Five Firsts

FIVE FIRSTS

Genesis 3:1-15

http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/FiveFirsts.html

This is the first Sunday service of 2007. As we begin a new year many of us are trying to make a new start in different areas…from our waistlines to our finances, to how we spend our time. We’re right at the beginning and it feels right to make some changes.

Genesis is the “Book of Beginnings”. Nearly everything that we know about mankind began in the Book of Genesis.

The beginning of man.

The beginning of time.

The beginning of organic growth.

In Genesis 2 we see the beginning of woman, and in chapter 4 the beginning of worship and also of death. As we proceed through the book we see nations, governments, and kingdoms. We see another new beginning after the flood. In this book we find the beginning of slavery, of jealousy, and idol worship and so much more; but there are five very important things that happen in Genesis 3.

I. THE FIRST MENTION OF SATAN - THE EVIL ONE Gen. 3:1-5.

What can we learn about him from this first mention in Gen. 3?

1. He is subtle. Vs. 1. It means: “cunning (usually in a bad sense):--crafty, prudent, subtil.”

2. He is the author of doubt. Vs. 1. “Yea, hath God said...”

3. He is the chief of liars. Vs. 4. “...Ye shall not surely die...”.

4. He is the enemy of God. He is ruler of a powerful kingdom standing in opposition to the kingdom of God.

We try to teach our kids something: That they are never more like Satan than when they lie and when they rebel. He is the father of lies [Jn. 8:48], and he invented the sin of rebellion, which is as the sin of witchcraft! [I Sam. 15:23]

I’ve asked a couple of our folks to help illustrate this with a special drama called “An interview with Satan”. This is like a late night talk show. While written from an entertaining viewpoint, the message is as serious as it gets. [see online version for this drama at: http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/FiveFirsts.html

-----

Satan is a liar. And if scripture will help Satan’s cause, he will use scripture. Notice how he twists this passage. Gen 2:17 "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

Satan twists the truth to say in Gen. 3:5 “....ye shall be as gods,....” That is not what the scripture said.

C. For now Satan attempts to overthrow God, but will end up in the lake of fire.

Rev 20:10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

II. THE FIRST MENTION OF SIN

Their eyes were opened, but they did not become as gods; however, they saw their nakedness. Adam and Eve lived thousands of years BC [Before Clothing!] They had been naked all along, but were not knowledgeable what being naked meant. Look at Vs. 9-11, God is saying to them, “Who told you that you were naked? Where did you learn about nakedness?”

Sin Is Attractive. Vs. 6, “... pleasant to the eyes.” Don’t be deceived by sin. It will lure you, it will sway you; it will blind you; it will cause you to fall.

Sin Is Pleasurable. Heb 11:25 "…the pleasures of sin for a season;"

Sin Destroys.

1. Sin is a cancer that destroys the soul of man. James 1:15 "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." If you are involved in the practice of sin, you are on the road to death.

2. Notice what sin did to the family of Adam: Gen 4:5 "But unto Cain and to his offering he [God] had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell."

Gen 4:8 "…and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him."

Imagine the regret, the heartbreak, the sorrow that Adam and Eve were going through as they buried Abel. Sin will always bring much sorrow, heartbreak, and regret. Sin destroyed his family, brought remorse and heartache all of Adam’s days.

Everyday as Adam tilled the soil he was reminded of his sin. Every time he passed by the grave of Abel, he was reminded of his sin.

Sin is an offence. [note spelling]

Mat 18:7 "Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!"

“Offence” means = a trap-stick (bent sapling), i.e. snare (fig. cause of displeasure or sin):--occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumbling-block.