THE first of these commands was given to Adam. The second is addressed to you, to me, to all men.
Adam had not to choose. He had to obey. He was not to do his own will, nor the will of his wife.
Now the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise; so she took of the fruit of it and ate it. She gave also to her husband that he might eat with her, and he ate it!...
Then God said to Adam. “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it thou was taken: dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return”
Thus their own will led Adam and Eve to death.
By the disobedience of one, condemnation came upon all men. Therefore God proclaims the necessity of repentance to the inhabitants of the whole world. He now commandeth all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:3030And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30)). The Apostle Paul preached it “publicly and from house to house”―to the Jews, and also to the Greeks―repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:20, 2120And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:20‑21)). “As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous” (Rom. 5:1919For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)).
Do you believe that? Have you faith in our Lord Jesus Christ? “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from, the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)). But you delay. You love the world. But bear in mind “all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desire of the eyes and the pride of life―is not of the Father. If you prefer the world to Jesus, if you do not repent towards God―if you do not believe in Christ risen, glorified, and exalted to the right hand of God, you will be judged, condemned by the Man Whom God has ordained to judge in righteousness the whole habitable earth―even JESUS (Acts 17:3131Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)).
God has expressed His love toward you, and in order that you may escape condemnation, and be blessed now and eternally, He commands you to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Will you obey? Or will you disobey Him? “The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hands. He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life: but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:35, 3635The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:35‑36)). H. B.