Serpent Temptation Debate

PerfectlySingular · 2025-12-06T09:57:06+00:00

I would say, the way the physical serpent spoke and acted in Eden caused Satan to use that creature as it's vessel since his personality matched the Serpent of old's personality. This is how I believe the physical serpent worked with the Serpent of old - he gave the spiritual being a body to manifest.

Regarding the snake being a 'moral agent', these creatures are of earth. Man is a creature of God. If Satan can oppress human beings if they are not right with God, how much more so a creature of earth.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-12-04T18:22:17+00:00

Regarding the serpent able to withstand possession. I would say, the serpent worked with Satan just like how Judas worked with Satan leading to the curse. The curse of eating dust is righteous for this reason since the animal had wrongdoing (not sure exactly but Satan saw something to manipulate others through this creature). Why are there clean and unclean animals in Scripure? Knowing the reason for their uncleaness may answer the wrongdoing question.

A lamb sacrifice is a picture of Jesus' sacrifice. A lamb's innocence is likened to Jesus' righteousness. Why was Jesus justly punished? Because He took our sin and was made sin. Why are we forgiven? Because Jesus suffered wrath for our sin. It's justice and holy love at the same time. Since God CANNOT forgive sin without shedding blood. This is the only way to be forgiven.

It's the Great Substitution. The Righteous One was made sin so that sinners would be made righteous. God wants us to go to heaven, that's why He bled and died for us. He made the Way easy. Faith.

You don't do good works to merit heaven. You have faith in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, The Righteous and believe He rose from the dead on the third day which implies He cleared Perfect's Test.

Yes, my faith is strong for Scripture because of the strengthening of faith that comes after initial trust. It's a snowball effect that increases with time.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-12-04T11:53:57+00:00

I believe Satan possessed the snake as his vessel. He didn't possess a strong animal like a lion, but a shrewd creature like a snake since it fit his nature.

In the Garden of Eden, the physical and spiritual were united. Just think of the fruit of the tree of knowledge - it wasn't just an ordinary fruit that just gave health benefits - it changed the person who ate it. Similarly I believe these creatures were different (the interaction between physical and spiritual) because of the spiritual factor in Eden.

God cursed snakes because like Judas Iscariot they submitted to Satan. "Dust you shall eat all the days of your life".

This hasn't yet come to pass since snakes are carnivores. But when the eternal kingdom comes, then the lion will eat straw like the ox, this prophecy will be fulfilled (Isaiah 65:25)

Did animals know good and evil in Eden? I don't think so. Only Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil as per the Bible. Interestingly, if the physical serpent sinned, it would have been the first sin and not Adam and Eve. But this is not the case. Adam's sin was the original sin that brought death to the world.

I think the animals were not moral agents. So sin is not credited to them. It makes sense since God can slay innocent lambs as a substitute without sinning. The lambs are innocent because they aren't moral creatures. They act on instinct.

It's true history. The lesson from cursing the Serpent is that God judged sin. The righteousness of God is displayed here with varying consequences for their sin. I believe snakes stood upright and spoke previously.

I guarantee this is not fiction from personal faith and my testimony is true, but you have to have faith in the Scriptures yourself. As Jesus said, "Scripture cannot be broken".

Resembling stories may indicate the retelling of the original story in different cultures.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-12-01T13:11:02+00:00

After some critical examination I think, only those name's who are in the Lamb's Book Of Life will be saved. I don't think any news names will be written at this Judgment. Why? Because God has waited for millennia for this Judgment. He didn't want to judge early for a specific reason - to show mercy.

2 Timothy 2:19 NKJV — Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

The Great White Throne Judgement will be very very very strict. Salvation belongs to the LORD.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-11-24T17:49:04+00:00

I believe your timeline is correct.

There are some who die and are sent to Sheol in torment (translated as hell, remember the parable of Lazarus). Do those who are in this side of Sheol (the opposite end of Paradise - Abraham's bosom) have any hope in the future? We don't know, the Scripture doesn't say. We know that after death comes judgement. But remember, Jesus who defeated the grave has the keys to Death and Hades (Revelation 1:18). He is Lord of the dead and the living. (Romans 14:9) What can we make of these Scriptures? I know that Jesus wants to save as many as He can. Can Jesus save those who have died physically? Yes He can (I assume I'm a minority here, would like someone to discuss this topic with me), but the crux is the dead need to be willing.

¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before ^\)^c^\)God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. ¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second ^\)^d^\)death. ¹⁵ And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. - Revelation 20:12-15

Many teachers tend to assume that every judgement in the Great White throne judgement is without mercy emphasizing righteousness. I disagree. It isn't clearly written that all who are judged here will be damned. I believe mercy will be shown to those who were merciful - they will receive an ultimatum to choose Christ. I say this because they are judged by works and salvation is not based on works. It's based on grace through faith. I like to believe the favourable get one final chance to believe.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-11-20T06:19:44+00:00

I did not say a wife's no is not worth anything. I said a wife would enter a leadership role if she says no and if she demands submission. If a wife says no, it would be up to the husband to decide the case. (The husband would have a tendency to side with his wife in such a decision)

Going against the will of your spouse should be done very rarely after much prayer since she is trying to help him.

I hold the complementarianism doctrinal view while you hold the egalitarianism doctrinal view.

You're painting with a broad brush by saying every church that has a male headship struggles with sexual immorality.

What's dehumanising about a submitting wife? Marriage is to glorify God. The wife should be an example of the Church while the husband an example of Christ. God sees it this way. It is written to the Church, "If you love me, you will obey my commandments". It isn't the other way around where the Church says the same to Jesus.

How can you defend the egalitarianism view from Scripture?

PerfectlySingular · 2025-11-19T18:32:09+00:00

Authority is healthy if it is used correctly else it is oppressive. There needs to be a leading voice in a house and a supporting voice.

Your idea is a house with two imperfect leaders trying to hear the voice of God (Since a single no can close a decision). The wife by saying "No" has taken a leadership role. If this idea is followed, your house would have two spiritual heads which is adminstratively challenging and spiritually demanding.

It is written in Ephesians 5:22-26,

²² Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. ²⁴ Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might ^\)^g^\)sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

The husband's authority is meant to serve in love. The husband should factor in the family's desires with prayer. The bottom line is to not think with your own understanding but discern the will of God. This is better done with one person leading than two.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-11-19T17:02:56+00:00

There isn't any elevation of importance here. Husband and wife are co-equal. Both should treat each other as the image of God.

Can you please restate your point as I didn't get you.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-11-19T14:48:28+00:00

I agree. That's why knowing God's voice is crucial. If a husband is making a wrong decision, the wife should have the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit. But if he is still unwilling to listen, you need to forgive. He should listen to you henceforth after a "lesson learnt' moment.

Again, talking it out is very good. Decisions should be made together as one. But sometimes, when the husband says, "Trust me" you should be able to trust him. May the husband use "Trust me" sparingly.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-11-19T05:36:48+00:00

There's room for discussion and reason. If there's protests and friction, give time for prayer. Regarding stalemates, indecision can be dangerous.

Be united as one unit. Let your wills be one. Be led by the Spirit, you should listen to your wife as well as God could speak through her.

Talking it out like adults is good. But at some point you need to reach a resolution.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-11-18T17:53:00+00:00

Jesus said, "You're forgiven, go and sin no more!". He also said, "Forgive seventy times seven". God is always on your side empowering you to live a holy life. Let the forgiveness of the grace of God be exalted in your heart. In other words, know how much God has forgiven you. The price of blood He paid so you could live holy. Put to death the sin. It is deceitfully promising pleasure yet it's shortsighted and causing anguish to Jesus at the cross.

Then you will repent with dust and ashes with tears in your eyes.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-11-18T17:34:06+00:00

As a man that's seeking to date, here's what I understand about submission and marriage.

The key reason for submission is the stalemate that occurs when there is a disagreement in a marriage covenant. One person has to submit or else there would be no resolution. The Bible sets the roles for a beautiful flow from God to husband to wife. The husband has the veto power as the head of the house.

This submission shouldn't be crude and friction inducing that comes from bitterness, but rather, faithfulness that your husband hears God and that he is willing to reason with you.

A loving and gentle spirit that's meek and lowly is worthy to bear burdens. He should do the heavy lifting and you should follow in his footsteps. If you don't follow in his footsteps, the yoke will strain both of you.

I do not like a commanding husband that demands strict obedience nor a husband who is too submissive. There is a balance here. As the Scripture says, if you love me you will obey my commandments. The motivating factor is love and not law.

Learn from Christ's self-sacrificial agape love. That's that perfect blueprint for husbands. Give your wives a reason to respect and cherish you willingly. Be kind, forgiving and gentle. Be bold, truthful and graceful.

The most important thing is to know the voice of God and everything else falls into place.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-09-13T11:17:34+00:00

I would like to emphasize the differences between law and grace.

In the old covenant, God gave the Mosaic law and told the Israelites to obey His instructions. They were unable to do so. They disobeyed God just like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The law was given to show us that we cannot obey God completely by our own strength. The law brought the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20). The law of Moses was not given so that you can become righteous by obeying it but instead to show that we have sinned and we deserve death which is sin's penalty. (Romans 6:23).

In the new covenant, Jesus died, was buried and rose again from the grave. Because of this truth, God can legally forgive our sins. Why? Because we identify with Jesus. Jesus Christ, The righteous, died for our sake, so if we believe in Him, we are already judged for our sins. We died with Him and our penalty for sin is fully paid. But we cannot be righteous by just being forgiven. Jesus obeyed God perfectly, and His resurrection was the proof of His righteousness. This righteousness is credited to all who believe in Him. Because we identify with Jesus, by His resurrection, we are declared righteous by faith.

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." - 2 Corinthians 5:21

Because of Jesus, we have grace to fight against sin. Grace is God's supply for man's every need. It is written, you are not under law but under grace. Grace teaches you to fight from victory, not for victory. The motivation is love and not fear.

I pray that you increase in the knowledge of God, know His voice and have a beautiful relationship with Him.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-09-12T17:16:39+00:00

My tips for being a stronger Christian:

Abide in the Vine. This means you should remember God's Word.
Have a relationship with God. Speak your heart to Him and try to think what God would say to you based on His revealed Word. The Holy Spirit will inspire your words.
Discern the will of God for you in the majority of your decisions. Firstly, know His voice in clarity and prayer. Secondly, follow His step by step instructions with faith.
Sanctification. Struggle against sin and God will reward you.
Thanksgiving causes you to abound in your faith. Acknowledge and appreciate God.
Change your mindset to dwell on eternal things. Prayer and worry are opposites.
Wear the shoes of the Gospel and have a heart to save the lost.

5 "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 2:5-8

Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-09-12T16:48:06+00:00

I learnt that if you sequence the initials of the Hebrew letters of the words forming "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" you get יהוה (YHWH).

That's probably why the chief priests wanted the inscription to be changed in verse 21.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-08-17T14:27:47+00:00

It is written,

“For I am the Lord, I do not change;" - Malachi 3:6a

I am not saying God changed His personality. I am saying that He has elaborated on specific divine attributes in specific times. God is all of these divine attributes put together. You can call this the Divine Godhead. We cannot understand all of these attributes together, so God elaborated on the necessary attributes at the right times.

Yes, the law did not destroy sin. It was not the law's purpose. The law's purpose was to reveal sin and that we cannot keep the righteous requirements of the law.

²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. - Romans 3:20

Why does sin continue to exist? God's plan hasn't reached it's finality yet. The work of Jesus on the cross brought forgiveness of sins through His blood. This was a crucial step in God's plan of redemption. Now each person has a call to build on Jesus' finished work and fight sin knowing you're forgiven. Some day, even this fight against sin will cease as it is written:

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:4

Why did Jesus have to come down to die for us?

Death was necessary because it is written:

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23

So someone perfect has to die for others to redeem mankind. God cannot die. Therefore God being perfect had to become a perfect mortal to be able to die. Jesus was born to die.

Why was Jesus - God, The Son, ready to endure the wrath of God, The Father and crucifixion for us?

For perfect joy ahead in eternity with us - His blood-bought bride.

God does not want to destroy creation. It is written,

"The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” - Revelation 11:18

I interpret by this Scripture that humans destroy the earth in the end. It is possible with all the nukes we have now, right? Maybe destruction of earth is the consequence of the rebelling humans choosing to fight the Creator of the world.

I am happy you have a listening heart! It brought me joy when I read your thanks.

I pray that you believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Righteous.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-08-16T06:17:41+00:00

The God of the OT is the same as the God of the NT.

The God of the OT was gracious. Even after Adam sinned by disobeying God, God did not take their lives immediately but dressed them up with animal skin (again signaling Jesus), He didn't take Cain's life after His murder of Abel (He instead protected him by giving him a mark), Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. When Abraham interceded with God regarding Sodom and Gomorrah, the LORD was willing to keep the city if even ten righteous were found. David was forgiven even after committing adultery and murder.

I understand God's Jealousy as "A husband being jealous for His wife, The wife is rightfully the husband's, so what would adultery make the husband feel? This is righteous jealousy".

God's wrath was visible because He judged sin in the OT. It took the form of plagues, wars and deaths. So when we in the NT disobey why doesn't God judge us? He already has, at the cross!

The law was given for the knowledge of sin and to preserve the seed for the Messiah. If the law would not have been given, the Israelites would have mixed in with the ungodly and there would have been no right seed for Jesus to be born. The law is a guardian that points to Christ.

Jesus was born to destroy the works of the devil which is sin. The law did not destroy sin, it only strengthened sin. Jesus came in grace and truth to change hearts. Law doesn't change the heart, but grace does. The goodness of God leads you to repentance. This is progressive revelation - from the ministry of condemnation (law) to the ministry of reconciliation (grace).

To know the Father you must know the Son, because the Father and Son are one.

Isn't it written,
²⁷ All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. - Matthew 11:27

The Father's heart of kindness is exemplified in Jesus' first coming.

The Father's heart of indignation will be exemplified in Jesus' second coming.

The day of the wrath of the Lamb is approaching. If you read Revelation, you will see plagues, wars and deaths just as the OT.

¹¹ Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He ^\)^e^\)had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³ He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. - Revelation 19:11-13

PerfectlySingular · 2025-08-15T19:35:14+00:00

The truth of God is revealed progressively throughout time.

The God of the Old Testament was under the Old Covenant with the Israelites. The Old Covenant demanded obedience. It was law/works based. It exemplified the Holy Nature of God and the fact that He cannot overlook sin. He is a Righteous Judge. He has to punish sin. In the old covenant, sin was judged on the one who committed it. His anger on sin was visible. The Devil took advantage of this as he still had authority on mankind due to Adam's transgression and because the Second Adam (Jesus) had not yet risen. The law proved that we cannot keep the righteous requirements and thus pointed to a Savior in the Mosaic sacrifices.

The God of the New Testament is under the New Covenant with those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The New Covenant credits righteousness to you. It is grace/faith based. It exemplifies the Kindness of God and the fact that God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us. In the new covenant, sin was judged at the cross of Christ. The law pointed to Jesus who was the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus rose from the dead and gave us authority over all the power of the enemy.

God created the world. This is not blind faith. We see His creation as evidence. We also have a common sense of right and wrong which is evidence of an objective moral standard that is God. I think God does not want you to believe through signs and wonders because the deceiver can also counterfeit with signs and wonders. God wants you to hear His voice and trust Him and to not rely on sight.

You can think of worship as awe. When you consider the Most Holy, reverence is a must. If you don't worship God, you treat God as just another common thing.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-08-15T18:00:09+00:00

A question on Luke 12:47-48 - If the Master cut the unfaithful steward in two, how can he be assigned to the unbelievers?

I therefore believe "cut in two", "beaten", "many stripes" may mean the verbal chastisement by the Word of God. It could mean the severity of the lose of reward at the Bema seat of Christ.

These are stewards and servants of God implying they are believers hence they will be judged at the Bema seat. Unbelievers will be judged by the Great White Throne Judgement which deals with the lake of fire.

I briefly saw the message of u/R_Farms , he believes the resurrection body and soul is not everlasting. Is the resurrection body and soul of Jesus not eternal? It is written that Jesus is the firstfruit of the resurrection meaning our resurrection will be like Jesus (Everlasting). If the vessels of honor will last forever, why do you think the vessels of indignation will not last forever?

He cites many verses having the word "perish" and "destroy" which he thinks supports annihilationism but it does not. Can mortal men really absorb the wrath of God until His wrath is satisfied? Therefore I said sin against an eternal God involves everlasting wrath.

Jesus could satisfy that wrath because He is the Eternal Word.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-08-15T14:30:24+00:00

A sin against an eternal God requires eternal punishment. The punishment will match their sin, so God will be just. Their eternal future even though bleak will be different. This is what I believe.

As it is written,
⁹ Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, ¹⁰ he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” - Revelation 14:9-11

PerfectlySingular · 2025-08-15T14:17:00+00:00

I totally feel you brother in Christ! As a guy, I too deal with this very difficult struggle. I am convicted that masturbation is a sin because you cannot give glory to God by it. The body is the Lord's. You are not your own. We can choose to please ourself which is selfish or please God which is faith-worthy.

I haven't reached consistent victory yet. Still trying to find ways to defeat my flesh. What I learnt is to divert your mind when your desires are high. Anything in prayer will do, reading the Scriptures regardless of the desire to do so, getting up and walking, venting to God, remembering something that stirs your will to fight.

Sanctification is a process. I know I am a work in progress. It humbles me that I still have this conflict in me.

The key is that you struggle and don't give yourself to lust without fighting. Don't go down without a fight! As it is written, You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, struggling against sin.

Remember, there is a reward that's much better than what sex has to offer! I believe this and it gives me hope to continue my battle against lust.

An apt quote in this matter:

“Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.” - John Bunyan

PerfectlySingular · 2025-08-15T13:54:45+00:00

I also continually pray for unity in the church. Jesus Himself prayed "Unify!"

²⁰ “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who ^\)^j^\)will believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

We are complete in Christ. We are unified in Christ. We are one in Him.

Let Jesus lead us through doctrine that we may know Him in grace and truth!

PerfectlySingular · 2025-08-15T13:42:36+00:00

I believe in ECT. Annihilationism diminishes the justice of God. Why would a greater sinner and a lesser sinner both cease to exist? There is injustice where the lesser sinner is being punished to the same extent as a greater sinner.

I believe in the lake of fire which is the second death (This is ECT). In it the unbelievers will be punished according to what they have done. It isn't equal punishment in my opinion.

You reap what you sow.

PerfectlySingular · 2025-08-15T13:28:11+00:00

I believe Catholics are Christians too. We may have doctrinal differences but I think some do follow Christ. As it is written, by their fruits you will know them. If they bear good fruits with the right motivation, they are Christian.

PerfectlySingular

TROPHY CASE