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Good & Evil - part 1 of 2 Hebrews 5:14 (KJV) “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” The Amplified Bibles says it this way: “But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.” This generation of the church has lost its way into maturity, so God is testing us with unbelievable experiences to ultimately save us. To discern both good and evil is the essence of man’s dealings with the world. According to the Greek theological dictionary, it means “knowledge acquired to experience, both good and bad by seeing, hearing, investigating and reflecting; or simply put, ‘to become aware of.’” It will come to the person who has an understanding of life both from the heavenly and earthly perspectives. Living as we do in the days of discerning both good and evil is extremely dangerous. Amos 6:12(KJV) “Shall horses run upon the rock? Will one plow there with oxen? For ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:” Hosea 10:4(KJV) “They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.” The “field” speaks of the world we live in. The “rocks” represent “offenses.” “Furrows” speak of “broken ground.” “Judgment” means “understanding.” Gall & hemlock = poison. This is the same original word used in Revelation 8:10-11 called “Wormwood”. When the 7th seal is opened, God says many will die because of this star that is pronounced upon mankind. What happened to Adam and Eve when they partook of the tree of knowledge of good and evil? They died spiritually, because they did not partake of the tree of life. The Lord warns us what is happening in these last days. Our understanding is turned to poison because of offenses and sin. Our being filled with the knowledge of good and evil without the tree of life is destroying mankind and will continue to do so. Today everyone is learning about good and evil (the testing). Unless partaking of the tree of life precedes partaking of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, destruction is inevitable. Amos 5:15 (KJV) “Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.” To establish judgment in the gate is for God’s people to go forth and determine good and evil and declare it to the people. What constitutes good and evil? Righteousness and sin. Unless we call forth what is righteous and what is sin, people will be poisoned in their minds and destroyed. As God begins to teach the elect the knowledge of good and evil, we must embrace the good and renounce the evil. This is the baptism of fire of which John the Baptist spoke. This is the purifying of the priesthood spoken by Malachi. This is the eternal judgment set forth in the 6th chapter of Hebrews. This is the process that will bring forth a bride without spot or blemish for the lamb. God gave us the law so we would know the difference between good and evil – to know to shun the evil and cling to the good. It was the law that revealed sin in our beings. The tree of knowledge of good and evil growing in the midst of the Garden of Eden is the moral law of God that enabled Moses to understand the covenant with God. When Adam and Eve partook, they became aware of their nakedness. God had created them naked, yet the Bible teaches us it is a shame to be naked – it is a violation of God’s eternal moral law as well as the Law of Moses. Rev. 3:18 (KJV) “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.” “Gold tried” are the life experiences to discern good and evil. The Bible has somewhat to say about nakedness and it is not good. Originally Adam and Eve knew no shame because they did not know the difference between good and evil. A recently heard comment about nudity: Approximately 20% of American people have experimented in some activity outside their home with nudity. Why? Because they don’t understand the shame today for our sinful nature. Both trees were in the center of the garden. God knew if they partook of the knowledge of good and evil before God through Christ made them able to cope with this knowledge they would die spiritually. They died because of disobedience. They sinned against the express command of God. Therefore they were ashamed. And that shame caused them to hide from God. As Christians we must understand our obedience to God and our realization when we are sinning. God is not nearly as concerned with our sinning as with our obedience. God knows our sinful nature. God knows the sincere believer, if he hates the sin that dwells in him. God does not condemn us for something we can do nothing about. God did not blame Adam and Eve because they were naked any more than He blames us because we are spiritually naked. What God is concerned with is our obedience to Him. If we are obedient, God will continue leading us until we are totally free from sin. But if we are not obedient to God, then we will be punished for our disobedience and for the sinful acts we have committed because of the sin dwelling in us. God does not condemn us because of the sin in which we have no control. We are condemned by refusing to receive Christ and to allow the Spirit of God to enable us to deal with good and evil. -Pr. Steve February Newsletter 2002 | Good and Evil part 1 of 2 | The Golden Rule Pastor's Journal February 2001 | God's Way | God-Appointed Boundaries |
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