““The Fall”The Fall”

Genesis 3:1-17Genesis 3:1-17

The Importance of Our TopicThe Importance of Our TopicThe very heart of everything wrong.The very heart of everything wrong.– Compare to God’s Creation (Chapter 1)Compare to God’s Creation (Chapter 1)

1:10 …and God saw that it was good.1:10 …and God saw that it was good.

1:12 …and God saw that it was good.1:12 …and God saw that it was good.

1:17 …and God saw that it was good.1:17 …and God saw that it was good.

1:21 …and God saw that it was good.1:21 …and God saw that it was good.

1:25 …and God saw that it was good.1:25 …and God saw that it was good.

1:31 And God saw all that He had 1:31 And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. made, and behold, it was very good.

The Importance of Our TopicThe Importance of Our TopicThe very heart of everything The very heart of everything wrongwrong..– Compare to God’s Creation (Chapter 1)Compare to God’s Creation (Chapter 1)– The Fall The Fall is entirely Unique.is entirely Unique.

Other religions say it was Other religions say it was createdcreated this way. this way.

The Importance of Our TopicThe Importance of Our TopicThe very heart of everything The very heart of everything wrongwrong..– Compare to God’s Creation (Chapter 1)Compare to God’s Creation (Chapter 1)– The Fall The Fall is entirely Unique.is entirely Unique.

With Far-Reaching Implications:With Far-Reaching Implications:– Are conditions today Are conditions today NormalNormal or or Abnormal?Abnormal?

Is there a basis for HOPE?Is there a basis for HOPE?

– Is God Responsible for Evil?Is God Responsible for Evil?Or is God Responsible for FREEDOM…Or is God Responsible for FREEDOM…and the Heart of Man is responsible for EVIL…and the Heart of Man is responsible for EVIL…The Fall Means: this is a broken world,

scarred by death… And we are part of it!

The SetupThe SetupInitiated by the Initiated by the devil devil (“diabolos”).(“diabolos”).– Now the serpent was more crafty than any Now the serpent was more crafty than any

beast of the field which the LORD God had beast of the field which the LORD God had made… made… (Gen.3:1a)(Gen.3:1a)

Rev 12:10 “Satan; the devil and serpent of old…” Satan exists!

The SetupThe SetupInitiated by the Initiated by the devil devil (“diabolos”). (“diabolos”).

“the prince of the devils” (Mat 12:24).“the ruler of the world” (Jn.14:30; 12:31)“the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2); “the god of this world” (2Co 4:4); “the spirit that now [energizes] the sons of disobedience” (Eph 2:2). “a roaring lion, seeking someone…” (1Pe 5:8). People are “taken captive by him” (2Ti 2:26)“has blinded the minds” (2Co 4:4);

The SetupThe SetupInitiated by the Initiated by the devil devil (“diabolos”).(“diabolos”).

QuestionsQuestions the authority (Word) of God. the authority (Word) of God.– Powerfully Deceptive:Powerfully Deceptive:

““a liar and the father of lies” (Jn.8:44)a liar and the father of lies” (Jn.8:44)

““deceives the nations” (Rev.20:8; 12:9)deceives the nations” (Rev.20:8; 12:9)

““deceives those who dwell on the earth” (Rev.13:14)deceives those who dwell on the earth” (Rev.13:14)

– The Best Defense: Knowing the The Best Defense: Knowing the WordWord of God of GodJesus Christ in Luke 4, Matthew 4, Mark 1.Jesus Christ in Luke 4, Matthew 4, Mark 1.And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God

said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?” Gen.3:1b

The SetupThe SetupInitiated by the Initiated by the devil devil (“diabolos”).(“diabolos”).

QuestionsQuestions the authority (Word) of God. the authority (Word) of God.

Met by Met by HumanHuman strength. strength.– Adding onto the Word of God.Adding onto the Word of God.– Additional restrictions for safety.Additional restrictions for safety.– Minimizing the Minimizing the goodnessgoodness of God’s provisions: of God’s provisions:

“You may “You may freelyfreely eat eat anyany fruit in the garden…”fruit in the garden…”– Diluting the Word of God with arbitrary restrictions.Diluting the Word of God with arbitrary restrictions.

The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.' " Genesis 3:2-3

The SetupThe SetupInitiated by the Initiated by the devil devil (“diabolos”).(“diabolos”).

QuestionsQuestions the authority (Word) of God. the authority (Word) of God.

Met with Met with HumanHuman strength. strength.

Denies Denies God’s Word.God’s Word.

ReplacesReplaces God’s Word. God’s Word.– ““Be like God” is true: (See 3:22).Be like God” is true: (See 3:22).

““DiscerningDiscerning good and evil for yourself…” good and evil for yourself…”

– Yet he lied, leaving out so much…Yet he lied, leaving out so much…– The effect: The effect: suspicionsuspicion towards God: towards God:

Repressive, sinister, a liar, reserves privileges only for Himself.Repressive, sinister, a liar, reserves privileges only for Himself.

The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!”Genesis 3:4“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.” Genesis 3:5

The Trap Shuts…The Trap Shuts…Three Appeals:Three Appeals:– The The thrillthrill (Heb: (Heb:tobtob) of ) of good-tasting food!good-tasting food!– The The greedgreed (Heb: (Heb:taavahtaavah) for beauty!) for beauty!– Coveting (Coveting (Heb:Heb:chamadchamad) “to be like God” ) “to be like God”

(so (so wise!)wise!)When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate… Genesis 3:6 (NASB)

The Trap Shuts…The Trap Shuts…Three Appeals:Three Appeals:– The The thrillthrill (Heb: (Heb:tobtob) of ) of good-tasting food!good-tasting food!– The The greedgreed (Heb: (Heb:taavahtaavah) for beauty!) for beauty!– Coveting (Coveting (Heb:Heb:chamadchamad) “to be like God” ) “to be like God”

(so (so wise!)wise!)

These make the world go ‘round These make the world go ‘round (1 Jn. 2:15-16)(1 Jn. 2:15-16)– ““Lust of the Lust of the FleshFlesh” -> ” -> THRILLSTHRILLS– ““Lust of the Lust of the EyesEyes” -> ” -> GREEDGREED, avarice, avarice– ““the Boastful the Boastful PridePride of Life” -> of Life” -> “Be God!”“Be God!”

The FalloutThe FalloutDeep Deep PsychologicalPsychological Alienation (v.7) Alienation (v.7)– The need to Cover Up: The need to Cover Up: “I need protection…”“I need protection…”– A Deep Sense of Shame: “they knew…naked”A Deep Sense of Shame: “they knew…naked”

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked… Genesis 3:7a

and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings… Genesis 3:7b

The FalloutThe FalloutDeep Psychological Alienation (v.7)Deep Psychological Alienation (v.7)

Deep Deep SpiritualSpiritual Alienation (v.8) Alienation (v.8)– Moral Moral GuiltGuilt– Can’t face God!Can’t face God!– Shift to the insignificant issues.Shift to the insignificant issues.

They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:8

Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" Genesis 3:9

He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself." Genesis 3:10

The FalloutThe FalloutDeep Psychological Alienation (v.7)Deep Psychological Alienation (v.7)

Deep Deep SpiritualSpiritual Alienation (v.8) Alienation (v.8)

Deep Deep SocialSocial Alienation (v.12) Alienation (v.12)– Broken, separated, scarred relationships.Broken, separated, scarred relationships.– Human History in a nutshell.Human History in a nutshell.And He said, "Who told you that you were

naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?“ Genesis 3:11The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:11

The FalloutThe FalloutDeep Psychological Alienation (v.7)Deep Psychological Alienation (v.7)

Deep Deep SpiritualSpiritual Alienation (v.8) Alienation (v.8)

Deep Deep SocialSocial Alienation (v.12) Alienation (v.12)

Deeply Divided Against Deeply Divided Against NatureNature (v.17-19) (v.17-19)– No more of God’s Provision (Gen.2:9)No more of God’s Provision (Gen.2:9)– Without God, nature takes its course.Without God, nature takes its course.

“Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; By the sweat of your face You will eat bread…”

Gen.3:17-19

Tangible Effects of the Fall…Tangible Effects of the Fall…God exalted man before the fall:God exalted man before the fall:

Benevolent rulershipCreative accomplishmentFree moral agentRelationalSexuality: Unity, LoveShameless, uninhibited & free

Selfish dominationWork is Drudgery & a sick identity…Substantially lostCan’t relate--lonelySexual exploitationAshamed, tied up in selves, afraid of God

AfterAfterBeforeBefore

Becoming Becoming “like God” “like God” put self at put self at the centerthe center

What Does it Mean?What Does it Mean?

The first humans fell because they The first humans fell because they distrusteddistrusted God. God.– The road back begins with The road back begins with

trustingtrusting God. God.

It was never a choice between It was never a choice between rightright and and wrongwrong……– Rather, between Rather, between lifelife and and death.death.“For in the day that you eat from it

you will surely die." Genesis 2:16