First Principles

Lesson 8

Lesson Text—Genesis 3:1-4

Genesis 3:1-41 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the

trees of the garden:

Lesson Text—Genesis 3:1-4

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Lesson Text—Genesis 3:5-6

Genesis 3:5-65 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Lesson Text—Genesis 3:5-6

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Lesson Text—James 1:12-15

James 1:12-1512 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he

any man:

Lesson Text—James 1:12-15

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Focus Verse—II Corinthians 11:3

II Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as

the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity

that is in Christ.

Focus Thought

Satanic deceptions are as old as

time.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieCulture Connection

Those with young children are wise to keep the telephone number handy for Poison Control. Whenever a little one has ingested a potentially toxic substance, the caregiver must take quick action to supply an antidote—something to counteract the ingested poison.

There is another antidote all believers need to keep handy in our modern culture: the antidote to deception. Through a variety of approaches, Satan continually attempts to deceive

people today.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieHe endeavors to convince people that certain actions and behaviors are “not so bad.” He tries to entice individuals to “try it; you’ll like it.” His attempts to deceive untiringly confront us in every aspect of our lives.

The antidote to deception is simple: trust in the Word of God. Those who loving embrace, trust, and hold to the Scriptures will have the foundation to withstand the deceptions of the devil. Paul spoke of those who would be deceived because they lacked a love for truth (II Thessalonians 2:1-12).

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieOn the other hand, those who love the truth will hold to it and will not suffer delusion.

Love the Bible, read the Bible, and hold to the principles of the Bible. Whenever Satan comes around to entice you into questionable activities, you will not be deceived.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieContemplating The

Topic

The more things change, the more they stay the same. This timeworn phrase well describes Satan’s efforts through the ages to destroy God’s people.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieToday’s farmers, using mechanical

methods of planting and harvesting, can cultivate dozens of acres in the time it would have taken Elisha to plow one acre with his oxen. (See I Kings 19:19.) A three-day journey of the New Testament era could have been completed in a couple of hours had those travelers had access to our automobiles and expressways. Documents that took scribes years to copy can now be reproduced in a few minutes. Every area of our lives has been changed by the evolution of

technology.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieSome changes have been gradual while others have been swift, but one thing is certain—things have changed since God forced Adam and Eve from the Garden.

Despite the tremendous changes that time has brought, one thing has remained the same. In all of his centuries of wielding demonic influence, Satan has never had to change his tactics. The same method that was successful in deceiving Eve continues to be effective today.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieWhile people have been forced to learn new methods and to develop new skills to keep up with technological advances, Satan has not deviated from his original plan of attack. Casting doubt on God’s Word and making God’s plan seem unattractive worked well for Satan in the Garden of Eden. Despite mankind’s proud declaration of advancement and progress, many people continue to fall prey to Satan’s antiquated strategy.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieSatan’s methods have proven successful, so there is no need for him to modify his plans. However, if he desired to change, it is doubtful that he could do so because deceit and evil lie at the very core of his nature. (See John 8:44.)

John 8:44

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the

truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he

speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44).

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieSatan is not simply a liar, but he is devoid of truth. Just as darkness is the absence of light, we could describe Satan’s nature and essence as the absence of truth.

Satan first displayed his subtle strategy and his evil nature when he, through a serpent, deceived Eve (Genesis 3). Centuries later, Paul warned his disciples of the danger of the same snare becoming their delusion:

I. Lie One: You Will Not Die“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (II Corinthians 11:3). Today’s church would do well to heed Paul’s advice lest they too discover that Satan’s lies have led them down the same path of sad disappointment as that of Adam and Eve.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieSearching the Scriptures

Lie One: You Will Not Die

Satan struck first at the relationship that God had established with Adam and Eve. Disobeying God’s Word severs the cords of fellowship between God and mankind. As a consequence of disobedience, spiritual death—separation from God—precedes the literal death of the body. (See Genesis 3:8, 24.)

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieSatan’s lie contradicted God’s word and planted seeds of doubt in Eve’s mind—thoughts that universally appeal to every carnal mind. Even though Eve had never witnessed death, she was deceived into believing that Satan held the answer to a long and satisfying life. Actually, her obedience to God’s word was already leading her to the very thing she desired. She was on the road to eternal life, but followed Satan’s lies on a detour to disappointment.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieMany people have rejected the

simple instructions of God’s Word in favor of a philosophy that appeals to their carnal nature. Millions of people who sought a place of abundant life have embraced reincarnation, the belief that a person lives on in another form after his human body dies. The Bible foretells their future in the generic epitaph that describes the end of all who refuse to embrace God’s Word: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs

14:12).

II. Lie Two: You Will Be Enlightened

Lie Two: You Will Be Enlightened

Satan’s first lie promised life; his second promised hope: “Then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). He insinuated that obeying God’s word would keep Eve locked on a level lower than she deserved, that her life would be relegated to second-class status, and that she would never achieve the successful life of which she was capable.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieWhile Satan promised life and hope, he was unable to deliver either because of his deceitful nature.

After Adam and Eve disobeyed, their eyes were indeed opened. However, they did not find the thrilling hope that Satan had promised. In its place, they not only saw but also lived the harsh realities produced by a life based on deception. Falling prey to Satan’s lies introduces individuals to a world they never knew existed. Once strong, they become prisoners of addictions they cannot shake.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieOnce healthy, their bodies become ravaged with disease. Once intelligent, their minds become muddled with confusing, unfinished thoughts. Once full of dreams and ambition, they become hopeless and resigned to a pitiful existence.

III. Lie Three: You Can Be GodLie Three: You Can

Be GodSatan’s lies are progressively evil.

First, Satan told Eve that she could live forever. Second, he said that partaking of the fruit would elevate her status. He then promised that if she would ignore God’s word, she would become God’s equal. Satan offered no proof of his promises, but still she believed him. Satan managed to convince this woman who was living in Paradise that her world was severely limited.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieSelfish human nature wants to reign

over the world, and every person is susceptible to the tug of human nature. Abraham Lincoln said, “Most any man can stand adversity. If you really want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Satan offered Eve power, and she succumbed to the temptation. When Satan tried the same tactic with Jesus, the Lord used the Word of God to set things back in their proper perspective. He refused to allow tempting thoughts to take root in His mind, and He thwarted them by using the Word of God. (See Luke 4.)

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieBelieving Satan’s lies leads us to lie

to ourselves. We literally become convinced that sin’s evil results, while striking others, will never harm us. Furthermore, we believe that we can easily justify our own decisions before God and He will not harshly judge us. Once the powers of deception start rolling, it becomes difficult to stop. Submitting to God’s Word is the only sure way to escape the clutch of deception.

IV. Lie Four: You Are as Good as You Are (Moral Relativism)

Lie Four: You Are as Good as You Are

(Moral Relativism)

“For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods,

knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieSatan promised Eve the ability to

determine right from wrong and to establish standards for proper behavior. If it could have happened, it would have made her God’s equal where her own opinions were as valid as His word.

Every age and culture has its battle with moral relevance. William McGuffey, author of the McGuffey’s Readers, an important part of public schools one century ago, wrote:

I. Lie One: You Will Not Die“Erase all thought and fear of God from a community, and selfishness and sensuality would absorb the whole man.” However, today many colleges require students to take courses that teach them to resist the values their parents instilled in them and to reject the dogmas that their church has taught them.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieMany college professors encourage their students to envision a world where nothing is right or wrong, where no God sits in judgment, and where alternative values are as valid as their own. In North America, we are seeing the evidence of that influence as our culture becomes dominated by individuals who are absorbed by selfishness and sensuality.

V. The Devil’s Tools and Weapons

The Devil’s Tools and Weapons

Satan’s ways and means are best illustrated in the story of Job. (See Job 1.) Satan does not have absolute power; neither can he attack the children of God at will. The Lord gave Satan permission to touch Job’s life, but He made it clear that there were certain areas that Satan could not enter.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieWithout permission from God, Satan is left to his own tactics and devices—making God’s Word appear unattractive and influencing us to think we can find life, hope, and fulfillment by carnal means. His success depends on our allowing his suggestions to incubate in our carnal minds.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieWhen Paul described what he feared could deter him from completing God’s will, he did not name Satan’s ploys. Rather, he was concerned that his own carnal desires, if left unchecked, could cause his downfall, and he was determined to remain submitted to God, leaving Satan powerless in his life. (See I Corinthians 9:27.)

A. TemptationA. Temptation

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust,

and enticed” (James 1:14).

Temptation begins inside a person’s mind.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieWhen we allow unbridled carnal thoughts to roam unrestrained, they eventually become lusts. Lustful thoughts and desires, when acted upon, become sins (James 1:15). Hence, our own thought patterns become either Satan’s allies or his enemies. Carnal thoughts become temptations that he can use to his advantage, but good thoughts give him little with which to work.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieIt is no wonder Paul instructed,

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). Thinking about good things prevents lust from developing and thwarts Satan’s efforts to lead God’s people astray.

B. TemptationB. Deception

Satan’s only purpose is to steal, to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10). Since it is impossible for Satan to do good, he must hide his intentions behind thinly veiled disguises. (See II Corinthians 11:14.) With his identity hidden, he attempts to persuade the children of God that obeying God’s Word inhibits their ability to enjoy life and to develop as a complete person.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieActually, only in God can any person find real life and the full measure of self-esteem. Just as he did with Eve, Satan will attempt to persuade folks to get off the path to eternal happiness, convinced that his way is better, when he is really leading them onto a one-way street to destruction and disappointment.

C. DoubtC. Doubt

Satan does not require a face-to-face conversation to sprinkle doubt in our minds. While his tactic has not changed, he has progressed to mass production. Through the years, Satan has influenced educational systems to the point that believing in a God who is involved with mankind on any level is not only unacceptable but mocked and derided as a childish idea modern science has debunked.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieThe truth is, however, that most of

what modern science teaches as a replacement for the Genesis account of Creation is a series of unprovable assumptions cloaked in scientific jargon and presented with such conviction that most students do not even notice. The doubt cast on the opening chapters of the Bible often is enough to cause many students to consider it as only a commentary on ancient cultures, not the eternal Word of God.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieOur North American media has served Satan well as a dispenser of doubt. Through television and theater, Hollywood has made stars out of men and women with decadent lifestyles who thumbed their noses at God’s Word but became wealthy and famous. The unspoken message is the same one Satan whispered to Eve in the Garden: obeying God’s word will deprive you of the finer things of life.

D. LustD. Lust

Lust is generally defined as “a passionate desire for something.” It is a thought or wish that becomes so intense that it rages unbridled and uncontrolled. Although the Greek word for lust is used a few times in the New Testament in a positive sense, such as having a “strong desire” for something good and holy, we generally recognize the word’s usage in the negative extreme of ungodly, carnal desires. Such passion for ungodly desires, James warned, will result in

sin. (See James 1.)

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieAs James explained, a person’s lust

reveals his strongest desires. If those strong desires are for the Lord, good and holy fruit will be manifested in his life. If, on the other hand, his strong desires are contrary to God and he is enticed to act upon his lust, he commits sin. Satan is well acquainted with mankind’s carnal weaknesses, and he is able to engage in large-scale warfare through the media and educational systems.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DiePublic schools in America have

become major players in safe-sex initiatives that teach children how to engage in sexual activities that violate God’s Word. While the Bible and Christian values often are downplayed or restricted outright, alternative lifestyles and mystic religions that tease and incite carnal reactions are embraced and celebrated under the banner of diversity, teaching our children that responding to their lusts is not only all right, but healthy.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieThe media bombards us daily with

the lowest and most base part of our human nature. Not only are magazines and movies filled with graphic sex and violence, but television, billboards, and Internet images frequently include immodest and sensual men and women wearing provocative clothing.

These all bombard our carnal senses and set us up to be enticed unless we, like Paul, keep our bodies under submission to God’s Word.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieTherefore, we should set guidelines and monitor our own behavior lest we walk right into Satan’s trap. Furthermore, we should look ahead and recognize the danger of allowing our thoughts and desires to become uncontrolled lust. When sin results, we have no one to blame but ourselves because “we are not ignorant of his devices” (II Corinthians 2:11).

E. Self-exaltationE. Self-exaltation

The human mind is amazingly creative. Mankind has used this creative ability to harness scientific and mathematical principles of creation to build skyscrapers, fly airplanes, float ships, and grow human tissue. Sadly, however, humans use most of their creative energy to devise negative thoughts and pessimistic plans. Our minds create reasons to fear instead of reasons to hope. We conjure up images

of failure instead of success.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieFor far too many people, their

thoughts center around carnal desires that create images of sinful behavior that repeatedly play in their minds until achieving satisfaction becomes more important than submitting to God’s Word. These imaginations cause a person to justify choices that lead away from God, and they cause one to imagine himself somehow exempt from the ill effects of ignoring God’s instructions, convinced that He cannot or will not punish that person.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieSadly, such is not the case; God will be faithful to His Word and He will deliver justice in the end. How destructive are the unrestrained, evil imaginations of mankind!

Pride resides inside every human regardless of his status or station in life. Pride makes the rich man park his brand new automobile out front where everyone can see it. It also tells the poor fellow to park his old truck out back where no one will see it. Pride may produce conflicting behavior, but it works in everyone.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieIts roots are mankind’s carnal nature, which motivates him to make choices that appeal to his carnality. Since no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24), pride can become the gulf that separates a person from God. (See Psalm 138:6.)

Psalm 138:6

“Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but

the proud he knoweth afar off” (Psalm 138:6).

I. Lie One: You Will Not DiePride provides Satan with easy

access to our vulnerable hearts and minds, and it blinds us to surrounding dangers. Pride distorts reality, creating a false sense of security.

King Saul became arrogant and considered himself above God’s law. In this condition, he bragged about obeying God’s Word, when he knew that he had not done so. (See I Samuel 15:13.) His pride kept him from seeing the devastating conclusion that his disobedience was creating for him.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieEventually, time ran out for him and Saul cried out, “I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do” (I Samuel 28:15). Saul’s pride separated him from God, but he realized it too late.

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieC. S. Lewis states, “A proud man is

always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you’re looking down, you can’t see something that’s above you.”

Our thoughts shape our character. Thoughts that we hold close—those ideas that are never very far away—become the values that guide our decisions. Those actions and choices then determine our future. The wise man declared, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

I. Lie One: You Will Not DieAs noted earlier, Paul gave

considerable instruction regarding the importance of proper thinking (Philippians 4:8). From the seedbed of thoughts, actions will grow. Carnal thoughts produce sinful behavior; however, God’s Word gives the antidote for every poisonous thought and act that Satan concocts. The key to victory over Satan is to keep our mind occupied with thoughts acceptable to God. (See Romans 12:1-2.)

VI. Rejecting Satan’s LiesRejecting Satan’s Lies

It is impossible for Satan to do good. He is so vile that he avoids appearing as himself; rather, he disguises himself in an effort to deceive. To reach Eve, he appeared as a serpent. In our times, Paul warned that he appears as a messenger of hope and light. If by his very nature it is impossible for him to be truthful, the believer should instantly reject any word coming from him. It is easy to identify his words—anything

that is contrary to God’s Word.

A. Reject Satan’s LiesThe writer of the Book of Hebrews

taught us that God’s word framed the universe (Hebrews 11:3). Regardless of what Satan says, the only reason our planet continues on its journey through space is that it is held there by the word of God. Satan is powerless to change what God’s word ordains. God’s written Word shows us where Satan’s future lies. He will live eternally in the place of torment that God has prepared especially for him and for those who follow him:

A. Reject Satan’s Lies“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

The believer need not be fooled by Satan’s disguises, for God has already cursed him and numbered his days.

B. Accept God’s TruthB. Accept God’s Truth

Avoiding Satan’s snare is not a complicated task. We can accomplish such by embracing and obeying God’s Word.

God is the source of all life and light and everything good. Satan tries to convince us that he is the source of life and enlightenment, but he is an imposter. Whatever power Satan possesses originated with and belongs to God, and eventually Satan will have to surrender himself and his power to God when he

is judged forever. (See Revelation20:10.)

Revelation 20:10

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and

brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be

tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

A. Reject Satan’s LiesThe evidence is clear and compelling. God has ordained the best for His children and the Bible tells them how to find it. Those who listen to Satan’s lies will one day find themselves naked and destitute, afraid to face God. In contrast, those who walk in God’s ways will find life everlasting in Him.

B. Accept God’s TruthInternalizing The MessageSatan’s lies strike at the heart of

human weakness—mankind’s carnal thoughts and desires. Unless a person submits those thoughts and desires to God’s Word, they become the lusts and sins that will lead him away from God and into an eternity in Hell. Once separated from God by sin, mankind uses his creative power predominately to find ways to satisfy his carnal urges, further opening himself to Satan’s devices that ultimately will leave him

spiritually dead.

A. Reject Satan’s LiesThe best and most effective tool to use against Satan is the same one Jesus used when Satan tempted Him. Jesus used the Scriptures to respond to Satan’s attempt to deceive Him. If we use God’s Word as the final authority in all we do, Satan will have little power to deceive or influence us.

A. Reject Satan’s LiesPaul shared his guide to spiritual success in his second epistle to the church at Corinth, but it also will prove successful to any person who will make it his own. (See II Corinthians 10:4-6.) Satan’s deception is no match for God’s Word and cannot stand when held against the light of truth. Submission to the Word of God will bring down Satan’s stronghold.

II Corinthians 10:4-6 “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through

God to the pulling down of strongholds;) casting down

imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the

knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in

a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled” (II

Corinthians 10:4-6).