Forbidden Fruit Is The Pits! If I could learn just one thing from: ADAM AND EVE… Genesis 3:1-19

A New Series of Lessons  Each week we’ll examine an incident in the life of important Bible characters.  We will search for at least one important lesson we can learn from each.  This week we begin – in the BEGINNING – with the life of Adam and Eve.  If we could learn just one lesson from their life, what would it be?

When God Speaks – You’d Better Listen!  God gave Adam and Eve a clear, concise commandment: “And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Genesis 2:16-17

 Eve gave a clear, concise statement of the commandment… The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " Genesis 3:2-3

 There was no possibility of misunderstanding the original statement from God.  God wants our ears, eyes, hearts, minds and bodies  God’s words must be carefully heeded or disaster is sure to follow.

Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right. Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both. Proverbs 20:11-12 If we obey God, then our conduct will be pure and right.

“In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.‘ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” Matthew 13:14-16

When Satan Speaks You Better Cover Your Ears

A “Tiny” Re-interpretation of God’s Word You will NOT surely die! Satan changes only one word of God’s original statement. Satan convinces them that he knows more than God. He also convinces them that he can be trusted more than God.

A “Small” Enticing hors’ d’oeuvre to enhance the forbidden fruit You will be like God. Your eyes will be opened. You will be enlightened. Only Satan could make “knowing evil” sound like a good thing. Remember: God had only ever shown Adam and Eve goodness.

Doesn’t Sin Taste Good? At first!

Forbidden Fruit is Really The Pits We need to know the real truth about equality with God "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

The Real Truth About the Cost of Sin Romans 6:23 -- For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Mankind suffered the loss of paradise Mankind suffered physical death Mankind suffered spiritual death Enmity entered into the world

The Real Truth About the Nature of Satan John 8:44 – Jesus says Satan is a murderer and the father of lies. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 – Paul says he disguises himself as an angel of light. So, he is a deceitful, chameleon schemer. 1 Peter 5:8 – Peter tells us Satan prowls about like a ravenous lion. He is an insatiable hunter.

The Real Truth About Resisting Temptation God always gives us a way out! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

God will never tempt me: Only Satan Will James 1:13 -- When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

Only I Am To Blame  James 1: …but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.

So…  What’s the one thing I learn from Adam and Eve?  The devil wants to kill me.  God wants to save me.  Only I can decide which direction to go.  God has enabled us to withstand any temptation.  We simply have to refuse to eat forbidden fruit.