We begin at the very beginning, when mankind walked in unity with God. When that unity was painfully severed, a promise of hope was given.
Today's Bible verse is 1 Timothy 1:15, from the King James Version.
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Speaker 1: The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance. That
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Speaker 1: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of
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Speaker 1: whom I am chief Verse Timothy one fifteen. Dear Heavenly Father,
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Speaker 1: in this season of joy and good will, we're humbled
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Speaker 1: by the reminder of why you sent your only begotten
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Speaker 1: son into the world. We were sinners, lost and unworthy.
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Speaker 1: Yet in your infinite love you offered us the greatest
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Speaker 1: gift of all Jesus, our redeemer Father. As the Christmas
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Speaker 1: lights twinkle and the carols are sung, let us never
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Speaker 1: forget the true essence of this season. It's not merely
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Speaker 1: a time of gifts and festivities, but to reflect on
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Speaker 1: the immense sacrifice you made for us. Amidst our merriments,
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Speaker 1: let us all carry a profound sense of gratitude for
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Speaker 1: the salvation we have received through Christ. We are all sinners,
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Speaker 1: yet we hope because of that blessed Knight in Bethlehem.
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Speaker 1: You sent your son not to condemn us, but to
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Speaker 1: redeem us, offering undeserved mercy and grace. As we celebrate
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Speaker 1: his birth, let it serve as a reminder of our
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Speaker 1: own spiritual rebirth. The second chance gifted to us through
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Speaker 1: your love. In Jesus precious name, we pray Amen, thank
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Speaker 1: you for praying with me to day. Stay tuned now
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Speaker 1: for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.
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Speaker 2: In the dawn of all things, when the earth was
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Speaker 2: new and ripe with the Lord's grand design, there was
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Speaker 2: a garden Eden. Eden was a realm untouched by corruption.
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Speaker 2: Rivers weaved gracefully through emerald hills, and creatures of all
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Speaker 2: kinds thrived in sweet harmony. At the center of the
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Speaker 2: garden were two trees, representing the trajectory of humanity's journey
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Speaker 2: with God. Like a beacon, risen high amongst the wilderness,
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Speaker 2: stood the Tree of Life. Its strong trunk coiled upward,
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Speaker 2: connecting the heavens and earth in divine unity. This tree
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Speaker 2: represented perfect harmony with God eternal life. The tree's roots
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Speaker 2: were firmly planted into the ground, interweaving with other trees below.
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Speaker 2: Planted opposite the Tree of Life, hanging over the ledge
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Speaker 2: of a canyon, was the Tree of Knowledge. Much like
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Speaker 2: the Tree of Life, the Tree of Knowledge was pleasing
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Speaker 2: to the eyes. Its leaves were dark green, and its
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Speaker 2: fruit was bright red. Dangling from thick vines. When God
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Speaker 2: formed and breathed life into humanity, he gave them a
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Speaker 2: charge to go forth, multiply and tend to the earth
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Speaker 2: with creativity. He gave them the freedom to enjoy every
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Speaker 2: fruit that the garden had to offer, except for the
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Speaker 2: Tree of Knowledge.
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Speaker 3: From this tree, God commanded, you shall not eat, for
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Speaker 3: if you eat from that tree, you will surely die.
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Speaker 2: God's decree was not one of constraint, but of freedom.
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Speaker 2: He knew the freedom of choice was paramount to his
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Speaker 2: relationship with them. If they refrained from the tree, they
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Speaker 2: would live in harmonious partnership with God and the garden.
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Speaker 3: If they ate from the tree, their souls would be
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Speaker 3: separated from Him and sin would plague their hearts.
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Speaker 2: God's desire, his thrill and joy, was to be with humanity.
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Speaker 2: God was with them, but he would not force them
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Speaker 2: into a relationship. He lovingly invited them to dwell in
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Speaker 2: Eden and fill the earth with co culture, music, love,
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Speaker 2: and laughter. The choice was theirs to make. Would they
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Speaker 2: want God with them or would they forsake unity with
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Speaker 2: Him to seize control.
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Speaker 4: Hello everyone, and welcome to a brand new season of
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Speaker 4: The Jesus Podcast. Ethanfrompray dot Com. The Christmas season is
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Speaker 4: upon us, a time for family gatherings, gift giving, and
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Speaker 4: warm meals with loved ones. Let's face it, though Christmas
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Speaker 4: can be chaotic if we aren't careful, the busyness of
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Speaker 4: the Christmas season can rob us of joy. No doubt,
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Speaker 4: many of you will sing joy to the world during
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Speaker 4: church in the coming month, But do you have joy?
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Speaker 4: Has the Christmas story enlivened your faith and sparked your
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Speaker 4: passion for Christ? I hope this twenty five episode mini
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Speaker 4: series on the Nativity will ignite passionate joy in you
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Speaker 4: this Christmas. Some of you might be asking, if this
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Speaker 4: is a podcast about Christmas, then what are we doing
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Speaker 4: back at the story of Adam and Eve. That's because
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Speaker 4: the story of Christmas doesn't begin with Gabriel talking to Mary.
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Speaker 4: It begins at the very beginning, when mankind was ripe
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Speaker 4: with potential but squandered it for the sake of pride.
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Speaker 4: The triumph of Christmas begins with the tragedy of the Fall. Yet,
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Speaker 4: as we've explored before, within the story of Adam and
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Speaker 4: Eve is a kernel of hope, a promise of redemption.
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Speaker 4: Let's explore this tale of Wool together in a cinematic
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Speaker 4: retelling of Genesis chapter three. Afterward, we'll mind the deep
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Speaker 4: Christmas truths packed into this story.
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Speaker 2: Adam and Eve walked hand in hand down the grassy
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Speaker 2: path from the Tree of Life. Adam, a man crafted
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Speaker 2: from dust, walked with the strength of the earth and
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Speaker 2: stone he was hewn from. Eve, a woman delicately sown
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Speaker 2: from flesh in the morning mist, walked with curiosity at
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Speaker 2: vibrant grace, like the petals of the garden's flowers. They
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Speaker 2: were in harmony with one another in God, naked and unashamed.
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Speaker 2: As they rounded the path, a shadow caught Eve's eye.
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Speaker 2: Something was rustling in the branches of the Tree of Knowledge.
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Speaker 2: Eve approached carefully and observed the great tree. In the
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Speaker 2: shadows of its leaves, A strange creature appeared. The serpent,
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Speaker 2: a creature imbued with wisdom and cunning, eclipsed all of
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Speaker 2: Eden's animals. His eyes sparkled with a tantalizing knowledge and
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Speaker 2: a flicker of forbidden understanding. With a voice as sweet
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Speaker 2: as the forbidden fruit itself, he whispered into Eve's ear,
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Speaker 2: his words carrying the allure of the unknown.
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Speaker 3: Tell me Eve, did.
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Speaker 2: God really say you couldn't eat anything in this garden?
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Speaker 2: Both startled and entranced by the creature, Eve responded.
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Speaker 5: No, our Creator forbade us to even touch this tree.
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Speaker 2: The serpent let out a breathy laugh. His voice was soft, silky,
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Speaker 2: and sinister. And why would he do that? The serpent's
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Speaker 2: voice curled around Eve's curiosity like a tender caress.
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Speaker 5: Because if we do, she replied, we shall surely die.
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Speaker 2: A smile curled around the serpent's face. Death. Oh no, no, no,
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Speaker 2: not death, Eve, You.
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Speaker 5: Will not die.
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Speaker 2: In truth, the fruit of this tree will bring enlightenment, knowledge,
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Speaker 2: making you like God himself.
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Speaker 5: Like God.
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Speaker 2: The words were tantalizing on Eve's lips. She felt a
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Speaker 2: thrill of fear and desire thread through her beam to
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Speaker 2: be like her maker, to understand the world as he did.
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Speaker 2: It was an intoxicating thought, a secret song that strummed
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Speaker 2: her curiosity like an instrument. As she stared at the
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Speaker 2: forbidden fruit, its skin glistening in Eden's radiant light, it
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Speaker 2: seemed less a symbol of death and more a promise
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Speaker 2: of transcendent knowledge.
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Speaker 5: We can be like God.
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Speaker 2: She reached out her hand, trembling slightly and plucked the
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Speaker 2: fruit from the tree. It felt warm to her touch,
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Speaker 2: filled with a vibrant life that pulsed beneath her finger tips,
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Speaker 2: and as she took the first bite, an explosion of
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Speaker 2: flavors unlike anything she had ever experienced filled her senses,
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Speaker 2: flooding her with a bitter, sweet euphoria that was both
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Speaker 2: terrifying and exhilarating. Her rebellion was sweet for a moment.
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Speaker 2: The serpent, content that his work was done, slow slithered
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Speaker 2: back into the leaves, his eyes still peered down at
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Speaker 2: the woman. Adam had been watching all along. He too,
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Speaker 2: knew full well that his wife was transgressing against God,
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Speaker 2: but he couldn't contain his own curiosity, so he waited
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Speaker 2: and watched, unwilling to act upon his convictions. Crimson juice
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Speaker 2: dripped from Eve's smiling face. Her eyes were wide with fear, exhilaration,
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Speaker 2: and fascination. She extended the fruit to him. Adam looked
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Speaker 2: at her, and then down at the fruit. A cloud
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Speaker 2: of concern enveloped him. Yet, driven by his love for
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Speaker 2: Eve and an insatiable curiosity to see if he too
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Speaker 2: could become like God, he took the fruit and bit
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Speaker 2: into it.
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Speaker 3: A tremor passed through the garden as the forbidden fruit
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Speaker 3: juice trickled down Adam's chin.
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Speaker 2: And on to the floor. It was as if edn shivered.
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Speaker 2: In response to their disobedience, Shadows crept into the heart
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Speaker 2: of the garden, darkening Eden's vibrant colors, and a chill
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Speaker 2: wind swept across the landscape. Adam and Eve looked at
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Speaker 2: each other and gasped. They felt exposed, vulnerable, naked, their
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Speaker 2: eyes were open to the possibility of sin. Therefore they
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Speaker 2: no longer felt completely safe with each other. Desperate to
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Speaker 2: hide their shame, they covered themselves in leaves. Then they
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Speaker 2: heard him. They used to come alive at the sound
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Speaker 2: of his arrival, but now they were afraid. Adam was
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Speaker 2: the first to run. He hid himself in the bushes,
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Speaker 2: covering his ears. To the sound of God's righteousness arriving,
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Speaker 2: his voice called out for him, Adam, where are you?
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Speaker 2: His question was unbearable. Could Adam truly hide?
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Speaker 1: Could he run?
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Speaker 3: No?
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Speaker 1: He couldn't.
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Speaker 2: He had to face God. Naked and ashamed, Adam emerged
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Speaker 2: from the brush. His eyes gazed upward and around God,
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Speaker 2: while everywhere within without there was no escaping his voice
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Speaker 2: or his gaze. Ah here i am, Adam said, with
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Speaker 2: a trembling voice. I heard you coming, so I hid
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Speaker 2: myself because I'm naked and afraid. The Lord's voice quaked
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Speaker 2: through the garden. It was as if his words were
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Speaker 2: moving the ground beneath them. Yet even in the anger,
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Speaker 2: there was loving tenderness to his words. Who told you
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Speaker 2: you were naked?
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Speaker 6: Have you eaten of the tree that I commanded.
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Speaker 2: You not to eat?
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Speaker 3: Of course, the creator knew the answer. His question was
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Speaker 3: not an accusation, but an invitation, an invitation into repentance, remorse,
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Speaker 3: and contrition. Would Adam accept such an invitation or would
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Speaker 3: he devolve.
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Speaker 2: Into more corruption. Adam looked over at the tree, then
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Speaker 2: to his wife. His mind worked differently now he knew
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Speaker 2: the difference between good and evil. He now had the
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Speaker 2: choice to choose the path of repentance or pride. Adam,
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Speaker 2: with a trembling hand, pointed to Eve. It was the
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Speaker 2: woman you gave me. She ate the fruit first, and
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Speaker 2: she's the one she shared.
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Speaker 1: It with me.
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Speaker 2: And there it was.
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Speaker 3: Adam, the first to be stamped with the image and
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Speaker 3: character of God, chose pride over repentance. God's voice echoed
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Speaker 3: to Eve. He offered her the same chance, Perhaps she
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Speaker 3: would take it.
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Speaker 1: What have you done here?
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Speaker 2: Softly? Eve's knees buckled and she fell to the ground
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Speaker 2: in shame. Tears soaked the floor beneath her, and she
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Speaker 2: pointed back to the tree.
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Speaker 3: The serpent deceived me. It was him. God's anger was ignited,
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Speaker 3: and a rush of wind shook the tree where the
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Speaker 3: serpent hid.
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Speaker 2: The creature fell to the ground and writhed in pain.
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Speaker 2: The wind of God's spirit whistled through the forest, capturing Adam,
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Speaker 2: Eve and the serpent in a whirlwind.
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Speaker 3: The creator of the universe shouted the serpent, because you
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Speaker 3: have done this curse, it are you on your belly.
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Speaker 3: You shall crawl, and the dust shall be your food.
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Speaker 3: All the days of your life.
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Speaker 2: You shall fall, serpent. Then, out of tragedy and despair,
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Speaker 2: God declared a prophecy that would echo into the generations,
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Speaker 2: a warning to the serpent and a promise to humanity.
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Speaker 6: You and the woman will be enemies, but one day
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Speaker 6: her offspring will rise up against you, and even though
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Speaker 6: you will bruise his heel, he will crush your head.
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Speaker 3: Then the Lord turned to his image bearers, the two
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Speaker 3: held each other, and God's loving anger poured forth.
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Speaker 2: He turned to Eve and said, because of what.
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Speaker 6: Has happened, child bearing will bring forth pain and anguish.
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Speaker 3: Your relationship with your husband will be fractured. Your desires
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Speaker 3: will be at ours with each other, and he will
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Speaker 3: struggle for power. He turned to Adam, the man crafted
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Speaker 3: from the earth, and said, because.
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Speaker 6: Of this, cursed is the ground. In pain you will
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Speaker 6: labor to bring forth.
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Speaker 2: Crop in the.
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Speaker 3: Earth will work against you all the days of your life.
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Speaker 3: Food will only come by the sweat of your brow,
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Speaker 3: until one day you returned to the ground. For you
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Speaker 3: were created from dust, and to the dust you shall return.
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Speaker 3: Adam and Eve watched the garden's golden hue dim and
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Speaker 3: God's intimate covering fade.
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Speaker 2: Yet the tender mercy of the Lord never left. A
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Speaker 2: sheep passed them. God took it, sacrificed it, and intricately
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Speaker 2: wove Adam and Eve's clothes for them. He slew an
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Speaker 2: animal to cover their shame. Then the Lord spoke in plurality,
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Speaker 2: speaking to himself, saying.
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Speaker 6: They have become like us, knowing good and evil. We
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Speaker 6: must banish them from the tree of life, lest they
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Speaker 6: live forever in corruption and send.
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Speaker 2: So the Lord cast them out of the garden east
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Speaker 2: of Eden. Adam and Eve were banished, pining after paradise,
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Speaker 2: but clinging to the hope that one day a sun
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Speaker 2: would arise to crush the head of the serpent and
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Speaker 2: bring them back to the Tree of life. One day
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Speaker 2: God's presence would be among them again. God would be
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Speaker 2: with them, God would be immanual.
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Speaker 4: Let's explore today's Christmas story together. You know, I hear
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Speaker 4: many people talk about heaven very materialistically. They talk about
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Speaker 4: mansions and roads paved with gold, as if the stuff
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Speaker 4: in heaven is what makes it paradise. We treat Christmas
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Speaker 4: the same way. So many the magic of Christmas is
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Speaker 4: in the gifts and the material things. But I think
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Speaker 4: that's the wrong way to look at it. Heaven will
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Speaker 4: only be paradise because the presence of God will be
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Speaker 4: there and will dwell with him in harmony. That is
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Speaker 4: what made Eden special too. Adam and Eve lived in
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Speaker 4: the garden, surrounded by providence, by a provision, and they
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Speaker 4: walked with God in the cool of the day. Their
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Speaker 4: bliss didn't lie with the material possessions they had, but
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Speaker 4: in the presence of God. When Adam and Eve fell,
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Speaker 4: that harmony with God was severed. With the knowledge of
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Speaker 4: good and evil, came the potential for sin and corruption.
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Speaker 4: Such corruption could not exist eternally with God, so Adam
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Speaker 4: and Eve were banished from the garden, lest they eat
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Speaker 4: from the fruit of the other tree, the Tree of life,
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Speaker 4: and live forever in that fallen state. But before they
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Speaker 4: were banished from the garden, God gave a prophecy, a
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Speaker 4: promise one day a son from Eve would rise up
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Speaker 4: to crush the head of the serpent. This was the
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Speaker 4: very first spoken prophecy of Jesus in the Old Testament. Adam, Eve,
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Speaker 4: and every generation after them hoped in this prophesied son.
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Speaker 4: They waited patiently and pined after his coming. Throughout history,
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Speaker 4: it seemed like the serpent was winning. Evil corrupted the world,
00:17:34
Speaker 4: wicked empires rose, and people were oppressed under sin and shame.
00:17:40
Speaker 4: Yet hope never died. Throughout the Biblical saga, God reminded
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Speaker 4: his people of the promised son. He assured them that
00:17:50
Speaker 4: one day the serpent's head would be crushed, the grip
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Speaker 4: of sin and the nakedness of shame would be eradicated
00:17:58
Speaker 4: under the mighty work of the Messiah. During Christmas, we
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Speaker 4: celebrate the long awaited birth of the promised Son of Redemption.
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Speaker 4: The fact that his arrival has been anticipated since the
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Speaker 4: Garden of Eden should make us all the more amazed.
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Speaker 4: During Christmas, the hero of history, who promised to restore
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Speaker 4: mankind and crush the head of Satan himself was born
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Speaker 4: into the world. I pray that truth will overwhelm you
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Speaker 4: today and restore a sense of awe during this Christmas season.
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Speaker 4: Don't let the busyness and chaos of the holidays steal
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Speaker 4: away the wonder and joy of Christ's birth. Because of Christmas,
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Speaker 4: Eden is restored in our hearts. That unity of God
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Speaker 4: that was lost during the Fall is made possible again
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Speaker 4: by faith in Jesus.
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Speaker 5: Us.
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Speaker 4: For our next episode, as we delve deeper into the
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Speaker 4: prophetic proclamations of Christ's birth. After that we'll be fully
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Speaker 4: immersed in the story of Mary, Joseph, Angels and Kings.
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