Foundational Truths for the Addicted (Part 3)

The first foundational truth is God is that we are made in the image of God.  The second foundational truth is that sin has consequences. 

Foundational Truth #3:   God Holds Us Responsible!

The third foundational truth is that God holds us responsible.  Responsible for our actions and specifically our sins.  Here in Genesis we read the original sin and how God held Adam and Eve responsible for their choices.

Genesis 3:9-13 (KJV) ⁹ And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? ¹⁰ And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. ¹¹ And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? ¹² And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. ¹³ And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

                1.            Adam blamed Eve and God; Eve blamed the Serpent.

It is interestesting to see that Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent.  Neither Adam or Eve realized the truth that it was their choice and consequently their fault. 

When we sin it is our fault!  It is our choice and God holds us accountable.  The first step to recovery for an addict is to own his or her own actions and its consequences.  It is time to stop blaming others and accept the responsibility for what we have done. 

                2.            God determines the consequences of our sins.

Genesis 3:16-19 (KJV) ¹⁶ Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. ¹⁷ And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; ¹⁸ Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; ¹⁹ In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Ezekiel 18:20 (KJV) ²⁰ The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Romans 6:23 (KJV) ²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Matthew 25:46 (KJV) ⁴⁶ And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Revelation 20:14-15 (KJV) ¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

It is a just, and holy God who has determined the consequences of man's actions.  Many have believed the lie that sin's consequences are under our own control, but this is not true.  God controls the consquences today and for eternity.  The above verses teach that we are judged eternally for our sins.  If we die, without ever dealing with our sin, we face an eternity in the lake of fire, a place known as hell.  I realize this is not popular, but nevertheless it is true.  The Word of God clearly teaches that the eternal result of our sin is death in hell. 

However, God has provided a way of escape; His love demanded it.

Foundational Truth #4:   God Loves Us!

Who sought whom?  Did Adam and Eve seek God or did God seek Adam and Eve?

The answer is obviously that God sought Adam and Eve.  The love God has for man is demonstrated by the fact that God sought man. This truth is still true today.  It is God who is seeking man because of God's great love.  A love so strong that God sent His Son Jesus Christ to atone for man's sins on Calvary's cross.

Romans 8:39 (KJV) ³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Who made the Adam and Eve their first set of descent clothing?  What were they made out of?

Genesis 3:21 (KJV) ²¹ Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
For God to make clothing for Adam and Eve out of skins, an animal had to die.  Why?

                1.            God’s Love was Demonstrated by God’s Promise to Adam and Eve.

Genesis 3:14-15 (KJV) ¹⁴ And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: ¹⁵ And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 

The serpent was Satan.

Ezekiel 28:13 (KJV) ¹³ Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

God’ promise to Adam and Eve is that one from the seed of Eve would rise up and defeat Satan.  This promise was fulfilled when Jesus Christ defeated Satan on the cross.

                3.            God’s Love was Demonstrated by God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:8 (KJV) ⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:16 (KJV) ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God out of His love for man has provided salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. 

John 3:36 (KJV) ³⁶ He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

All of the first four foundational truths deal with the salvation of man.  Is there hope for the addicted?  Yes, and the hope is found in Jesus Christ. 

Let me close this article, by offering to each one of you a restored relationship with God. God loves you and God desires to have your fellowship, and friendship. Remember, we are made in His image. He is willing and able to supply our needs. To read more about God and His desired relationship with you please visit: http://www.reformude.com/first-step.html If you would like to see and hear more visit: http://www.preciousseed.com