The Corruption of Marriage:

Genesis 3:1–7 KJV 1900

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? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 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. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 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. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

The first problem with sin is

The Doubt of the Word of God.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Confrontational Thoughts:

Genesis 3:1 KJV 1900

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?

Questioning the authority and love of God.

Several striking things are immediately noticed about Eve and the temptation that attacked her.

· Eve was where she did not belong. She was standing by the forbidden tree.

· Eve was apparently thinking about the tree and its delicious looking fruit.

· Eve was not keeping a watchful eye against temptation.

What makes us say this—that Eve was thinking about the delicious fruit? Note what Satan said to Eve, "Yea—indeed—has God said, 'you must not eat from every tree of the garden'?"

The very first words, "Yea—indeed," strongly suggest that Eve was thinking about the tree. At that very moment, while she was thinking about it, Satan attacked and just continued her thoughts: "Yea—indeed [how good it looks]—has God said; 'You must not eat from every tree of the garden'?"

Note that Satan misquoted God's Word. God had said that man could eat from every tree in the garden except one. God was good, extremely good. Man had everything he could ever want: all the fruit except one tree. All the trees would benefit man, but the forbidden tree would destroy him. But note what Satan did: he questioned Eve, "Yea—indeed—has God said, 'You must not eat from every tree'?" The thought was planted in Eve's mind, the suggestive thought...

· that she was missing out on something.

· that the most delicious fruit was the very thing being forbidden.

· that something good was being withheld and kept from her.

· that she must not miss what looked good and would probably feel and taste good.

This is the first step in temptation, the step that involves our thoughts, the thoughts of suggestion. The suggested thought is...

· that we are missing something that looks good, feels good, and tastes good.

· that perhaps God's Word is causing us to miss something that is delicious.

Consulting Thoughts:

Genesis 3:2–3 KJV 1900

2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 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.

The second step in temptation and sin involves discussing our thoughts: actually entertaining, harboring, and discussing the suggestive thoughts. We may discuss the thoughts within our own minds or verbally with someone else.

Very practically, what happens with a suggestive thought that begins to tempt us is this: the suggestive thought flies across our minds. At that point it should be rejected and not entertained or harbored and discussed. A tempting thought—a thought that suggests we sin, that we disobey God's Word—should never be harbored or entertained. As we move about in a sinful world—whether sitting, walking, standing, or riding...

· We cannot always keep from being tempted, but we can always flee the temptation.

· We cannot always keep the appealing thing from crossing our eyes, but we can keep from looking.

· We cannot help the first look, but we can control the second look.

· We cannot always keep the thoughts from crossing our minds, but we can keep them from roosting there.

· We cannot always keep the first suggestive thought of temptation from entering our minds, but we can push the thought out. We can turn our thoughts and mind to something else, in particular to quoting scripture.

But note: this is not what Eve did. Eve did three things.

Lose Focus of God’s Blessings.

Eve no longer focused upon all God has done for her

     Genesis 3:2 “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:”

Eve entertained, harbored, and discussed the suggestive thought.

It was at this point that Eve began to sin, for she turned away from the great goodness of God.

Note that she omits the word "every" or "all" from "every tree" (Genesis 2:16). She simply says, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees."

God's glorious goodness in giving all the trees to her is being dimmed in her mind.

Her thoughts have slipped from God's goodness: she is no longer focused upon all that God has done for her. She has turned her thoughts away from God and His goodness and is now harboring and discussing the suggestive thoughts. Sin actually begins when the suggestive thoughts are harbored and thought about. It is then that God and His goodness are being rejected, ignored, neglected, and pushed aside.

Consider God’s Commands to Strict

Eve Felt God’s Command was too strict and restictive.      Genesis 3:3 “neither shall ye touch it…”

This is seen in her words, "Neither shall you touch it." God never said this (Genesis 2:17).

God simply said, "You shall not [must not] eat of it." Eve was not completely trusting God at this point.

She was thinking—rationalizing—that touching the tree would be all right.

Perhaps she should not eat of it, but touching it could not hurt anything. Eve's thoughts were running back and forth discussing God's Word, just what He had said. She was entertaining and harboring the tempting thought; she was rationalizing and justifying her intentions. She was thinking how restrictive God's Word was, doubting God's goodness, that God had not provided the very best for her. Eve was right in the midst of sinning, sinning by questioning and doubting the great goodness of God.

Weighs the Consequence of Sin

Eve Thinks on consequences of Sin      Genesis 3:3 “lest you die”

She lightened the consequences some when she said, "lest you die" or "you will die." This is not what God had said. God had pulled no punches: He had said that man would "surely die" (Genesis 2:17).

Again, Eve was rationalizing; a chain of thoughts was running through her mind about God's Word.

She was wavering: wondering and questioning exactly what God had said. She should have fled the first suggestive and tempting thought. Instead, she was entertaining, harboring, and discussing the suggestive thought. She had forgotten the great goodness of God. She was no longer thinking about God and all that He had done for her. She was slipping further and further away from God, rationalizing her behavior more and more.

The Denial of the Word of God.

Genesis 3:4 KJV 1900

4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Contradicting Thoughts:

Genesis 3:5 KJV 1900

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.

The third step in temptation and sin involves denial: doubting the consequences of God's Word.

The suggestive and tempting thought was roosting in Eve's mind. She had allowed her mind to hesitate, stop, and embrace the suggestive thought. She was now dallying with the temptation, harboring and rationalizing her behavior. She was wondering and questioning if she could get away with it, wondering if she should experiment with the fruit.

Then suddenly, unbelievably, Satan thrust the lie into her mind: "You shall not surely die" (Genesis 3:4). Eve doubted that the consequences would ever happen to her.

Such thoughts as these often attack us and no doubt they attacked Eve:

· "The warning was given to Adam, not to me—not directly. The judgment—if I am to be judged—is bound to be less than death."

The Bible was written 2,000 years ago to “them”.

· "Certainly, God would not condemn me and leave Adam alone, without a wife, without a companion and helper to help him."

· "God is so good, He'll forgive me. I'll just taste the fruit this time, then ask God to forgive me."

· "God surely would not condemn me for doing it just one time."

· "I'll make it up to God. I can go ahead and do it, and then serve God as never before, and He will forgive and accept me."

· "Surely God would not let me die; there is still so much to do and accomplish in life and for God."

· "In the final analysis—when everything is said and done—God just would never reject me, not permanently, not to everlasting death."

But Eve was wrong.

God's Word stood.

Adam and Eve were condemned to die, and they died.

Satan lied, suggested a downright lie to Eve.

Eve accepted the lie: she doubted God's Word. She rationalized and felt that the warning of God's Word would not apply to her, not completely—not fully—not in the full weight of its judgment.

The Deifying of Self over God.

Consummation of Thoughts:

Genesis 3:6 KJV 1900

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The fourth step in temptation and sin involves personal fulfillment: thinking that you will be more fulfilled, that you will gain and benefit more if you eat of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:5). This is the final step in temptation. When we have allowed our minds to get this far with suggestive and enticing thoughts, it is difficult—if not impossible—to turn back from sin.

My Needs can’t be met any other way

There is the thought that we have needs that cannot be met any other way, the thought that the temptation will meet our needs more than what God has given us.

This is exactly what Satan said to Eve: "God knows that when you eat of this tree, your needs are going to be met far more than if you don't eat of it. God has not provided the best for you, not in the most fulfilling way."

My Eyes Will Be Opened

There is the thought that our eyes will be opened,that we will never know if we don't experience it. This is what Satan said to Eve: "If you eat of the tree—do this thing—you will know more about it, how good it feels and tastes. You must do it to know. You cannot know whether it is good or bad until you actually experience it.“

I Will become as God

There is the thought of position, power, strength, self-sufficiency, independence, and individuality, of being one's own person and determining one's own destiny and fate. The raw thought—the underlying basis to the thought—is what Satan promised Eve: "You shall be as gods. If you do this thing, you will be your own person—independent, individualistic—you will gain position and power. Do it: do your own thing; do what you want when you want. It is worth it.“

· "Being your own person brings fulfillment and satisfaction, strong ego and self-image. It brings excitement, stimulation, and pleasure.

· "Being your own person makes you as god: you can determine your own life and destiny.“

I can Decide Good and Evil.

There is the thought that we can know good and evil, that we can determine what is good and evil for ourselves. Satan told Eve...

· that she could determine what she should and should not do herself.

· that she could discern good and evil apart from God's Word.

· that she needed to go ahead and do what she wanted, and by doing her own thing, she would learn (gain the power) to govern and direct her life more and more.

· that the only way she could ever learn to choose the fullest of lives—discern good and evil—would be if she went ahead and did what she wanted.

· that she did not need God to tell her what to do, but she could gain the knowledge herself by doing what she wanted.

Craving of the Flesh:

Genesis 3:6 KJV 1900

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The fifth step in temptation and sin is looking and desiring and lusting.

Scripture clearly says:

1 John 2:16 KJV 1900

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The Statement of Scripture: What Happened to Eve

The lust of the flesh.      = Eve saw that the tree was good for food.

Eve's flesh lusted after the tree. She saw that the tree was good for food. She should have stayed away from the tree and controlled her eyes, never looking at it. But she went out alone and went to the tree, a place she should have never gone. She gave the tempter an open door, a wide open chance, to tempt her. As soon as he tempted her, she should have fled the temptation. But as has been seen, she thought about the temptation, harbored and discussed the thoughts of the sin. Now she was looking at the forbidden fruit and her flesh was lusting, craving, and desiring it. She wanted it.

The lust of the eyes.      = Eve saw that the tree was pleasant, pleasing, and             attractive to the eyes.

Eve's eyes lusted after the tree. Eve saw that the tree was pleasant, pleasing, and attractive. The fruit—forbidden fruit—appealed to her. She was apparently so attracted that she experienced what we sometimes experience: a lustful craving, a hungering, an unstoppable urge to reach out and take the forbidden fruit.

The pride of life.      = Eve saw that the tree was desirable for gaining         knowledge, experience, and wisdom.

Eve lusted after the pride of life. She saw that the tree was desirable for gaining knowledge, experience, and wisdom. Eve wanted to determine what was good for her and what was bad (evil). She wanted the full knowledge, experience, and wisdom—the fulness of life—apart from God. Life—the wisdom and fulness of life—apart from God is impossible, absolutely impossible. But Eve was deceived. She had given herself over to the grip of temptation and sin. Eve wanted knowledge, experience, wisdom, authority, power, position, independence, self-sufficiency—all apart from God. She was lusting after the pride of life.

James 1:15 KJV 1900

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Committing the Sin:

Genesis 3:6 KJV 1900

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The sixth step in temptation and sin is committing the sin, actually taking and eating the forbidden fruit. Remember: sin had already taken place in Eve's heart.

· Eve had already been thinking and harboring the thoughts of the forbidden fruit

· Eve had already questioned and forgotten God and His goodness.

· Eve had already looked, desired, and lusted after the forbidden fruit.

In other words, Eve had already sinned inwardly, within her thoughts. Now she was to sin outwardly; she was to actually commit the act. We cannot always tell when a person is sinning inwardly, within his heart. The silent sins—the sins of the mind and heart—are often not seen. Eve's sin until now could not be seen by man's eye. But now, the sin of her heart—her lustful cravings—is ready to break out into the open. Eve reached up and took the forbidden fruit and ate it. Eve...

· disobeyed God's Word.

· rebelled against God's Word.

· ignored God's Word.

· rejected God's Word.

· acted against God's Word.

· opposed God's Word.

· took a stand against God's Word.

Eve sinned.

Note what sin was: disobedience, disobeying the Word of God.

God had said, you must not eat this fruit, for it will bring death—sure death—to you. But Eve turned away from God; she refused to listen to God. She rejected His warning and disobeyed His Word. She went ahead and did the forbidden thing.

It is difficult, very, very difficult, to turn away from temptation and sin...

If we put ourselves in the presence of sinful fruit, there is no way to keep from thinking about the sinful fruit, and if the sinful fruit is available—right there before us, being offered to us—we cannot stop ourselves. We will sin and fall.

Putting ourselves in the presence of sinful fruit is always—without exception—playing with fire.

Temptation has to be defeated when it first strikes. We must stay away from worldly places and people and things—as much as possible—and we must reject any and all suggestive thoughts that fly across our minds. This was Eve's failure, and it is always our failure when we sin.

We must always—without a single exception—flee temptation.

· "Flee fornication" (1 Cor. 6:18).

· "Flee from idolatry" (1 Cor. 10:14).

· "Flee these things" (1 Tim. 6:11).

· "Flee also youthful lusts" (2 Tim. 2:22).

Cause Others to Sin:

Genesis 3:6 KJV 1900

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The seventh step in temptation and sin is leading others to sin. Note the simplicity and brevity of Scripture as it now states what happened: Eve gave the fruit to her husband with her, and he also ate the forbidden fruit.

Why does Scripture not spell out Adam's experience of temptation? Because Adam's temptation was the same as Eve's. The steps to temptation and sin are the same for all of us. Eve used the same arguments with Adam that Satan had used with her.

· Eve presented the suggestive, enticing, and tempting thought to Adam.

· Adam entertained, harbored, and discussed the thought.

· Adam then began to doubt the consequence of God's Word. And note, Eve was standing before him the same as always: the penalty of death had not fallen upon her. What God had said had not happened to her.

· Eve tempted Adam by sharing that he could experience more and be more fulfilled by eating the forbidden fruit.

· Adam looked, desired, and lusted after the forbidden fruit.

· Adam ate of the fruit.

Note two significant points.

First,

Eve was a stumblingblock to Adam.

She was supposed to be a helper to him, but she was his temptress, a stumblingblock to his doing the will of God.

Second,

Adam was not deceived in his sin: he knew exactly what he was doing.

Adam willingly and deliberately sinned. This was not true with Eve: she was deceived. But Adam deliberately and knowingly...

· disobeyed God's Word

· rejected God's Word

· rebelled against God

Consequently, Adam stood in the greater wrong. A person who knows and deliberately does wrong is always more guilty than the person who is deceived and does wrong. Both do wrong, but the deliberate and willing sinner is far more guilty of wrongdoing.

This is exactly what Scripture says:

1 Timothy 2:14 KJV 1900

14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

This is the reason Scripture can say that sin entered the world through the man, Adam. He was the one who knowingly and deliberately brought sin into the world.

Romans 5:12 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

We desperately need to heed what God teaches us in this experience of Adam and Eve. We must observe and learn the seven steps involved in temptation and sin. Learning the steps will help us greatly in combatting temptation and sin. Knowing the steps—having them in mind ready for recall—will enable us to stop any tempting thoughts that attack us. The steps will make us more aware of temptation and sin, about how temptation and sin attack us.

Romans 6:13 KJV 1900

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

1. We must reject every suggestive, enticing, and tempting thought.

2. We must not entertain, harbor, or discuss any suggestive thought.

3. We must not doubt the consequences of God's Word. What God has said cannot be broken; His Word will be fulfilled. God has no favorites. He shows no partiality, no matter who we are.

4. We must never think that forbidden fruit will give us more fulfillment, that we will gain and benefit more by doing the forbidden thing.

5. We must never look and desire, never lust after the forbidden fruit, no matter how attractive and appealing it may be.

6. We must never commit sin, never take and eat the forbidden fruit.

7. We must never lead others to sin, never be a stumblingblock to others.

8. We must never doubt God's Word and goodness. We must know—always trust—that God will meet our needs in the most beneficial way possible.

James 4:7–8 KJV 1900

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Ephesians 6:10–12 KJV 1900

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Who are you going to Trust?