GENESIS 3

"AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD" – THE TEMPTATION – MAN'S PRIDE AND DESIRE FOR AUTONOMY 

Without Genesis 3 the Bible and life itself makes no sense. As the truck driver says to the gang leader in the film Grand Canyon: "Man, the world ain't supposed to work like this." (John Walton NIV Application Commentary) "The Fall and curse disrupts God's blessings and our relationship with Him, and the inclination of our hearts, apart from Christ, is only evil." (Walton) Depravity doesn't mean we only do evil but that we fall far short of the good God created us to be and do.

Adam and Eve's innocence had to be tested in order to be transformed into righteousness and holy character even as Jesus though perfect suffered when He was tested and tempted (Heb. 2:18; 4:14-16; 5:7-9). God tests us for our growth and good; Satan tempts us to evil and our destruction. (James 1:12-15; John 10:10) We can see here the perfect case study for temptation, for sin cannot be blamed on environment (paradise) or heredity; i.e., we are not "depraved because we were deprived" (per West Side Story) but because we want autonomy (self-government) more than God's government.

Knowing and obeying God's Word is how God "provides a way out in every temptation." (1 Cor. 10:13; Matt. 4:1-11) In Genesis 1 God spoke a creative Word; in Genesis 2 He spoke a commanding Word (v. 17) and here Satan questions, distorts and refutes God's Word and Eve "disparaged the privileges (2:16), added to the prohibition (3:3) and weakened the penalty" (see 3:3 vs. 2:17 – Walvord & Zuck Bible Knowledge Commentary). Satan tries to convince us that God withholds from us and does not have our best interest at heart so we take matters into our own hands to our own destruction.

SATAN'S TEMPTATIONS OF EVE, MANKIND AND THE LORD JESUS

Note how Jesus defeated Satan. "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.  'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" "Submit yourselves to God (know and obey His Word). Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

"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." (Gen. 3:7) Evil is not possessed (i.e., forbidden fruit, the drug of choice, etc.) but possessing! "Eyes were opened" – Some commentators say that this is when Adam and Eve and mankind developed a conscience: "They (all mankind) demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right." (Rom. 2:15 NLT)

"So they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves." "Cover" vs. confess – God called them to confess their sin and disobedience but instead they tried to cover their sins and tried to hide from Him. This is the invention of religion – man trying to make himself right with God by doing good works to try to cover up his sin. As we will see in more detail next week this brought many levels of alienation: 1) from God; 2) from self; 3) from others, and 4) from nature (Gen. 3:8-10; 12; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 8:20-22) "We are not at peace with one another because we are not at peace with ourselves. We are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God." Thomas Merton

We must have a robust trust in God's good intentions for us that comes from knowing and obeying His Word. (Ken Boa) "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." (Rom. 10:17) "So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32 Amp.) "For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." (2 Cor. 10:3-5 Amp.)

Dependence vs. autonomy – A growing awareness of our need for God and our dependence on Him is a sign of a maturing faith. When our highest goal is to glorify the Lord in all we do as He calls us to (Rom 11:36) and as Jesus did (John 17:4) we too will say what Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing."(John 5:19)

Genesis 3

Discussion Questions FOR APPLICATION OF GOD'S WORD

God tests us for our growth and good; Satan tempts us to evil and our destruction. (James 1: 12-15; John 10:10 we see in Hebrews 12:5-11 and John 15:2 that God 1) disciplines us ("child training") and 2) prunes us for spiritual growth. How can you know the difference and does it matter?

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made." "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." (Gen. 3:1; 2 Cor. 11:14); … "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." (James 1:14-15)We see here (illegitimate) desire; deception (enticed/tempted); disobedience (sin); and death (broken fellowship with God). When tempted, what is God's promise in 1 Cor. 10:13 and how can we find the "way out"?

Cover vs. confess – What is God's promise to us when we confess our sins? See 1 John 1:9. Why do you think people try to cover their sins versus confess them?

Dependence vs. autonomy – A growing awareness of our need for God and our dependence on Him is a sign of a maturing faith. Do you feel that you need God and depend on Him more today than you did in the past? How does that work out in your day to day life?

Scripture memory verse: "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made."  "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." (Gen. 3:1; 2 Cor. 11:14)