The Fall of Man, Part II I. Introduction and review A. We saw the start of sin B. Satan deceived Eve and she sinned 1. She then gave to Adam and he fell C. We learned an important principle \ 1. The woman will always influence her man, the only question is on whose behalf, God s or Satan s D. The three attack strategies of Satan [I John 2:15-16] 1. Lust of the flesh 2. Lust of the eyes 3. Pride of the heart II. Now compare those to how Satan sought to deceive Eve A. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, B. and that it was a delight to the eyes, C. and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, D. she took from its fruit 1. She took it a. xq;l' laqach {law-kakh'} Meaning: 1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, that is to take, capture, seize E. Consider the progression of her sin [Eve s choices]: 1. To listen Page 1 of 6
2. To look 3. To take 4. To eat 5. To give to her husband 6. At what point did the sin start 7. When did the danger arise III. Genesis 3:6-13 A. In verse 6 there is the phrase with her 1. Its one word in the Hebrew 2. Its meaning is extremely important in understanding this passage 3. It means either: a. Adam was there beside her, watching this entire scene play out b. Or with as in the sense of in common with, that is Adam was her mate and with her in the sense of in this together or in the garden with her 4. If you accept the first meaning that means that Adam witnessed this entire transaction and neither did nor said anything a. Was Adam deceived? I Tim. 2:13-14 b. If not he knowingly chose not to intervene 5. I adopt the second meaning why? 6. Eve was deceived, Adam was not a. 2 Corinthians 11:3 b. Gen. 3:13 Eve admits she was deceived Page 2 of 6
c. I Timothy 2:14 d. Was Adam in a position of leadership before the fall? (1) probably so (2) consider I Tim. 2:13 7. If Adam was not deceived, then that means that he made a knowing choice to sin a. Why did he do that b. He chose the woman which God had made for him over God c. Did God know that before He made the woman? d. Then why did He make her in the first place, or at least make her so appealing e. Man had to have a choice as to: (1) who he would follow and (2) who would he love the most (3) men should want a woman who wants to be number 2 in his heart (4) women should want a man who is committed to making her his second love, behind Almighty God 8. What effect did their sin have and when a. The effect took place after Adam sinned, not until b. We can know that because Eve didn t look at Adam before he ate and say: c. When it came to evil, the first thing they recognized was that they Page 3 of 6
were naked (1) the first feelings appear to be of guilt, shame, and fear (2) general principle is being naked in front of others of the opposite sex should bring shame (3) exception: a man and his wife [2:25] (4) and yet they were, sin has now cheated them out of a part of their marriage intimacy d. Did they die as God had said or was Satan accurate when he said that they wouldn t die (1) that argument has been used in relation to errors in the Bible (2) man was made in three parts, a body soul and spirit (b) his soul is eternal and will never die his spirit is his means for communication and existing in the spiritual world (3) their spirits died then and there (b) (c) spiritual death is separation from God Immediate death for the first time Adam and Eve were separated from God (d) each of us is now born spiritually dead (4) the body is our means of communicating and existing in the physical world Page 4 of 6
(5) it died also, a slow death but death nonetheless (b) from then on our bodies slowly die over time ultimate death (6) the second death hell B. Why did God let this happen? 1. He did not create man to be a robot 2. He was given a choice 3. He could choose to obey God or to disobey Him 4. To love his God or to reject his God 5. There is no love or obedience without a real choice, the ability to freely choose one or the other C. Then the Lord comes to visit them 1. The cool of the day a. The time of the breeze b. Many believe that to be the evening 2. Their response to hearing God a. To run and hide in fear b. Their response should have been to run to Him with confession and repentance 3. The Lord starts by asking them questions a. Where are you? b. Who told you that you were naked? c. Have you eaten from the tree? Page 5 of 6
4. Why did He ask them these questions a. Did God not know the information b. He wanted to elicit confession leading to forgiveness and restoration c. What was His motivation in doing that d. Is it correct to say love never means having to say you are sorry D. The Effects of Sin and Guilt 1. Covering themselves 2. Concealing themselves 3. Cringing with fear and insecurity 4. Criticizing and blaming others E. Adam responds with an attempt tp shift the blame a. Was he at all accurate b. Eve also responds with an attempt to lay the blame at someone else s feet c. Who is really the most responsible for sin? (1) Adam, or (2) Eve (3) consider Rom. 5:12-14 no death until Adam sinned F. We don t consider or feel the loss that we suffered in the garden 1. Adam Where are you Page 6 of 6