The Fall of Humanity

I. LIFE IN THE GARDEN

A. A Perfect Home

Genesis 2:10 “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.”

Eden was inside the Garden and was the source of its water supply.

Genesis 2:11–14 “The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.”

The size of Eden was on the scale of a national park like Yellowstone or Banff. Garden was home to four rivers: the Pison, the Gihon, the Hiddekel, and the Euphrates. To require so much water, the Garden must’ve been massive.

Genesis 2:25 “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”

Their nakedeness is a visable sign of their perfect innocence and safety. Eden was a place of perfect, God-intended human wholeness. It was the truest picture of shalom.

The Garden provided all their (1) PHYSICAL NEEDS; their companionship together in the work of keeping the Garden met their (2) EMOTIONAL AND RELATIONAL NEEDS; and their open, face-to-face fellowship with God met their (3) SPIRITUAL NEEDS.

DISCUSS: As you recall a time you felt God’s presence in the strongest way, how did the change your life?

B. A Single Commandment

The elements of covenant at work is demonstrated as God desired to forge a deep, lasting relationship with his people; Forging a covenant involves both parties agreeing to binding terms.

Even in our perfected state, humanity was designed to serve and obey God. The one prohibition was accompanied with a warning.

Genesis 2:16–17 “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil did not offer moral consciousness (the ability to know right from wrong) but moral autonomy (the right to decide what was right and wrong for themselves). This right was forbidden; God wanted them to trust Him as their loving Creator to make those decisions for them.

DISCUSSION: What problems arise when people “choose their own truth,” and what are some good ways to respond to those who make such claims?

C. I will not let my desire for understanding destroy my ability to trust God.

God gave us inquiring minds to help us grow to understand His ways and deepened our relationships with Him. To truly understand the ways of God requires first “standing under” His sovereign authority.

The desire to know the “whys” and “hows” is the biggest enemy of our ability to trust in God and His wisdom.

Even when the “why” and “how” escape us, the “what” of serving God (His commandments and expectations) has been made clear in His Word.

II. TEMPTATION IN THE GARDEN

A. The Serpent Deceived Eve

Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

The serpent’s word raised suspicion and turned God’s commandment into a question.

The devil was focused more on one prohibition than all the privileges God had granted them God told Adam he and his wife could eat freely of every tree of the Garden, except one.

Genesis 3:2–3 “And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”

God never said they could not touch the tree. Somehow Eve arrived at this interpretation and Satan soon realized Eve did not know exactly what God had said.

DISCUSSION: What are some dangerous ways people add to or take away from God’s Word in their lives?

B. Adam and Eve Rebelled

Genesis 3:4 “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:”

Serpent twisted God’s words to an upright contradiction. He followed up with a Lie

Genesis 3:5 “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

Adam and Eve chose to eat the fruit. They wanted to take on God’s role of deciding what was right and what was wrong. They were already made in the “image of God.” The serpent tempted them with something they already possessed - the likeness of God.

C. I will recognize the subtle ways rebellion can creep into my life.

The Tragedy of temptation is two-fold: (1). Even though we are deceived, we remain responsible. (2). Realizing that temptation offers mere counterfeits of glorious gifts God has already given, comes too late.

Temptation draws us away from the clear commands of God into the murky waters of deciding good and evil for ourselves.

Rebellion starts with a question that discounts God’s provision and focuses on His prohibitions, leading us to doubt God’s always good intentions for us.

III. LIFE OUTSIDE THE GARDEN

A. Sin’s Immediate Consequences

B. Sin’s Ongoing Consequences

C. God’s Promised Messiah

D. I will repent when I break covenant with God.