2012-09-30 The Gospel of Christ in Adam’s Fall | Genesis 2:4 – 3:24

The Promise of Christ in the Fall of Man

God, by his grace through faith in Christ, provides restoration even in the midst of the fall of man.

The setting

God places man in the garden to work and keep it, permits him to eat of every tree except one and threatens death if he disobeys.

2:15-17 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Perfect setting, perfect job, only one rule.

1. The causes of the fall

See:  the method of the tempter and the response of the tempted

Learn: How to recognize and overcome the temptations of the devil

Who was the serpent in this passage? ¹ Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. A manifestation of the devil. Rev. 12:9 and the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.

The method of the serpent’s temptation

1. Doubt God’s word – doubt

3:1 He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

1. Deny the danger – denial

⁴  But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

1. Believe a false promise – not be in danger but better off – advantageous

⁵  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Adam and Eve’s response:

1. Direct Disobedience – seeking to be more than God has granted

⁶  So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

She saw, she took, she ate, she gave, he ate.

How many bank robbers have fallen for the lie that there is a perfect crime? How many powerful people, politicians and even pastors have believed the lie that they won’t get caught, or they are entitled to a little on the side? How many young people believe the lie that the girl won’t get pregnant or that they won’t exchange STD’s?

2. The effects of the fall

See: the devastating consequences of sin

Learn: how to avoid these through obedience to God’s word

1. The emotional effects
   1. Shame – they realized the promise of greater knowledge was false: Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
   2. Fear – they feared the consequences of their actions: And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”
   3. Blame – they tried to shift blame to minimize the consequences:   He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Story of my attempted cover up of stolen knife, the policeman’s gentle invitation to confess, my hope that my employer would not find out, my relief when I moved to NC.

1. The physical effects: loss of life functions, what was most important to them
   1. The serpent – on your belly – symbolic of humiliation and subjection. “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go… all the days of your life.
   2. The woman – painful family life instead of joyful  – “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.
   3. The man – painful vocational life instead of joyful  ” cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life..  By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground…
2. The relational effects: broken relationships
   1. The serpent – enmity with the woman and her offspring – I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
   2. The man and the woman – strife in the marriage; a struggle for control – Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

3. The gospel in the fall

See: God’s grace in spite of sin

Learn: how to receive this grace through faith in Christ

In spite of man’s disobedience and being banished from the garden, God promises and confirms through Adam they will indeed fulfill their calling to multiply and fill the earth and eventually bear the Redeemer who will break the power of Satan and sin through his own suffering.

1. The promise of a Redeemer proto-evangelium. ¹⁵ I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

1. The prophecy of Adam – his faith-filled response to God’s promise. God makes a divine decree as it were through Adam by naming  his wife “Eve, because she was the mother of all living.”  Adam receives God’s promise that the woman would bear and raise offspring.

1. The sign of God’s forgiveness and continuing care – the covering of skins And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

God corrects disobedience but does not disinherit his children. The skins typify the great sacrifice once for all. The first thing that dies was a sacrifice, a figure of Christ. It was large enough to cover them fully in contrast to the fig leaves with which they had previously tried to cover themselves.

Purpose of discipline (BOO) is… to maintain the honor of God, to restore the sinner, and to remove offense from the church.

Stories of restoration.

• Man in FL
• Pastor in NC

Categories: 2012, Genesis, Jesus in Genesis, Sermons