I’ve been re-reading Genesis recently. I found within Chapter 3 a succinct step-by-step guide to sin. I’d like to share it with you (not, of course, to encourage us to sin; but to warn and immunise us against it.)

Step 1: Avoid knowing God’s law in its fullness. Better still, misquote it.
When God placed Adam in Eden, he told Adam that he could freely eat of any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (TKGE); and if Adam ate it, that very day he’d die (2:16-17). By the time Eve got talking with the serpent – perhaps due to Adam’s poor communication or Eve’s lack of attention, or both – she overstated and understated God’s command. She told the serpent that they couldn’t even touch the fruit (3:3) – thereby overstating God’s command. She didn’t stress the freedom God gave and the immediacy of death (spiritual death, as it turns out) which would flow from disobedience – thereby understating God’s command.

When we don’t know God’s law, we’re in trouble. Knowing the fullness of God’s law prevents us from binding where God doesn’t bind. It allows us to emphasise the grace and freedom within God’s law while keeping in mind the dire consequences of disobedience. So, let’s treasure, study, memorise, learn and teach others God’s law.

Step 2: Rationalise what we want to do – even if it’s wrong.
When Eve allowed her mind to dwell on the fruit of the TKGE, she saw that it was good for food, a delight to the eyes, and desirable to make her wise (3:6). Appetising. Aesthetically beautiful. Wisdom-enhancing. How could eating this fruit be sinful? So it is that when we dwell on sin, our minds tend to justify what we’re about to do. And thus we fall into sin.

The antidote to rationalising sin is to not dwell on sin in the first place. Instead, let our minds dwell on things that are true, honourable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent and worthy of praise (Phil 4:8).

Step 3: Separate ourselves from God and each other.
Separation in its various forms – eg. hiding from God (3:8,10); blaming others for one’s sin (3:12, 13) – is both a cause and consequence of sin. Sometimes it’s motivated by shame. Other times by pride.

The cure is to keep close to God and to spiritual brethren. If we feel tempted, pray. Or call a brother or sister. Even if we sin, go back to God and seek forgiveness. Call brethren for comfort. Don’t separate yourself.

In C.S. Lewis’ little gem, The Screwtape Letters, Wormwood, a junior demon, receives instructions from his more experienced uncle, Screwtape. This is how Screwtape describes the battle to tempt humans and the machinations of the Enemy (God): “We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sons. We want to suck in, He wants to give out. We are empty and would be filled; He is full and flows over. Our war aim is a world in which Our Father Below has drawn all other beings into himself: the Enemy wants a world full of beings united to Him but still distinct.”

That’s the daily battle we face.