Genesis 3

Genesis 3

The Fall, The Seed, and Atonement

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1. Since we are created for the glory of God… How shall we live? 1 Cor. 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” We live for God and His purposes. What shall our will be? God’s will. How shall we experience God’s presence? To be without separation, and to have a mind and a heart that is filled with God, so that our intentions, motivations, attitude, and behavior can reflect God.

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What is our purpose in life? To fulfill the reason we are created: To glorify God. What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

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2. But, how is this possible if everyone has “fallen” short (Romans 3:23)?

‌The beginning of sin, death, confusion, despair, disorder, dysfunction, rebellion, selfish ambition, family problems, and all other problems starts here… in the beginning, in a garden.

‌Romans 5:12 - Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.

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Romans 8:22- The whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (Sin had an impact on all creation) Original sin is the teaching that, as a result of Adam’s fall, all mankind are sinners by nature, having a propensity to sin that underlies every actual sin (Psalm 51:5; 58:3). Mark 10:17 teaches that only God is good.

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Scripture emphasizes repeatedly the universality of human sin. God brought a flood upon the world because of the universality of human sin, which extended even to Noah and his family, who were spared. (Gen. 6:5– Every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart was on evil continually)

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The only explanation for this universality is that, underlying every individual sin is a propensity to sin that affects all mankind. While man has a will and the responsibility for action that comes with it, his will is influenced and shaped by his heart. From the heart of man proceed all types of evil (Mark 7:21–23.) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” (Jer 17:9)

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As a result, human beings can even be described as enslaved to sin (Rom 6:6) and unable to please God (Rom 8:8). In the New Testament, sinners are described as dead in sin, not only lacking freedom, but even life (Eph 2:1). This universal reign of sin is presented in Scripture as the result of Adam’s first sin (Rom 5:12). This means that original sin is not the original state of mankind but instead a departure from that origin.

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God began, created, and called everything “good.” God is not the Author of evil. God created man righteous and good, and made all things good. His nature was not bound to sin, at first. Adam’s first act of disobedience affected not only him but also all mankind. Death came to all men and fractured everything good. Sin came in and death through sin, and now nothing is “good” as God called it. The curse came into the world, and we see the result of sin and the curse today. This is where it all began.

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And this is where it all could have ended, with the result of punishment and destruction.

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But God...

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3. But God, Verse 15, promised that the Seed of the woman would crush/bruise the serpent’s head. Here we see two seeds, one of a woman and one of the serpent’s (or Satan).

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Galatians 3:16 and 4:4 - Who is this Seed? What is the Promise?

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Mutual hatred and ill will - will exist between the two, and their seed. The serpent’s seed could be demons and or those who follow Satan (Matthew 12:34; John 8:44; Philippians 3:18). Satan will always war against God and His people (Ephesians 6). Satan will bruise the heel, but the Seed of the woman is going to crush Satan’s head.

Jesus, the virgin-born Seed of a woman, the Second or Last Adam/New Head of the human race will suffer a heel strike on the earth, and on the Cross… But on the third day… Jesus crushed Satan’s head forever. Jesus bound the “strong man” and now plunders his goods/souls (Mark 3:27).

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Romans 16:20- For all who see the wickedness/evil around them and are losing strength and hope… “The God of Peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”

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4. Lastly, until the day when Satan will be ultimately and completely destroyed, we need Atonement.

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Verse 21 - God clothes and covers man. God covers their shame. Man tries to do it with fig leaves (verse 7), and it is pitiful. God comes, lays down life, and covers His people.

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Hebrews 9:22- Without the shedding of blood there is no covering, purification, or forgiveness of sins.

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Genesis is the beginning of life being laid down so that man can live and be covered. The sacrificial system will be seen in the next chapter, and will continue on, pointing to the One who will come and once and for all lay down His life, and cover whosoever will come to Him (Hebrews 10 and John 3:16).

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In the Beginning, we see the Fall, but we also see a Promise and a Hope. In the Beginning, we see sin and sin’s aftermath, but we also see the God of Mercy extended His heart and hand to sinners in need.

1 Corinthians 15:45 – The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. In Christ, we are born again and we will bear the image of the Heavenly Man.