A. Everything was very good, even the angels.
1. 2:1 - the host of heaven, properly put in context
would seem to mean only those inhabitants of heaven (planets and stars,
etc.) created on the 4th day, and those of the earth (animals and humans).
2. There is no "scar of sin" on the creation.
a. Believers in the "gap theory" believe
Satan was cast out of heaven to the earth where he completely destroyed
the "pre-Adamic" earth and all creatures.
b. This would mean that there is a "scar of
sin" that Christ had to "cover up" in his
"recreation".
c. This would mean that there was sin on the earth
before Gen. 3:1-6.
B. Gen. 2:19 - Whatsoever Adam called every living
creature, that was the name thereof.
A. Some believe the man didn't fall into sinfulness, but
only stumbled.
1. Those people also believe a person can "pick
themselves up out of sin".
2. By doing good works, being baptized, believing
without repentance, etc.
B. The man fell into sin so deeply, there was no way he
could ever recover herself.
C. In his heart, the man had committed every sin the Bible
mentioned.
1. Read Romans 1:18-32.
2. These verses tell us that the greatest sin of all -
the sin that leads to all other sin - is the sin of not recognizing that
God is God.
3. When the man used the Tree of Knowledge of Good and
Evil or any other purpose than recognizing that God is God, it was sin.
4. Because the people described in Romans 1:18-32 forget
God, they go on to commit the most atrocious sinful acts known to man.
5. Romans 1:21-31 describe some of the great wickedness
that was in Noah's day, in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, and that are
publicly present in our world today.
D. Romans 1:32, "Who knowing the judgment of God,
that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the
same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
1. The man understood that he was guilty, and that he
was worthy of death, and that he was going to die.
2. His whole nature was changed from good toward evil.
3. He hated goodness and those that were good.
4. The woman hated her husband, and wanted him to die.
5. Her pleasure was no longer in God blessing her or her
husband, but in their destruction.
6. She found pleasure in giving the forbidden fruit to
her husband, thus casting the whole human race into sin.
7. She found pleasure in giving her children, grand
children, etc.; sin, thus causing their death. Compare this fact with
women today who murder their unborn children (abortion), or with Bible
characters who have killed their children or grandchildren to gain
personal status and prestige. (Athaliah is a good example.)
8. It would be very good for the reader to think of all
kinds of sin against all kinds of people and note that the woman had
already experienced all of these in her heart. When she gave the forbidden
fruit to her husband, that was only the outward show of all that inward
wickedness.
A. The Holy Spirit began to call on the sinful man to
repent before God ever got there.
1. This is what happened when Adam and his wife knew
they were naked.
2. The most sad experience ever - for both. (Both are
guilty, both have same experience.) Quote Prockech - "They eat, they
expect marvelous results, they wait -- and there grows on them the sense
of shame."
B. Their eyes were opened - not eyes of body but eyes that
perceive the spiritual condition.
1. Saw their folly
2. Saw their former happiness as an unattainable state.
3. Their eyes were opened, but not like Satan had led
them to believe (Gen. 3:5)
4. In a way, this is actually. It shows the Holy Spirit
of God was working on them, showing them their sinfulness before God and
one another.
C. Knew they were naked.
1. Gen. 2:25 - they were naked before they sinned, but
they were not ashamed.
2. Now they're ashamed before one another (sewed fig
leaves together).
3. Now they're ashamed before God (sewed fig leaves
together and hid from God when He came walking in the garden. (Verse 8)
D. Sewed fig leaves together
1. A type of Israel - (The fig in the Bible is always a
symbol of Israel) They're trying to bring in the kingdom of Israel without
being lead of God.
2. Why do all the pictures of Adam and woman picture
them with fig leaves covering the organs of generation?? They (and we)
realize that the very source of human life is contaminated by sin.
3. Men try to cover their sinfulness by their own works.
4. This is a testimony to their own sinfulness. They
know they are sinners, yet try to hide it from all others.
5. Made aprons first, then heard God walking.
a. "Apron" of Gen. 3:7 means "a
belt". This "belt" is made up of many small parts. Some
people try to make salvation complete in many small parts instead of
trusting in the one completed work of Christ on the cross.
b. "Coat" of Gen. 3:21 means "to cover,
garment, robe". It only takes one work for Christ to cover our
sins, but men seem to think their many works is sufficient.
c. Shows human religion. They try to hide their
nakedness from each other. Men try to hide their sinfulness from each
other.
A. Rom. 4:1-5 – Salvation is by believing faith, not
works.
B. Rom. 5:1 – Justified by faith. Justified means to be
made legally correct – as if we had never sinned.
C. Rom. 5:6-9 – Jesus died for us when we were yet in
our sins.
D. Rom. 5:12-14 – Death & sin came into the world by
one man.
E. Rom. 5:19 – Disobedience by one/obedience by one.
F. Rom. 5:21 – Sin reigns to death but Jesus reigns to
eternal life and righteousness.