the cross. At the final coronation Adam's temptation and fall will be displayed as living panorama before earth and heaven together with successive steps of redemption from the Saviour's lowly birth through obedience, baptism, fast and wilderness temptation, ministry, Gethsemane agony, betrayal, trial before Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate and Herod, and crucifixion with darkness, earthquake, rent rocks and open graves, with the cross revealed above the throne, exposing Satan's work so none can turn away, proving disobedience brings not noble independence and eternal life but slavery, ruin and death, and that exclusion for high treason is just.

Satan's temptation in Eden succeeded so readily that he hoped to use the same cunning to make Jesus depart from God's will and thereby preserve his own life and kingdom. That success in deceiving noble Adam and Eve by appealing to appetite introduced sin and death, controlled appetite and strengthened passions until God's image was defaced and almost obliterated, emboldening Satan since his first rebellion to boast to angels that Christ in human nature after more than four thousand years of ruin would be weaker and be overcome by the same power. He exulted when Jesus left heaven's power and glory thinking the Son was placed in his power, and rejoiced in the fall because he intended it to bring the Son down, believing when Jesus took fallen nature he could overpower Him and prevent salvation.

Satan's Continuing Deception Today

The method, logic and plan by which the holy pair were deceived in Eden is the same method, logic and plan still used in every succeeding age, for the work of tempting and ruining mankind that began there has continued unchanged with constant deception, at times under a cloak of piety, purity and holiness, and often as an angel of light blinding eyes so the real purpose beneath the surface is not discerned. Long practice has increased skill to deceive and allure, and the cunning shown at the first proves a far greater cunning now after thousands of years of experience devising methods to keep men from believing God's words, with a thousand resources for seduction and more skillful ways developed by continued practice. Yet God and holy angels and all who abide in obedience to all His expressed will are wiser than the tempter, and through living connection with the Source of all light and divine knowledge men are given wisdom proportionate to his arts and wiles.

He works in the dark and in secrecy, concealing real character and purpose because open approach would be repulsed, speaking under cover of garments of righteousness and holding out glorious prospects and great good for doing the very thing God forbade, with deceiving speech meant to mislead, hoodwink and blind. He transforms himself with pretense of great humility and self-denial, assuming piety while gathering human agencies generation after generation to work diabolical purposes, charging God with satanic attributes and claiming God's attributes as his own, drawing to himself the homage due to God and planting his throne between the worshiper and the Father, with power of dissimulation so apt that no eye but God's can fathom it, put into full action with vast complicated machinery of evil agencies in the last days. That effort begun in Eden was to deceive mankind and draw creation into rebellion against God's government, moved by envy and jealousy at the home prepared for Adam and Eve, seeking to separate man from God by perverting His precepts to give an unfavorable impression of the Law-giver as unjust and tyrannical, exercising power and cunning to captivate senses, mislead understanding, cause all to appear in false light, and show only great benefits to be received by transgression so rebels are allied with himself.

Having deceived Eve with lies he used her as agent to entice Adam into sin, following the same pattern as in heaven where having rebelled he drew sympathizers to fall with him, first causing the woman to fall knowing she will not fall alone and then through her drawing Adam from love to share her fate, and that specious working upon minds begun then has continued to this day giving control of every mind that receives those lies. It is seen still in choosing his lies rather than a Thus saith the Lord, as in discarding the seventh day hallowed at creation for a spurious first-day sabbath and becoming decided transgressors, and in wives and mothers planting suspicion and suggestive words acting as poison and seeds of distrust that spring to life, where eating from the forbidden tree is accepting suggested wrong views, deciding as another says, thinking and talking evil, depressing the mind and unfitting for spiritual help, most fatal when coming in garb of affection. The same sophistry by which the first traitor and leader of rebellion declared God was withholding higher education that would make them as gods is now presented through false popular religion that men will develop into gods until there is no place for God or Christ, and accepting it lays shameful infirmities on Christ which He is compelled to bear. That self-exaltation works through ingenious insidious sophistry to gain confidence and then present sentiments doing away with a personal God by representing the Creator as an essence pervading nature, and when an exalted man impresses minds against truth he acts the Eden part and is no safe teacher.

Questioning God's word as begun in Eden originated the falsehood that death does not end consciousness and that spirits of the dead commune with the living, now proclaimed as Bible doctrine without Scriptural foundation, opening the way for evil spirits to personate the dead, bring souls into captivity, and swell a religion of deception with superhuman power in spiritualism, the same early cunning still used to mislead even by pretending to be departed friends. That first apostasy was worked by secretive spiritualistic power operating mind upon mind to seduce and spoil, and that very representation is acted out again in the last days, with men weaving the same deceptive influence over minds into infidelity and darkness, while he still works serpentlike creeping imperceptibly to corrupt God's work by the science of the human mind and to make Christ's miracles appear merely human. He fills minds today in the same way with scientific problems and false science exalting science above God, a deceptive science of seductive falsehood coiled in disguise to lead to question and distrust God and believe satanic words, educating men apart from the Word until they become infidels, fall, become deceivers of others, and end in making Christ the Prince of life nothingness, so every soul accepting that study is as surely in satanic deception as Adam and Eve were.

That forbidden knowledge offered against God's warning is a poisonous mixture of superstition, heresy and dangerous error perverting intellect, laying a trap, leading away from God, inspiring thoughts that mar purity, injure spiritual perception and spoil the mind until it cannot take a sober sanctified view of Christ and holiness, and to use eyes, hands and mind in handling it lends God-entrusted powers to Satan instead of His glory. God holds accountable both those bringing such sentiments and those yielding to them, calling for refusal of any part in it, vigilant resistance, decision on whose side the intellect is used, and use of all power to advance truth and suppress error, for his speaking is education from satanic agencies in cooperation with evil angels, and those receiving his theories go opposite to God's instruction and become entangled with no power in themselves to escape. Eating of the tree is taking education after worldly wisdom apart from God, which is foolishness with God, estranging the heart, hardening into disobedience and feeding vanity and pride, while human theories are the forbidden fruit opposed to the Word as the tree of life, letting error usurp truth and producing darkness. All knowledge of value comes from God the fountain of wisdom, the light of His Word shining from Christ and proceeding from the Holy Spirit for peace and eternal rest, not from infidels, and education after God's order brings vital connection with God and endures eternally, whereas forsaking Scripture for condemned infidel books repeats Eden disobedience.

He still blinds minds to bring them under control and mislead ministers, physicians and members to betray, working by serpentine sharpness and crooked practices, by gilding disobedience with attractions until the yielded soul reasons upon what was once opposed to Scripture until viewed favorably and secured with confederacies of evil where tares replace gold, and by false science with subtle theories as used to lead angels from loyalty. The same disguised working mixes cheap human inventions and strange doctrines with straight truth to put his stamp on God's work, operating amid noisy confusing excitement with effect like the serpent's poison sting, creeping imperceptibly and transforming as an angel of light to lead thousands captive. Putting his words in place of God's words is what corrupts human nature, as Eve believed a lie and as men still believe a lie when unwilling to receive truth because it involves a cross, setting aside sanctifying truth for pleasing delusion presented by the destroyer. That deception works by deceptive words claiming to be what he is not while profaning holy things entrusted, still exercised by unfaithful ministers and doctors doing unfaithful work with the Lord's money where every supposed victory means defeat and binding with the father of lies, and by professed believers corrupt in morals using winning capabilities to tarnish purity, lead to a poisoned fountain instead of Christ, and ruin souls under pretense of saving them, a crime bringing terrible retribution.

The same deceptive science still works serpentlike through religious profession, mind science and spiritualistic fallacies misinterpreting true words about God and undermining faith in a personal God and angelic ministration, causing fall by mind-cure and common fire that appears valuable yet is foreign to Christ. Taking and eating means receiving deceptive error as something very spiritual and swallowing morsels of error, repeated in accepting false teachings that the Lord is in a leaf or tree, whereas He sits upon His throne in heaven, His nature not to be discussed, and curious prying into the forbidden brings punishment. The serpent's subtlety pictures work to oppose truth, stir differences of opinion, encourage worldliness and greed for ruin of souls, and its stealthy gliding pictures fanaticism stealing quietly among God's people to cause variance and draw attention from elevating eternal truth. Its craftiness also images those who with cunning words question God's command and twist disconnected passages to support false doctrines disregarding context that would reveal true meaning, gradually charming those exalting own judgment until power to escape is lost and they conform to his spirit.

Infidel cavils and objections follow that serpent work of sowing doubt and infidelity to destroy faith, and must be turned from as from a serpent for their hidden sting wounds the soul, since giving them place sows seeds Satan germinates in temptation into fruit, forming habit of caviling, doubting, questioning and criticizing until sacred things are lightly regarded and the soul ruined, the same as catching up uncomprehended new theories that undermine faith. There is danger men today will be deceived just as angels and Adam were, so God has given precious truth to protect from deceptions now urged, and loyal subjects must refuse to listen from the first sound, for consent to listen lets subtle influence weave fine threads of seductive theory into the mind, poisoning like a deadly viper and deadening sensibilities like hypnotism until what should have been turned from is loved. Every soul must stay awake, close every avenue to that sophistry, check it from the ranks, and meet the testing of every pillar of faith with firm present truth and Christ in the heart as helper, kept by God's power. Safety Satan cannot overcome is found when warnings are heeded by prayer and study of the Word as given weapons, while neglect leaves one flattered by human opinion, charmed by sophistry and refusing counsel, turning aside as when souls do not continually feed on the Word which gives grace to work out Christ's righteousness.

That deception began an unceasing conflict between Christ and Satan to last till salvation is accomplished, with yielding beginning the conflict between right and wrong that has raged ever since, yet connected with doing right is a power Satan cannot overcome, for righteousness has divine vitality and truth will triumph with God vanquishing the enemy, light having no fellowship with darkness. Through transforming grace men need not become servants and willing captives duped by falsehood, but may rise against the deceiver, resist attacks, receive power to distinguish falsehood from sincerity and truth, and stand on vantage ground by placing the hand in Christ's hand and following where He leads, assured of safety only with armor on in working and sleeping.

Law Obedience and Warnings

The verse shows the entrance of spurious knowledge, the knowledge of evil and sin, through cunning that could endanger the pair by only one tree, the tree of knowledge, with no danger at any other, planning to attract them to do the very thing forbidden through flattery creating envy and distrust and exciting desire for self-exaltation, and those same arguments still please men and women today, proving he can be neither idle nor harmless, while inquisitiveness and presumption venturing contrary to the will to gain it resulted in loss of Eden and is repeated from unsanctified desires buying dearly lessons better left unlearned.
It begins the full explicit account of temptation and fall and punishment following the law given in Eden with its penalty, meaning disobedience in Paradise with sad results given as warning that the wages of sin is death and retributive justice never fails and exacts strict regard as definite as at Sinai.
That law is the basis of all right conduct binding rulers and all with reward for obedience and penalty for disobedience, the law of love to God and neighbor which obeyed would have hedged from evil, but breaking away made man a law to himself following his own standard pleasing the carnal mind, standing against Gethsemane obedience and still followed without feeding on the Word, and the trial under that law with false witness calling the forbidden good shows they became transgressors by believing the tempter.

God enjoined obedience in Eden as condition of salvation as for every human being, and by disobeying and falling the family with few exceptions came under service doing his work wearing his uncomfortable galling yoke and bearing heavy burdens, having lost power to govern the heart and, separated, become vulnerable to pride and impulse with obedience no longer clear but treated as optional self-will.
Their fall did not change the law to meet fallen man, for penalty remained death and Adam with posterity was placed on probation with Christ as substitute and surety, the transgression revealing justice requiring the Son to pledge His life for another trial without abolishing law for unconditional pardon lest benevolence at expense of justice exalt impenitence, after which Christ entered Redeemer work and probation was granted.
It shows God required obedience and falling from first estate proves the law still claims perfect obedience from every son and daughter, the Son's sacrifice given to establish not abolish it, while minds choosing fables want an easier way than resisting evil.
A voice put into the serpent spoke the lie that God's law is not perfect and needs remodeling, change or abolition, believed in place of God's words making them sinners, received ever since when human assertions are put above the Bible to say it is abolished or keeping or breaking does not matter, voicing the deceiver and bringing curse and exclusion, and disobedience now is as offensive as then.

Adam's sin is repeated when plain command is set aside for human will, especially discarding the seventh day hallowed at creation for a spurious first-day sabbath to become decided transgressors, the same deceiving power making void law and obliterating the distinguishing sign, seen in choosing lies over Thus saith the Lord.
The smallness of the act did not lessen guilt or cause overlooking, and need for the Son to die to pay debt and make keeping possible through His blood exalts law, while excuse that mercy is too good to punish still continues Sabbath violation though mercy covers only repented forsaken sin with justice and mercy together, and self-flattery disobeying direct Word while expecting vindication repeats Adam over the beautiful apple failing the least test losing Eden and opening woe, growing worse to flood with only Noah saved because God means what He says.
The same rejection repeats when the professed Christian world discards words, exalts spurious sabbath and tramples fourth-commandment Sabbath, by which he gains in fallen world power to change law failed to gain in heaven, confirming in disobedience when memorial is disregarded, questioning and falsifying Word as with angels leaving naked, continuing confederacy to unsettle truth adrift choosing falsehood to make law void and destroy Ten Commandments by cross claim.
Taking what God reserved as with the tree is committed when men take the seventh day, God's reserved time, and appropriate it to common work and merchandise, and eating is confirmed when memorial is disregarded for spurious teaching.

Disregarding prohibition while flattering self consequences will not be fearful, letting appetite rule reason beginning with Eve surrounded by freely edible variety yet desiring forbidden from intemperance, eating and influencing husband bringing curse on them and earth, continues leading to violate health laws running to excess with disease increasing as effect follows cause, still urging own way as good as God's making own standard and deceiving soul about salvation.
The same enticement fastens tobacco habit, exulting in appetite because it paralyzes brain nerves to palsy judgment so sacred things are not discerned, forming hold on mind and will into bondage where will is controlled and eternal realities eclipsed and manhood cannot stand, joined with liquor as twin sisters with profanity from defiled temple, the more impure the more reckless, spending for selfish indulgence and unsanctioned education leaving eternity out.
The fall came through intemperance in desire and perverted appetite bringing anguish, proving wrong appetite weakens physical mental moral efficiency making overcoming impossible since food errors affect morals requiring reform, temperance keeping faculties healthy so intellect guides to right whatever consequence, repeated in surfeiting drunkenness transmitting disease enfeebled intellects polluted morals to sons groaning under accumulated woe, and in childhood taste educated to injurious foods not making best blood.
The way back requires firm denial of appetite and passion, for self-control preserves mental moral strength to discern right, the fruit itself not injurious but mere test where yielding met terrible loss showing indulgence finds fearful loss, assault beginning through appetite inducing eating setting method largely through appetite since unrestrained indulgence produces sensuality bringing easier control, authoring disease misery assailing where greatest success as with Israel murmuring, overcoming on indulgence filling world with misery crime making thousands wrecks sacrificing powers, yet race unable alone is met by Christ's infinite sacrifice bringing divine power uniting human effort connecting earth heaven so by denial sons may gain lost Eden and overcome in His name.

The verse shows temptation to throw discredit on God by planting doubt, Yea hath God said making perfectly right appear distorted as through crooked glasses, yielding leading to plant doubt see disadvantage oppose criticize pick good plans to pieces blocking unanimous agreement for right.
It shows careless disobedient departure from way and expressed will bringing like results and deteriorating character, throwing influence to strengthen his side giving his attributes with less blessing power of God and more deep plottings perverting blessing misinterpreting will ways, repeated educating children and by ministers to perpetuate transgression.
The disobedience opening floodgates of disappointment sorrow suffering is to be kept before tender minds especially by mothers as queens to train obedience to all statutes, with prayer instructing not to eat to remain unspotted to enter gates, making law plain as city on hill urging lifelong obedience with ignorance no excuse since light abundant, law filled with promises requiring obedience for royal family membership.
Choosing same disobedience now forfeits right to restored Eden as they lost Eden home, so self-pleasing must cease rebel side be left talents repented whole soul given while He may be found choosing good refusing evil, not repeating but meeting with obedience to all requirements pointing heavenward as Christ overcame by perfect obedience to bring back, turning to serve keep commandments since sin unaffordable as transgression whose wages is death.

The example teaches every soul to avoid abhor sin as hateful feeling better to suffer loss of all than depart from least command, violation being greatest loss deepest injury losing Eden opening woe with another trial only through Christ, warning to shun Adam's example contrasting Christ victory.
Outside God's way one step outside ordained path places where subject to temptations believing lie exposing to deception, while remaining in obedience keeps soul body pure clean holy unites mind heart following light brings communion with angels as teachers makes happiness depend on righteous life, warning against sophistry strained misinterpretation entering false path where unwillingness to confess for dignity carries on till too late refusing Christ, for propositions appearing great advantage test whether walking humbly believing Word accepting plans and end in ruin witnessed by every calamity death while Word is life forever and obedience only path to restored Paradise.
The devil presents evils to sinless Adam and still surely to every person, yet fully determined in Lord's strength one can and must resist every point with purifying truth in heart causing flight, requiring prayer for deliverance grace will on God's side refusal when enticed though working through hardened sinners, and in Christ strength can stand since at disobedience Christ stood between living dead saying let punishment fall on Him giving another chance.
Disturbances calamities are his working as prince of air not proof Christ lacks love for He gave life, lesson to get ready not taken while he still works same to control unprepared, and beside stood real personal tempter inspiring false view still beside men leading wrong ideas binding to apostate army darkening mind requiring refusal rebuke falling broken on Rock drawing near to be accepted.

God tested to see obedience with loyalty deciding destiny pattern for all, fall starting excusing sin charging God saying commands cannot be kept repeating heaven insinuation whereas Saviour with crucifixion marks proves law can be kept but men will not.
The serpent is subtil and wise and that wisdom with harmlessness is to be copied dealing with man in danger saying nothing arousing resentment not driving to desperation leaving room for repentance not hastening crisis walking humbly trusting Spirit to work leaving much to God each attending own place not uprooting another.
Men luring servants from trust duty by bribes higher wages become agents mediums as surely, both tempter tempted under displeasure, curse fell for role illustrating heavy guilt facing those leading others into sin.
The verse shows tempting Eve to distrust question wisdom seek plans and through Eve bringing Adam's fall because Adam loved Eve and disobeyed with her, through serpent leading to clear sight of guilt.

It shows purpose to efface image from posterity trace own instead as father of lies accuser murderer from beginning to win cooperation in apostasy, moving at creation to conform parents to his nature unite with rebellion, using flattery misrepresentation throwing hellish shadow eclipsing loveliness of untainted character tearing down standard trampling commands with help of knowing transgressors, tact undiminished.
It shows working sharply decidedly on minds in struggle for mastery to turn from loyalty gather under banner encircle with power, just as sharply now against all seeing law changeless deciding for Christ, same mischief continuing in churches through subtle theories making sin not sinful requiring guard.
It warns Satan works to turn from God but God does not force obedience, free to follow impulse or accept Spirit help shaping character outcome, not compelling but giving privilege to regain manhood womanhood restore image with work carrying to eternal life after plan laid before creation though fall corrupted till only Noah saved.
It shows Adam yielding by own choice of will having same free will Christ had in humanity who would have yielded if chosen, able to have resisted by believing being doer keeping will on God's side meeting with It is written in perfect obedience, not moved as machines which would make God hard unjust as represented, requiring cooperation exercising will, meeting three great temptations including appetite refusing miracle bringing moral power within reach partaking divine nature without excuse.

The assault was not indwelling sin, for God made Adam after His character pure upright no corrupt principles propensities as faultless as angels, giving after no new energies passions implanting none, but Christ began conversion so through obedience faith image may be regained purifying words thoughts energies forming new character overcoming bias.
They were deceived because they did not humble in dust search truth as treasure nor realize law's far claims on thoughts as well as acts, which teachers must do lest likewise deceived.
Beguiling infatuated mind with subtle mysteries substituting misleading statements for Word by same agency winning angels still works especially when men misquote Word to substantiate error, as subtle adviser turning from plain testimony so under influence cannot see error disregard light imperil cause gathering youth.
Seducing while stealing heaven's livery to unite in rebellion where sin brought fall loss of immortality, Christ stronger drew near measuring weapons in wilderness Gethsemane cross receiving death wound as trophy annihilating power over loyal believing, opening Paradise to fallen rebels with living faith elevated heirs partakers.

It shows ground where stumbled selling selves so cannot redeem of selves do no good totally depraved hopelessly ruined, whereupon Christ offered as substitute surety taking humanity passing same ground meeting without swerving besetting temptations resisting claim sinners saved in sins making righteousness apparent living example to secure reward, powerful foe man cannot overcome alone so Christ came in person bearing test resisting manifold making possible overcome in His name, understanding devices sympathizing succoring making escape.
It shows device to which yielding began conflict right wrong God Satan raging ever since, working smooth plausible unsuspected gaining control even leading Sabbathkeepers through entertainments musical association till lovers of pleasure, yet doing right has power he cannot overcome righteousness divine vitality truth triumphing God vanquishing with no compromise light darkness, safety only armor on working sleeping.
Taking form calculated to bewilder confuse working subtle fascinating charming to transgress means deceptive corruption through disobedient agents fully to bear near end when appearing as human impersonating Christ received as lord by rejecters repeating Barabbas choice crucify cry.
Powerful foe inviting soliciting with glowing advantages promising liberty freedom as gods in disobedience still tempts youth drawing thousands to broad destruction endeavoring change law by spurious sabbath uniting in apostasy so world chose another mark, repeated following man of sin changing signpost opposite refuge, accepting spurious rest denying allegiance forcing others bringing wrath, pattern for conniving now with agencies overestimating control as much feared after experiment.

Easy overcoming cast aside Word accepted fallen foe founding claim prince of this world by same deceiver tempting Christ and every child, first example led away repeated following disobedience presented as happiness.
Adam tempted yielding small temptation falling integrity opening woe, Christ passed same ground in humanity meeting most powerful series tempted in all points resisting standing redeeming disgrace saving receivers, leaving choice follow first Adam yielding or stand as Redeemer, same foe desert to cross seeking wound inspire attributes finding nothing though discerning falsehood demands more than intellect only through sacrifice, stepping ever lower humiliation self-denial, bearing in childhood youth manhood without provocation.
Enemy coming to counteract works presenting doing as said would gain wonderful knowledge repeats whenever worldly customs high knowledge advocated, leading toward forbidden illustrating drawing from Word and tempting happiness through unrestrained appetite contrasting self-denial, pleasing fables keeping from saving knowledge.
Original apostasy whose deplorable effect loss of power govern heart must not be lessened as revolt bringing alienation too great overstating, separation from Source lifted pride unable avoid transgressing moral constitution breaking conscience letting habit ascend impulse sway disloyal, revealing presenting perverted to make warnings void.

First choosing suggestions instead of directions transgression perpetuated generation to generation active workers making void law exalting his principles above heaven uniting bringing unrighteousness, seen changing Eden rest bearing government mark for spurious first-day bearing man of sin rebellion mark acknowledging subjection bringing penalty for self-gratification.
Originator coming stealthy plausible telling questionable gains advantage end justifies means eating source great good dims eyesight weakens distinguishing, one unrighteous paves second dishonoring marring eclipsing unselfish tarnishing gold giving ground, gilded till yielded same now seed reasoned till opposed viewed favorably securing steadfast till tares replace gold.
Beguiling professing safe paths making Word void by misinterpreting misconstruing misplacing every pervertible statement turning feet false hindering way life, still presenting insinuations seeking open mind received as heavenly requiring watch prayer lest messenger of Satan.
Carrying forward earth work begun heaven turning from allegiance by falsehood misrepresentation overcoming demonstrating principles later in antediluvian Sodom.
Tempting to eat scheme to lead through disregard violation physical laws to become disordered not enabling cooperate preserve organs but weakening depressing machinery so parts cannot act harmoniously as designed, busily inventing schemes planting death seeds while Christ never planted death, garden no noxious but after sin poisonous sprang every noxious of his sowing corrupting by amalgamation with tares.

Tempter speaking insinuating yielded where death not at once executed because ransom found Son volunteering taking sin making atonement since no pardon without atonement else immortalizing sin perpetrated boldly constantly.
Eve flattered taking eating giving husband making representative, prohibition very light lightest deliberately to reach smallest test, meaning small disobedience not little requiring surrender instead of nearness to disorder, start slight failure followed terrible retribution warning carelessness liberal plan leads wide deviation from Pattern bewitching to keep defects, beginning very small losing Eden meaning commands regulate heart keeping true beauty evidence love in willing word action.
Fall caused by lie framed against government forfeiting claim loyal subjecthood becoming captive subject jailor not by lawful conquest under false pretenses no right demand price, while Christ paying cross gained right rescue, serpent forfeiting claim loyal.
Prevailed to sin beginning same mischief continues in churches so must guard, standing by inspiring false view binding to army darkening requiring refused rebuked fleeing falling broken drawing near accepted saved.

Yielding in great weakness mourned transgression, present misery not because God loves miserable but immoral habits weakened powers, first alone would leave better but succession since made worse.
Failed because did not keep Word before nor diligently study will leaving unfortified, warning leaders keep before diligently study, never use powers hurt child nor become agent deceiving as Eve.
Temptation same voice still with students workers institutions answering too strict depriving privileges promising unexplored field opening floodgates world, constant effort make sin not sinful own way all right breaking rules barriers distinction conforming dropping burden.
Deceiver working serpentine sharpness crooked practices unable expel God charges Him Satanic claims God's gathering agencies generation to generation fountain evil flowing drawing homage planting throne between worshiper Father putting vast machinery last days, beside stood real personal giving wrong view still beside leading wrong apart from inspiration requiring whole heart changed entirely cleansed.

Humanity accepting doing forbidden while in Christ strength can stand, at instant Christ stood saying let punishment fall on Him giving another chance.
God cannot approve work one thread selfishness, for apparently small closed Paradise ever since increasing still increasing making afraid littleness yet benevolence not cut love care still flowing.
Enemy temptation to overcome daily life conflict foe never sleeps watching destroy lure from Saviour giving life, Adam Eve could not afford disgrace law losing bliss, none afford selfish gratification instead of cross, what lost regained by obedience whether serve God Baal.
Specious to question take independent brought against Christ but steadfast resisted no controversy met with Word foiled as Conqueror bringing triumph, same wily seducing insinuations undermining confidence destroying faith straining catch clue allure controversy reading unspoken thoughts used wilderness.
Charming beguiling fascinating aimed making will yield thrown full force against Christ offering kingdoms for worship, where Adam failed yielded Christ victory complete.
Serpent beguiled through subtilty same can corrupt minds from simplicity in Christ endangering church turning from single devotion as chaste virgin to one husband.

Tempting with counterfeit truth false science subtle theories as safe same used on angels, after losing heaven prepared for parents who yielded estranging separating gulf Christ pledged bridge as Way Truth Life revealing pure not mixture.
Beginning deceptive theories about God opposed consistent advocated again despoil people.
As prince darkness working sophistry to transgress constantly same to draw needy oppressed under temptation from ranks unless helped, still same to control unprepared, as teacher causing fall still teaching studying apart from Word making victims becoming deceivers, as medium alluring from duty so bribers become agents both under displeasure, making two parties no middle acknowledging him or standing under Emmanuel every person one side.
Misrepresenting with Adam believing disobeying resulting no longer permitted work Eden.
Word discarded for lie setting spurious against true accepted casting aside repeated magnifying common impure against true holy making void law.
Blinding confusing into transgression same now blinding Christian world to authority unto decisive judgment where law great holy just good.
Part self-exaltation ingenious insidious gaining confidence then presenting sentiments doing away personal as essence pervading nature, when exalted man impresses likewise acts Eden part breaking out no safe teacher.

Begins transgression losing Eden as transgression of law transcript of character so disregarding disregards Christ, sin transgression Jesus came save from by imparting righteousness to obeyers not in human strength but faith believing died obedient imputing, transgressing now loses heaven as then Eden.
Records original beginning great apostasy starting denial love plainly revealed in Word.
Subtle power disputing sovereignty demanding proof give evidence pursued same with Christ challenging If Son command stones assailing appetite pride captivating scenes proving Sonship, where failed Christ second Adam maintained allegiance anchored will refused jot redeeming placing vantage.
Had plain Thus saith with penalty yet listened falsehoods sophistry meaning questioned falsified led disobey dishonor, as led angels to naked so now leads with plain Word exalt false trample fourth.
Working as another counselor subtle sophistries delusive making error truth Christ tame, listening scientific problems instead of practicing follow same deceiver of angels even supposed sound danger undermined exchanging simplicity false science infidelity other gods.
Stumbling where gained kingdom, Christ second Adam Elder Brother passing same bearing world sin living without sin only through death kingdom overthrown redeemed glorified proving through power can live sinless.
Serpent brought sin death track everywhere sting felt, perpetuating universal calamity degenerated dim gold truth fading conscience dulled heart abominations satanic, earth defiled curse increasing preparing fire purification.
Departure to do told not seemingly small planned destroy souls leading follow imaginations rather than revealed will, same power through principles leading rebellion disregard standard.

Speaking as falsifier expelled Eden heaven opposing leader Lamb, all guile oppressing fellow choosing side developing attributes participators causing suffering to make untrue dishonor transgress, by oppression trying compel idol sabbath without text.
Coming sophistry tempt allegiance same test every pillar most trying swerve led astray, safety only firm present truth Christ heart helper friend kept blessed.
Tempting portraying gains making disobedience desirable same seducing angels still leading multitudes, rewards deceitful fruits bitter end death happy if learning bitterness turning back as David kept from utter ruin mercy.
Failed render obedience all commandments failed character represent mercy goodness compassion love thereby failed maintain spirituality.
Speaking deception through another creature confuse weaken misconstruing serve destructive continued through human divided heart unchristlike tendency leading speak indiscernible afflicting relieving claiming glory false miracles, victory only faith attempting human strength falling prey.
Eve leading warning wife must not lead husband but hold Jesus lead away pride show meekness lowliness becoming true helpmeet encouraging work for Christ.

Tempting spirit overcame gaining control mind heart still opening control putting false track laboring imaginings misreading finding not there agreeing false listened so deceived deceive, disposition ministers physicians discard testimonies yielding, wherever door open multiplying difficulties hearts not light left unbelief discarding reproof counsel.
Charming seducing ruining sinless same now charming flock spoiling through heresies requiring firm decided testimony.
Working warns youth discipline meaning works lead astray so firm straightforward followed or lost.
Tempting make agent against law raising whether changeable slightest same rebellion heaven claiming against intelligences, transgressed fell requiring Saviour consent substitute surety stepping throne laying robes clothing divinity giving trial, earth battlefield settle how just true yet justify only sacrifice testifying immutability, enduring hundredfold proving stand forever controversy witnessed heaven worlds.
Deceiving false theories false science keep uncertainty depart true counselor accept spiritualistic clothed light still seeks deceive if possible elect.
Method false representation picturing worldly gain turn earth losing eternity reckoning great loss no fitness, disconnecting Source molded reflect earthly mind like leader propensities captive slavery idolatry contemptible filling memory false debased low by beheld.
Working deceptive charm fascinating senses meaning spiritualistic presentations kept entirely free meaning departure, truth kept righteousness line never stepped onto ground lest fascinate choose evil for good.

Tells how placed fell after plan laid before creation opening woe corrupting till only Noah saved for unbelief, not compelling but giving privilege regain manhood womanhood restore image opportunity carrying eternal.
First deceiver tempting disregard believe falsehoods supposed small opening woe separating from life lest sin immortalized, still teaches same all breaking teaching least cooperating under condemnation.
Disobedience believing falsehood preferring statement costing Son life, yet goodness brighter where sin abounded grace much more so no excuse continuing.
Easy victory over human nature same Christ took hiding godhead overcoming relying turning success humiliating defeat giving victory proportion faith.
Leader tempting Eve through her Adam from innocence believe lie instead truth continues double earnest zeal every agent disaffection break confidence because time short increasing.
Subtle assailing met overcome by Christ sinless facing all relying divine showing sin not necessity revealing what fallen may become through union fellowship pattern childhood youth manhood.
Opens test failed which Christ bore standing place joining divinity humanity reaching human arm grasping Infinite name link uniting.
Testing permission every but one eating lost Eden after grew worse flood steadily increased proving means what says, introducing sin making bold, refusing excusing convenience setting bad example perpetuates.

Beginning conflict manifold most effective degrading because alone cannot stand strength weakness judgment foolishness perishing without help, so Christ clothed divinity carrying same wholly resting conquering where failed so through name grace exalted nature overcome degradation linked Infinite.
Failing yielding instead of keeping before studying so with results should be fortified never become agents.
Still plucking perverting powers selfish pleasures corrupting leaving eternity spending freely unsanctioned education using liquor tobacco bringing profanity, lower value less pure more reckless.
Charming easily charmed by lies produce distaste contemplating Word same draws thousands where led when infidel books lead forsake Scriptures for unessential.
Perverting understanding to eat same when sophistry admired superior deep perverts associates harms inspiring mar purity injure perception spoil till cannot sober sanctified view Christ holiness, safety impossible overcome when warnings heeded prayer study while neglect flattered charmed refusing counsel.
Coming claim forbidding defrauded rightful blessings honor exaltation listened fell still zealously over not watching prayer.

Presenting falsehood truth pervert principle same against cause sending purported messages leading look to man example knowing hinder.
Begins becoming law self instead obeying bringing discord separation contrast Christ constant perfect all follow.
Deceiving enticing still continually tries children everywhere including spiritualistic interpretations angels deceive while heaven sweeps fog for letting glory flood, safety right relation grace lifting Calvary believing eyes fixed moving path, true principles obedience vantage bearing nature conquering withstood free spot.
Listening reveals great power wives mothers good evil over husbands still listening seeing wrong influencing till same view, warning not repeat sensitivity about estimation opens heart most fatal garb affection close.
Bringing through beautiful deceptive same false spiritual theories Alpha whose Omega follow met decided warning leading away as Eden.
Line lead part faith accept false Creator those complaining servants same claiming discrimination right arraign showing ignorance foolishness.
Still works serpent winding institutions corrupt through unguarded helpers intimacy met careful choice watchfulness, licentiousness horrid entrance revelations rotten marking shaking sifting end taking sides only earnest crying availing.
Fruit still borne habits wrong dishonest not straightforward connecting endangers misleading confusing not appreciating no savor dishonor correct, giving evidence not working beware separated.

Caused fall remains master ruler rejecting choosing reveals spirit turning truth lie rejecting Son goodness mercy love for rebellion, when restraint removed repeats first.
Leading disregard same continuing transgress great power knowing short deceivableness seeking elect stupor helping, presenting loss obeying offering sophistry Bible truth own will mind never telling keeping leads salvation teaching opposite keeping falling grace.
Tempting false worldly just as false today, Jesus wants save acquainted strength because clothed divinity man sorrows grief tempted all points know succor.
Turning aside happens when not continually feed Word, continually feeding will not turn, Word gives grace strength walk work out righteousness.
Conniving turn by seeming advantage have own way instead walking humbly contrite solid straight pattern now agencies overestimating control as feared shunned after experiment.
Promise exalted enjoyment leading covet same character unlawful affection superficial proving heart not finding want supplied Christ.
Bringing lie believed so believing puts place beholding another entertaining suggestions, God alone believed living every word purifying obeying certain faith love cleansing idols refusing error handed down seeking truth every point.
Having light refusing admonitions Spirit guidance accepting another teacher leader rebellion.
Deception led disobey opening woe same power rebellion heaven reversed believing become sons daughters labor together brought back wandering through truth peculiar adapted fold.

Records lie through serpent belief sold parents descendants needy needing Saviour Redeemer, God first loved not attractive but needy purchasing everlasting infinite accepted forgiven.
Records lying yielded, Christ tempted as could yielded but did not single jot proving fallen united divine covenant rescue bondage can stand pure holy undefiled.
Depicts world created by Christ Eve sins leads Adam, with divine council hid fellowship mystery made known church principalities manifold wisdom eternal purpose Christ.
Records teaching must obeyed promises royal membership so made plain city hill parents teach ignorance no excuse abundant still instructs.
Exposes delusion done all need not keep ended death making safe, when none with light saved in transgression showing sin.
Start displayed redemption steps exposing so none turn proving disobedience slavery not independence exclusion just, panorama final coronation successive birth obedience baptism fast wilderness ministry Gethsemane betrayal trials crucifixion darkness earthquake rent open cross above throne each recalls part lost forfeited glory sentence treason just.
Wily including appearing angel seducing undermine destroy same wilderness, keeping strain catch clue allure controversy reading unuttered.
Records failed showing cannot own strength, so Christ came person throne bear making possible faith overcome fulfilling destroying.
Records author once covering next Christ lifted drew cast war determined earthly kingdom winning, testing removed far yet failed making necessary pledge stepping throne clothing standing enduring every point, baptism wilderness forty fast messenger disadvantage hunger reduced nothing removed.

After losing place coming carry claim equality Christ leading claim equality God using justice majesty severe unforgiving doubting distrusting drawing rebellion night woe.
Questioning suggesting no difference which eaten yielding opened same principle Sabbath every difference, doing told not disobedience transgression.
Working perverting subtle reasoning spoil usefulness taint injure till without defense deceived deluded unable sober view.
Listening instead holding plain repeated with Bible reject fourth revere instituted following example.
Original not lessened revolt alienation revealing presenting perverted make warnings void.
After expulsion working cautiously minds seduce loyalty undetected till disobeyed fell.
Introduces leading appetite ambition presumption worldly attractions including whole world worship, Christ withstood uniting divine human so conquer, bearing passing ground redeeming bringing moral united effort.
Marks beginning losing right proving sure awful still testified fallen, once grace not always.
Reasoned not lose just eating failing least losing opening, self-delusion condemns vindicates same now worldly interest Sunday Sabbath.
Listened yielded loss yet promise Deliverer hope what lost regained through Christ.
Leading forbidden illustrating drawing away, tempting happiness gratifying contrasting self-denial.
Misrepresenting stirring distrust darkened degraded shaped narrow selfish bolder faded knowledge love.
Disobeyed expelled teaching face punishment said, continued observe Sabbath after as before.
Misrepresenting portraying unjust tyrannical then blaming fall as blamed law rebellion.
Using tempt distrust understand through leading clear guilt.
Disobeying dire warning consequential choice repeating walking light humble, blessings promises loving obeying.
Flood sweeping proving truth all not keeping suffer.
Opens test basis where introduced bold.
Leading doubt penalty where made sacrifice necessary Christ died escape penalty law honored teaching humility fallen repentance trust alone pardon promised.
Listening leading guilt cost Son leaving suffering insult rejection crucifixion save warning not lightly.

Having rebelled drawn sympathizers follows pattern causing woman knowing not alone then through drawing from love share fate triumph, himself warned foe speaking deliberate distrust penetrate plans.
Tempting envy ruin artful where unlike fallen had communion teacher yet began separation loss resisting.
Subtle misleading making believe gain advantage continues mislead snare, speech making possible.
As deceiver lies lost home showing need resist rely distinguish.
Same begun continued unchanged great success continuing closing rebellion evil unite desperate lead ruin, taking sides rebel angels defeated not giving up.
Serving medium curse fell those letting use face heavy.
Thus lures seeks overcome same, were it not interposition none escape net, shaking confidence doubting wisdom justice tempting destroying exulting clothing Creator own revengeful worse justify malignity shifting cruelty appearing wronged expulsion unjust presenting liberty mild versus bondage stern.
Working science staying track mischief not dead exercises same today need watch eyes Christ knowing doing worth glorifying enjoying presence assembly.
First rebel bringing suggesting disregard fail single teaching impunity still repeated agents breaking claiming sanctified leading practice.
Using false turning blessings snares leading use gifts against Giver.
Straining hidden overlook revealed essential, offer wonderful through disobedience deceives elated progression degradation, stirring irreverent curiosity restless penetrate withheld.
Coming under another declaring withheld higher making as same popular develops no place God Christ, consent listening weaves threads viper hypnotism deadening, loyal refuse listen exchange teachings lies.

Assailed sinless perfect balanced no taint image failing, four thousand later Christ place wilderness weaknesses sins infirmities degeneracy less favorable coping single-handed all points overcame elevate bring up.
Tempting cunning taking easily exulting Jesus left glory power thinking placed hoping same overthrow depart will.
Using twisting concealing portraying unjust unlike directly cannot lie, tortuous misrepresents.
Failure powerful legions complete as wilderness complete won suffering freeing season presence.
Bringing deceit intending bring down believing overpower fallen prevent salvation rejoicing.
Accepting wily first example led away repeated followed happiness.
Mild insinuating like promoters appearing mild teaching spiritual not literal requiring vigilance Scripture literal personal.
Influencing against clear proving experience not right true agrees false opposes, then had not make right.
Making attractive presenting unimagined freedom bliss appealing ambition disguising danger desirable safe.
Blinding confusing illustrating turns against law.
Belongs warning indulging appetite passion violation.
Belongs opening redemption culminating cross.
Persuading accept instead turning road repeated man sin changing signpost spurious opposite refuge.
Still ground Christ flesh overcame pure obedient placing vantage purity nobility.
Presenting appearing advantage testing humbly believe yielding ruin calamity death Word life obedience only restored.
Father lies disguised brilliant mingling cheap theories truth poison sting disgusting losing force same noisy confused music snare nothing Spirit message straight kept free thread.
Introduction degraded beautiful, begins fall.
Working deceptive against restrictions make none effect still hardened requiring prayer will refusal.
Fall high void after entered granted.
Begins past taught Word prophets schools Israel prepare advent.
Begins entrance before conformity clear no doubt strength affections enshrouded soft light taught nature invisible clearly, remained true continued guide but severed departed defaced darkened necessary send Son light world.
Working sharply struggle mastery turn banner sharply now deciding.
Deceiving false continuing gift proves null get rid memorial, law foundation harmony sacrifice allegiance blinds false.
Serpent fallen apostate causing leading belief place same parents teach no law churches reject, law not changed jot working lines.
Test love having keeping disobeyed losing breaks while obey light lift cross.
Speaking deceptive unwary continued professed corrupt winning tarnish lead brackish poison instead Christ ruin pretense saving perversion gifts devil crime blight woe curse terrible reaping.
Records too powerful alone so Christ bear answering Scripture making possible grace prayer bringing Helper victory.
Records great trial perfect not alone posterity promise standing establish holiness extend failing descendants sinners.
Beginning appealing awakening intemperate meaning perverted gives access weakens yielding losing, temperance food habits much restoration.
Taking leaving forbidden wearying death unnecessary, if untouched impart Word carried paradise, exposing study without vital excluding lessening eclipsing supposed wood stubble dies consumed.
Deceived false science error most dangerous seed infatuating bewildering ruining still spread repeating revealing blindness.
Addressed through agent not own seducer medium meaning still using under influence agents speaking without control.
Start slight failure retribution warning carelessness liberal wide deviation Pattern bewitching talk liberality keep defects more faulty lose sight.
Accepting doing forbidden Christ strength stand instant stood saying punishment Him another chance.
Beginning very small losing meaning regulate heart keeping beauty evidence love willing word action.
First small common yet opening guilt not excused esteemed misdemeanors wrong light, act called common ruin common none trivial appearance.
Using cunning depart easily hoping overthrow Son, victory complete as failure complete steadfast not depart.
Crafty beguile therefore keeps inheritance safe wily until safe entrust.
Cunning question confuse images twisting disconnected disregard context revealing.
Opening war drawing conversation holding leads defeat, Christ refused provoked prove enter controversy sparing many, warred six thousand practice increased skill.
Subtly plausible raising doubt apparent gain honor advancement cross less central.
Great apostate deceiving beginning sorrow, seeking gain opening door exert influence sentence death, principles threaten probation choosing character, tempting appetite pleasant desirable ate became sinners advantage, factually contempt hidden doubting contradicting love compassion same wilderness.
Belongs effects suffering later aggravating.
Discarded plain heeding losing proving not pay same lose heaven eternity history truth forces choice.
Fallen speaking question same still through lacking piety consenting placing human before wisdom repeats.
Deceiver disobey staying falsifying urging convenient holding advantages preparing excuses.
Specious twistings misrepresent while living personal created through Christ Saviour nullify revealing moral against speculations large knowledge no piety experimental obedience.
Sophistry strife against complete Guide hope righteousness faith mystery worldling not know diligently practicing opens distinguishes true false working will bringing righteousness perfection Christ.
Subtlety fascinating making beautiful holding snare linking reproducing leading weak ignorant blindfold by smooth spiritualistic.
Fall disobedience told not perpetuated refusing excusing convenience setting bad example.
Beside real inspiring false same beside wrong binding darkening.
Deliverance whole changed entirely cleansed.
Tree human devising methods apart alone pluck divert instead holding access only hope atonement way means grace looking help, touching snare refusing self crucified delivers.
Plan gain followed indulging sharp faultfinding creating appetite desire give, supposing advantageous false good only essential.
Confederacy believe same now unsettle adrift choosing continuing accepting change fourth void.
Originator charming leavening mingling chaff root requiring uprooting covering sows baleful growing.
Breaking terrible loss disloyal deepest injury influence leads keeps.
Words record cruel alongside heaven murmuring record not bring contending Moses body.
After claimed prince air control nature permitted sow tares working protecting desiring heaven principles.
Meant disobedience planting death Christ never, garden no noxious after poisonous every noxious sowing amalgamation tares.
Sophistry contrast love giving Son believers everlasting.
Speaking contradicting believed disbelieved led fall sincere not save judgment condemned not conscientiously but not believing neglecting opportunity, disobeying disastrous hearts set know all recorded warning neglect ruin whatever contradicts proceeds.
Brought misery filling cities blotted thousands wrecks sacrificing appetite lust vast hospital controlling habit vicious increase, overcame overpowering knowing power as Christ lost bliss.
Beginning questioning insinuating wisdom goodness love accusing selfishness charging withholding stirring jealousy promising great, disguised speaking framing charging withholding wisdom deceived not deceived persuaded ate, insinuate accuse test loyalty smallest holy pure supplied nature pure disobedience opening making depraved one many second less favorably, tempting distrust understand through love joining, deceptive replace theory, portraying arbitrary unjust restricting burden unreasonable.
Misrepresented severe law love arbitrary impossible penalties arbitrary leading unwilling help rebellion, severe unforgiving drawing, severe tyrannical blaming fall as law rebellion.
Claiming not bring death persuading too kind punish introducing not binding entice revealing danger.
Beginning appetite inducing same Israel murmur, overcame indulgence same Christ filling misery crime wrecks sacrificing, lost indulgence first apostate never ceased alone unable sacrifice uniting denial gain overcome name power, fruit not injurious test telling nothing bad gain attractive same today yielding terrible, subtle appealing could not resist success introducing controlling strengthening defaced emboldened boast weaker overcome same power increase ruin multitudes four thousand, introduces beginning continued appetite passion despite example.
From hand without taint could retained living every refusing strange telling another, free abused privileges chose believing disobeying perverted defiled requiring propitiation.
Begins losing revealing justice requiring pledge another not abolishing unconditional.
Begins holy happy after lived thousand witnessing treasuring repeating ninth few heeded reproaches bringing woe, instructing way sufferings adherence provisions.
First apostasy secretive spiritualistic mind seduce spoil same woven last acting representation preserved admonition ends.
Entertaining becoming adversary misleading opening ambition praise self-confidence ruin imperiling.
Insulting believing instead teachers study practice, removed cut gave gospel invincible Only Begotten grace truth.
Records ending failure over which human had pass identical without angelic, as God not tempted as man strongly capable yielding, enduring redeeming.
Beginning make believe grievous yoke bondage restricts repeated self-deceived.
Obtaining easy same took hiding relying turning giving proportion.
Begins one bringing death result even one beacon byways peril wrongdoer influenced, fostering turns noble genius talent sympathy kindly decoys entice struggling precipice.
Drawing discussion illustrating suggesting captivating arguments resisted at once rather than reasoned weaken trust Scripture.
Error impatient refusal trust wait seeking veiled rushing another instead prayer gaining only displeasing, same running familiar mediums future restless neglecting ordained tearing veil lack trust open.
Continuing same still minds control setting darkness acceptable embraced saving rejected delusion, lies acceptable harmony corrupt.
Using medium exemplifying wonders before end real miracles limits counterfeits appear succeeding resisters.
As first traitor leader misrepresentation withheld higher making, same ministers medical popular develop no place needing precious protect refuse listen first weaving poisoning hypnotism deadening, accepting brings infirmities compelled bear danger as angels.
Speaking disguise fallen not discern free no predisposition fell listening after warned highest disaffection, differing should turned, constant warning reproof not turn free choose compels none.
Gilded till yielded so still sown reasoned favorably secured confederacies tares gold.
Greatly favored fruits angels visits yet received disbelieved history warns now continuing greater blame battle goes on, power beneath perplexity gain entrance.
Beginning subtlety distrust interposing knowing listening false prospect powerful yielded same gain authority judging come deciding.
Beginning accepting misrepresented working committing ever since, fell deceived.
Leading experiment instead entire teaching only safety entire testing weakness, plan clearsightedness cooperation interfered after not communicate sinless.
Words drew faded yielded tempted forgot believing, not angel instrument voice same agencies today, fallen jealous defeat repopulate proved test, serpent instrument members cunning blocking path ransomed.
Prince originated flattery throwing shadow eclipsing.
Foresees could kept if heeded allowed alluring lied exalting seduced discern apostasy, divinely mind worked walked talked providence directed seductive bearing exalting believed fully, alluring voice human worked another.
Taking outside placed believing teaching outside exposed obedience pure uniting communion, warns occupying strained unwillingness carries too late refusing.
As deceiver drawing instead God Truth alone understanding choosing lost received mixing confused weakening so goodness not valued.
Arch tempting disregard making acceptable just claim not required single cost bringing suffering.
Deceived believing needed more exhilarate raise equality thought benefit curse, expected special body mind.
Cunning begin turning presenting better speculative contrary offered grounded not true, claims improvement raise vain imaginings opened field continues.
Testing drawing one offering superior choosing disobeying obeying righteousness leads death requiring strength Jesus.
Fell perfect happy indulging same weakening overruled, seduced disregarding beginning balanced laws penalty strongest, losing denial preserves discern.
Imagined exalt ate lost glories.
Deceived introduced exulting overcoming appeal using boast defeat, success emboldened boast later nations, failure insinuations appeal failure example.
Overcame shaking tempting destroying exulting same seeks sweep were not interposition, God love pure holy lovely cruelty Satanic, clothing own revengeful worse justify shifting appearing wronged expulsion unjust presenting liberty mild bondage stern luring.
First began listened bringing guilt consequences left suffered sacrificed, disobedience express lost favor despair passed overcoming making possible.
Disobeyed transgressed fearful even single serious means says, prohibited suffering warning harm requirements infinite love wisdom.
Spoke received truth originally sinless listened fallen hypnotic sinning losing continual endowment opening door ever after.
Did not endure fell unable own ground afterward passed bringing lost wilderness greater yet victory Word beaten opening victory Jesus, fasting forty greater hairsbreadth allegiance left field.
Great told higher like angels believed proved lie no longer cultivate shut thistles sown.
Came telling nothing bad gain presenting gain not injurious test yielding terrible showing finds loss regaining denial.
Appealed later.
Belongs beginning same threaten probation choosing.
Eating compared accepting attractive deadly instead holding, concealing speech possible pleasing hides draws.
Kept safe yielding penalty first putting issue, approaching cunning fallen seeking could tempt obedience kept safe yielding penalty.
Through insinuations failure entered emboldened boast.
First pattern still repeated transgressing inclinations claiming mind divine sentence not speedily bold true harmonizes natural divine false opposes, denying death false exalted feeling against command seduced experience.
Listening doubted thinking not mean jealous withheld astonished pleasing pleasant told tempted.
Tempting sinless.
Beginning questioning factually contempt hidden contradicting compassion same wilderness.
Begins outline grand far-reaching most important.
Seeking gain opening door sentence.
Prohibition test fidelity love warned danger listening treating friend thinking withheld distrusting choosing seeking bringing freed.
Cunning drawing active effort, focused waited attracting very thing no danger plausible flattery envy distrust questioning unbelief same today far greater thousands yet wiser abiding living Source proportionate arts.
Approached disguise challenge false promise yielded entered.
Persuaded withholding not welfare interested advancement promising knowledge godlike test simple violating small disobedience fall unbelief ingratitude trusted taking side.
Presented path wisdom power happiness concealing outcast apparent hiding distrust rejecting.
Cunning bringing pursuit not intended inquisitive presumptuous evil death costing.
Thought judge drawn flattering mistook friend gone told delivered.
On trial government placed law indispensable near life test permitting forbidding pain allowing promise beyond, declaring could not obey turning jurisdiction supremacy.
Deceived thinking withheld provided good beautiful trusted showing no love mistrusting suspecting abundance thinking make wise.
Test loyalty against reasoning obey listen undermining carried known loss life.
Yielded taking estranged separated if untouched impart pure everlasting instead acquaintance, stirring withheld cost all worth possessing touching separated obedience impart joy.
Speaking lied bearing exalting believed beguiled discern failure heed.
Warns brings showing enforcing not fail records consequences.
Focused waited.
Began envy jealousy home dark concealing warned repulsed fascinating medium device invite argument safe refused parley victim same overcome doubt argue obeying accept disguise.
Used beginning turning.
Violated bringing expulsion.
Began drawing.
Fell indulging.
Used claims drawing.
Continuing rebellion self-seeking Lucifer first rule self-indulgence ambition accomplished under head maintain peace, oppose none lives self desire center acceptance broke demon central placed receiving homage woe death perverted selfishness weakened thwart fill chained.
Imagined exalt.
Fall innocence expulsion tree presence long sin suffering wiles.
Deceived introducing.
Went directly without considering departs even not defiance consequences serious.
Overcame shaking.
Listening change obscured marred imperfect cannot reveal.
First began listened.
Deceived bringing concealing friend benefactor not recognize enemy.
Lost favor.
Disobeyed transgressed.
Free taint full strength purity balance decline later fallen weaknesses overcoming where failed.
At one permitted disguise suited wise beautiful challenged opened.
Deceived not deceived repeated doubted rashly inexcusable presumptuous.
Could tempt.
Awakened curiosity desire led entered lost.
Prohibited.
Entrance.
Spoke listened.
Through curiosity ambition glory self-exaltation supremacy pressed snapped education teacher lies refused consequence practical contrast science holiness gates life healing.
Selfishness seemed small opened traced new greater magnitude justice mercy.
Did not endure.
Begins full.
Told perceptions.
Beguiled offering warned seeks counterworks poisonous superstition heresy error perverts trap lending entrusted service holds accountable bringers yielders refuse resist decide advance suppress.
Came today.
Pattern tested other not did contrast.
Presumption trusted save true obey claiming promises excuse not faith.
Appealed.
At loyalty warned safe enduring secure favor.
Purpose separate perverted unjust tyrannical same all ages cloak piety transforming blinding, result every transgressor sold bondage helpless atonement only faith perfect justified possible.
Father lies sophistry hypnotism same ministers physicians accepted courts snare, enemy scientific spies conferences representations disregard sow.
Concealing.
Beguiled flattering first appetite reason ignoring.
Privileged beauty permitted except through pleasant desirable yielded ate disobeyed tempted becoming, believed thwarted purpose purpose, sorrow drive guard flaming immortality immortal.
Question opened contradiction claiming withheld, surprised repeated thoughts evidence wise.
Cunning active.
Challenge false.
Test simple violating small fall unbelief ingratitude.
Pursuit.
Provided.
Choice.
Records warning.
Led disobey woe power lie loyalty.
Disregarding one opening departing harm grounded love breaking least teaching least.
Repeating angels rebel beginning conflict forces accepting seeking power obey.
Bringing contrast wilderness hungry not depart.
Continuing Lucifer first authority rulership gratification proved ruin.
Records very beginning one little least teach ever offense unfaithfulness least soon great not greatness itself crime, setting departing least denies rebels.
Through listening richly fallen knowingly obtained never designed, one opened calling pledge restore probation owed choose master opportunity coworker humbled lifted sons win prepared eternal privileged communicate evil example.

Doctrine Prophecy and Scripture

Adam's single sin in listening to the deceptive talk of a richly endowed fallen being who could talk knowingly gave the holy pair a knowledge of transgression God never designed them to have, opened the floodgates of sin upon the world, and called for the only begotten Son to pledge His own life to restore the moral image of God in man. The same temptations with which the pair were assailed were later assailed against Christ, the probation now enjoyed is owed to Jesus Christ, and each person must choose his master, Satan or Christ, with opportunity through obedience to become a co-worker with Christ, to be humbled and lifted up as sons and daughters of God, to win the prepared home and eternal life, while the privileged race still works on the enemy's side to communicate evil by word and example. The verse shows warfare carried to this earth after casting out from heaven with the angels of the revolt, where having set himself against God's government he came to draw the human family into revolt by leading Adam and Eve to transgress God's laws, by which sin was introduced and the image of God in man was defaced. It shows deceiving Eve into disobeying the command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, where placed on trial they failed and by not resisting came under Satan's jurisdiction, through which deception he gained supremacy over the race and brought in death as penalty for disobedience.

The speaker is the subtle deceiver and tempter working through the serpent, whose wily tissue of lies cost the first parents their Eden home and began an unceasing conflict between Christ and Satan until salvation is accomplished. He made his way into Eden disguised in serpent form and speaking through it to tempt listening, first stirring jealousy of God by framing falsehoods and charging Him with withholding wisdom by forbidding fruit that would make wise, so that Eve was deceived while Adam, not deceived, was persuaded by his wife, and both ate. He is the same being who seduced angels in the heavenly courts, working by subtle reasoning upon the mind and giving advice that leads to rejecting God's warnings for men's wisdom, bringing deceptive influence imperiling cause and flock. His purpose was to separate man from God by deceptive logic, a purpose and method carried out in every age since, with deception ever his plan of work while claiming religion and keeping a synagogue with worshipers, holding much of the so-called Christian world under power and swaying all classes, working constantly at times under cloak of piety, purity and holiness and often transformed as an angel of light, blinding eyes so men cannot see beneath the surface and discern real purposes. He disguised the lies of the father of lies under deceptive covering by a brilliant serpent as medium, and the same disguised working continues in mixing cheap human inventions and strange doctrines with the straight truth of the third angel's message, working amid noisy confusing excitement with effect like the poison sting of the serpent. He regarded that creature as best adapted for his line of temptation and reveals subtlety in practicing upon the human mind, a skill kept increasing since Eden with one purpose of completing the ruin begun there, working mysteriously and able to insinuate into circles of the most educated and refined because once exalted with high responsibility among heavenly hosts and still a fallen angel, not a monstrous being with hoofs and horns but capable of mingling highest intellectual greatness with basest cruelty and degrading corruption, charming minds with attractive representations and taking them captive by delusion.

No longer free to stir rebellion in heaven, he turned enmity against God into plotting ruin of the race, and seeing the happiness and peace of the holy pair beheld bliss forever lost to him and moved by envy determined to incite disobedience and bring guilt and penalty of sin. His purpose in approaching was to change love to distrust and songs of praise to reproaches against the Maker, thus to plunge innocent beings into the same misery he endured, to cast dishonor upon God and cause grief in heaven. Having become exalted because of beauty and jealous until cast out with sympathizers, he took no pleasure in the creation of Adam and Eve and began to work to gain them as property by misrepresenting God's character with false accusation, so that Adam believed the lie and placed himself under the banner of the prince of darkness, a work as deceiver and accuser skilled by long practice in faultfinding continuing today. When earth was holy and beautiful and pronounced very good, with every flower, shrub and tree answering its purpose and filling mind with thoughts of divine love, his motive in tempting was to counteract that tide of divine love flowing to the race, but his work instead called forth new and deeper manifestations of mercy and goodness.

The subtle working through the charm of the serpent is a fallacy stinging to spiritual death, appearing valuable and covering much that looks wonderful yet foreign to the nature and Spirit of Christ and not leading to Him who is life and salvation, so that taking up and teaching mind-cure science repeats that deception and gives unsafe dangerous education to teacher and learner. The serpent acted as agent of the deceiving mind that caused the fall through subtle deceptive spiritualistic fallacies misinterpreting true words about God and undermining faith in a personal God and ministration of angels, and that same deceiving mind still inspires advocacy of such ideas as truth, which is common fire and not holy fire. The serpent works by deceptive charm fascinating the senses, meaning all spiritualistic presentations must be kept entirely free from as departure from right, with truth kept in righteousness and the line God made never stepped over onto Satan's ground, because he will fascinate senses of those who do so to choose evil for good. The serpent gliding stealthily in subtlety pictures how fanaticism works, stealing quietly among God's people to cause variance and strife and take attention from elevating eternal truth.

The serpent's mild insinuating approach in leading Eve astray is like those promoting a spiritual rather than literal return of Christ, who appear mild and meek while subtly leading astray, so believers must remain on guard and be strengthened by Scripture about Christ's literal personal appearing. That subtilty which beguiled Eve can corrupt minds from the simplicity in Christ, with danger of evils coming into the church turning believers from single-hearted devotion as a chaste virgin espoused to one husband. The subtle serpent illustrates how Satan gradually charms and snares those exalting own judgment above God's, until under his influence they lose power to escape and conform to his spirit and methods. Like the serpent in Eden, Satan uses fascinating manners and misleading sympathy to draw toward sin. The subtlety raising doubt about God's word follows the same pattern when people are prompted to question Scripture, rely on own judgment, and choose darkness rather than light.

The talent of speech given to be used for God's glory was used to deceive Adam and Eve and work against God, a wrong use not to be copied. The tempter entered the garden God had made beautiful and holy, and his presence brought sin and disobedience into it. The enemy found entrance at the gates of Paradise and gained access even in Eden, therefore no mountain home or secluded place in bush or woods can shut him out, and no seclusion from companionship of the world can sanctify and cleanse from moral defilement of sin. The fall by disobedience in eating what was forbidden stands in contrast to inhabitants of other worlds living in strict obedience and not fallen, under the same kind of probation with two trees bearing beautiful fruit and power to eat of both but one forbidden, where none have tasted and if they should eat they would fall as on earth.

The forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge is sexual sin God forbade to be eaten, so to teach self-abuse and other defiling bodily practices to children and youth is to give that fruit and cause partaking, where every vile practice communicated pollutes the soul with vile imaginations and leads into disobedience, charged as adultery. The temptation is man's vain attempt to exalt himself by following own way against God's will, gaining knowledge of evil at cost of loyalty and opening floodgates of woe, a self-exalting course continued ever since, teaching true exaltation comes only by obedience and no safety in human plans unless according to Thus saith the Lord. Coming with lying sophistry to lead into transgression, framing lies to substitute for Thus saith the Lord, he still passes hellish shadow across the pathway so the agent does not discern God but beholds him obtruding between soul and God, and the Christian world now accepts sophistries for God's words, separates by wicked works, and does not love to behold or retain Him in knowledge, just as Adam hid from his heavenly Father and did not want to see God.

Causing the fall by deception keeps the race from believing God's words, a deception continued for thousands of years without losing malignity since apostasy in heaven, with growing experience devising methods to keep men in it. When Jesus came to lay His kingdom's foundation He was opposed at every step by darkness, with Satan ruling hearts so falsehoods were accepted, traditions and maxims and falsehoods of men placed in religion's framework, clearest prophecies subverted, and people blessed with great light led to teach men's commandments for doctrines, for Satan is deep in cunning with a thousand resources seducing even professed children of God to accept errors without slightest foundation in God's word. The beginning of violation of holy law in the small act of eating broke the kingdom law holding claims on every human and brought consequence on man and earth, and the nature of Christ's sacrifice and intervention for that sin should create elevated sacred high ideas of God's law and make man afraid to do the smallest disobedience, with clear understanding of what constitutes sin and avoidance of least approach to stepping over from obedience to disobedience.