God’s Grace Displayed Through Mankind’s Sin Series

Alpha and Omega, Part 9

God’s Grace displayed through Mankind’s sin

Genesis 3:14-24

Introduction

- We’ve begun 2023 with “one purpose”: Knowing there is a God!

-- Continuing our series, “Alpha and Omega”; examining the beginning to the end

- Key things to remember … man was:

• Created deliberately; He received life by the ‘breath of God’

• Was given dominion over everything God created

• He was also innocent of sin (there was nothing to keep him from God)

- It is the “appeal” of disobedience that Satan uses to offer forbidden fruit

-- Satan says: “the tree is good” – which agrees with our natural rebellion

-- Yet, what we try to do is overcome evil with good religious things … but …

- “Religion” misses main thing: We need a Savior and must repent of our sin

-- This is what Adam and Eve (us) miss: don’t realize their depravity (natural)

-- It is what the Gospel reveals: there is ‘good news’ for our disobedience!

- If you hear nothing else - get this about the fall of man …

-- It is not about being religious; it never was … Christianity is not about religion

-- Christianity is about a relationship with a God who would willingly die for you

- APP: God desires for us to want to grow closer to Him, through our obedience

- Let’s dive into our passage for today … Read Genesis 3:14-24 / Pray

Point 1 – God’s punishment towards Satan

- When man sinned, he suffered some immediate consequences … get this:

-- With sin comes judgment because God’s righteousness is always before us

- But God first has to deal with Satan first; with the chaos he has caused

-- We know that Satan is a created being, and there’s lots of questions around him

-- Did he transform into a snake? Was he originally walking upright?

-- Was he perhaps a wonderful creature and that is how he got close to them?

-- Did he appear to be beautiful, and “serpent” was a reference to his craftiness?

- Much to ponder about, and not much that is not revealed for us … but …

-- Scripture tells us that his actions are what brought judgment from God

-- And that judgment never ends: Romans 16:20, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

- He is so wicked, that he is now cursed above all creatures (v14)

-- True, all of creation was affected by sin, however, the serpent was cursed more

-- He is so cursed that salvation isn’t even offered to him

- FACT: Satan is to be despised, detested, hated, repulsive, scorned, miserable

-- Interesting: one name given to Satan is Beelzebub means god of flies or filthy

-- He is defeated and humiliated for eternity … destined to suffer

- He is known as the god of unclean spirits / father of lies / the enemy (ref Peter)

-- To eat dust is to experience defeat – this is what God’s judgment brings to him

-- It is an eternal punishment – which further fuels Satan’s anger towards God

- TR: But there is even more judgment to be revealed …

Point 2 – God establishes hostility between Satan and Woman

- The tempter (Satan) is to be the object of hostility with all creation

-- Hebrew: ebah; enmity, war, aggression, strife (specific of who he is)

-- Think of it: war was to be waged between the woman and Satan for all eternity

- Why? She was to hate all the things he represents; all the negativity he brings

-- EX: Divorce, illness, accidents, drugs, war, death … it is parental nature here

-- A nature bent on protecting her family – all opposed to the things Satan brings

- From this moment on – the devil would be pitted against woman’s happiness

-- He will curse her, fight against her, and will promote destruction

-- APP: Satan makes this personal … get this … it is his war against us

- Why? Because it is through woman that salvation will come (v15)

-- “He will strike your head”. Who? One who will come through woman

-- Through the line of woman a redeemer will come that will rescue humanity

-- FACT: This is a glorious promise … it is the first revelation of Christ

- Interesting: God hints at the virgin birth … the incarnation of Christ … “he”

-- Our redeemer is a promised seed to come from woman (not from the man)

-- DRAW: Without the involvement of the man, one will come to crush his head

- But get this: Satan is never told WHEN the Messiah would come