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Genesis 2:15-17 is a passage from the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible. In this passage, God places the first human beings, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden and gives them instructions for how to live. The passage reads:

¹⁵ And Jehovah God took the man and set him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and to keep it. ¹⁶ And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, “From every tree of the garden you may freely eat, ¹⁷ but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat,[16] for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.”[17]

In this passage, God is giving Adam and Eve the responsibility to take care of the Garden of Eden and to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. He also gives them a commandment not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning them that if they do, they will die.

According to the biblical account, Adam and Eve did eventually eat from the forbidden tree, and as a result, they experienced the consequence of death, both physically and spiritually.

Romans 5:12 reads: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people because all sinned.”

This verse is part of a larger passage in which the author, the apostle Paul, is discussing the concept of sin and its consequences. In this verse, Paul is referring to the account of Adam and Eve, who, according to the biblical account, were the first human beings created by God. Paul is saying that sin and death entered the world through Adam and that all people are affected by this because all people have sinned.

According to the Christian faith, sin is a separation from God and is considered to be a spiritual death. The physical death that all people experience is a result of this separation from God, and it is only through faith in Jesus Christ, the son of God, that people can be reconciled to God and have the hope of eternal life.

Genesis 3:1-19 is a passage from the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible. In this passage, the story of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God and the consequences that followed is described in more detail. The passage reads:

The Temptation and the Fall of Man

3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[20] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” ² And the woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat, ³ but from the tree that is in the midst of the garden, God said, ‘You shall not eat from it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” ⁴ And the serpent said to the woman, “You shall not surely die. ⁵ For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

⁶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desirable to make one wise,[21] and she took of its fruit and ate, then she also gave some to her husband when[22] with her, and he ate. ⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

The Costs of Sin

⁸ Then they heard the sound[23] of Jehovah God walking in the garden in the cool[24] of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Jehovah God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ Then Jehovah God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” ¹⁰ And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself.” ¹¹ And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree, of which I commanded you not to eat?” ¹² The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” ¹³ Then Jehovah God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

¹⁴Jehovah God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,
    cursed are you above all livestock
    and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
    and dust you shall eat
    all the days of your life.
¹⁵And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
    and you shall bruise his heel.”

¹⁶To the woman he said,

“I will surely increase your pain and your pregnancy;[25]
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.”

¹⁷And to Adam he said,

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
    and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
    ‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
    in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
¹⁸Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
    and you shall eat the plants of the field.
¹⁹By the sweat of your face
    you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
    for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
    and to dust you shall return.”

²⁰Now the man called his wife’s name Eve,[26] because she was the mother of all living. ²¹ And Jehovah God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. ²² Then Jehovah God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil; and in order that he may not put his hand out and take fruit also from the tree of life and eat and live forever.” ²³ Therefore Jehovah God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. ²⁴ So he drove the man out, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

In this passage, the serpent (which is rightly interpreted as representing Satan or the devil) tempts Eve to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God had commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from. Eve gives in to the temptation and eats the fruit, and then gives some to Adam. For this rebellious act, God banished Adam and Eve from the garden, and a life of difficulties and suffering began for them. Eventually, they had children, and life got even worse for them. Adam and Eve and all of their descendants grew old and died. (Genesis 3:23; 5:5) We get sick, grow old, and die because we have descended from Adam and Eve.

What Is the Extent of the Human Sinful Nature?

Genesis 6:5 describes the state of the world before the flood, when the wickedness of humanity was great and every thought of their hearts was evil.

Genesis 8:21 describes God’s response to the offering of burnt offerings made by Noah after the flood. God is pleased by the offering and decides not to curse the ground or smite living things again because he recognizes that the imagination of humanity’s heart is evil from their youth.

In both of these verses, the phrase “the imagination of the thoughts of his heart” refers to the innermost thoughts and desires of a person’s heart or mind. The text suggests that the thoughts and desires of the hearts of humanity were consistently wicked and evil before the flood, and that this is a fundamental aspect of human nature.

Jeremiah 17:9 in the 1935 American Translation reads: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

This verse is describing the nature of the human heart as being deceitful and wicked. The phrase “deceitful above all things” means that the heart is particularly prone to deceit and untrustworthiness. The phrase “desperately wicked” means that the heart is fundamentally corrupt and cannot be relied upon. The question “who can know it?” suggests that the deceitfulness and wickedness of the heart is difficult to discern or understand.

This verse is often interpreted as a caution against trusting in one’s own heart or relying on one’s own understanding, as the heart is prone to deceit and wickedness. Instead, it is often recommended to trust in God and seek his guidance.

The Conscience Offsets our Sinful Nature if We Cultivate It with Bible Knowledge

Romans 2:15 in the 1935 American Translation reads: “Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.”

This verse is describing the role of conscience in the lives of people. The phrase “the work of the law written in their hearts” suggests that people have an inherent understanding of right and wrong that is inscribed on their hearts. This understanding is often referred to as “natural law” or “the law of God written on the hearts of humanity.”

The phrase “their conscience also bearing witness” refers to the way that people’s conscience testifies to their actions and thoughts, either accusing them when they do wrong or excusing them when they do right. The phrase “their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another” suggests that people’s thoughts and actions can either accuse or excuse one another, depending on whether they are in line with the inherent understanding of right and wrong inscribed on their hearts.

This verse is often interpreted as a statement about the way that people’s conscience helps to guide and regulate their actions and thoughts according to a sense of right and wrong. It suggests that people have an inherent understanding of right and wrong that is inscribed on their hearts and that this understanding is testified to by their conscience.

Wicked Spirits Add to Our Suffering

1 John 5:19 in the Updated American Standard Version reads: “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

This verse is stating that the believers, who are referred to as “we,” know that they are followers of God and that the rest of the world is under the control or influence of the evil one, who is often understood to be Satan or the devil. The phrase “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” suggests that Satan has a significant level of influence or control over the world and its inhabitants.

This verse is often interpreted as a statement about the struggle between good and evil in the world and the belief that God’s followers are protected from the influence of Satan. It is also sometimes seen as a caution against the temptation to give in to the influence of evil and instead to remain faithful to God.

John 8:44 in the Updated American Standard Version reads: “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

This verse is part of a conversation between Jesus and some of the religious leaders of the time. In this verse, Jesus is accusing these leaders of being under the influence of Satan and of acting in accordance with Satan’s desires. He describes Satan as a murderer and a liar who does not stand in the truth, and claims that these leaders are acting in accordance with Satan’s character because they are of the same nature as him.

This verse is often interpreted as a strong rebuke of the leaders Jesus is addressing and a warning against the influence of Satan. It suggests that those who give in to Satan’s influence will act in accordance with his desires and character, which are opposed to truth and goodness.

Revelation 12:9 in the Updated American Standard Version reads: “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, he who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

This verse is describing an event in which the great dragon, who is identified as the serpent of old (Satan) and the deceiver of the whole world, is thrown down to the earth along with his angels. The phrase “he who deceives the whole world” suggests that Satan has a significant level of influence and control over the world and its inhabitants and that he uses this influence to deceive and mislead people.

This verse is often interpreted as a triumphant statement about the defeat of Satan and his angels. It suggests that Satan will eventually be overthrown and cast out of heaven, and that his influence over the world will be limited. In some Christian traditions, this event is seen as a central part of the end times or the final victory of God over evil.

Psalm 106:35-38 in the Updated American Standard Version reads:

³⁴They did not destroy the peoples,
    as Jehovah commanded them,
³⁵but they mingled with the nations
    and learned their works.
³⁶They served their idols,
    which became a snare to them.
³⁷They sacrificed their sons
    and their daughters to the demons;
³⁸and they poured out innocent blood,
    the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
    and the land was polluted with blood.

This passage describes the Israelites mixing with other nations and adopting their practices, which included serving idols and sacrificing their children to demons. The phrase “which became a snare to them” suggests that these practices caught or ensnared the Israelites and caused them harm or trouble. The phrase “innocent blood” refers to the fact that the Israelites were sacrificing their children, who were innocent of any wrongdoing. The passage describes these actions as polluting the land with blood, suggesting that they were wrong and sinful.

This passage is often interpreted as a warning against the dangers of adopting the practices of other nations and turning away from God. It suggests that these practices can lead to sin and harm, and that the Israelites suffered as a result of their involvement in them.

1 Timothy 4:1 in the Updated American Standard Version reads: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.”

This verse is describing a warning given by the Holy Spirit that in the future, some people will turn away from their faith and follow deceitful spirits and teachings from demons. The phrase “the Spirit expressly says” suggests that this warning is given directly and clearly by the Holy Spirit. The phrase “deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” refers to false teachings and influence that come from evil or malevolent spirits or demons.

This verse is often interpreted as a warning against the dangers of false teachings and the influence of evil spirits. It suggests that these things can lead people to turn away from their faith and suggests the importance of being vigilant and discerning in order to avoid being swayed by such teachings.

At Times We Cause Our Own Suffering

Galatians 6:7 in the Updated American Standard Version reads: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”

This verse is cautioning against being deceived or tricked. The phrase “God is not mocked” suggests that it is not possible to mock or make a fool of God. The phrase “whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” is a statement about the principle of sowing and reaping, which suggests that a person will ultimately experience the consequences of their actions.

This verse is often interpreted as a warning against the dangers of deception and a reminder that actions have consequences. It suggests that it is not possible to deceive God or escape the consequences of one’s actions, and that a person will ultimately experience the results of what they have sown.

Psalm 119:165 in the Updated American Standard Version reads:

¹⁶⁵Abundant peace belongs to those loving your law,
and for them, there is no stumbling block.

This verse is describing the peace that those who love God’s law (or commandments) experience. The phrase “nothing can make them stumble” suggests that they are not easily led astray or tripped up by difficulties or challenges.

This verse is often interpreted as a statement about the stability and strength that comes from loving and following God’s law. It suggests that those who love God’s law will experience a sense of peace and will not be easily swayed or tripped up by challenges.

Difficult Times in “the Last Days”

2 Timothy 3:1-5 in the Updated American Standard Version reads:

3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. ²For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, ⁴treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power; avoid such men as these.

This passage is describing the characteristics of people who will be present in the last days, which are often understood to be the end times or the period leading up to the second coming of Jesus. The passage lists a number of negative qualities that these people will have, including being selfish, greedy, boastful, disrespectful to authority, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, and prone to gossip and violence. The passage also describes these people as being interested in pleasure rather than God and as holding to a form of godliness without truly embracing its power.

The passage concludes by advising Timothy to avoid such people, suggesting that they are dangerous or harmful in some way. This passage is often interpreted as a warning against the dangers of being swayed by false teachings or embracing a superficial or hypocritical form of faith. It suggests that it is important to hold to a true and sincere faith, even in difficult times, and to avoid those who do not embody such a faith.

How Can Obeying the Bible Help Us live a Better Life?

Obeying the Bible, which is the holy scripture of the Christian faith, can help individuals live a better life in several ways. Some of the ways that obeying the Bible can help individuals live a better life include:

Providing guidance for how to live: The Bible contains many teachings and principles that can help individuals make good decisions and live in a way that is pleasing to God.
Offering hope and comfort: The Bible provides hope and comfort through its promises and assurances of God’s love and care for his people.
Encouraging relationships with God and others: The Bible teaches about the importance of having a relationship with God and of loving and serving others. Following these teachings can help individuals develop deep and meaningful relationships with God and others.
Promoting personal growth: The Bible encourages individuals to grow in their faith and to become more like Jesus. This process of personal growth can help individuals become more mature, compassionate, and loving.

Overall, obeying the Bible can help individuals live a better life by providing guidance, hope, comfort, and opportunities for personal growth and meaningful relationships.

How Can Obeying the Bible Help Us Find Inner Peace?

Obeying the Bible can help individuals find inner peace in several ways. Some of the ways that obeying the Bible can contribute to inner peace include:

Providing a sense of purpose and direction: Following the teachings and principles of the Bible can help individuals feel a sense of purpose and direction in life, which can contribute to a sense of inner peace.
Offering hope and comfort: The Bible provides hope and comfort through its promises and assurances of God’s love and care for his people. Believing in these promises can bring inner peace.
Encouraging forgiveness: The Bible teaches about the importance of forgiveness and the transformative power of grace. Practicing forgiveness can bring inner peace by helping individuals let go of anger and resentment.
Promoting a sense of connection with God: The Bible teaches about the importance of having a relationship with God and seeking his guidance and direction. Building a relationship with God through prayer, worship, and study of the Bible can bring inner peace.

Overall, obeying the Bible can help individuals find inner peace by providing a sense of purpose, hope, and connection with God and by encouraging forgiveness and grace.