SF754 - THE LEGACY OF SIN (Genesis 3 7-15)

Genesis 3:7-15; 21

Introduction

We are going to learn the truth about sin…

Galatians 6:7 (NASB) 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

Life is short, death is sure, sin is the curse, and Christ is the cure!

We should fear sin…

Sin will take you further than you want to go

Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay

Sin will cost you more than you want to pay.

Let us look at the legacy that sin leaves…

1A. The Curse of Sin

1B. Sin brings shame (3:7a)

The security that Adam and Eve had known was replaced with guilt, fear, and shame.

God wants to use our shame to bring us to Him

Ezra 9:6 (NASB) and I said, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.

When shame is ignored, we move further away from God.

Jeremiah 6:15 (NASB) "Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD.

When we loose our sense of shame we begin to glory in our sin.

Philippians 3:18-19 (NASB) For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

Ø Sin that used to slink down back alleys now struts down main street – (Ellen)

2B. Shame brings self-reliance (3:7b)

Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame.

We try to cover the guilt and shame of our sin.

Ø With man-made religion

Titus 3:5 (NASB) 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

3B. Self-reliance always leads to separation (3:8)

Their self-reliance turned to fear when they experienced God’s presence

Isaiah 59:2 (NASB) 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.

2A. The Cure for Sin

1B. We see God seeking Adam (3:9)

God always does the seeking.

Ø Adam did not seek God and neither do we.

1 John 4:19 (NASB) We love, because He first loved us.

Romans 3:11 (NASB) THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

Ø We are totally depraved!

God comes as a loving father not as a condemning judge.

Luke 19:10 (NASB) "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Romans 5:8 (NASB) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

There is a limit to God’s seeking.

Genesis 6:3 (NASB) 3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."

Ø You can cross God’s deadline

Ø Be careful not to harden your heart!

2B. We see God searching Adam (3:10-13)

God searches us to show us our sin.

Ø Adam begins the blame game

Adam blames Eve, Eve blames the serpent, and the serpent does not have a leg to stand on.

God forces us to face our sin

Proverbs 28:13 (NASB) He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

Psalms 139:23-24 (NASB) Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

3B. We see God saving Adam (3:15; 21)

Our salvation is pictured. (3:21)

Ø A sacrifice is required – the animals had to die

Hebrews 9:22 (NASB) 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.

Ø A substitute is taken

(1 Peter 3:18 (NASB) For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Our Savior is prophesied. (3:15)

Ø His incarnation – “her offspring”

Isaiah 7:14 (NASB) 14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

Luke 1:34-35 (NASB) Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

We must have a sinless substitute

Ø His propitiation – “strike his heel”

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB) He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Isaiah 53:5 (NASB) But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.

Ø His coronation – “crush your head”

Romans 16:20 (NASB) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Application

Colossians 2:13-15 (NASB) When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

Sin brings shame if you still sense shame God is at work!

Salvation is found only in Christ

We should secure it.

We should celebrate it.

We should share it!