After The Beginning: The Consequences Of The First Sin Series

Spiritual Warfare - 4

Genesis 3:1-13

October 31, 2021

For the past few weeks we’ve been talking about spiritual warfare. I believe it’s real and it’s all around us. Just look at the news and you can see that we are in a spiritual battle. Is the world coming to an end? Yes, it is. When? I have no clue. Paul thought it was going to happen in his time, but we’re still here over 2000 years later.

The hope in this series has been to help us see that satan is real. That he’s out to get us as much as possible. As Jesus put it . . . his purpose is to STEAL, KILL and DESTROY us. That’s his one and only mission.

We’ve looked at the fact that satan was thrown out of heaven. That he rebelled against God, wanting to be God. But God always wins. And that’s great news!

Two weeks ago we started looking at the scene from Genesis 3 and today we’re going to conclude looking at this story and keep moving forward. Let me just say this . . . I told you that snakes are all around us. We don’t always see them, but they’re around. Now, I’ve always believed God has a sense of humor. And I believe it was directed at me two weeks ago.

As I was walking back to my office, I saw this - - -

PICTURE OF SNAKE

Now, I’m not a hero when it comes to snakes. I avoid them. I looked at it, and it didn’t move. I thought someone was playing a joke on me, but I still went and got a stick and when I came back it had moved. Suffice it to say, The stick touched the snake, has now been burned and the snake is outside somewhere. Moving on -

satan came tempting Eve and Adam. Remember, Adam was with her, but didn’t do anything about the temptation. I believe that’s why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 16:13 - - - Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

When satan approached Eve it may have seemed a little playful, even questioning banter about who God is. Asking her in Genesis 3:1 - - - Did God really tell you, you can’t eat of any tree in the garden?

He ultimately followed it up in verse 4 basically saying ‘you won’t die! God’s not going to kill you. Come on, get real, girl. You’re His creation, He wouldn’t kill you. No, He’s really just protecting His kingdom because if you eat from that tree, you’ll be just like Him . . . and He doesn’t like the competition.’

I’m expanding the story a bit, but that’s where he was going with Eve, and we know, Eve and Adam ate from the tree and sin had now entered the world.

We need to understand that the Bible is all about correcting the effects of this one event. This is the event that ultimately leads to the cross of Christ. This is about God making everything right. In Romans 5, Paul tells us - - -

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.

19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

Do you see that? Through the sin in the garden, we were all made sinners, but through the grace of God, the cross of Christ, we are now made righteous in the eyes of God. That’s the great news.

Last point of review is this . . . I believe satan tempts us in 4 ways . . .

1. We want control over all of life. We want to be god.

2. In 1 John 2:16 - -

For all that is in the world—the lusts of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and pride of life — is not from the Father but is from the world.

Now, let’s keep moving, after they ate the fruit, Genesis 3:7 tells us - - -

7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. - Genesis 3:7

Do you know what the last verse of Genesis 2 is?

25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Do you see the difference? In the beginning, Adam and Eve were walking around naked, not having a care in the world. In fact, they didn’t even know they were naked. They just did what they were created to do. They were naked and could care less.