2. Text: Gen. 3:1-8
1Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
2And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
4Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

3. 6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
8And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

5. Theology: the systematic study of Christian revelation concerning God's nature and purpose

6. Tabloid: a newspaper…concentrating on sensational and lurid news, usually heavily illustrated.

8. DISTANCE
Gen. 3:7-8 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 8And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

9. DISTANCE
John 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

10. Joseph Grimaldi (1778–1837)

11. REPUTATION
I Sam. 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people.
Ps. 23:3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Eze. 20:44 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.’”

12. Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Phil. 2:9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

13. Heb. 6:13 & 18 13For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself… it is impossible for God to lie…
Ps. 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.
Ps. 125:1 Those who trust in the LORD Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

15. Gen. 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Gen. 3:4-5 4Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”