The battle in the Garden of Eden was for the belief of man, to see who he would believe and obey. God had given man His truth and told man “the day you eat you shall surely die.” Satan comes and contradicts God and said “You will not surely die” causing man to question God’s Word and created doubt about the truth of God’s Word. Satan’s purpose was to have man believe and obey him rather than God. Satan knew if he could get man to believe and obey him, man would become his servant and would lose his right standing with God.
Adam chose to obey Satan rather than God and that day man died. Man in his created form ceased to be, he was separated from the source of his life, God, and man became a fallen being. Man as the reflected Image of God’s glory truly did die that day and the light God created in man was dead. Man was now under Satan’s authority, the curse of sin and death. The fall of man was the result of man’s choice to obey Satan rather than God, to believe in a lie rather than trust God’s word of truth. Jesus came and defeated Satan and now we are more than conquers in Christ Jesus.
God had given mankind all they needed to rule the earth and have dominion over the earth. Man had the authority, the ability and the word of truth but Satan came, stole what God had given. Satan became the prince of darkness over the earth. Seducing mankind to leave the light of God’s truth and they became blind to the truth and lived in darkness, which is the absence of light and truth.
Genesis 2: 16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” NKJV
The day mankind ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil man’s spirit was dead; he was no longer the God breathed spirit of life that God had created him to be. When Adam’s spirit died, and all mankind was in Adam and we too died spiritually. God is true to His word; the day you eat, you shall surely die. Spiritual death is the separation from the life-giving source; or it is the absence of spiritual life.
Man was now separated from God and had lost his spirit life. Just as a plant dies the day it is uprooted from the soil and the fish dies when it is taken out of the water. The present appearance may not reflect the state it is in but it is no longer connected to the life-giving source and time will show its decay. That is what happened to Adam when he was separated from his life source, God; he died as a spirit-man. Adam’s image changed, he no longer reflected the glory of God but that of Satan. Adam’s second death came when his soul was separated from his body, which did not occur for over 900 years later.
Now we all are born dead in sin and unattached and out of relationship with God. That is why Jesus said, “Let the dead bury the dead. He was saying let those who are dead in spirit bury those who are dead bodily.
The only way to be reconnected to God is to be born again into the family, household and kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not a religion, or some religious act. The kingdom of God is being reconnected to the source that gives life, God. We are born again, as sons of God, when we acknowledge Jesus our Sovereign King and Lord over our lives. Then we are born into the family of God as His children with His authority, blessing and joint-heir with Jesus to all that is by right, His. Both these terms, children and heir, indicate family and relationships. God wants to be in a family relationship with His children just as any good parent who wants to be in a good relationship with their children.
Luke 9:60 Jesus said to him “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
God’s one commandment to Adam was to believe the Truth of His Word and not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil so he would remain in the created image of God. God knew when man failed to believe Him and obeyed Satan mankind would become a fallen species, dead in his created form, purpose and under Satan’s authority. Man was no longer righteous, or in right standing with God and no longer in fellowship with God. Man had fallen into darkness unable to stand before a Holy God. But God’s love for man would not let Him leave mankind in that fallen state without making a provision to bring mankind back to God.
Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness. NKJV
Everyone has the same choice that Adam and Eve had to choose whose word we will believe. Will we believe the Word of God, that Jesus came to save us from death, or will we believe Satan, who is the father of lies? Our choice is seen in our actions, they will reflect our beliefs and will show who we truly believe. Our actions will line up with our choice and they become our master. It is not just a head knowledge that constitutes belief it is heart conviction that causes us to act in belief and trust God. Without faith in Jesus, the enemy will causes some to act in rebellion against the Sovereign King.
Integrity- People of God 
Comments on: "The Battle For Man’s Belief" (1)
Loved the spiritual death illustration of the flower. That gave a very real picture of the separation.
Thank you.