Creation Lesson #7 (Genesis 3:1-7)
In this lesson we will be looking specifically at the first time that man sinned on the earth. Now this is very significant because this is where we see the reason for mankind being a sinner. It is because of this sin that mankind needed a savior and it is because of this sin that Jesus Christ had to come and die for all mankind.
Now another important thing to note before starting this chapter is that if what is found in this chapter is the reason for man being a sinner and needing a savior then you can bet the average lost man will try to discredit the first three chapters of Genesis. And that is exactly what modern science and any man who comes up with another reason or idea for how man got here and why he does what he does. Their reasoning is if Genesis chapters one through three is not correct then man is not a sinner and does not need God or a savior.
Verses 1-5 :
The word “subtil” means very crafty or sneaky, very good at deceiving people. We must remember that Satan is said to appear as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:3) So it is no wonder that Eve was not necessarily scared off immediately.
Note the first thing out of Satan’s mouth, “Yea”. That is the same as saying yes. Satan is the father of “positive thinking”. Now the modern day preaching and teaching from churches today is all positive, and that is not scriptural. While the Bible has a lot of positive things in it, it is also negative. And while God is positive he is also negative. Modern Christianity in America has made God all positive, but we must remember that God is balanced. While it is true that God is a gracious and merciful God, he is also a holy and just God. He cannot and will not overlook sin.
For and electrical current to flow you must have both a positive and a negative. The same stands true for preaching it has to be both. Note (2 Timothy 4:2) reprove, rebuke, and exhort. Paul told Timothy that his preaching should be 2/3 negative. I believe that this is one of the reasons preaching is not accomplishing what it used to in America today.
Steps to getting Adam and Eve to Sin :
1) Questioning the Word of God
*Any and all temptation will have one key element that is always the same and that is the in the process of temptation and sin the word of God is always questioned.
*It is important to note that the first one to question the word of God is Satan. Let us look closely at the text to see how Satan questioned the word of God.
- He asked Eve if they could eat of every tree of the Garden. You say but God plainly told them that they could not eat of every tree of the Garden. So to show you how subtil Satan is look at Genesis 2:16 here God said that they could eat of every tree but gave them one exception in Genesis 2:17 .
- So Satan knew the exception and played on the wording of the verses.
- Note Eve’s response in verse 2&3. She said that they could eat of the trees of the garden but not of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
- Now on the surface it looks like a good answer. But when compared to what God actually said we see she omitted the word freely, she added the neither shall ye touch it, and changed “thou shalt surely die” to lest ye die.
- God gave three warnings in the Bible against adding to, taking away, or changing his word. Deuteronomy 4:2 ; Proverbs 30:6 ; Revelation 22:18,19
- If you have any doubt about whether Satan knows the word of God look at his answer in verse 4 and compare with Genesis 2:17, Satan quotes it right.
- Also in verse 4 we see that Satan is a master at half truths. Adam and Eve didn’t die physically but they did die spiritually. Remember that a half-truth is a lie. And Satan is the father of lies. (John 8:44)
- So what we have seen so far is that Satan will get you to question the word God, and when we start adding, changing and taking away from God’s word we are on the path to sin.
2) Putting you against God
- In verse 5 we see that Satan told Eve that God was keeping something from them or not allowing them to have and know something.
- Satan does the same thing with people today especially young people. He makes them think that obeying God’s word keeps them from having fun or being popular or many other things.
- When in reality all it does is keep you out of trouble and help you live a good life. Proverbs 3:1-10.
3) The actual Temptation
- In verse 6 we see that the temptation concerned all 3 categories of sin.
- In 1 John 2:16 we see the 3 categories of sin are Lust of the Flesh, Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life.
- Note how this matches with verse 6. Good for food (Lust of the flesh), pleasant to the eyes (Lust of the eyes) and a tree to be desired to make one wise (Pride of life).
- Any sin that can be committed will fit into one of those categories.
- Jesus was tempted in those same three categories Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13.
This is why Hebrews 4:15 says that he was tempted in all points just like we are.
In verse 6 we see the actual sin. Now Eve did eat 1st and then gave to her husband and he did eat with her. Therefore in 1 Timothy 2:14 it plainly shows us that Adam was not deceived but Eve was. Adam ate knowing exactly what he was doing and what was going to happen to him. This is the start of romantic themes in literature and television, every woman wants a man that is willing to die for her.
In verse 7 we see the result of their sin they now know that they are naked and they make themselves fig leave clothing.
We waited to the end to show this but notice in verse 5 the Satan told Eve that they would be as gods knowing good and evil. It is important that the g in gods is a lower case. In a King James Bible when the little g is used it is denoting false god.( 1 Chronicles 16:26 ; Psalms 82:1 ; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6)
Creation Lesson #7 (Genesis 3:1-7)
Handout
1) Why is Genesis chapter 3 such an important chapter in the word of God?
2) List 3 things we see about Satan from verse 1.
3) Give an outline for the steps that Satan used to get Eve to sin.
4) Who was deceived in the transgression Adam or Eve? Give a reference.
5) What does the little g on the word gods represent in the Bible? Give references.