And Great Was The Fall

“AND GREAT WAS THE FALL” Gen. 3:1-7

FBCF – 9/12/21

Jon Daniels

INTRO – Hurricane Ida brought back memories of Katrina 16 yrs. ago. Many of us remember where we were as we weathered that monster storm – Monticello BC.

Other memorable dates:

- Space Shuttle Challenger exploded – Jan. 28, 1986

- Pres. Reagan got shot – Mar. 30, 1981

- Elvis died – Aug. 16, 1977

- MLK – April 4, 1968

- Pres. Kennedy assassination – Nov. 22, 1963

Sept. 11, 2001 – Where were you?

- 9:59 AM – The South Tower collapsed & fell

- 10:28 AM – The North Tower collapsed & fell

Amid the rubble were 412 emergency workers who lost their lives – 343 firefighters, 60 police officers from different agencies, 8 EMTs & paramedics from private EMS companies, & 1 patrolman w/ the NY Fire Patrol. Stop & pray for their families & friends right now.

Those towers fell & great was the fall. But long before these towers fell, there was an even greater fall.

EXPLANATION – Genesis 3:1-7

Out of 1,189 chapters in the Bible, there are only 2 where sin is not a problem – Gen. 1 & 2. Imagine how wonderful it was to live in a perfect place created by a perfect Creator God w/ your perfect spouse – perfect bodies, perfect peace, perfect food, perfect love, perfect intimacy – just doesn’t get any better than that! God said, “It was good” multiple times. Then after He had created everything including Adam & Eve, He said “It was very good.” Until we turn the page to chapter 3.

Heading – “THE Fall” – Not “A fall” but “THE” Fall, & great was THE Fall. This is THE Fall that started every other fall since then. Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man [Adam], & death through sin, so death spread to all people [no one being able to stop it or escape its power], b/c they all sinned.” (AMP) The entire human race is now in trouble b/c of THE Fall. The damage done by this moment in the Garden of Eden is more devastating & far-reaching than a million 9/11’s. But there is HOPE…

APPLICATION – Jesus is the only answer for the damage caused by sin.

THE REASONS FOR THE FALL

SUBTLE DECEPTION – How many hate snakes? “Only good snake is a dead snake.” But something different about how this serpent looked. Evil not in world yet, so nothing to fear.

v. 1a – “crafty” – not necessarily a bad word. Hebrew – can mean “sensible.” Isn’t that how temptation comes to us? Subtly – sensibly.

SEEDS OF DOUBT – v. 1b – “Did God actually say…?” “Did God really say…” (NIV) “Is it really true that God said…” (NET)

How many times do we hear the voice of compromise & doubt? “It’s not that bad…Lots of folks do worse things than this…As long as you don’t get caught…Not hurting anyone.”

SAD DECISIONS – v. 6 – Not just the decision to eat the fruit, but Adam’s decision to allow his wife to confront Satan on her own & not step in. “Adam should have crushed the head of the evil serpent then & there. He should have squashed this rebellion rather than taking part in it. Had he done so, Adam & Eve would have been able to eat their fill of the tree of life, & enter into a heavenly life, without ever having to experience death.” (https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-garden-of-eden/)

THE RESULTS OF THE FALL

SIN – Def of sin: Missing the mark (Rom 3:23) Sin brought death as God promised (2:16-17). Rom 6:23

SEPARATION – The beautiful, uninterrupted fellowship between God & Adam & Eve was disrupted. Their guilt & fear caused them to try to hide from God. That’s what sin does. It separates us from a loving Heavenly Father. We try to hide. Try to run from Him.

SICKNESS – There was no sickness prior to The Fall – no Covid, cancer, strokes, heart attacks, flu, Alzheimer’s, PTSD, mental illness, depression – not even common cold.

STRIFE – Animosity & conflict soon erupted in the first family as Cain killed Abel shortly after The Fall. And strife has continued ever since in families, nations, churches, our entire world.

THE RESPONSES TO THE FALL

GOD’S RESPONSE – He could have retreated back to His throne in heaven & hurled lightning bolts at Adam & Eve. He could have launched an all-out barrage of judgment against them.

But He didn’t. Instead, He came into the Garden, seeking them out. Yes, He firmly & decisively dealt w/ their sin, but He did it in a loving way. Providing coverings for them. Blood was shed to cover their nakedness & their shame.