As we have previously established, God places high value on our freedom of choice. He values it so much that He ensured Adam and Eve knew their freedom in that perfect garden of Eden. There He placed a tree as a physical, unmistakable, illustration of their privilege of choice. In reality it was an easy choice, choosing between one tree’s fruit and the countless other fruitful trees filling the world. It was a choice between loving trust in their caring Creator or doubting His word.
Satan sought to disrupt this loving faith, to change Eve’s mind. By attacking God’s character He sought to cause distrust. It is critical to realize that in this Great Debate over God’s character, Satan has attacked God's command. The Creator said “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.” But Satan said “ye shall not surely die.” Genesis 2:17, 3:4. All the accusations against God in the Garden of Eden were to convince Eve to eat the forbidden fruit contrary to God’s command. His ultimate goal was for Eve to consider the command as unnecessary. The deadly result of Eve’s choice was exactly as God warned - “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4.
The commandment of God was given to protect all the good things He gave them. As long as they obeyed, as long as they trusted His word, their eternal lives were secure. “His commandment is life everlasting”. John 12:50. All of His “commandments are faithful” just as He is faithful, and His “law is truth.” Psalm 119:86, 142, 1 John 1:9. As long as Eve’s choice was “I have believed thy commandments, Thy word is true from the beginning” then she would have enjoyed “great peace.” Psalm 119:66, 160, 165. Note this point carefully, contemplate it thoroughly. If Eve had chosen to trust God’s loving command, she would have been protected from death. Eve’s faith in His commands would have preserved her eternal life.
Remember, God has nothing to do with the death of the sinner, just as He had nothing to do with the death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus made it very clear that no one was taking His life from Him, not even His Father. John 10:18, Matthew 27:46. On Jesus was laid the “iniquity of us all”, He was made “to be sin for us” that we might see the “wages of sin is death.” Isaiah 53:6, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 6:23. Jesus testifies that “he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul, for his own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.” Proverbs 8:36, 5:22. “Thou hast destroyed thyself, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.” Hosea 13:9, 14:1.
Thus when Eve sinned, when she chose to distrust God, she was destroying herself. Romans 14:23. If Eve had obeyed God out of loving trust she would still have the free gift of eternal life. God is the same today, He does not change. Malachi 3:6. Eternal life is available and free to all who believe. Acts 16:31. But this belief is not merely acknowledging the existence or power of God. James 2:19. This is a loving trust that realizes all His commands are “for our good always, that He might preserve us alive”. Galatians 5:6, Deuteronomy 6:24.
The faith we need is simply to view Jesus lifted up on the cross, revealing the death our own sins result in. This faith grasps the reality that our own sins destroy us, not God. This faith understands that the death of Jesus can only “magnify the law, and make it honourable” because we see that God’s commands are for our protection. Isaiah 42:21. This faith hears the tender loving voice of God saying “My child, you are free. You may choose whatever you wish. But understand this, if you do these things, they will destroy you. I plead with you, stay away from them, and enjoy all I have given you, forever.”
It is a commonly held view that the death of Jesus resulted in some change to the law and commands of God. This thinking implies that God was appeased, or gratified, as if He needed or desired the death of the sinner. But He has stated clearly “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live”. Ezekiel 33:11. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. Jesus was not our substitute to satisfy God’s need for the sinner’s death. God does not need the sinner’s death, He loathes it - “turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?”
Don’t be mistaken, Jesus was our substitute. He took our sins upon Himself and by dying our death He revealed the evil consequence. Each of us can look to the cross and see that every single sin of ours results in death. Jesus, Who had no sin, was made to be sin for us. Jesus suffered for the sins of the whole world. Every sin of every person was placed on Him so that none could say “my sin, my own way, does not lead to death.” When we see Him hanging on that tree we can understand that “there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12.
To declare that His law changes is to admit that Satan was right in the beginning. Satan said “you won’t die from sin, God’s command is withholding good from you.” Genesis 3:4-5 paraphrased. Following this thinking, if sin does not kill the sinner, then it must be God Who kills the sinner. This is Satan’s claim, for he accused God of arbitrarily punishing sin as He seeks to protect His authority and kingdom. But His commandments are not given to protect Him or His authority, they exist to protect us. The punishment for sin is not arbitrary, nor is it carried out by God. Death is the natural result of being separated from the Source of life. Isaiah 59:2, Acts 17:28, John 1:4. Thus if His commands change then they were never given for our good, but for His own, and Satan was right all along.
Nothing in the mission of Christ destroys the law. Everything He did fulfills it. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Matthew 5:17. “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:8. It was out of love that He fulfilled the law in His daily life, revealing the blessing for those who “walk in the law of the Lord.” 1 Peter 1:19, Psalm 119:1. It was out of love that He fulfilled the law in revealing the horrible effect of sin - death by separation from God. Isaiah 59:2. Jesus established the law of God. His life and death declare that His law, His commands, are for our protection. His instructions are mercifully given to spare us from the destructive aftermath of sin.
Friend, God has given you the freedom to live as you choose. But with great love He also gave commandments, instructions, that you may know the way of life and be protected from the way of death. Your eternal salvation, just like your every breath, is a free gift from God. Isaiah 42:5, Ephesians 2:8. Our acceptance of this gift hinges on our choice in this great debate: Can God be trusted? Will you side with Satan? Or will you behold Jesus on the cross where He confirmed with His own blood that sin leads to death? Will you choose to trust God and His instructions, His commandments, for your life?
Your faith in His commands protects His free gift of eternal life.
With tender love He is speaking to you:
“This is the way, walk ye in it.” Isaiah 30:21.
"If ye love Me, keep My commandments." John 14:15.
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