The Day Everything Changed

*have one of the teens leaders read Romans 5:6-11 and pray to begin our lesson.

Romans 5:6–11 KJV 1900

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

INTRODUCTION

Turn in your Bibles to Genesis 3.

What is the most memorable day that you’ve experience in your life? (it could be sorrow and sadness, fun and joy, or milestones and new chapters) — for me it was the birth of Logan. I remember almost every detail of that day.

On December 7th, 1941, the United States experienced “a day that would live in infamy.” This was stated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt after the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This moment forever changed families who experienced loss, changed Hawaii’s security across the ocean, changed the United States by propelling us into the midst of an ongoing World War.

December 7th, 1941 was a day that everything changed.

And our passage for tonight describes a day that everything changed for all of humanity throughout all of time.

We’re going to take this passage slowly tonight because of its importance throughout all of Scripture. There’ll be five main portions for us to consider beginning with Genesis 3:1-5.

Genesis 3:1–5 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.

MOTIVE AND OPPORTUNITY (vs.1-5)

Here’s an overarching truth — Obedience to God’s Word leads to life. Disobedience leads to death.

How do we know that the serpent was the devil? Does Genesis 3 tell us?

Revelation 12:9 KJV 1900

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

The serpent begins his attack with a bad-faith question: Did God really say you can’t have any of the stuff created in chapter 1-2?

Look at vs.2-3. What is wrong with Eve’s answer? Contrast her answer with God’s commands in Genesis 2:16-17.

Eve is half right and half wrong. She remembered that God gave her and Adam trees for food — except for that one in the middle of the garden. Eve’s foggy knowledge leads her to add to God’s revelation, which then provides an opportunity for the serpent to attack his character.

What does this reveal for us? It’s important not only that we’ve received God’s Word, but that we make an effort to know God’s Word. We cannot obey God’s Word if we do not know God’s Word.

Eve had heard the word of God but didn’t correctly remember/know it.

What are some ways we perhaps hear God’s Word but do not know God’s Word? (Bible verses are familiar, but they don’t slow down to think about them. Church becomes routine: sit, listen, leave, forget. Can quote verses but don’t understand what they actually mean. Ignore verses that challenge comfort, relationships, or habits. Say they love God but ignore what He says.)

If we do not know God’s Word, how are we going to do what’s right when presented with wrong? (A rumor is spreading. Everyone’s laughing. You’re expected to join in. If God’s Word isn’t known: Everyone else is doing it. I don’t want to be the weird one. Silence or participation feels easier than standing up. What knowing God’s Word changes: You recognize that words can destroy, not just entertain. You know silence can be agreement. You may not confront loudly—but you choose not to join, or you defend quietly. Friends joke sexually, send explicit content, or cross physical boundaries. Without knowing God’s Word: I don’t want to lose them. This is normal for our age. I’ll figure it out later. With God’s Word: You know your worth isn’t defined by attention or approval. You recognize boundaries as protection, not punishment. Teammates mock opponents, refs, or even each other. Without knowing God’s Word: You join in to bond. You laugh to avoid standing out. With God’s Word: You understand that how you speak reflects who you belong to. You lead differently—even if quietly.)

Eve left the door open for the serpent to attack God. Look again at 3:4. The serpent’s question evolves from a vague suggestion into outright opposition. “Did God really say?” becomes “God lied when he said.” Why? Because, the serpent hisses, God will be threatened if you eat. He doesn’t want you to become like him (3:5).

And here we have a competition between God’s way and the serpent’s way. We’ll see this competition throughout Scripture and throughout the rest of our lives.

God’s way: God creates man to have dominion over creatures and to listen to his word.

Serpent’s way: creatures tempt man to have dominion over God by rejecting his word.

And with these subtil words, the serpent invites Eve and the whole human race into rebellion. Sin is not merely missing the target despite our best efforts. Sin is high-handed rebellion against our Creator.

With that we see…

THE CRIME (vs.6)

We’re slowly working through the first chapters of Genesis because they lay the foundation for everything to come. They answer big questions like: Who created us? (God) Are we different from animals? (Yes) How should we relate to God? (By obeying his Word and reflecting his character through our dominion over creation.)

Verse 6 answers another big question: What’s wrong with us?

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 Gospel Way Catechism puts asks this question: What has gone wrong? Answer: The deepest source of misery in the world is not ignorance, injustice, or the failure to be true to ourselves. It is sin: cosmic treason against our Creator and his rule. Sin corrupts creation, wrecks relationships, and enslaves us to the Evil One.

Notice what Eve thinks about the tree in this verse that is contrary to God’s intended purposes for the tree. (to make one wise).

Wisdom comes only through listening to and delighting in God’s Word.

Eve had convinced herself that God had withheld something she needed, that he hadn’t told her the whole story. So she sinned. She rebelled against her Creator and King. And she passes down her shame. She gives some fruit to her husband.

In this short verse, everything changed for all of humanity.

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:

Have you ever looked at a rule that your parents had and thought… They’re keeping me from missing out on all the fun. Whether it’s a curfew (being home at a specific time), boundaries between the opposite sex (like no touching, no being in a place by yourselves, etc.) or maybe it’s the fact that you don’t have social media or a phone… You may look at that as being restrictive, legalistic, or whatever. But your parents are keeping you from danger, keeping you from heavy things that you aren’t quite ready to bear.

Eve seems to have had similar thoughts. But this rebellion against authority only ends in hurt and consequences.

And it’s in our next section of verses that we see God give out the consequences for the offense beginning with…

THE TRIAL (vs.7-13)

Imagine if all of those rules that you don’t like that your parents have were suddenly lifted. You could go anywhere, do anything, and be with anyone. It would feel great for a moment, but ultimately the ecstasy would run out.

That’s what sin really does: the pleasurable feelings last only for a few seconds, but the shame and separation stick.

Adam and Eve used to hear God’s voice and heed it, now they hear it and hide.

Look at Genesis 2:17

Genesis 2:17 KJV 1900

17 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.

Now look back to our passage for tonight. Did Adam and Eve die? How so?

They died spiritually because they are banished from the presence of God. The instrument of their death is guilt.

But notice, God still cares for them:

Where are you? (3:9)

Who told you that you were naked? (3:11)

Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? (3:11)

What is this you have done? (3:13)

Sin isolates. Yet God is always interested in reconciliation.

Sin always results in consequences (which we’ll see in a moment). But those consequences don’t cancel out God’s care for his image bearers.

Adam and Eve are found guilty, and all that is left is for the judge of the universe to hand down his sentence.

THE SENTENCING (vs.14-20)

Three perpetrators, three guilty verdicts, three sentences.

ADAM AND EVE’S SENTENCE (vs.16-20)

Genesis 3:16–20 KJV 1900

16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

Man’s posture is toward having dominion while woman’s is toward being fruitful and multiplying.

Both Adam and Eve are cursed in their dominant domains.

In 3:16, the Lord curses Eve by adding pain to childbearing and rivalry to marriage.

In 3:17-19, God curses Adam by cursing the ground with thorns and thistles — having dominion becomes more complicated and his obedience more difficult.

Know this… Your sin always has consequences. You may not even realize how your sin is affecting you right now. Your pride is alienating you away from others. Your lust is harming your future marriage. Your jealousy inhibits your ability to have deep relationships.

THE SERPENT’S SENTENCING (vs.14-15)

Genesis 3:14–15 KJV 1900

14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

God curses the serpent above all creation by forever placing it below all creation.

Yet, we should linger on 3:15 because it’s a surprising and significant verse.

It’s surprising because it contains breaking news: Adam and Eve will bear offspring. It’s significant because it describes the conflict at the heart of our continued existence: the seed of the woman verses the seed of the serpent.

Here’s what this cosmic battle looks like: Those who disdain God’s Word and decide to live their own way prove to be offspring of the serpent. Those who align with God’s purposes prove to be offspring of Eve. *give away the Screwtape Letters

At the end of 3:15, the Lord makes a prediction/promise that will reverberate throughout the rest of Scripture. The first spark of the gospel shows up in Genesis 3:15. The bad news for the serpent is good news for us. His curse is our blessing.

God provided a way for humanity to be reconciled back to himself. If you’re not a believer…

THE GRACIOUS EXILE (vs.21-23)

Adam and Eve should have died. There should be no more story after them. But God’s grace is extended to every sin and every sinner.

Genesis 3:21–23 KJV 1900

21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

If Genesis 3:15 is the first spark of the gospel, then Genesis 3:21 is the first place it catches fire. It’s the introduction of sacrifices.

Moses’s audience would have read this and immediately seen the significance of the sacrifice — the Levitical sacrificial system.

Hebrews 10:4 KJV 1900

4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Hebrews 10:12 KJV 1900

12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

How gracious and powerful is Jesus! Only his death can provide unfettered access to God forever.

Some of you really and honestly struggle with sin. Don’t get me wrong, all of us struggle with sin. But some of us fight back. And you leave wondering if you’re a Christian or not, because of your sin. Look at Adam and Eve. God’s grace was present from the beginning of sin. God’s grace can and does cover your sin too — anger, lust, porn, pride, jealousy, gossip, etc.

Since everything has been ruined… What’s next? Read Genesis 4-9 and come back next week.