The fall and God

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 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.’ ” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 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, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. 8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

A call of justice - The holy One cannot overlook sin, or He would not be just.

A call of mercy - God’s concern over the sinner’s condition

A call of love - God’s compassionately offers redemption to His enemies .

Let us look at a fact, God sought out, it was not man who sought out.

First (Rom3:9-11)

Romans 3:9–11 NASB95

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God;

Then (Rom5:6-8)

Romans 5:6–8 NASB95

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Followed by (Jam4:4)

James 4:4 NASB95

4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

And finally 1Jn2:15-17

1 John 2:15–17 NASB95

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

God promised redemption (Gen3:15)

Genesis 3:15 NASB95

15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

Then, before acting in judgment, He displaced mercy

Then, before removing them from the garden, He yet declared a promise and a hope

God’s promised hope was through the “seed” (ref Gen3:15)

By woman came sin (Gal4:4)

By woman came the curse (Gal3:13ff)

By woman came the loss of paradise; but also the means for restoration (Lk23:43; Rev22:1-5).

God provided a substitute (in type) for sin (Gen3:21)

God gave the penalty even before the crime (Gen2:17)

That same penalty today (Rom6:23)

The provision comes through the blood, not the sewn leaves (Gen3:7, 21; Heb9:22)

Genesis 3:7 NASB95

7 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 loin coverings.

Genesis 3:21 NASB95

21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.

Hebrews 9:22 NASB95

22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

The innocent blood of animals became the substitute, the type for the guilty, dying in their place

The mercy desired to spare the offenders, Justice demanded punishment for sin, Love provided a way.

The blood was a foreshadow, a type for Christ blood at Calvary (Heb9:11ff; Rom3:21-26)

God is justified in this act of mercy and love because of His eternal purpose, His scheme of redemption in Christ Jesus (1Pt1:17-21)

The way, the provision (propitiatory by nature) was made by God Himself.

God furnished the skins

God made the covering

God clothed Adam and even

God removed man and woman from the garden (Gen3:24)

Genesis 3:24 NASB95

24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

God and man separate.

All this happens because of sin (Isa59:1-2)

Isaiah 59:1–2 NASB95

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

Without a means, a way of forgiveness man is alienated from the life of God (Eph4:18)

Conclusion

God is holy, God is just, God is righteous and punishes sin.

Got is merciful and loving and provides a covering for sin

God’s answer for sin is in His eternally purposed Son, the Savior of the world.

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