© 19 Colin Melbourne
Divine Earworms
Charles Jennens
Once heard, never forgotten: The wonderful da capo arias of Charles Jennens’ libretto for G.F. Handel’s oratorio Messiah resonate in our hearts with their majestic musical accompaniment.
Even so in Christ shall all be made alive
Even so in Christ shall all be made alive
Even so in Christ shall all be made alive
The slow and sombre bars of the preceding lines contrast perfectly, alerting the listener to pay attention: This matter is of eternal significance for you personally whether you believe it or not.
Since by man came death
Since by man came death
The scriptures Jennens used are 1 Co. 15:21-22 KJV;
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Sin’s wage-packet is Death
Mankind has been reaping the harvest of sin, for the six thousand years since Creation. Genesis 2:15-17 KJV;
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
A Pushover
Minimal temptation was required to seduce the first man and woman to disobey our Creator, and thereby condemn humanity to reap the consequences of sin; spiritual and physical death. Gen. 3:1-7 KJV;
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Adam’s Three Strikes
In the article Adam & Eve we learned that the Holy Bible tells us plainly that Adam was right with Eve when the Serpent deceived her. He didn’t utter a peep, or lift a finger against God’s enemy. What a wimp!
Notice, Adam failed three times before Eve;
- Adam failed in his duty to keep the Garden: He let the Serpent in.
- Adam kept quiet as the Serpent lied: He should have rebuked the liar and used his authority to cast him out.
- Adam failed to restrain Eve from taking the forbidden fruit.
The Holy Bible declares of The Fall;
For since by man came death, … 1 Cor. 15:21a KJV.
It grieves male theologians that it does not say, “… since by WOman came death”.
They hope we haven’t noticed.
We have.
The Cost of Rebellion
The first couple forfeited their perfect standing with God, died spiritually, and were driven from His Presence, just as they had been forewarned.
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Spiritual death was instant, followed by inevitable physical death.
If Adam had stuck to the word of God, he’d still be alive with us today, and we would each be born righteous, knowing God intimately and eternally, as we were intended.
Instead, Adam and Eve sinned by doubting the veracity of God’s Word, disobeyed Him, and began knowing evil: Their very natures became unholy, their progeny inherit the same rebellious heart, the same sinful nature, the same death.
Sin Became Man’s Default-setting from Birth
Created to enjoy the fruit of obedience, man’s sin against God has resulted in continual human degeneration and chaos in the world,
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom. 3:23 KJV.
Sin, disease, death, famine, infirmity, strife, greed, selfishness, warring, killing, and pride are hallmarks of The Fall.
How different this world would be if we’d remained obedient to Our Creator; we would be eating the fruit of obedience, walking with Him, and enjoying His eternal Life evermore.
Praise God for The Blood of Christ!
You Have Been Redeemed
Do you know that God’s perfect righteousness is offered to you today?
You can receive it through the New Covenant God has made In His Blood.
It is explained in the New Testament of the Holy Bible.
I discovered it by reading the Gospel of John, asking the LORD to open my spiritual eyes to Truth.
Are you ready to taste Real Life?
Continue reading about Charles Jennens and Handel’s Messiah
Top image: G.F. Handel and Karlsruhe Palace
© 19 Colin Melbourne
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