The Fall and the development of erroneous Knowledge Systems
Genesis 3:6-7
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. NIV
2 Corinthians 11:3
3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. NIV
Ephesians 4:14
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. NIV
1 Timothy 4:1
1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. NIV
The fall was not primarily “religious” but it represented a movement away from the knowledge system of God. Man shifted from God’s knowledge system to one rooted in the philosophy of self. Within this new framework of development of knowledge, the thing that mattered was man’s own opinion and not God’s definition.
Acts 17:27
27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. NIV
The basic duty of man is to seek God – to seek God’s knowledge systems and use these in the administration of human life. The “seeking” is itself not a religious exercise primarily but a search for truth and a search for authentic knowledge to administrate various spheres of human life, namely social life, economic, politics etc. To be a believer is to commit yourself to this search, hence the scripture refers to us as the disciples of Christ (Matt 28:19-20).
At the fall, a new knowledge system entered human heart, one based on the philosophy of self. So therefore to be deceived is to look at life through the lenses of self.
Romans 5:12
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned- NIV
At the fall, sin entered into the system of life (the world) that God had created.
The word sin (hamartia in Gr.): missing the true end and scope of our lives. An offense in relation to God with emphasis on guilt. Aberration from the truth, error. Aberration from a prescribed law or rule of duty.
The word sin defines a process of moving away from correct knowledge systems of God (the law of God). This is knowledge that pertains to personal life, relational and community life as well as systems of life (politics, economics). To sin is to deviate from the set laws of human life as reflected in human conscience and in the Word of God.
Sin is both an act and a state
Romans 5:12
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned- NIV
John 1:29
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! NIV
Sin is not only evil behaviour or actions but also the very state of human life. Sin reflects itself in the very structure and arrangement of human life. It reflects itself in how we see and define human life. When the perspective of man is not consistent with the perspective of God then you already have sin. Jesus came to take away the sin of the world. The “sin of the world” defines the general state of life that is erroneous in relation to God’s definitions and knowledge systems. The “sin of the world” speaks into the very arrangement of human life – i.e. families, communities, economics, politics etc.
So at the fall, man rebelled and chose to develop his own knowledge systems based on the principle of self. This is true across the spheres of human life. It is the principle of self that destroys marriages. It is the principle of self that cripples leadership in nations. It is the principle of self that governs the international realm, reflected in such statements as nations don’t have friends but interests. It is the principle of self that destroys young people’s relationship with parents. Racism, nationalism, tribalism and xenophobia are all rooted in this same principle of self.
Economic philosophies and doctrines like capitalism, laissez faire1, survival of the fittest, free market systems2 and liberalism are all rooted in the principle and philosophy of self. This principle basically entered into the entire system of human life (the world - Rom 5:12) and crippled all of life; this is why the world is the way it is today. Christ came to show us correct original design and patterns of human life through the Cross.
Genesis 3:6-7
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. NIV
Romans 10:3
3 Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. NIV
The word “righteousness” is not fundamentally a religious word. It’s a word that describes the definitions, standards and laws set by an authority (e.g. a king) that the objects of that authority need to conform to and align with. The word applies more appropriately in contexts of governance; e.g. one is being righteous if one abides by the laws of his nation – essentially, righteousness defines how people see life. Righteousness contains a collection of definitions, standards and laws that must be understood and obeyed. Righteousness is therefore expressed and understood through knowledge (or doctrine).
The phrase, “their own righteousness” in Romans 10:3 means that man has been progressively developing his own knowledge systems and doctrines on various issues of life: religion, economics, politics and social life. The Kingdom of God comes not to simply give man religion but to provide a complete doctrine of human life. Matthew 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. NIV
Acts 14:16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. NIV
The phrase, “God let the nations go their own way”, means there was an original knowledge system that governed human life.
Acts 17:26
26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. NIV
According to Acts 17:26, nations were made – and since nations were made, they too are under command. Those leading these nations have responsibility over God’s entities. The description, “King of kings and the Lord of lords” actually reveals the political supremacy of God over all political and governance systems of man.
Humanity and Nations deviated from the prescribed law by developing their systems of life. These are systems like culture, politics, economics etc.
Acts 17:26
26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. NIV
Acts 14:16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. NIV
Nations developed knowledge systems outside of the set framework of God:
1 Peter 1:18-19
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. NIV
Colossians 2:8
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. NIV
Colossians 2:20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: NIV
God commands repentance back to His knowledge systems:
Acts 17:30-31
30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." NIV
Even though God let man and nations go their own way (develop their own doctrines and knowledge systems), He now commands repentance – a change back to His knowledge systems.
Apostles are sent to proclaim correct knowledge systems to nations:
Acts 26:17-19
17 I will rescue you [Paul] from your own people and from the Gentiles [ethnos: nations]. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
19 "So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. NIV
God is sending a Reformation generation to restore all things:
Matthew 17: 11 Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. NIV
Restore (apokathistemi in Gr.): to reconstitute in health or organisation. To put back into a former state, restore, reform, applied to the reformation brought about by the preaching and ministry of John the Baptist.
Luke 11:49
49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.' NIV
Matthew 23:34
34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. NIV
Hebrews 9:10
10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings-external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
NIV
Heb 9:10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. NKJV
Reformation (diorthosis in Gr.): to correct and amend, to straighten thoroughly; rectification, to put things in their correct arrangement; the coming of a better order of things.
The church is God’s plan to redeem and reform humanity back to the original knowledge systems of human life:
Isaiah 2:2-4
2 In the last days
the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established
as chief among the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore. NIV
Isaiah 42:1-3
1 "Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him
and he will bring justice to the nations. NIV
Isaiah 60:1-3
1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn. NIV
Isaiah 14:24-27
24 The LORD Almighty has sworn,
"Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,
and as I have purposed, so it will stand.
25 I will crush the Assyrian in my land;
on my mountains I will trample him down.
His yoke will be taken from my people,
and his burden removed from their shoulders."
26 This is the plan determined for the whole world;
this is the hand stretched out over all nations.
27 For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him?
His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? NIV
Revelation 21:24
24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. NIV
God will judge all false systems of human life:
Haggai 2:7
7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. NIV
Revelation 19:15
15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword [i.e the Word of God: His knowledge system] with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. NIV
2 Thessalonians 2:8
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth [Declaration of God’s truth] and destroy by the splendor of his coming. NIV
Notes
1. Leissez fairre: a doctrine opposing governmental interference in economic affairs beyond the minimum necessary for the maintenance of peace and property rights. a philosophy or practice characterized by a usually deliberate abstention from direction or interference especially with individual freedom of choice and action (Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laissez-faire). Individualism is the fundamental issue behind this doctrine, and the kingdom of God is opposed to all forms of individualism. This is but one example of something that appears to be just an innocent piece of knowledge and doctrine in the area of economics and yet is fundamentally flawed when viewed under the light of the doctrine of the kingdom of God. So therefore the kingdom of God is not only opposed by false religions but essentially by false knowledge systems, whether these come from economics, politics etc. is not an issue. What this says is that, like Daniel, the Disciples of Christ must go through the education systems of the world and yet still maintain God and the kingdom as the primary source of knowledge (Dan 1:17). They must walk in the philosophy that says, ‘God is true and every man is a liar’ (Rom 3:4).
2. Free market systems: in opposing free market systems, the writer does not subscribe to communistic doctrines either as these are equally wrong knowledge systems. The kingdom of God is a system of individual creativity and productivity (Gen 2:15) expressed in a regulated environment (Gen 2:16&17), where ‘common good’ is the underlying objective of the people (Acts 4:32-35). Every gift is given for the common good (1 Cor 12:7). This is one fundamental principle in the doctrine and ideology of the kingdom of God.
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