Genesis 3:1-7 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 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 3:1-7

4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 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." Genesis 3:1-7

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 3:1-7

7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Genesis 3:1-7

Genesis 3:1-24 Kingdom of Self Versus Kingdom of God

Three Kingdoms Kingdom of Satan Kingdom of Satan Kingdom of the world Kingdom of the world Kingdom of self Kingdom of self

For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught. To say the things he truly feels; And not the words of one who kneels. The record shows I took the blows - And did it my way! Frank Sinatra

Adam and Eve were determined to do it their way.

What Eve did: she engaged in a dialogue with the enemy; she engaged in a dialogue with the enemy; she set herself up as the ultimate authority in the interpretation of reality; she set herself up as the ultimate authority in the interpretation of reality; she coveted the unlawful; she coveted the unlawful; her decision to forsake God’s word and do her own thing involved unbelief; her decision to forsake God’s word and do her own thing involved unbelief; she was guilty of sinful pride. she was guilty of sinful pride.

Immediate result of what Eve did Innocence lost Innocence lost Shame Shame Guilt Guilt Fear Fear Blaming/refusal to accept personal responsibility Blaming/refusal to accept personal responsibility Destroyed relationship in a marriage Destroyed relationship in a marriage Destroyed fellowship with God Destroyed fellowship with God

Pride

I did it my way, my way did not work My way is never satisfied My way is never satisfied My way doesn't pay, it costs My way doesn't pay, it costs My way causes dissension My way causes dissension

My way will destroy me My way will destroy me My way allows no freedom My way allows no freedom My way separates me from God My way separates me from God

Six Steps To Defeat Self-centeredness Be humble enough to admit that self- centeredness is sin. My sin! Be humble enough to admit that self- centeredness is sin. My sin! Rely by faith on God to help me live beyond my self-interest. Rely by faith on God to help me live beyond my self-interest. Turn my life from serving self to serving others. Turn my life from serving self to serving others.

Restore the peace destroyed by my selfishness. Restore the peace destroyed by my selfishness. Enjoy the gifts of God in Christ. Enjoy the gifts of God in Christ. Confirm to myself and others that I am willing to kill the old life and be resurrected to a new life in Christ. Confirm to myself and others that I am willing to kill the old life and be resurrected to a new life in Christ.

“ I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20

Baptism