A Deadly Choice
Introduction
Genesis 3:1-7
It is easy for us to fault Adam and Eve for their failure to resist temptation. Why did they listen to the serpent and disobey God? We forget how cunning Satan is and how he makes sin appear so appealing. Satanic influences tempt us daily. Many of the problems and pain we suffer in life could be limited if we would just obey God’s Word.
This chapter is most important. The rest of the Bible would make no sense without this chapter.
A.W.Pink: “This is the way sin entered into the world
The will of God was resisted.
The Word of God was rejected.
The way of God was deserted."
The temptation and sin of Adam and Eve explain why there is so much suffering, pain, and death in the world.
I. THE DECEIVER
A. SATAN’S CHARACTER.
The Bible describes Satan as being beautiful, intelligent and cunning. Jesus called Satan a liar and a murderer. (John 8:44) He is the prince of this world, a leader of demons, accuser of the brethren, and the archenemy of God.
B. SATAN’S CAMOUFLAGE.
Satan can appear as “an angel of light.” (2 Cor. 11:14) In the garden, he camouflaged his identity by appearing in a serpent’s body.
II. THE DECEPTION
A. LURE OF SATAN.
1. Satan’s deception was subtle.
Eve was created in the “image of God.” She was a special creation of God taken from Adam’s side. God’s relationship to Adam and Eve is revealed in His name, “LORD God.” “LORD God” is His personal covenant name used in His relationship with man. “Elohim” is used in chapter one of Genesis to speak of God’s power as Creator. Satan did not use the name LORD God when addressing Eve, but he used Elohim. Satan was trying to get Eve to think of God as impersonal. Eve fell for the bait and she used Elohim and not LORD God. When God came looking for Adam and Eve after their sin, the name LORD God is used again. (3:8, 9, 13, 14, 21)
2. Eve’s defenses were shattered.
Eve’s defenses against Satan were God’s Word and Adam’s leadership. Satan undermined the authority of God’s Word in His opening statement to Eve. “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Gen. 3:1)
Either Adam was not with Eve or he remained silent while Satan lured her to sin. The text seems to suggest that Adam was with Eve.
Eve made three serious mistakes. First, she engaged Satan in conversation. Secondly, she compromised the Word of God. Thirdly, she failed to be content with the blessings of God.
3. Eve’s desires were stirred.
Satan suggested that God was not good to her (v. 5). Satan was saying that God was denying her the fruit of the tree to keep her from being “as god, knowing good and evil.” Eve “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.”
Eve was tempted in three ways:
Eve was tempted by the lust of the flesh. The fruit was good to eat.
Eve was tempted by the beauty of the fruit. It was pleasant to the eyes.
Eve was tempted to be wise for the tree was to be desired to make “one wise.” That is the pride of life.
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:14-15
“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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:16-17
A woman had been shopping and had bought a dress that she knew she couldn’t afford.
“Why did you do it?” her husband asked.
“I just couldn’t help it,” she said. “The devil tempted me.”
“Why didn’t you say, ‘Get thee behind me, Satan’?” the husband asked.
“I did. But he just leaned over my shoulder and whispered, ‘My dear, it fits you beautifully in the back.’”
B. LIE OF SATAN.
1. God’s Word. (2:17) “thou shalt surely die”
2. Eve’s words. (3:3) “lest ye die”
3. Satan’s words. (3:4) “Ye shall not surely die.”
4. Final words. (5:5) “And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.”
Francis Schaeffer: “…what Satan has said is a half truth but a total lie.”
A little girl got in trouble for disobeying her mother, and when the mom was dealing with her, the little girl asked, “Mommy, why do we do bad things?”
The mother answered, “Sometimes the devil tells us to do something wrong, and we listen to him. We need to listen to God instead.” The little girl dropped her head and said, “But God doesn’t talk loud enough!”
III. THE DECISION
A. DISOBEDIENCE IN THE DECISION. (v. 6)
Someone has said that, “The woman listens to the serpent, the man listens to the woman, and no one listens to God.”
Vance Havner: “The greatest choice any man makes is to let God choose for him.”
B. DISASTER FROM THE DECISION. (v. 7)
“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.” (Rom. 5:12) “For the wages of sin is death.” Rom 6:23
“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:18-19
LESSONS FOR LIFE
1) The theory of evolution gives us no answer for sin and no hope for a future. If we believe the lie of evolution, we can never have peace or forgiveness. Jesus said: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” This abundant life includes the present time as well as eternity.
2) We face temptations daily. Satan wants to destroy us. Jesus said Satan “cometh not but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” (John 10:10) We can overcome temptations by submitting ourselves to God and by resisting Satan.
3) Adam and Eve failed to believe God’s warning: “for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Jesus’ warning to you today is: “if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24) Choosing to reject Christ and following Satan is a deadly choice.