Genesis 3 ãThe Fall of the Human Race

ãWhy does a fall from grace matter? ãCompare creation ã1:10 …and God saw that it was good. ã1:12 …and God saw that it was good. ã1:17 …and God saw that it was good. ã1:21 …and God saw that it was good. ã1:25 …and God saw that it was good. ã1:31 And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. Genesis 3

ãWhy does a fall from grace matter? ãCompare creation ãTo what we see today ãSomething must have happened!

Genesis 3 Without the fall: The world is normal, and as it should be With the fall: The world is abnormal, and broken

Genesis 3 Without the fall: The world is normal, and as it should be Any problems on earth are God’s responsibility With the fall: The world is abnormal, and broken The problems on earth are humans’ responsibility

Genesis 3 Without the fall: The world is normal, and as it should be Any problems on earth are God’s responsibility God = author of human evil With the fall: The world is abnormal, and broken The problems on earth are humans’ responsibility God = author of human freedom

Genesis 3 1 Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the Lord God had made. “Really?” he asked the woman. “Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?”

Genesis 3 1 Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the Lord God had made. “Really?” he asked the woman. “Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?” The serpent = Satan

Genesis 3 1 Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the Lord God had made. “Really?” he asked the woman. “Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?” The serpent = Satan Rev 12:10 “Satan; the devil and serpent of old…” Satan exists!

Genesis 3 1 Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the Lord God had made. “Really?” he asked the woman. “Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?”

Genesis 3 1 Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the Lord God had made. “Really?” he asked the woman. “Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?” First step: Questions and distorts the word of God “Can you believe he said that?”

Genesis 3 2 “Of course we may eat it,” the woman told him. 2 “Of course we may eat it,” the woman told him. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.”

Genesis 3 2 “Of course we may eat it,” the woman told him. 2 “Of course we may eat it,” the woman told him. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.” Questionable quotation of 2:16,17 More restrictive than what God said

Genesis 3 4 And the serpent said to the woman, “You surely shall not die!” Denies the word of God

Genesis 3 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Replaces the word of God

Genesis 3 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The real explanation... Partially true!

Genesis 3 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The real explanation... Partially true! Fundamentally false

Genesis 3 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Basic effect: suspicion re. God!

Genesis 3 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Basic effect: suspicion re. God! c.f. last week: The importance of trust

Genesis 3 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The importance of accusation and slander to Satan

Genesis 3 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Genesis 3 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it

Genesis 3 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it Happens to correlate with three things that animate the world system still today

Genesis 3 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it Happens to correlate with three things that animate the world system still today 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world… 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Genesis 3 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it Happens to correlate with three things that animate the world system still today 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world… 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Genesis 3 7 At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness.

Genesis 3 7 At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they strung fig leaves together around their hips to cover themselves.

Genesis 3 7 At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they strung fig leaves together around their hips to cover themselves. Psychological alienation

Genesis 3 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Theological alienation

Genesis 3 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

Genesis 3 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” Dishonesty

Genesis 3 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

Genesis 3 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” Giving Adam a chance to confess

Genesis 3 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

Genesis 3 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Sociological alienation

Genesis 3 17 “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.”

Genesis 3 17 “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.” Ecological alienation

The Outcome of the Fall ãGod gave us things to enjoy before the fall

The Outcome of the Fall ãGod gave us things to enjoy before the fall Benevolent rulership Creative accomplishment Free moral agent Relational Intellectual creativity Sex, unity & diversity Shameless, uninhibited & free AfterBefore

The Outcome of the Fall ãGod gave us things to enjoy before the fall Benevolent rulership Creative accomplishment Free moral agent Relational Intellectual creativity Sex, unity & diversity Shameless, uninhibited & free AfterBefore Becoming “like God” put self at the center

The Outcome of the Fall ãGod gave us things to enjoy before the fall Benevolent rulership Creative accomplishment Free moral agent Relational Intellectual creativity Sex, unity & diversity Shameless, uninhibited & free Selfish domination AfterBefore

The Outcome of the Fall ãGod gave us things to enjoy before the fall Benevolent rulership Creative accomplishment Free moral agent Relational Intellectual creativity Sex, unity & diversity Shameless, uninhibited & free Selfish domination Work = Drudgery & identity base AfterBefore

The Outcome of the Fall ãGod gave us things to enjoy before the fall Benevolent rulership Creative accomplishment Free moral agent Relational Intellectual creativity Sex, unity & diversity Shameless, uninhibited & free Selfish domination Work = Drudgery & identity base Substantially lost AfterBefore

The Outcome of the Fall ãGod gave us things to enjoy before the fall Benevolent rulership Creative accomplishment Free moral agent Relational Intellectual creativity Sex, unity & diversity Shameless, uninhibited & free Selfish domination Work = Drudgery & identity base Substantially lost Can’t relate--lonely AfterBefore

The Outcome of the Fall ãGod gave us things to enjoy before the fall Benevolent rulership Creative accomplishment Free moral agent Relational Intellectual creativity Sex, unity & diversity Shameless, uninhibited & free Selfish domination Drudgery & identity base Substantially lost Can’t relate--lonely Rom. 1:21 “futile” AfterBefore Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

The Outcome of the Fall ãGod gave us things to enjoy before the fall Benevolent rulership Creative accomplishment Free moral agent Relational Intellectual creativity Sex, unity & diversity Shameless, uninhibited & free Selfish domination Work = Drudgery & identity base Substantially lost Can’t relate--lonely Rom. 1:21 “futile” Sexual exploitation AfterBefore

The Outcome of the Fall ãGod gave us things to enjoy before the fall Benevolent rulership Creative accomplishment Free moral agent Relational Intellectual creativity Sex, unity & diversity Shameless, uninhibited & free Selfish domination Work = Drudgery & identity base Substantially lost Can’t relate--lonely Rom. 1:21 “futile” Sexual exploitation Ashamed, tied up in selves, afraid of God AfterBefore

The Outcome of the Fall ãGod gave us things to enjoy before the fall Benevolent rulership Creative accomplishment Free moral agent Relational Intellectual creativity Sex, unity & diversity Shameless, uninhibited & free Selfish domination Work = Drudgery & identity base Substantially lost Can’t relate--lonely Rom. 1:21 “futile” Sexual exploitation Ashamed, tied up in selves, afraid of God AfterBefore Each can be substantially recovered in Christ!

The Outcome of the Fall ãGod gave us things to enjoy before the fall Benevolent rulership Creative accomplishment Free moral agent Relational Intellectual creativity Sex, unity & diversity Shameless, uninhibited & free Selfish domination Work = Drudgery & identity base Substantially lost Can’t relate--lonely Rom. 1:21 “futile” Sexual exploitation Ashamed, tied up in selves, afraid of God AfterBefore Each can be substantially recovered in Christ! Next Week!

Conclusions ãThe first humans fell because they distrusted God

Conclusions ãThe road back begins with trusting God

Conclusions ãThe first humans fell because they distrusted God ãThe road back begins with trusting God John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

The Effects of the Fall ãComments? ãQuestions? ãExperiences?