Introduction:

A. There was a time when the World Was Perfect --- a time when there was not a single act of violence or evil.

1. Both Man and Woman were Sinless.

2. They knew only Harmony and Peace, Satisfaction and Fulfillment, Love, Joy, and Peace --- all the Fullness of Life.

B. What Happened? --- What destroyed the perfection and caused such devastation and lawlessness upon earth? --- What corrupted the heart of man?

C. God had created the Garden of Eden for man, the Most Perfect Place Imaginable for man to live.

1. Everything was ideal and perfect --- man was in Utopia --- in Paradise.

2. Man Could Want Nothing More.

D. Then, Something Happened --- something very evil appeared --- a Terrible Evil Creature.

1. Where did he come from? --- How did he get upon the earth and into the Garden of Eden?

2. Scripture tells us that this Evil creature --- the Devil --- is called the Serpent.

Revelation 12:9, "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."

Genesis 3:1, "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made."

A. This is either Symbolic Language referring to Satan or Satan actually Transformed or clothed himself as a Serpent.

1. The Serpent --- when first created --- apparently Walked Upright and was a most Magnificent creature.

2. The serpent was more "Subtle" (Crafty, Clever, Shrewd) than any of the animals upon earth.

B. Satan (Lucifer) had been the Most Exalted Angel ever created by God.

1. He was given the Reign and Rule by God over the Earth and the Universe --- over the Physical and Material world.

2. However, Satan began to want to live Like He Wanted rather than to live As God Wanted.

a. He want to rule and reign over the universe as he wanted --- Without Answering To God.

b. He wanted to possess the Ultimate Authority over the world --- to be His Own Man --- to do His Own Thing --- to Control His Own Life ...

C. So, Lucifer Rebelled Against God!

Isaiah 14:12-15, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."

Ezekiel 28:11-17, "Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee."

Jesus, Himself, said that Isaiah was Referring To Satan --- Luke 10:18, "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."

D. Since the Devil Was Defeated and Cast Out --- therefore Losing His Control and Reign over the earth --- Does the Devil have any Control or Influence upon the World and Man Today? --- And if so, Where and How did he Gain it back?

1. Man was given Dominion and Rule over the Earth.

Genesis 1:27-28, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

2. When Man Obeyed (put himself Under The Rule of) the Devil --- He Relinquished His Dominion To Lucifer.

Romans 6:16, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

Luke 4:5-7, "And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine."

3. Scriptures talks about the Devil's Influence In This World.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

Ephesians 2:2, "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:" --- 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Matthew 4:8-9, "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me."

1 John 5:19, "And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness."

E. Satan's Purpose is to Receive as much Power and Worship as possible --- He desires to Turn Every Person he can Away From God --- He does this by:

1. He Opposes and Disturbs God's Work in the world.

Job 2:1-6, "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life."

Mark 1:13, "And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him."

Revelation 12:7-10, "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 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. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."

2. Satan Discourages Believers through Various Strategies.

Luke 22:31, "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:"

Ephesians 6:10-12, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

3. Satan Incites God's Justice Against Believers by leading them to Sin Against God.

Acts 5:3, "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?"

F. Satan Did Everything He Could To Keep Jesus From Being Born!

Genesis 3:15, "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."

Revelation 12:4, "... and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born."

1. The line of Abel ---

Satan led Cain to kill Abel, but God gave Adam another son, Seth (Gen. 4:1).

2. The early line of the Godly Seed ---

Satan led the Godly line to mix with the ungodly and led them into such vile wickedness that God had to destroy the earth. But God raised up Noah (Gen. 6:5).

3. The line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ---

Satan led Esau to threaten to kill his brother, Jacob. But, God protected Jacob (Gen. 27:41).

4. The line of the Children of Israel ---

Satan led Pharaoh to attempt to kill all the Male Babies of Israel. But God saved Moses (Exo. 1:8).

5, The line of David ---

After failing to have Saul kill David, Satan led son after son of David into sin and to murder and disqualify themselves. But God always kept at least one son of David alive (2 Sam. 13)

6. The line of the Sons of David ---

Satan led Jehoram, one of Jehosophat's sons, to kill all his brothers. But God caused sons to be born to Jehoram to carry on the line (2 Chron. 21:1).

7. The line of Jehoshophat's Sons ---

Satan led an enemy to come in and kill all the sons but one --- Ahaziah (2 Kings 8:25).

8. The line of Ahaziah ---

Satan led Jehu to kill Ahaziah, and the queen's mother, Athaliah, took over the throne and killed all the sons. But led the wife of the high priest to save one small baby, Joash. At this point the line of the promised seed rested in the saving of this little bvaby's life (2 Kings 9:11).

9. The line of God's Chosen People ---

Satan led King Ahasuerus to exterminate all of God's people. But God gave him a most restless and frightening night of sleep. The king, therefore, spared the chosen line (Esther).

10. The Promised Seed, Jesus Himself --- At His Birth ---

Satan led King Herod to slay all the boy babies in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill the promised seed. But God warned Joseph and told Joseph to flee with the child to Egypt (Matt. 2:1).

11. The Promised Seed, Jesus Himself --- At His Temptation ---

Satan tempted Jesus to cast Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple (Matt. 4:1).

12. The Promised Seed, Jesus Himself --- At His Hometown, Nazareth

Satan led the citizens of Nazareth to try to cast Jesus off the cliff of a hill, but Jesus escaped (Luke 4:29).

13. The Promised Seed, Jesus Himself --- During His Ministry ---

Satan led the religious leaders to hate Jesus and to plot His death time and again, but Jesus escaped each time (John 7:1).

14. The Promised Seed, Jesus Himself --- On The Cross ---

Satan stirred up the people to mock Jesus and tempt him to come down from the cross. This not only failed, but Jesus rose from the dead (John 19).

G. Satan is Described in Scriptures as:

1. Abaddon (Rev. 9:11).

2. Accuser of The Brethren (Rev. 12:10).

3. Angel of The Bottomless Pit (Rev. 9:11).

4. Apollyon (Rev. 9:11).

5. Beelzebub (Matt. 12:24, Mark 3:22, Luke 11:15).

6. Belial (2 Cor. 6:15).

7. Deceiver of the whole world (2 Cor. 11:3, Rev. 12:9).

8. Devil, which means the slander (Matt. 4:1, 5, 8, 11; Luke 4:2-6, 13; 1 Peter 5:8; Rev. 20:2).

9. Enemy (Matt. 13:39).

10. Evil One (Matt. 6:13, 13:19, 38).

11. Father of Lies (John 8:44).

12. Gates of Hell (Matt. 16:18).

13. God of This World who blinds men's minds (2 Cor. 4:4).

14. Great Red Dragon (Rev. 12:3).

15. Lying Spirit (1 Kings 22:22).

16. Murderer (John 8:44).

17. Old Serpent (Rev. 12:9, 20:2, cp. Gen. 3:4, 14; 2 Ccor. 11:3).

18. Power of Darkness (Col. 1:13).

19. Prince of Devils (Matt. 12:24).

20. Prince of This World (John 12:31, 14:20, 16:11, Eph. 2:2, 6:12).

21. Ruler of Darkness of This World (Eph. 6:12).

22. Satan, which means the adversary (1 Chron. 21:1, Job 1:6, 2:1-6, Zech 3:1, Matt. 4:10, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:8, John 13:27, Acts 5:3, 26:18, rom. 16:20).

23. Spirit that works in the Children of Disobedience (Eph. 2:2).

24. Tempter (Matt. 4:3, 1 Thess. 3:5).

25. Unclean Spirit (Matt. 12:43).

26. Wicked One (Matt. 13:19, 38).

Genesis 3:1, "... And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"

A. The Devil himself was behind the Tragic Fall of Man.

1. Jesus --- John 8:44, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

2. Paul --- 2 Corinthians 11:3, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." --- V. 14, " And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."

B. Satan was to be Used By God To Test Man --- To give man the Opportunity To Choose God --- To exercise His Free Will.

1. Man Had To Be Tempted in order to exercise his free will For God.

2. God had to create a situation Whereby Man Could Exercise His Free Will And Choose to obey and follow God or not to.

3. For man to exercise his free will, something other than God telling Adam not to eat from a single tree was needed --- Temptation was needed --- the Arousal of A Suggestive Thought.

4. Satan had the power to tempt Adam & Eve, but he did Not Have The Power To Make Them Sin.

5. They Chose to sin, they Exercised Their Own Free Will.

(( The Devil accomplished this through Temptation. ))

C. First Step --- Our Thought Life --- Suggestive, Enticing & Tempting Thoughts.

1. Eve thought that she was Missing Out on something that Looks good, Feels good, and Tastes good.

2. Something that was good was being Withheld and Kept From Her.

3. Perhaps God's Word today, is Causing Us To Miss Out on something that is delicious.

Genesis 3:2, "And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:"

Second Step --- Discussing Our Thought Life --- Entertaining, Harboring & Discussing the suggestive thoughts --- within our own minds or verbally with others.

A. Suggestive thoughts may fly across our minds like Birds --- but we must Not Allow Them To Roost There.

1. We must Turn Our Thoughts and mind to Something Else --- In Particular --- Our Mind Cannot Be Blank ...

2. We Cannot always keep from being Tempted --- we Can "Flee The Temptation".

3. We Cannot always help the First Look --- we Can Control The Second Look --- Not Stare.

4. We Cannot always choose who we come In Contact With --- we Can Choose Our Friends Carefully.

B. Eve began to Feel that God's command was Too Strict and Restrictive

1. Eve Added the words, "Neither Shall You Touch It" --- which God never said.

2. Kids today, "You Never let me do Anything --- Go Anywhere ..."

C. She began to focus on how Restrictive God's Word was, Doubting God's Goodness --- Questioning that God had Provided The Very Best For Her.

1. She Omits the word "Every" --- she simply says, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees."

2. God's Goodness and Provisions are being Rejected, Ignored, Neglected and Set Aside.

3. Instead of being Grateful for what God had given --- she has become Un-Grateful and Concerned about what God Has Forbidden.

"I know that God has given us Every Tree But One --- But Why Not That One?"

"What is God's Motive --- What Purpose could He possible have?

Genesis 3:3, "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."

Third Step --- Doubt --- Doubting The Consequences of God's Word.

A. Satan thrust the lie into her mind: "You shall not surely die".

B. Eve Doubted that the Consequences Would Every Happen To Her --- She rationalized and felt that God's warning would Not Apply To Her --- Not Completely --- Not Fully --- not in the full weight of its judgment.

C. Eve Rationalized Her Behavior More And More:

1. "The warning was given to Adam, not to me --- not directly."

2. "The judgment --- if any --- is bound to be less than death."

3. "Certainly, God would not condemn me and leave Adam alone, without a wife, without a companion and helper to help him."

4. "God is so good, He'll forgive me. I'll just taste the fruit this time, then ask God to forgive me. --- Besides God's unconditional love will always forgive me anyway.

5. "God surely would not condemn me for doing it just one time."

6. "I'll make it up to God. I con go ahead and do it, and then serve God as never before, and He will forgive and accept me."

7. "Surely God would not let me die; there is still so much to do and accomplish in life and for God."

8. "In the final analysis --- when everything is said and done --- God just would never reject me, not permanently, not to everlasting death."

(( But Eve Was Wrong ... ))

D. God Warning about sin and its Consequences Still Stands --- There is No Escape from God's Judgment Upon Sin.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"

Ezekiel 18:4, "Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die." --- V. 20, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him."

Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

John 8:24, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

Genesis 3:4-5, "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."

Fourth Step --- Personal Fulfillment --- One Will Never Be More Fulfilled Than By Eating of The Forbidden Fruit.

A. "We have Needs that Cannot be met any other way --- the Temptations Will meet our needs More Than What God Has Given Us."

1. "We will never know Unless we experience it --- our eyes will be opened."

2. "We can be Our Own Person --- Determine Our Own Destiny and Fate --- we will Gain:"

Position --- Power --- Strength --- Self-Sufficiency --- Independence --- Individuality.

3. "Do Your Own Thing --- do What You Want When You Want,"

4. Being your own person will bring Fulfillment and Satisfaction --- Strong Ego --- Self-Image --- Excitement --- Stimulation --- pleasure ..."

B. Satan Convinced Eve that she:

1. Could Determine what she should and should not do herself --- could Govern and Direct her own life.

2. Could Discern good and evil Apart From God's Word --- she did Not Need God to tell her what to do.

C. We must Understand the attack of Satan through temptation.

1. Satan has All Kinds of Strategies to attack us.

Ephesians 6:11, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (strategies) of the devil."

2. Satan uses all kinds of Devices or Schemes to get an Advantage over us.

2 Corinthians 2:11, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."

3. Satan will take a person who does Not Understand The Word and Snatch the Word Out of That Person's Heart.

Matthew 13:19, "When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side."

Genesis 3:6, "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, ..."

Fifth Step --- Looking, Desiring & Lusting --- is a results of Not Fleeing.

A. 1 John 2:16, "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."

"Lust" --- A Lustful Craving, a Hungering, and Unstoppable Urge, a Great Desire.

1. Lust of the Flesh --- The Freedom from Responsibility --- "And the LORD God said unto the woman, What <is> this <that> thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."

2. Lust of the Eyes --- The Desire for Pleasure --- "..saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes,.."

3. Pride of Life --- The Desire for Power --- "saw .. a tree to be desired to make one wise," --- "ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

B. The devil Tempted Jesus with All Three:

Hebrews 4:15, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin."

1. First Temptation --- Desire for Pleasure.

Luke 4:2-4, "Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."

2. Second Temptation --- Desire for Power.

Luke 4:5-8, "And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

3. Third Temptation --- Desire to Avoid Responsibility.

Luke 4:9-10, "And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

Jesus was saying, "I Will Not Surrender The Responsibility For My Life And My Actions."

C. David.

1. The Desire for Pleasure --- He looked.

2. The Desire for Power --- He took.

3. The Avoidance of Responsibility.

I Chronicles 20:1, "And it came to pass, ... at the time that kings go out [to battle], --- David tarried at Jerusalem."

D. The Devil Always Has - And Still Is - Promoting These Same Three Dominate Purposes For Living.

Personification of These Three Purposes In Living Are Found In:

1. The Desire for Pleasure --- Herod ...

2. The Desire for Power --- Pontius Pilate ...

3. The Freedom from Responsibility --- The Invalid at the pool of Bethesda ... (John 5).

E. Modern Psychology.

1. The Desire for Pleasure --- Sigmund Freud (1856-1939).

a. Man's purpose for living is to achieve happiness.

b. Human drives are strongly animalistic --- drives for pleasure --- personal gratification.

2. The Desire for Power --- Alfred Adler (1870-1937).

a. Interpreted all relationships as struggles for power.

b. Man's purpose for living is to obtain power.

3. The Avoidance of Responsibility --- B. F. Skinner (Contemporary).

a. We are the irreversible result of our Conditioning or programming.

b. Man is the Victim of his Circumstances --- he is not responsible.

F. The Bible --- God's Word --- Warns Us of These Three Temptations Today:

1. Lust of the Flesh:

Galatians 5:19-21, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

2. Lust of the Eyes:

Matthew 5:28, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

2 Peter 2:14, "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:"

Job 31:1, "I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?"

Ecclesiastes 2:10, "And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour."

Proverbs 23:29-31, "Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? (8675) who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright."

Matthew 6:23, "But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"

3. The Pride of Life:

Proverbs 3:7, "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil." --- 11:2, "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom." --- 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." --- 21:4, "An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin." --- 28:26, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."

Isaiah 5:21, "Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"

Matthew 23:12, "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

I Corinthians 10:12, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."

Genesis 3:6, "... she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, ...."

Sixth Step --- Committing The Sin --- Actually taking and eating the forbidden fruit.

A. Eve had Already Sinned Inwardly --- now she was to sin Outwardly.

Mark 7:21-23, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."

B. Temptation has to be defeated When It First Strikes --- reject and and all suggestive thoughts.

1. "Flee fornication" --- 1 Cor. 6:18

2. "Flee from idolatry" --- 1 Cor. 10:14

3. "Flee these things" --- 1 Tim. 6:11

4. "Flee also youthful lust" --- 2 Tim. 2:22

Genesis 3:6, "... and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."

Seventh Step --- Leading Others To Sin --- Being a Stumbling Block instead of a Stepping Stone.

A. Eve gave the fruit to her husband --- thus becoming a Stumbling Block instead of a Help Mate that God had intended.

B. We Must Never Become A Hindrance To Others:

Luke 17:1-2, "Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."

Romans 14:13-21, "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. 14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak."

1 Corinthians 10:32, "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:"

2 Corinthians 6:3, "Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:"

C. We must Never Doubt God's Word and Goodness --- we must Know --- Always Trust --- that God Will Meet Our Needs In The Most Beneficial Way Possible.

Romans 6:13, "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."

1 Corinthians 10:13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

James 1:12, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

2 Peter 2:9, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:"

2 Peter 3:17, "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness."

Genesis 3:7, "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons."

A. Sin Devastated Adam's & Eve's Self-Image.

1. The sense of being naked, imperfect and corruptible --- of being short of God's glory and righteousness - V. 7.

2. The attempt to cover sin - V. 7.

3. The running away and hiding from God - V. 8.

4. The alienation from God and the breaking of God's heart - V. 9.

5. The disturbed relationships and the severe division caused by sin - V. 10-13.

B. There are Seven Consequences of Sin seen in this Genesis:

1. Shame --- 3:7

2. Guilt and Fear --- 3:8

3. Alienation from God --- 3:9

4. Division - disturbed relationships --- 3:10-13

5. Judgment --- 3:14-19

6. Death --- 3:19

7. Separation - expulsion from perfection --- 3:22-24

First --- Consequence of Sin --- Shame.

C. Imagine what the "Image And Likeness of God" in His glory would be like.

1. 1 John 1:5, "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

Psalm 104:2, "Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:"

2. The Brilliance and Splendor of the Light of his presence --- The Glory and Righteousness of God's being.

3. Being created in the image of God --- This Is What Adam & Eve Lost --- A Change so Radical that the Glory, Light, and Righteousness of God was Stripped Away from them.

a. From Perfection to Imperfection.

b. From Incorruption to Corruption.

c. From Glory to Dishonor.

d. From Power to Weakness.

e. From Spiritual to Natural bodies.

2 Corinthians 5:2, "For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:"

1 Corinthians 15:42-44, "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."

D. The clothing of Perfection and Innocence was stripped away --- their Eyes Were Opened.

1. Not their Physical Eyes, for the eyes of their body had been opened since their creation.

2. This refers to the Eyes of their Heart and Mind, of their Conscience.

3. Within their hearts and minds they sensed guilt and shame --- they knew --- beyond all question they had done wrong --- they were Now:

a. Imperfect --- not perfect.

b. Guilty of rebelling against God --- not innocent.

c. Sinful --- not sinless.

d. Unrighteous --- not righteous.

E. Their hearts and minds had never known anything but perfection --- but now Their Sin Had Changed All That.

1. They had perfect Peace --- but sin made them feel Disturbance.

2. They had perfect Security --- but sin made them feel Insecure.

3. They had perfect Comfort --- but sin made them feel Restless.

4. They had perfect Goodness --- but sin made them feel Bad and Evil.

5. They had perfect Joy --- but sin made them feel Sad.

6. They had perfect Love --- but sin made them feel Rejected.

7. They had perfect Strength --- but sin made them feel Weak.

8. They had perfect Control, Discipline, and Obedience --- but sin made them feel Guilt and Shame.

F. Every Thoughtful and Honest person --- senses and Knows that he is imperfect and sinful.

Romans 5:12, "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:"

Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

G. However, God counteracted the sin of Adam --- God Provided A Way for us to be Saved from Sin and Death.

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

1 Peter 2:24, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

1 Peter 3:18, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:"

H. Adam & Eve attempted to Cover their Sin and Shame.

1. Adam & Eve had never experienced wrong doing --- The shame they felt must have been the most intense and terrifying shame imaginable.

2. We also are so ashamed of our sins and failures that we don't want people to know about them.

3. Everyone needs to ask himself the same question Job asked:

Job 31:33, "If (have)I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:"

I. How do we go about trying to Cover and Conceal our sins?

1. By Looking On The Outside of things rather than on what is within.

a. We dress ourselves up to cover our sin.

b. We dress up as much as possible to attract attention instead of rejection.

c. We also compare ourselves to others --- we are as good and no worse than anyone else.

2. By focusing on Corporate sin rather than our Personal sins.

a. The Institutions of Society, Government and Business.

b. But they are Formed and Operated By Us --- they are sinful --- short of what they should be --- because of our sin and shortcoming.

c. Society And Its Institutions Are Merely Extensions of Ourselves.

3. By Assuming that Time Conceals Sin.

a. We refer to our past sin, sometimes even jokingly.

b. We think that time has taken care of our sins and diminished our guilt and shame.

4. By thinking that there is Safety In Numbers.

a. If everyone does it, then I can do it.

b. God will certainly not be too harsh with me when everyone else is doing it.

c. God would not reject me for doing something everyone else is doing.

Genesis 3:8, "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden."

First --- Consequence of Sin --- Shame.
Second --- Consequence of Sin --- Running Away & Hiding From God.

A. It was apparently the habit of God to appear to Adam and Eve and share with them in Fellowship and Communion.

1. Fellowship was one of the Primary Reasons God had created man.

2. God walking in the garden in the cool of the day was to be Expected --- this was His habit.

3. Our first parents had freely met with and conversed with their heavenly Father.

a. They had often heard God walking about and calling out to them in the garden.

b. Their hearts had always leaped with joy, excitement, and great expectation when they heard the sound of His voice.

c. They had always run to meet Him, just as a child runs to meet his father who has ben away for awhile.

B. But Not This Time --- Something Terrible had happened since God's last visit --- Now, Adam & Eve Runs Away And Hides.

1. Since God's last visit, Adam & Eve had:

a. Turned Away from God.

b. Disobeyed God.

c. Rebelled against God.

d. Decided to do what They Wanted instead of what God wanted.

e. Chosen to Follow Self and Satan instead of following God.

2. The Results were Catastrophic --- they did not want to:

a. Face God.

b. Face the fact of their sin.

c. Give an account for their behavior.

d. Suffer the judgment and punishment --- they did not want to face the Consequences of their sin.

C. Man Still Tries To Run Away From God by:

1. Staying away from Church.

2. Refusing to sit under the Preaching of God's Word.

3. Ignoring God --- never seeking God.

4. Never reading and studying the Bible.

5. Neglecting God --- never Praying.

6. Refusing to allow loved ones and neighbors to Talk about God.

7. Denying the Existence of God.

8. Pushing Thoughts about God out of their mind.

9. Denying there is such a thing as Sin, Guilt, or Conscience.

10. Stressing the Physical world of Science, Technology, Philosophy, and Psychology and Minimizing or Denying the Spiritual world.

Psalm 139:7-12, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee."

Proverbs 15:3, "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good."

Jeremiah 23:24, "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD."

Genesis 3:9, "And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?"

First --- Consequence of Sin --- Shame.
Second --- Consequence of Sin --- Running Away & Hiding From God.
Third --- Consequence of Sin --- Alienation (Separation) From God --- The Breaking of God's Heart..

A. "Adam, where are you?"

1. The Separation is seen in Adam running away and hiding from God.

2. The Broken Heart of God is seen in His seeking after Adam

3. Adam is not seeking after God --- but God Is Seeking after Adam.

B. This is the call of A Seeking Savior.

1. In his Infinite Knowledge, God saw all the ages, centuries, decades, years, and days of Sin and Shame that Lay Ahead For Fallen Man.

2. God saw the Great Price He would have to pay to Complete His Purpose upon earth.

3. God set out to Demonstrate His Love --- God Went After Adam --- went Seeking for him.

Luke 19:10, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Luke 15:4, "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?"

Matthew 22:1-5, "And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:"

Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

4. This was not the call of a Policeman, but rather that of a Lover.

C. This is the call of Godly Conviction.

1. The Question, "Adam, where are you?" was Not For God's Information --- it was to stir Adam to think about where he was.

2. He was running away and hiding from the God --- The Only Person Who Could:

a. Reconcile and help him.

b. Correct, rectify, and salvage the situation.

c. Give him --- guidance and direction --- peace and security --- love and joy --- hope and life --- upon this earth.

d. Save and Restore him to his former position of perfection, glory and righteousness.

e. Tell him how to escape the judgment of death.

3. There was No Longer A Glow Within His Heart.

a. Adam had been stripped naked of perfection, glory, and righteousness.

b. He needed to seek after God, not run away from Him.

4. Psalm 38:4, "For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me." --- 51:3, "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me."

D. This is the call of God's Justice.

1. God's call to Adam was a Summons To Judgment --- Adam was to appear before the court of God and face the Sentence of Death.

2. A person may Try to run away and hide from God --- deny, ignore, and neglect God --- but:

Hebrews 9:27, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment"

Matthew 25:31-32, "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:"

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:"

2 Peter 2:9, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:"

2 Peter 3:7, "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."

Jude 14-15, "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."

Revelation 20:12-13, "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."

Genesis 3:10-13, " And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."

First --- Consequence of Sin --- Shame.
Second --- Consequence of Sin --- Running Away & Hiding From God.
Third --- Consequence of Sin --- Alienation (Separation) From God --- The Breaking of God's Heart..
Fourth --- Consequence of Sin --- Broken Relationships --- Stinging Divisions

A. Sin Disturbs a man's relationship with God --- causes a Division between him and God.

1. Adam Now Feared God.

2. Adam was now Totally Different from God.

3. Adam had Disturbed the Relationship between Himself and God, he had created a Great Gulf.

4. Isaiah 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."

Matthew 15:8, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."

Ephesians 4:17-19, "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."

B. Sin Disturbs a man's relationship with Others --- causes a Division between Friends.

1. Adam Blamed Eve.

a. "The Woman gave me the fruit and I did eat.

b. "I would never have touched it if She had not Enticed Me."

2. Adam Blamed God.

a. "The woman You gave to be with me ..."

b. This is the Depth of Sin --- Blaming God for our failures, shortcomings, circumstances, sickness, disease, death, etc.

c. Remember, Adam Knew Exactly What He Was Doing, He Was Not Deceived By Anyone.

(1 Tim. 2:14)

3. Eve Blamed The Serpent (Devil).

a. Eve did Not Accept Blame for her sin any more than Adam did.

b. Besides, It Was God Who Had Allowed the devil to enter the Garden and entice her.

C. They were now Blaming each other, Criticizing and Accusing each other.

Romans 2:1, "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things."

Job 9:20, "If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse."

Proverbs 20:6, "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?"

Proverbs 30:12, "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness."

D. We Must All Confess And Repent of Our Sins:

Luke 13:3, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

Acts 3:19, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" --- 8:22, "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." --- 17:30, "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:"

Isaiah 55:7, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

Ezekiel 18:21, "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die."

Genesis 3:14-15, "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."

First --- Consequence of Sin --- Shame.
Second --- Consequence of Sin --- Running Away & Hiding From God.
Third --- Consequence of Sin --- Alienation (Separation) From God --- The Breaking of God's Heart..
Fourth --- Consequence of Sin --- Broken Relationships --- Stinging Divisions
Fifth --- Consequence of Sin --- Judgment Upon Sin

A. The First Judgment Upon Sin --- The Tempter, That Old Serpent, Called The Devil.

1. He was Cursed Above All creatures - V. 14.

a. "Because you have done this --- because you are the Tempter, because you tempted and led man to ;sin --- you are cursed above all other creatures.

b. All Creation was affected by the sin and fall 9of man --- man --- woman --- animals --- earth --- vegetation ...

Romans 8:19-21, "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

2. He was to Crawl upon his belly: to be Detested, Degraded, and Miserable --- always - V. 14.

a. One the names of Satan --- Beelzebub, means the god of Flies, the god of Filth, or the god of Dung,

b. Satan is known as the god of Unclean Spirits.

3. He was to Eat Dust: to be Defeated and Humiliated --- always - V. 14

a. Snakes do not eat dust --- this is symbolic language meaning the tempter is to eat the dust of Defeat and Humiliation. --- Illustration: "Boy, we laid him in the dust!"

b. Isaiah 49:23, "And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me."

4. He was to be the Object of Enmity - Animosity was to be waged between him and the woman and her seed - V. 15.

a. There is always to be Enmity between the Seed of the Tempter and the Seed of the Woman.

1. The Serpent's Seed can Not be referring to the Demons who serve under his command.

2. Satan does Not bear demons as Offspring --- demons are Not Increasing In Numbers.

3. Demons were All Created By God As Angelic Beings and fell from their exalted position when Satan fell.

4. Who Then Are The Children And Descendents of The Devil?

John 8:44, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

1 John 3:8, "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." --- V. 10, "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."

5. The Ungodly Will Burn With Enmity Against True Godliness As Long As The Earth Stands.

John 15:20, "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." --- 16:1-4, "These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you."

1 Thessalonians 3:3, "That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto."

Philippians 1:29, "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;"

2 Timothy 3:12, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

1 John 3:13, "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you."

1 Peter 4:12-14, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified."

b. It is God who Stirs Man To Oppose Evil and thereby putting enmity between the serpent and man --- Man Is To Always Stand Against All Sin.

c. When we sin, we often find that We Like The Sin But Want To Escape Sin's Consequences.

1. We would like to Destroy Ourselves In Comfort --- debilitating Drugs or Booze --- we would like to Go To Hell Happy.

2. Man, like Satan, is Addicted To The Love of Their Own Interests.

5. He was to be Crushed by one particular Seed or Descendent of the Woman - V. 15.

a. This is the First Promise of the Savior in the Bible.

b. The New Testament clearly tells us Who the Promised Seed Is.

Galatians 3:16, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."

6. Christ Crushed Satan's Head By:

a. His Incarnation.

1. Be coming into the world and being revealed as the Son of God.

2. 1 John 3:8, "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

b. Never Giving In To The Devil's Temptations.

1. Christ was the perfectly righteous man --- he never sinned.

2. Satan was defeated in that "Ideal Righteousness" was now provided for man.

2 Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

c. Dying For Man --- Bearing All of Man's Guilt and Punishment For Sin.

1. Crushing Satan's power to charge man with sin.

2. Colossians 1:13-14, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"

d. Being Raised From The Dead.

1. Crushing Satan's power to cause death.

2. Men no longer have to die. Christ died for mankind --- became our substitute in death.

3. Hebrews 2:14-15, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

e. Christ Crushed Satan's Power:

1. Satan lost his Power To Separate Man From God.

(a) Men no longer have to go to hell and be separated from God.

(b) Christ Was Separated From God For Us.

Matthew 27:46, "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

1 Peter 3:18, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:"

2. Satan lost his Power To Enslave Man With The Habits of Sin.

Romans 6:14, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: ..."

1 John 4:4, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

B. This is either Symbolic Language referring to Satan or Satan actually Transformed or clothed himself as a Serpent.

1. The Serpent --- when first created --- apparently Walked Upright and was a most Magnificent creature.

2. The serpent was more "Subtle" (Crafty, Clever, Shrewd) than any of the animals upon earth.

3. The serpent must have been a beautiful and upright creature, perhaps the Most Splendid of All The Creatures.

4. Can you imagine the Horror of Adam & Eve as they Heard the voice of God pronounce the Curse upon Satan and Witnessed the terrifying Transformation of this once beautiful creature into the Hissing, Slithering, Dangerous creature we know as a Snake today.

C. Many other Scriptures refers to Satan and God's Judgment.

Romans 16:20, "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."

Revelation 12:9, "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." --- 20:2, "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years," --- V. 10, "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

Genesis 3:16, "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; ..."

A. God's judgment is always Just and Equitable, perfectly Fair.

1. God always judges a person Impartially --- God's judgment always Matches A Person's Sin.

2. A person will Never Be Judged For More Wrong Than He Has Done --- he receives exactly what he deserves, nothing more, nothing less.

3. God's judgment is always full of Wisdom, Purpose, and Mercy.

4. Since Adam & Eve stand as the Representative Heads of The Human Race, God's judgments upon them are Passed Down Through Their Children.

5. The First Judgement is upon the person who sinned first, the Woman.

B. The Woman was to experience Many Forms of Pain.

1. The conjunction (the word "and") before "conception" is to be taken in the sense of "and In Particular."

2. "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and in particular (the sorrow of your) conception."

The word "sorrow" (itstsebhon) means Trouble, Sorrow and Pain.

3. The Unique Pain and Travail of childbirth is so Painful it is often used in Scripture to picture Severe Suffering and Grief (John 16:21, 1 Thess. 5:3, Rev. 12:2).

4. Every time a woman bears a child, her pain is to stir her to Cry Out In Trust And Dependence Upon God.

C. There is the Sorrow caused by Woman's Very Nature.

1. God created woman with a more Tender, Delicate, and Sensitive nature than man.

2. Because of her nature, the woman usually Feels And Suffers Greater Sorrow and More Deeply than man.

3. Because she Feels More Deeply, she often Suffers More.

D. The woman's sorrow and pain is also deeper than the man's in Rearing Children.

1. The phrase "Bring Forth" means more than just conception and birth --- it means Bringing Up And Rearing Children.

2. Woman's deep sorrow and pain over her children is to Arouse Her To:

a. Cry Out to God and to Seek, Trust, and Depend upon God for help.

b. Be more Diligent in Helping and Teaching her children to live, like they should.

E. Since Woman had also Led Another Person To Turn Away From God and Seek The Pleasure of Life Apart From God --- she was judged to Feel for others, to Suffer Their Sorrow and Pain more keenly than man.

1. Sorrow and pain stirs Repentance, Trust, Dependence, and Hope in God.

2. This is probably One of The Reasons women seemingly turn to God more easily and sooner than most men.

Genesis 3:16, "... and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."

A. The Woman was to have a Yearning Desire toward a husband.

1. The word "desire" (teshuqah) means Longing, Yearning, Desiring.

2. By Nature, the woman Longs, Yearns, and Desires to settle down with a hsuband.

3. It is an Attraction that is Deeper and Involves More of Life than that of man.

4. Most parents of teenagers notice that Daughters and Girls Spend Much More Time Talking About Boys Than Boys Do About Girls.

a. Even Adult Women Talk More About Their Husbands And Men Than Men Do About Them. --- Beauty Shops ...

b. The very Center of Conversations among a group of Women --- Young, Single, or Married --- is often Men.

B. There are Considerably More Women In The World Than Men.

1. Many women are Forced to go through Life single and Alone.

2. Many are forced to Handle All The Affairs of Life Alone and to suffer loneliness when they would Prefer to have a husband.

3. Woman is usually More Attached To Man Than Man Is To The Woman.

C. It was the Woman who Enticed and Led The Man Astray; therefore, She is now to be Led and Enticed by a Deeper Attraction For The Man.

1. It was the Woman who Acted Independently of The Man who was to be her Perfect Companion in the Perfect World.

2. Therefore, she was now to have a Deeper Attraction And Pull To Be Next To Him, more so than he would with her.

3. It was the woman who Sought Pleasure And Fulfillment Apart From The Man.

a. Therefore, part of God's Judgment was that she was now to Long And Yearn For The Pleasure And Fulfillment of His Presence.

b. The woman's desire for a husband would stir her to be As Attractive As Possible, to Settle Down, and to Have A Family.

c. Her Desire, Longing, and Yearning would tend to Pull Man To Her and hold the family together in a much closer bond.

4. The Song of Solomon often expresses the Desire of A Woman, her Longing and Yearning For Man.

Song of Solomon 5:6 (NLT), "I opened to my lover, but he was gone. I yearned for even his voice! I searched for him, but I couldn’t find him anywhere. I called to him, but there was no reply."

Song of Solomon 6:1 (NLT), "O rarest of beautiful women, where has your lover gone? We will help you find him." --- V. 3, "I am my lover’s, and my lover is mine. He grazes among the lilies!"

Song of Solomon 7:10 (NLT), "I am my lover’s, the one he desires."

Song of Solomon 3:1-3 (NLT), "One night as I lay in bed, I yearned deeply for my lover, but he did not come. 2 So I said to myself, ‘I will get up now and roam the city, searching for him in all its streets and squares.’ But my search was in vain. 3 The watchmen stopped me as they made their rounds, and I said to them, ‘Have you seen him anywhere, this one I love so much?’"

D. A second aspect of the curse was that Woman's Desire for the man is Not Merely To Have Someone To Love --- it includes a Desire To Dominate or Rule.

1. 3:16, "Unto the woman he said, ..... thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."

The Identical Hebrew Words and Grammar are used in 4:7.

4:7. "... if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his (sin's) desire, and thou shalt rule over him (sin)."

2. Just as the woman and her seed will engage in a war with the serpent (Satan) and his seed (V. 15), because of sin and the curse, the Man And The Woman Will Face Struggles In Their Own Relationship.

3. Sin has turned the Harmonious system of God-Ordained Roles into Distasteful Struggles of Self-Will. --- Struggles for power of leadership.

4. The Woman's Desire will be to Lord It Over Her Husband, but the Husband Will Rule By Divine Design.

* See Appendix #25 - "Biblical Roles of Men And Women"

E. God's Plan is that the Woman is to live in Subjection To Her Husband.

1. We Are All Subject to some Authority, Rule and Order every day of our lives.

a. Someone holds authority and is Ultimately Responsible for the order of things no matter where we are --- in the Office --- Shop --- School --- Church ---

b. The Home Is No different ...

2. V. 16, "He (the husband) shall Rule Over Thee (the wife)."

a. This judgment applies to every man individually, Not To All Men Over All Women.

b. It means Every Wife is subject to Her Own Husband, Not Subject To All Men.

Ephesians 5:22-23, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."

3. The Woman's Submissiveness actually becomes a part of Her Attraction.

a. Her submissiveness Honors Her Husband within the home and before the world.

b. Her submissiveness Shows Respect for her husband and family before the world.

c. Her submissiveness Eliminates Differences, Arguments, and Disorderliness that would otherwise arise.

d. Her submissiveness Pleases God and Raises her Value In God's Sight.

1 Peter 3:4-5 (NLT), "You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 That is the way the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands."

4. When God judged woman to be under the rule of man, God Was Not Condemning Her To Be:

--- of less Ability or Worth,

--- of less Competence or Value,

--- of less Brilliance or Advantage.

God's judgement dealt with Function and Order Within The Family.

Anything with Two Heads is a Monstrosity and belong in a Zoo.

5. The woman had Acted Independently of God And of Man.

a. She had taken matter --- the Rule of Her Own Life --- into her own hands.

b. She craved Control --- Independence, Authority, Rule --- over her own life.

c. She had sought an Independence that was Never Intended To Be Between Man And Woman.

6. She had Enticed the Man to --- Walk away from God --- Walk out from under the rule of God --- Act independently of God --- Rebel against God.

7. Domination and Enslavement --- Unequal Opportunity in society and the workplace --- are Not The Judgment of God.

F. God is clear, the Husband Is To Love His Wife Sacrificially --- as Christ Love The Church.

Genesis 3:17-19, "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."

A. The first man upon earth not only Sinned but he Refused To Accept Responsibility for his sin.

Adam failed in at least Three Areas:

1. Adam did not even Try To Lead Eve Back To God.

2. Adam Listened To Eve’s Enticements --- he did not stop her from talking about and presenting the forbidden fruit to him.

(Adam First Sin was that he Listened To His Wife instead of God --- Gen. 3:17)

3. Adam, himself, Chose To Eat the forbidden fruit --- Eve did not force him to eat.

(Adam Wilfully and Deliberate Chose to sin.)

1 Timothy 2:14, "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."

B. The curses placed upon man to Provide for and Protect --- placed more Pressure and Stress upon him than upon the woman --- this may be one reason why Man’s Life Span Is Shorter than that of a woman.

Man was condemned to live in a Cursed World.

V. 17, "… cursed is the ground for thy sake; ("because of you," "on account of you") in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;"

C. Why would the Earth have to Suffer A Curse when it was Adam who sinned?

1. The earth was Adam’s home --- Adam and the earth was Interrelated

2.The earth belonged to Adam and Adam belonged to the earth --- they were as closely related as they could be.

3. Creation is experiencing "Birth Pangs" under its Struggle To Survive.

a. Romans 8:19-22, "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation (the entire universe) groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

b. Creation Groans In Labor For Deliverance --- awaiting the Day of Redemption, anxiously, expectantly, longingly, eagerly, awaiting its Deliverance From Corruption.

c. Creation being subject to corruption is constantly confirmed by such authorities as the Botanist, Zoologist, Geologist, and Astronomers of the world.

4. Earthquakes, Tornadoes, Storms, Diseases, Famines, Deterioration, Erosion, Decay, Etc.

Isaiah 24:4-6, "The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. 5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left."

Jeremiah 12:4, "How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end."

5. Creation Shall Be Delivered From Corruption.

2 Peter 3:10-13, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

Revelation 21:1, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." --- 22:3-5, "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. "

Hebrews 12:26-27, "Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain."

Isaiah 65:17, "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." --- 66:22, "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain."

D. Man was condemned to Struggle For Survival.

1. Man was condemned to Struggle Against Nature for the most Basic Necessities of Life.

a. Nature Is No Longer Under Control --- it now produces thorns and thistles and all kinds of problems for man.

b. Man is now to suffer the pain of Stress, Pressure, Tension, Toil, Labor, Work, Mental & Physical Fatigue, all the days of his life.

2. Man is condemned to Sweat in order to eat --- his struggle against nature is Strenuous and Difficult.

Proverbs 24:30-31, "I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down."

Ecclesiastes 10:18, "By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through."

E. Man was also condemned to Die.

1. Adam set in motion the law of Disobedience, or Disorder, and Imbalance which results in Corruption.

2. The judgement upon Adam was a Judgment Upon All Mankind --- Adam was the father of the human race.

Romans 5:12-14, "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: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.."

F. The Death of Jesus Christ Answered the Judgment passed upon the sin of our first parents.

1. Sin brought Travailing Pain into the world.

Isaiah 53:11, "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."

2. Sin brought Subjection into the world.

Galatians 4:4-5, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."

3. Sin brought The Curse upon the world.

Galatians 3:13, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"

4. Sin brought Thorns upon the earth.

Mark 15:17, "And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,"

5. Sin brought Sweat into the world.

Luke 22:44, "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."

6. Sin brought Sorrow into the world.

Matthew 26:38, "Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me."

7. Sin brought Death into the world.

Philippians 2:8, "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

G. 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Genesis 3:20, "And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living."

A. Adam names his wife "Eve" (chavvah) which means to live, to give life, to spring forth life, to propagate life, or The Mother of All Living.

1. She was to bear the Promised Seed or Savior who would saved them and their children.

2. There would be enmity – hostility – between the Devil’s Seed (followers) and the Woman’s Seed (believers). --- Christ ...

B. Adam is a dynamic Example of Faith.

1. When Adam named his wife Eve, he was Acting In Faith --- Eve had no children --- Adam did not even know what pregnancy and giving birth involved.

2. He Accepted And Believed God’s Word --- which was all he had.

Genesis 3:21, "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them."

A. God Himself Provides Clothing for Adam & Eve.

1. God Himself actually Made Clothes for man and woman.

2. God Himself Put The Clothing across their shoulders.

3. God Himself Met The Needs of man and woman.

4. God wanted to show His Great Love And Care for man and woman.

5. He wanted to Teach man and woman that He Would Take Care of Their Necessities.

B. God Himself will also Meet Our Needs And Necessities, as He did Adam & Eve’s, but Only If We Allow Him to do so.

Matthew 6:25-33, "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

Exodus 23:25, "And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee."

Psalm 31:19, "Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!"

Isaiah 41:10, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

C. God met the need of man and woman to Cover Their Guilt And Shame.

1. Before They Sinned --- they had no sense of guilt, shame, sin, evil, wrong or nakedness --- no sense of anything negative.

2. Sin Corrupted Man And Woman --- stripped them of glory and perfection --- gave them guilt and shame.

3. The only way a person can have his guilt and shame covered is to be Clothed In The Righteousness of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Ephesians 4:24, "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

Romans 13:14, "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."

Colossians 3:10, "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"

Isaiah 61:10, "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."

D. Notice What God Used to clothe man and woman --- the Skins of Innocent Animals.

1. Imagine Adam and Eve standing there as the Animals Were Slaughtered.

2. They had Never Seen Blood nor the agony, pain, and Suffering of Death before.

3. They must have been in Shock, stricken with the Horror And Devastation of Sin --- the terrible results of sin.

4. These animals were their Pets --- no wild nature ...

5. The Results of sin is always Death.

James 1:15, "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

E. By sacrificing innocent animals, God was Teaching them:

1. It was necessary to Sacrifice The Innocent in order to cloth the guilty

2. The serpent’s (Satan’s) Bruising of The Woman’s Seed referred to the Savior and the sacrifice He was to make for men and women.

3. The Crushing of The Serpent’s (Satan’s) Head was to be accomplished by the death of the Savior.

4. The Savior Himself was to give His life as Their Substitute.

5. It was by the Blood of The Sacrifice of the coming Christ that they were to be Reconciled to God.

F. Jesus Christ died for Our Sins, in Our Place, in Our Stead, as Our Substitute.

1. He bore the Penalty, Punishment and Judgment of our sins.

2. Only when we Trust Christ so much that we Cast Our Whole Lives Upon Him in Total Commitment does He become our Savior.

Matthew 26:28, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

Romans 5:6, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." --- V. 9, "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

1 Corinthians 15:3, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;"

John 1:29, "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

Galatians 1:4, "Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:"

Ephesians 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

Titus 2:14, "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

Hebrews 9:14, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? " --- V. 22, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."

1 Peter 1:18-19, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"

Genesis 3:22-24, " 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. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."

A. Man became as God, "knowing good and evil".

1. God does Not know evil By Experience --- God does not Think evil or Do evil.

2. God knows evil because He See Evil as it lies spread out before Him.

a. God knows every Evil Thought and Act upon earth.

b. The first flash of an evil though that crosses our minds --- the harboring of that evil thought.

c. The first Arousal of evil, Desire or Lust --- the Decision to do evil --- the Actual Act of evil.

B. Man knows evil by personal experience --- Man Thinks evil thoughts, Harbors them, and acts upon them.

Genesis 6:5, "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

Romans 3:10-18, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes." --- V. 23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

Psalm 53:3, "Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."

Isaiah 64:6, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

Proverbs 20:9, "Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?"

C. Now, God Must Deliver and saved man from Living Forever As A Sinner in a fallen world.

1. Because of man’s sin, Catastrophic Consequences were to fall upon man and his world.

2. God could not allow man to live forever as a sinful corrupt being:

a. A being who would Never Again Know The Fullness of God’s Presence, love, grace, provision, care, security, joy, and peace.

b. A being who would Live Under The Curse of being judged, condemned, and punished forever and ever.

c. A being who would Never Have The Opportunity To Be Saved.

D. God delivered man by Driving Him from the Garden of Eden.

1. Notice the double reference to God "Sending" Adam out and that He Drove" him out.

a. Within the Garden, Man Had Everything --- provisions --- security --- joy --- and fulfillment --- all in perfection.

b. Man Talked face to face with God --- Walked and fellowshipped with God --- Worshipped, worked, and served God in perfection.

2. Adam Did Not Want To Leave the presence of God nor the perfection of God’s paradise --- he Struggled Against Leaving.

But --- Isa. 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."

Ephesians 4:18, "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:"

3. Adam’s Sin Had Come Between Him And God, and he must now bear the judgment of his sin.

E. Man’s salvation, his freedom from sin and his perfection could No Longer Be Found In The Garden of Eden.

1. Man Could Never Again find his provisions, security, joy, and happiness --- his utopia, his heaven --- Here On Earth.

2. He could Only find salvation and perfection In The Promised Seed, the Savior of the world.

3. His utopia was never again to be upon earth.

F. Adam must now Trust The Promised Seed, to focus upon the Savior for salvation.

1. How would trust in the Savior free Adam from sin and make him righteous?

Abraham --- Genesis 15:6, "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."

Galatians 3:6, "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

2. To Believe, really believe, to the point of Committing His Life To The Savior --- was what God took and counted it as righteousness.

3. Adam and All the other Old Testament believers:

a. Looked Ahead to the Promised Seed --- We look Back to Him.

b. They believed in the Coming Savior --- We believe in the Savior who Has Come.

c. They believed in the Promised Savior --- We believe in the Promises of The Savior.

d. Acts 10:43, "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."

Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

G. "... he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."

1. There was the possibility that Adam And Eve Might Try To Reenter the Garden.

2. They Had Failed to obey God before, and Now because of their sinful nature, they would be failing and disobeying God More And More.