Ye Shall Be as Gods

Introduction

Knowing Our Enemy:

The nature of satan

The strategy of satan

Knowing Ourselves

The problem with Adam and Eve

Knowing Our God

The faithfulness of God

Knowing Our Enemy

I. The Nature of satan

A. Let’s talk about the snake. Who is he and where did he come from?

First, let’s discuss a common objection to this passage: a talking snake.

Ethan, do you really believe there was a talking snake?

Yes, and so did both John and Paul.

Revelation 12:9 NASB95

9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

2 Corinthians 11:3 NASB95

3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

There are other instances of strange animals in Scripture. In Numbers 22, we learn about Balaam’s talking donkey. In the book of Jonah we learn about a great fish that swallowed Jonah. And we already got past the most challenging verse in all of Scripture. If Genesis 1:1 is true, then everything else in the Bible is at least possible.

A. Who is satan?

There are two primary passages in which describe who satan is. The first is Isaiah 14 and the second is Ezekiel 28. Let’s look at Ezekiel 28 first:

A real being who was created in perfection by God.

Ezekiel 28:12–14 (NASB95)

12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 “You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created They were prepared. 14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire.

Ezekiel 28:15–16 (NASB95)

15 “You were blameless in your ways From the day you were created Until unrighteousness was found in you. 16 “By the abundance of your trade You were internally filled with violence, And you sinned; Therefore I have cast you as profane From the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the stones of fire.

Some people think that satan existed long before God created the world and that he has always been evil. The problem with this is we just learned God created everything and on day six He looked over all He had created and declared it ‘very good.’ Which means sometime during the six days of creation God created satan in perfection; and sometime between the end of day six and the beginning of Genesis 3, satan set himself in opposition to God and God cast him out of heaven.

A real, created being who made a conscious choice to rebel against God.

Isaiah 14:12–17 (NASB95)

12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! 13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ 15 “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit. 16 “Those who see you will gaze at you, They will ponder over you, saying, ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, 17 Who made the world like a wilderness And overthrew its cities, Who did not allow his prisoners to go home?’

Ezekiel 28:17 NASB95

17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, That they may see you.

In his pride, the creation desired to set himself above the Creator. Rather than fulfilling his role of worshipping God, satan desired to be worshipped. That is why he was cast out of heaven.

We also have a misconception about who satan really is. I mean, just look at the text we just read there. It tells us that one day we will see satan thrown into the lake of fire and ask ourselves, “That’s all he is? That’s the one who caused so much trouble? That’s the one I feared?”

Why are we going to respond that way? Because all too often, we as Christians view God and satan as equal and opposing forces.

We give him far too much credit, power, and authority. I believe in spiritual warfare, and spiritual oppression and attack. It is real and as a Christian you will experience it. But sometimes I hear people say, “Satan has really been attacking me lately.” His helpers might be, his minions might be, but satan doesn’t have the power that God has. He can’t be everywhere all at once. God is all-knowing, satan is not. God is all-powerful, satan is not. God is all-present, satan is not. And one day, we will see satan thrown into the lake of fire, and we who are Christians will cheer and marvel that we feared him.

II. The Strategy of satan

A. First, why does satan only talk to the woman?

Many people have been given an incorrect understanding of Genesis 3. They assume that the snake, satan, has snuck up on poor, unsuspecting Eve while Adam is over in some other area of the garden completely oblivious to what is going on. That’s not the picture we get here.

Genesis 3:6 (NASB95)

6 … she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

Where is Adam?

Also, whenever the serpent uses the word you, it’s in the plural. It’s like saying y’all. Did God really tell y’all you can’t eat of any tree in this garden?

So satan is speaking directly to the woman, but he is addressing both Adam and Eve.

B. satan desires to go after the image bearers of God

satan sinned against God as a created being (which is different from our sin, because we sinned as image bearers, and we will talk about that in a minute). In his sin, his relationship with God was forever changed and he was cast out of heaven. satan hates God. However, satan is completely aware that he is powerless against God. So instead, satan turned to the thing which God loves the most: those who bear his image. And what does satan come to do?

John 10:10 NASB95

10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

C. Satan’s strategy

Doubt God’s Word

First thing satan says in Scripture is, “Did God really say?”

Doubt God’s goodness

satan lies, twists, distorts, and changes what God said in order to make us question how good God really is.

Doubt God’s justice

Doubt God’s authority to render justice

Once satan gained a foothold, he presses in with everything he has. He gets you to doubt God’s Word, which in turn causes us to question God’s goodness, which ultimately leads to us questioning God’s authority.

He tells us that we are missing out on something, that God is holding us back, that what He has given us is not enough. That the only reason He has commanded us not to do something is to ensure we don’t reach our full potential.

Why does satan do this?

It is within his very nature. In John 8:44, Jesus describes who satan is:

John 8:44 NASB95

44 “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Satan is ...

A murderer

God told Adam, “The day you eat of it, you will die.” It means dying you will die. You will certainly experience the reality of death. Satan says dying you will NOT die. He is a murderer! The whole intent of satan here is to see humankind die, because his only intention is to steal, kill, and destroy.

A liar

The primary language of satan is lies. Theres no truth. There might be partial truth, but that’s called deception, and that is still a lie. He is still a liar and he has been from the beginning.

Father to all unbelievers

Anyone who doesn’t believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the devil is your father. I often hear people say that we’re all children of God. That’s not true! We talked about last week that we are all made in God’s image, but only those who have accepted Christ as Savior and proclaimed Him as Lord are His children. If you don’t know Jesus, the devil is your father. And if that is you, Jesus Christ is ready and waiting with open arms to welcome you home, adopt you into His family, and call you His child.

From the beginning — affirming once again a creation week

How does satan do this?

satan gets close to us through the people, places, and circumstances we are familiar with.

We often think of satan as a figure dressed in bright red, horns on his head, a pitchfork in his hands, wreathed in flames and speaking in a sinister voice. That’s not satan.

2 Corinthians 11:13–14 (NASB95)

13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

He disguises himself to appear as something we are comfortable with to make it appear good for us. Have you ever asked yourself why satan chose the snake? There are many different theories, and while almost all of them are intriguing, could it be that satan simply chooses something close to and familiar with Adam and Eve to whisper his lies to them?

He will use your family, your friends, your kids, your coworkers, the entertainment you consume. Anything close to you that you feel comfortable with, satan will use that because you were created in the image of the God he hates.

Knowing Ourselves

III. The Problem with Adam and Eve

A. Why did they have to screw everything up for us?

When we think of the story of Adam and Eve, we often like to think that if we were there, it would have been different. Nope. Because everything in our lives indicates we would have done the exact same thing. Every part of the Bible speaks to the fact that we would have done the exact same thing.

Have you ever seen those cartoons that show how animals view themselves? For instance you have a Boston Terrier looking into the mirror and the reflection staring back at him is a great mastiff. Or you have a cat and the reflection is a cheetah. For us as humans, we often imagine ourselves as greater than we really are as well. We read these accounts and we say, “Well, I would’ve handled it differently.” The problem is, everything in our life says otherwise. The problem with Adam and Eve is that they serve as the spiritual reflection for who each of us really is. Every man looking into the spiritual mirror would see Adam on the other side. Every woman looking into the spiritual mirror would see Eve.

Romans 3:23 NASB95

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

What does all mean?

So the problem that you are going to see as we continue through this passage is that we are just like them. Each of us has sinned and the problem is, if we die in our sin apart from God, that’s it. There are no do overs. And you will spend the rest of eternity in darkness and in isolation and there will weeping and gnashing of teeth. Hell is what awaits each of us as sinners. That’s what the Bible teaches. That’s why this passage is so important, even though it is so sobering. Because in order for us to truly understand the beauty of the gospel message, the beauty and ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for you and for me, we have to first understand what he saved us from.

There is a growing trend among American churches to teach that we as Christians can “decouple” from the Old Testament. No, we can’t, and anyone who tells you that is a full of crap. The only way the gospel has any meaning is if we first understand how broken we are.

B. satan’s question

Has God indeed said you shall not eat of every tree in the garden?

satan first attacks validity of what God has said and then gets us to question whether God is good. What satan is saying in other words here is, “God really created this whole garden and you can’t eat from any of the trees?” Do you not see the intentional deception?

What was God’s command? — People often point to the you shall not eat

Genesis 2:16–17 NASB95

16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

God’s command was this: Adam, do you see all I have made? It’s awesome, I’m awesome, and I want you to go out and enjoy what I have created! Delight in my creation. Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth with my glory.

Now, he caveats it with a warning to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for the day that you eat from it, dying you will die. That was the command.

C. Eve’s response

Genesis 3:2–3 NASB95

2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ”

Was that God’s command? Did God say you eat from it or touch it?

The only thing Adam and Eve were warned not to do was eat the fruit. They could’ve picked the fruit, they could’ve played with the fruit, they could’ve cut down the entire tree and burned it. God’s only warning was not to eat the fruit.

What do we have here?

We have the first instance of legalism in all the Bible. God says enjoy everything, Adam’s job is to pass down God’s command and the warning to his wife, and in so doing he tells her, “Don’t eat the fruit, in fact, don’t even touch the fruit.” He doesn’t just relay God’s command, he adds to it to fit his own needs or desires.

D. You shall be as God

No, you’re not going to die. You can almost hear the mocking sarcasm. “God is just holding you back. He wants to limit you because He knows if you disobey Him, you will be like Him. You will know good and evil.”

Remember that you is plural here. satan is speaking to both Adam and Eve telling them they could be like God.”

Up until this point, Adam and Eve have no idea what evil is. They only know what God has said, and everything that God has said is good.

But satan makes it seem like experiencing evil would be a good thing, that they would be like God.

We will never be like God. That is satan’s greatest lie though. Still today its the lie he whispers. You can decide for yourselves what is right and wrong, that’s what it really boils down to.

Have you ever really thought about abortion? We know that life begins at the moment of conception, and no matter the stage the child is at, every child who is aborted is mercilessly slaughtered on the alter of self-advancement. And what better way to feel like gods than to decide who lives and who dies?

…

Transgenderism is the same way. Most of us can’t understand why in the world it has become so popular. Why is it that politicians, doctors, and parents are pushing the mutilation of their children? I can tell you why. Because what better way to feel like gods than to play the role of creator and decide for yourself how you want yourself, or your child to be made.

…

Divorce is the same way. A true Christian’s heart breaks when they see someone get divorced, but it’s become so commonplace in our culture and even our churches that we just accept it. You know why? Because what better way to feel like gods than to decide what to join together and what to separate.

So, what does Eve do?

Genesis 3:6 NASB95

6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

Is this anything new?

Genesis 2:9 NASB95

9 Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Every single tree God made was pleasing to the sight and good for food! It’s nothing special. So, why is Eve so suddenly interested in this tree? Because it has the potential to make one like God.

E. The First Sin

Who committed the first sin in the Bible?

Because notice how verse 7 continues.

Genesis 3:6–7 (NASB95)

6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened

Almost every person I meet says that Eve, the woman, committed the first sin in the Bible when she ate the fruit. Those blasted women. If God wouldn’t have created them, we wouldn’t be in this mess!

Eve eats of the fruit, doesn’t think anything of it, gives some to her husband, and when he eats it then the eyes of both of them are opened. Why? Because they are one flesh.

Well, they both realized once Adam ate, but Eve still sinned first right? Scripture would seem to disagree.

Romans 5:12 NASB95

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Why is it that Paul says sin entered the world through one man?

Common misunderstanding of a New Testament passage:

In 1 Timothy, Paul teaches that men, not women, are to teach and have authority in the church, and he relates it back to the order of creation. That is God’s design and that’s what the Bible teaches.

1 Timothy 2:12–14 NASB95

12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. 13 For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

Some people teach this passage and say women are just so much more emotional and trusting, which makes you easily deceivable. So, for that reason, women you can’t teach in the church because you can be easily misled. And because women are emotional and trusting, that’s why Eve was deceived and not Adam.

No. Wrong.

So, why does Paul say Eve was deceived but Adam was not?

Who did God give the command to? — THE MAN

In fact, in Genesis 2:16-17 where we read that, we know Eve hasn’t even been created yet! So, while Eve received the information of God’s command secondhand, Adam received the command straight from God! He knew immediately when satan began to speak that it was a lie.

And where is Adam? — STANDING RIGHT THERE NEXT TO EVE

What is he doing?! I have no idea. Eve knows what her husband said, but now she has this new information and Adam isn’t saying anything against it. Adam is standing there right next to Eve, listening to a stream of lies come from satan’s mouth, and he does absolutely nothing to stop it.

The first sin in all the Bible was not Eve eating from the fruit of the tree. The first sin of humanity was the passivity of man in failing to stand up for the Word of God.

And by the way men, we are still sinning in the exact same way today.

I mean just think about all the garbage in our society, our nation, and our world. Why does abortion still exist? — It’s the failure and passivity of men to speak up for and champion the value of human life, no matter the size, or level of development, or environment, or degree of dependency of that child. It’s the failure of men to say, “On the authority of God’s Word all life is sacred and we will not mercilessly slaughter children on the altar of self-advancement.

Why are we struggling with transgenderism? — It’s the failure and passivity of men to speak up for those who for those who feel lost in their identity. It’s the failure of men to say, “You will not mutilate my son, or my daughter, or anyone else’s son or daughter by sacrificing them on the altar of financial profit.” It’s the failure to say, “On the authority of God’s Word, God made them male and female and there is only one, Jesus Christ, in whom you can find your identity.”

Why are so many marriages failing? — It’s the failure and passivity of men to stand up and say, “I made a covenant before God, my wife, my family, and my friends, and I am held accountable to that, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health, until the day I die.” It’s the failure of men to recognize Christ Jesus, and He alone, is able to sustain and grow a marriage relationship.

Why are there so many walking away from the faith? — It’s the failure and passivity of men to lead godly lives in their personal families which their wives and children can see as an example and model. Its the failure of men to champion the truth of God’s Word and to not cower in fear of what the world may do to them when they proclaim it. It’s the failure of men to not say, “God’s Word is living, active, sharper than any two edged sword, and it alone can pierce the deepest parts of your being to change you.”

On and on and on it goes. You can’t point to any issue in our world and find that the Bible not only speaks to it, but God has called men to be the spiritual leaders in those issues to their families, their communities, and their nations. And every issue you see today can be traced back to a singular event with a snake and a tree in a garden over 6,000 years ago. And the reason those issues not just continue, but are increasingly growing, is because we have failed to raise up enough men who will boldly and proudly champion the glory of God and His Word.

One of my favorite quotes is from Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It’s at the end of every email I send, it’s in every one of my social media bios, and I think about it constantly. Why? Because it serves as constant reminder of how I would have failed in the garden. And it serves as a future challenge that I not fail again. He says:

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak, is to speak. Not to act, is to act.”

Knowing Our God

The Faithfulness of Our God

A. This is a sobering text

That is why for a lot of this sermon it has been really quite in here. You know why? That’s the heavy weight of the Holy Spirit convicting each of our hearts and illuminating our desperate need for a Savior.

And I could leave you hanging until next week, but I don’t want to. We don’t see this in the verses we went through today, but I just want to let you know that the same God you and I sinned against loves you so much that He did not leave you in this condition. Probably the most famous verse in all of Scripture says:

John 3:16–17 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Every single one of us has committed sins against a God that numbers longer than we can possibly imagine. And one day, Romans 14:10-12 tells us that each of us, man, woman, son, daughter, Christian, non-Christian, each of us will give an account before God.

Romans 14:10–12 NASB95

10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God.” 12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

And Jesus Christ loves you and I so much that He came to earth, He lived, He died, He rose, and He conquered death, so that by His blood we would be bought back with the most costly sacrifice ever offered. And Isaiah 1:18 tells us that by the blood of Jesus Christ our sins have been made clean.

Isaiah 1:18 NASB95

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

And it is not just in the future that this will happen, but 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that at the moment you accept Jesus as Savior, and proclaim Him in your life as Lord, you have been made a new creation in His sight.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB95

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.