September 20, 2009....OY: The Fall

Introduction: The Bible is a collection of Books about God. We should then expect that each portion of it in some way speaks to us concerning God; His nature, character, being. To be certain there is diversity in the ways in which this is accomplished. Sometimes it is done through story / narrative or poetry or prose but make no mistake, behind each and every page of Holy Scripture is God.

Last week we saw that God revealed Himself through His creative activity. In so doing, in Genesis 1 + 2 we looked into how knowing God as Creator and Ruler informs our worship of Him, our relationships with Him and others and our relationship with His world.

This week as we turn to Genesis 3 and the Fall of mankind what we see revealed about God is His absolute authority. In particular…

Essential Impact: God’s declarations are determined.


Main 1: Comprehend the seriousness of God’s commands.

a. After God placed Adam, the first created man, into the Garden, God placed a prohibition upon eating from one certain tree in the garden. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was off limits. Its fruit was not to be eaten.
b. Then God fashioned a women out of one of Adams ribs and Adam was very excited about her. Creation was complete and the happy couple was ready to live happily ever after…
c. …enter the serpent. This creature was more crafty than any other and who’s to say that before the Fall of humanity that Adam and Eve couldn’t talk with creation. {Illustration of the future: Isaiah 65.17-25} We just don’t know and we don’t need to. And so the serpent addresses Eve and they begin to dialogue. The serpent begins to tempt Eve.
d. But what is she being tempted towards? The fruit? A bigger and better Garden? A new mate? No, no, and no. She is being tempted to rebel against the authority of God. Now to be fair, we have no record that God spoke to her directly about the prohibition on the fruit of the tree and so we assume that either Adam told her or God did speak to them both at some subsequent time but we have no record of how she got the information. But from the dialogue with the serpent she certainly knew the content of the prohibition.
e. The serpent twists things right from the beginning and keeps the pressure on until she is in full rebellion and usurps the authority of God in her life. Then she turns to her husband and demonstrates her “new authority” and he capitulates and rebels as well.

Application:
1. The twisted words of the serpent = “any tree” which is a lie. God’s declarations are determined and we need to handle them with seriousness. Do not trivialize what is said by God. If you have troubles remembering what God said about something don’t just guess. Go back and look it up. Be certain to check and double check like the noble Bareans. On more than one occasion I have invited you to check what your favorite radio or t.v. preachers have to say. And I also invite you to check what I say against God’s declared determined word. {those who have asked me personally about the sinfulness of same gender relationships in light of recent events…people want to know}
2. Respond accurately. Eve’s answer includes the truth but there is just a little bit extra that gives ground to the temptation. Where this addition came from is uncertain. Did Adam add it when he spoke to Eve about the prohibition or did she begin to exercise her “self” in this dialogue? It’s almost as if she was saying, “I can make this prohibition even stronger and show this crafty serpent how much I really am sold out for God.” Well bless her heart isn’t she super spiritual?
3. Be on guard for your own reasoning. Even in a perfect situation Eve was tempted to use her natural observations to move away from God. When she saw that the fruit was delicious and nutritious and able to make one wise she rebelled against God and in effect questioned God’s authority and good intent towards her.
4. Speak up before it’s too late. Adam was silent for whatever reason he didn’t reiterate God’s prohibition. He was right there and he was silent. SYATP is a good opportunity to make a statement this Wednesday. Eve spoke up but did so of her own accord not relying on God’s declared word. So when you speak up do so fully gripped by His word.

Main 2: Live under God’s pronouncements and provisions.

a. God comes to be with Adam and Eve and asks for them. Why? Because He doesn’t know where they are? No, because Adam needs to know where he is.
b. Adam evaluates honestly his condition. He was afraid and he hid from God because of his nakedness. God pushes a bit further and gives us the reason for Adams condition. Adam did what God had told him not to do. Disobedience is serious. And then the rationalizations start.
c. Adam blames Eve…but it’s true. Eve blames the serpent…but it’s true. Then God turns to the serpent and begins His pronouncements of judgment.
d. the serpent is cursed…and the door of redemption opens.
e. Eve will have pain. She will desire Adam. He will rule.
f. Adam will have to work the ground to survive.
g. God makes them better coverings.

Application:
1. Humanity fell and what they thought they were going to get…ultimate self autonomy / another authority / to be like God with all the perks and privileges…they got none of it and in so rebelling they lost everything they had especially fellowship with God. Watch anything in your life that has the word “self” attached to it. {Illustration: Self-image and being created in the image of God or being conformed to the image of Christ. Genesis 1.26ff + Romans 8.29}
2. Jesus Christ, the second, Adam as explained in 1 Corinthians 15 and Romans 5 came to defeat death. It entered the world through Adam and was conquered by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He came to pay the penalty for our sin whose wage is death. But the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Come to Him today.


Main 3: Respect the King / Creator[Ruler]

a. God then acts and removes Adam and Eve from the garden. He declares that they might stretch out their hand again. Their self-will and eat from another tree. The more they exercise their rebellion and authority the more they become gods in their own eyes. So God stretches out His hand and tosses them out. And then He places a guard in front so as to bar them entrance.
b. “Being Like God” – on the lips of the serpent and in the lips of God have two very different implications and outcomes. The twisted intent of the serpent is for Eve to question God’s good intention and thereby create in her a doubt that would lead to her “overthrow” His authority. In God’s lips the tone is more of a declarative tone in that Adam and Eve were never meant for this kind of existence and so they have violated their created intent. The role they were made for.
c. God’s better coverings: His grace preceded His judgment upon them.


APPLICATION:
1. As King and Ruler God has every right to make declaration and determination concerning His creation. We are not the authority. Adam was given by God the responsibility to rule over, as a steward, the creation. The point being God is still King and Ruler. We are not. He deserves the respect and honor and glory. We do not. He alone is worthy. We are not. When you hear any input to the contrary, regardless the source, reject it and respect the King.
2. If you are a follower of Christ and things don’t seem to be going the way you planned look at the “you” in the plan. He is King and Ruler it ought to be His plan. If you are respecting Him His way is perfect.
3. Looking at Adam and Eve and their removal from the garden we can conclude that this was their punishment. But does that really align with what we know of God as King, as Ruler, as Creator. He created Adam and Eve and it was good. Even in their falleness God compassionately makes them coverings. As they are now removed from the garden and paradise is lost. This hardship was designed to bring them to God not away from Him. Disobedience and rebellion have their consequences and God does not save us from them all. The Lord disciplines those He loves.

Conclusion: In the next 50 weeks there will be no one chapter messages. Together we have seen God in His creative activity revealing His nature as King / Creator / Ruler. Today, as King and Ruler of His “Kingdom” creation we have noted His grace and judgment because of Adam’s sin. Adam and Eve enjoyed an intimate and unbroken relationship with God but now that relationship is terribly distorted…and it will take an act of God to restore it. The door to redemption has been opened.