What you talking about Willis
Genesis 2:16&17, 3:1-7
Intro: Back in the 80’s, there was a television show called Different Strokes. The star of the show was a child named Gary Coleman. In this show, two black children were adopted by a rich white man because their mother who was his maid died. He took the children in and he and his daughter accepted them as part of the family. The show lasted seven seasons and highlighted many social and economic problems in their producing these comedies. The only thing that is really memorable about the show is the phrase “ what you talking about Willis”. When his brother Willis would say something that Gary Coleman’s character didn’t like or didn’t really understand, that’s what he would say. “What you talking about Willis”.
. As I was preparing for this message, it occurred to me that the story of the first sin, the narrative of Eve and the serpent in the Garden of Eden is much like this conversation.
. You see, it was all about what God had said and the confusion that the serpent created by casting doubt about God’s word.
. I could have titled this sermon What you talking about God, because that is what’s at issue. God’s word.
. When we first started our journey in Genesis, we saw that God’s word was the driving force in creation and stability in the world.
. We were created by God’s word and we are sustained and held together by God’s word.
. God’s word is Jesus Christ.
. John wrote that in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and that the word was God.
. He made this statement as he was describing Jesus.
. Today, we are going to look at another part of the creation narrative.
. The placing of man and woman in the Garden and God’s word to them.
. Creation is finished, God has had Adam name all the animals and realizes that none of them are appropriate partners for him so God creates woman.
. Just before He does that though, He gives him one restriction on what he is allowed to do.
In Genesis 2: 15-17 we see this.
15The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.
16But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—
17except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
. That’s it, that’s all there was. No other restrictions. Adam was free to live his life as he wanted.
. God even provided him a partner that was perfect for him.
. Everybody was content, living in the Garden and taking care of everything.
. There was purpose in Adam and Eve’s lives.
. They were living by God’s word. They were true to God’s word.
. We don’t know how long Adam and Eve had been around when the events took place in the Garden but; my personal opinion is that a considerable time has passed.
. Our scripture is probably the most well known story in all of history.
. The story or account of the fall.
. Lets look at our scripture.
. Genesis 3:1-7
. 1The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied.
3“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ”
4“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.
5“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
7At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
. We talk and preach about the original sin. Was it greed, was it covetousness, was it pride.
. It was all of those but the issue was really God’s word.
. What did he say and what did He not say.
. Was there really an understanding of God’s word.
. What went on in the Garden was unique to them but it is not unique to us.
. We still have issues today, even in Christendom about what God’s word says.
. The first thing we see here in our scripture is:
. The Serpent Questions God’s Word
. Look at verse 1 again.
. 1The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
. We are told in Revelation that this serpent was in fact satan or the devil.
. The devil; comes walking or hopping or running up to Eve, (we know that the serpent today crawls on it’s belly due to his complicity in this story) and looks at her and says.
. “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
The devil questioned God’s word.
. He started out trying to get Eve to doubt God’s word.
. Did God really say that?
. That is how Satan is still attacking mankind today.
. After all, it worked with Eve didn’t it?
. Why change something that is working pretty well.
. Why do you think that Satan came after Eve and not Adam?
. No wisecracks from some of you men.
. I don’t believe that it was because she was the “weaker sex” as many have said.
. Satan went after Eve because she had gotten her understanding of God’s word from somebody else.
. My assumption is that since she had not been created when God gave Adam the command, Adam had probably told her the instructions.
. She had not heard from God himself.
. Her knowledge of God’s word was secondhand. Satan could take advantage of that and cast doubt on God’s word.
. Eve was and is not alone regarding this issue.
. Most Christians get their knowledge or understanding of God’s word second hand. By that I mean they get it through preaching or teaching that others do and never actually red God’s word for themselves.
. I looked at many polls and statistics on bible reading. What I found was astonishing.
.One article said that less than 10% of all professed Christians have read the entire Bible. (http://healtheland.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/less-than-10-of-professed-christians-have-read-the-entire-bible/)
.It seems God’s word is not connecting with the saved or the lost.
. In an article in the Huffington Post, the writer cites statistics that reveal that 57% percent of Christians read their Bible four times a year or less.
. Only 26% say they read their Bible on a regular basis. 4 or more timed per week.
. Folks, if we don’t know what God’s word says, if we don’t know what God says, we will be just like Eve, susceptible to Satan placing doubt into our lives.
. The first thing we see is that the serpent will try to get you to question God’s word.
. The next thing we see here in this account is that the woman:
. Changes God’s Word
. Look with me at verse 2 &3 again,
. 2“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied.3“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ”
. Eve says sure, we can eat anything we want; the only thing that is forbidden is the fruit from that tree in the middle of the Garden. We can’t even touch that one. If we do, we will die.
. Eve added a condition to God’s word. Not only can we not eat from the tree, we can’t even touch.
. It seems mankind has been trying to add to God’s word ever since.
. The priests and religious leaders had added over 600 regulations to God’s word by the time Jesus came on the scene.
. Jesus came on the scene and said look you don’t have to do all these things in order to be in a relationship with God.
. We see recorded in Matthew 11: 28-30 Jesus’ response to this addition to what God says.
. Jesus is talking to a crowd of Jewish people and He says this:
28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
29Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
. Jesus wasn’t talking about rest from work or carrying heavy physical loads.
. He was talking about all the rules and regulations and changes to what God had said that was weighing the people down.
. The people felt lost and had no hope because they could never measure up to what the religious people wanted from them.
. Jesus had this radical concept of freedom from all these rules and regulations for salvation. He said just believe in me and accept what I do for you and you will be saved. Forget all these rules and regulations and additions to what God has said.
. They did accept this for a little while after Jesus died for their sin on the cross; then guess what? Here they go again.
. The prevailing thought among the religious leaders again was that there was more than just acceptance of Jesus’ Sacrifice required for salvation.
. They wanted everyone, Jew and Gentile alike,( by the way, if you are not Jewish, you are a gentile), to be circumcised.
. They started adding things to what God revealed to them.
. Now only did you have to accept Jesus’ sacrifice, you had to be circumcised and by the way, you have to follow the Jewish dietary laws as well.
. Well that was just silly wasn’t it? There’s no way Jesus taught that.
. Again People were adding to what God had told them was necessary.
. We look at them and say man that was crazy and then we do the same thing.
. I’m not talking about circumcision; I’m talking about adding to what God’s word says.
. We understand salvation by grace through faith in what Jesus did on the cross as the payment for our sin. We want everyone to know Jesus is a personal and saving way.
. That’s all great but then, after their salvation, we have our own little rules and regulations that we think everyone should adhere to.
. If you don’t walk like me and talk like me and lead your Christian life exactly like I think you should then you can’t be a Christian.
. If you want to be in God’s good graces, then act like me.
. God’s word says that you have to do this and you have to that in order to be a Christian.
. That is not what Jesus taught.
. We are saved by Grace through faith in Jesus Christ, period.
. No if’s ands or buts to it.
. We are also saved for a purpose, for good works.
. We cannot add requirements or lifestyles to what God says about salvation.
. While Eve added to God’s word, we are just as guilty of this today as they were at the dawn of creation.
.Lastly we see that the serpent
. Challenged God’s word
. Look at 4&5
. 4“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.
5“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
. Do you really believe that? God wouldn’t do that.
. There is no way a loving God, the God who created you, would do something like that.
. Sound Familiar
. Satan is still challenging God’s word today.
. No way would God send someone to Hell. A God of love will not do that.
. God did not choose that Adam and Eve would suffer both a spiritual and eventually a physical death.
. They chose that path.
. God offered eternal life, they chose death.
. Today, God does not choose death for us, we choose.
. The God of love sent Jesus to die for our rebellion.
. The choice has been ours since the dawn of creation.
. Satan will challenge you before salvation and after your salvation.
. Before your salvation, he will say to you, you won’t die; a loving God would never do that.
. After your salvation, he knows that he has lost you but he does not want you to bring others along with you.
. That’s why it is so vital for you Christian, to know God’s word for yourself, not what someone else is telling you.
. Eve went on to take the fruit and eat and then give some to her husband Adam.
. Their decision caused a spiritual death between them and their creator. A separation between them and God.
. Mankind has been making that same decision since then.
. What decisions have you made in your life regarding your relationship with God?
. Invitation
*** To my Christian brothers and sisters, thank you for taking the time to read this sermon. I ask that you take another second and score this for me. I am always open to feedback so that I can continue to grow in the proclamation of God’s word.
May God bless you as you continue to strive to walk worthy of His calling.
Sources: The Holy Bible, NLT
