Last week we looked at the temptation presented by the serpent. Today, we look at the immediate consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin. Next week, the long term curses and consequences.
Genesis 3:6 “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. (3:7)
Their eyes were opened: loss of innocence
They realized they were naked: they were guilty
They made coverings for themselves: they were full of shame
God’s questions:
1. Where are you?
2. Who told you were naked? (Who have you been listening to?)
3. Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?
3. What is this you have done?
WHERE ARE YOU?
God knew he was hiding, otherwise he wouldn’t have asked. This question implies that Adam is not where he should be. The relationship has been severed and needs repair. Sin separates.
Isaiah 59:1-2 “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
Adam, where are you?
As a result of this original sin, there was immediate separation between the Creator and His creation. Adam, himself, articulates the consequences of this separation:
Genesis 3:10 “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
1. I was afraid – Adam experienced fear for the first time
2. Because I was naked – Adam experienced guilt for the first time
3. So I hid – Adam experienced shame for the first time
Fear. Guilt. Shame. These are the same things we all experience when we sin.
Does the command itself make us feel afraid, guilty or shameful? No! These are a result of our sin! Today, people want to blame God or his commands for their feelings of guilt and shame, not realizing that it comes from their own sin, their own disobedience!
Romans 3:23 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Isaiah 59:2 “…your iniquities have separated you from your God.” God is calling all of us by name, “Where are you?”
The Hebrew word for separated in this Isaiah passage conveys the idea of a division, usually by a wall or curtain. We see its use in the instructions for building the tabernacle in Exodus 26…
Exodus 26:33 (building of the tabernacle) “Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.”
Josephus reported that the curtain was 4 inches thick; was renewed every year, and that horses tied to each side could not pull it apart. This curtain signified the separation between the holy God and sinful man.
Nothing in all creation could break down this barrier between God and man. But the power of the Creator could! Remember what happened when Jesus died on the cross?
Mark 15:38 “The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
What sin separated, God restored through the sacrifice of his Son!
Hebrews 10:19-25 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Result of Sin: Genesis 3:10 Result of the Savior: Hebrews 10:22
Fear (I was afraid) Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart
Guilt (because I was naked) Hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience
Shame (so I hid) Bodies washed with pure water
2 Peter 3:17-18 “Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
WHO HAVE YOU BEEN LISTENING TO?
Genesis 3:11 “And he said, “Who told you that were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
I gave you a command and you disobeyed. Who have you been listening to?
The Bible talks a great deal about our listening habits.
Psalm 81:8-11 "Hear, O my people, and I will warn you-- if you would but listen to me, O Israel! You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god. I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.”
Isaiah 55:1-3 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk with money and without cost. Why spend money on what is no bread, or labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the riches of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me that your soul may live.”
Adam, who were you listening to? Listening throughout Scripture isn’t merely the idea of hearing the words, but obeying. This is what Jesus said about his followers…
John 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
The question God asked Adam is the same one he asks us today. Who are we listening to? We’re given God’s commands; are we obeying them?
Mark 9:7 “Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’”
2 Timothy 4:2-3 “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their tickling ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Who are you listening to? Everyone is preaching a sermon: rock bands, television shows, movies. Who is influencing your thought life, your opinions, your beliefs? Are they in line with Scripture, with God’s voice?
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
God gives Adam and Eve an opportunity to confess. But what do they do? Blame. The woman YOU put here with me, it’s her fault! The devil made me do it!
The Christian life here on earth is not one of perfection, but confession. When we sin, are we quick to confess it and repent or are we defensive and looking for someone to blame.
1 John 1:8-10 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
Contrast Adam and Eve’s response to King David’s response when he was confronted with his sin.
2 Samuel 12:7 “Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are that man!’”
2 Samuel 12:13 “Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’” No defensiveness. No blame. Only confession. And we get more of a glimpse into the heart of this great king in his psalm…
Read Psalm 51:1-17
Why was David a man after God’s own heart? Was he perfect? Far from it. David was quick to confess his sin when confronted.
How about you? When God speaks to your heart, “What have you done?” are you quick to confess and seek forgiveness and reconciliation?
Psalm 51:10-12 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
These three questions get to heart of our sin and our restoration:
1. Where are you – are you where God desires you to be: in a right relationship with him
2. Who have you been listening to – what voices are drawing you away from God’s truth
3. What have you done – is there unconfes sed sin in your life? Don’t delay; be quick to confess your sin
and turn back to God.
Worship team, will you come forward?
Our reconciliation with our Creator was made possible through the cross. For it was on that cross where the curtain of Jesus body was broken on our behalf. The Lamb of God, perfect sacrifice, our Savior who came into the world to save sinners, sinners like Adam and Eve; sinners like me and you.
Praise God for that Old Rugged Cross!
