Genesis 1:3 – “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, you shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
1. Our enemy will use ordinary things to trip us up and destroy us; i.e., a snake and a delightful fruit tree.
2. Our enemy can overwhelm us because he is greater than us; “shrewdest of all the creatures” (3:1, LB). “Most cunning” (3:1, CSB).
3. Our enemy takes the initiative and comes to us; we don’t have to seek out sin.
4. Even though our enemy tells lies, he doesn’t start there. He puts doubt in our mind. “Has God indeed said . . . ?”
5. Our enemy usually tempts us to do something we thought about, or we want to do. He doesn’t begin with temptation that angers or repulses us.
6. Temptation becomes the central focus of our lives, just as the tree was “in the center of the garden” (3:3).
Genesis 3:2-3 – “And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, “You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.”’”
7. Hunger was not the issue; the woman could eat from all the trees (365) except one. We usually don’t start off needing the sin that satan uses to tempt us, we only think we do. When sin becomes an addiction, then we need it, i.e., bondage.
8. We have difficulty knowing or telling the truth when tempted.
a. Eve exaggerated. “Nor shall you touch it.”
b. Eve omitted. “God said, ‘You shall surely die,’ she said, ‘lest you die.’”
Genesis 3:4-5 – “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’”
9. We will be tempted to do the opposite of what God says. “You shall not eat of it” (Gen. 2:17).
10. The enemy will promise you something you desire. “You will know.”
11. The enemy promises you will be superior or an achiever. “You will be like God.”
Genesis 3:6 – “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.”
12. We are tempted in three realms:
a. The lust (desires) of physical pleasure, “good for food.”
b. The lust (desires) things seen with eyes, “pleasant to the eyes.”
c. Pride of life, i.e., self greatness, “to make one wise.”
13. Sin begins in small portions. “So she took some of the fruit and ate it” (v. 6, CSB).
14. No one likes to disobey alone; we get strength from others. “Gave to her husband with her.”
15. Temptation begins in the mind (she saw) and influences outer action.
Genesis 3:7-8 – “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”
16. We usually try to hide the actions we know are wrong.
a. Cover up nakedness.
b. Hide in the bushes.
17. God doesn’t come to tell us we have disobeyed Him. We know it.
18. God asks us questions, “Where are you?” and, “Have you eaten of the tree?”
a. Questions bring conviction (light).
b. Questions make us judge ourselves.
19. We can’t hide from God after we have disobeyed. God comes after us.
20. Sin scares us. “I was afraid,” and reveals us, “I was naked.”
21. Sin breaks our fellowship with God. “I was afraid . . . I hid” (3:10).
22. We tend to blame others for our sin.
a. Adam blamed Eve, and God. “The woman whom You gave to be with me” (3:12).
b. Eve blamed satan. “The serpent deceived me” (3:13).
c. Won’t take responsibility for their actions.
d. Sin destroys the inner self (respect, strength, dignity).
Genesis 3:15 – “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
Protoevangelium
A woman doesn’t have a seed, but the supernatural birth of a Son would crush the serpent’s head, as the serpent strikes His heel.
23. The results of the first sin.
a. Sins represent the atonement (i.e., to cover).
b. Promise of a Redeemer.
c. Prediction of the cross.
d. Continued struggle with satan.
e. Full deliverance is future.
Coming Lessons in This Series
Lesson 3: Psalm 23
Lesson 4: Isaiah 53
Lesson 5: John 3
Lesson 6: I Cor. 13
Lesson 7: John 14:1-6
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
All PBC lessons are available online at trbc.org/pbc. Go to www.Hopenow.tv for the current program schedule.
www.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-elmer-towns
Dr. Towns' email is ELTowns@liberty.edu
Dr. Towns’ web address is www.elmertowns.com
