It is Settled!

A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter

Last week we saw from God's Word that those who are not Jews were never given the Law of Moses. We could not be subjects under it (without becoming proselytes). But, both Jews and Greeks are subject to the new Law - the gospel of Christ (Romans 16:16). When was the Law of Moses done away? "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross..." (Colossians 2:14).

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Romans 14:4). We can learn from history. We can understand what laws man was given, and how he obeyed. Let us go back to the time when only one man and one woman lived on earth. Adam had been formed by God from the dust of the ground. Eve was made by God from a rib taken from the side of Adam (Genesis 2:7,21-22). From childhood, we have been taught this fact by God-fearing parents. Those of us who have children have taught it to them. We ask that you think for a moment: what were you taught, and what have you taught, regarding the creation of man and woman?

There are two questions to consider: 1-What did Eve (therefore, Adam) know about the law God had given regarding the tree in the midst of the garden? 2-Did it make any difference that she believed the lie of the serpent, and that she disobeyed the law of God? Please read Genesis 3:1-24. To answer question 1, we can see there is no doubt they understood the commandment of God, as given in Genesis 2:16,17: "and the Lord God commanded the man saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Emphasis mine - HL)." That Eve knew the commands of God there can be no doubt. In Genesis 3:2,3, she stated this also - "neither shall ye touch it." In answering question 2, when Eve yielded to the lies of the devil and ate of the forbidden fruit, and when her husband Adam also ate, it did not matter that they had been told a lie which they believed and obeyed, thereby being disobedient to God. Yes, when God said it, it was settled! The law of God we have just noticed was given to only two people. When they violated God's command, they were put out of the garden. God commanded it - that settled it. Today, when preachers teach things contrary to God's law, they take on the same role as the devil. Please read and study your Bible. Obey only what God's Word commands. Galatians 1:8,9: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." It was settled in the garden; it was settled with the Galatians; it is settled today!