Genesis 3

Genesis 3 Observations 1. The Encounter Those involved The woman The Serpent - Rev. 12: 9 The man The transgression described Disbelief in the word of God Under the pretext of inquiring into the cause, he would indirectly weaken their confidence in the word. The serpent urges the woman to seek out the cause, since otherwise he would not have been able to draw away her mind from God. Very dangerous is the temptation, when it is suggested to us, that God is not to be obeyed except so far as the reason of his command is apparent. Satan, with his accustomed guile, should have begun his temptation from this point, Is it possible for God to be unwilling that you should gather the fruit of any tree whatever?' The answer of the woman, that only one tree was forbidden, she means to be a defense of the command; as if she would deny that it ought to seem harsh or burdensome, since God had only excepted one single tree out of so great an abundance and variety as he had granted to them. Distrust in God's intention lest, so that not, i.e., a marker of a negative purpose, implying some apprehension or worry of a possible future event. BDB Satan now springs more boldly forward; and because he sees a breach open before him, he breaks through in a direct assault (Calvin). Blinded by lust Enticed by the woman Adam, being drawn by her into fatal ambition, he became partaker of the same defection with her. 1 Tim. 2: 14 2. The Flight First their eyes were opened Knowledge of their nakedness There is none who accuses them; is not then the sense of shame, which rises spontaneously, a sure token of guilt? Labor to cover their nakedness Flight from God Fear of God 3. The Consequence 4. The Defense Adam blames God, by stating, "The woman you gave me." 5. The Recompense 6. The Exile Doctrines 1. Total Depravity By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and body. WCF 6.2 We are despoiled of the excellent gifts of the Holy Spirit, of the light of reason, of justice, and of rectitude, and are prone to every evil; that we are also lost and condemned, and subjected to death, is both our hereditary condition, and, at the same time, a just punishments which God, in the person of Adam, has indicted on the human race. 2. Federal Headship They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed; and the same death in sin, and corrupted nature, conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation. WCF 6.3 Romans 5: 12 3. Covenant Theology The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam; and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience. 3. Man, by his fall, having made himself uncapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein he freely offers unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ; requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life his Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe. WCF 7. 2, 3 This covenant was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the gospel: be under the law, it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all before signifying Christ to come; which were, for that time, sufficient and efficacious, through the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah, by whom they had full remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is called the old testament. WCF 7.5 4. Sin The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in his providence, that it extends itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men; and that not by a bare permission, but such as hath joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding, and otherwise ordering, and governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to his own holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness thereof proceeds only from the creature, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin. WCF 5.5 5. Primacy of God's Word For, indeed, their best restraint was the thoughts which entirely occupied their minds, that God is just, that nothing is better than to obey his commands and that to be loved by him is the consummation of a happy life. Inquiries 1. Did all men fall in Adam's first transgression? The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression. 2. Where did Satan come from? Isaiah 14 - The King of Babylon Revelation 12 - The Devil, Serpent, Satan Ezekiel 28: 11ff - The anointed cherub 2 Peter 2: 4 - The angels that sinned 1 Timothy 5: 21 - The elect angels This archangel was assigned to "cover" or "protect" "the beloved race, elect man, that was God's jewel, His treasure, His first fruits, His precious thing laid up in God's ark or chest or cabinet hid in the secret of God's presence."6 In other words, Lucifer, according to Edwards, was employed at the creation of man to be the protector of redeemed humanity, but he "fell from his innocency and dignity, and Jesus in his stead becomes the cherub that covereth, the greater protector." Lucifer, being the archangel, one of the highest of the angels, could not bear it, thought it below him and a great debasing of him; so he conceived rebellion against the Almighty and drew away a vast company of the heavenly hosts with him. Edwards 3. Why did God permit the fall? Moses was to show, in a few words, how greatly our present condition differs from our first original, in order that we may learn, with humble confession of our fault, to bewail our evils. It offends the ears of some, when it is said God willed this fall; but what else, I pray, is the permission of Him, who has the power of preventing, and in whose hand the whole matter is placed, but his will? 4. Why is she called Eve? He calls her Ee-life, as a mother. It was an instance of God's favour, and, like the new naming of Abraham and Sarah, it was a seal of the covenant, an assurance to them that, notwithstanding their sin and his displeasure against them for it, he had not reversed that blessing wherewith he had blessed them: Be fruitful and multiply. It was likewise a confirmation of the promise now made, that the seed of the woman, of this woman, should break the serpent's head. 5. Why were they clothed with skins? It is supposed that they were slain, not for food, but for sacrifice, to typify the great sacrifice, which, in the latter end of the world, should be offered once for all. Thus the first thing that died was a sacrifice, or Christ in a figure Uses 1. For our shame. Moses was to show, in a few words, how greatly our present condition differs from our first original, in order that we may learn, with humble confession of our fault, to bewail our evils (Calvin). 2. For our sorrow. 3. For our mourning. 4. For our caution. Take care in inquiring into speculations that lead to doubting God's word. It behaves us to be instructed, by much examples, to beware of his [Satan's] snares, and, by making timely resistance, to keep him far from us, that nearer access may not be permitted to him. Eve erred in not regulating the measure of her knowledge by the will of God. And we all daily suffer under the same disease, because we desire to know more than is right, and more than God allows; whereas the principal point of wisdom is a well-regulated sobriety in obedience to God. Augustine, O wretched freewill, which, while yet entire, had so little stability!'