Trouble in Paradise

This past weekend, we resumed our “Origins: The Beginning” series as Pastor Doug shared from Genesis 3. In this message, we analyzed the worst moment in human history . . . the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, examining the twisted temptation of the serpent, the first sin, the cover up and consequences, and the promise of God that set His plan of redemption in motion.

For the Note Takers

Let’s recap some of the key talking points from Pastor Doug’s teaching this weekend:

Perfection Has an Origin: Genesis is the story of us, of humanity’s origins. God made a perfect world; He breathed perfection into man and woman. He created us in His image. At the end of the sixth day, God saw that His completed creation was very good. All was right with the world . . .

But if this is all true, and everything was so good and perfect, then why is there so much evil in the world? What happened? Where did it all come from? How did evil enter the equation? All of this evil on earth can be traced back to a single day . . .

Evil Has an Origin: God didn’t create evil, but with the possibility of choice, of free will, comes the possibility of evil. With the freedom to choose right and good comes the possibility to choose wrong, to choose evil; with the freedom to obey God and follow after Him comes the possibility to disobey and turn away from God.

In Genesis 3, we see Satan masquerade as a simple, innocent animal—a creature put in the care of Adam and Eve, one whom they trusted and looked after. He twisted God’s words and made disobedience to God look harmless. Temptation always presents that way; it has a magnetic pull, an allure. The temptation here was so strong that it made a perfect garden feel like it wasn’t enough. This is how Satan works: He lies and distorts the truth regarding God’s command; he makes God seem wrong and the commands insufficient.

Redemption Has an Origin: Adam and Eve sinned; they disobeyed God and brought sin and death into this perfect universe. Spiritual death came right away and physical death began in that moment. They knew it, they felt it. In that moment, fear, shame, and nakedness entered the fray and began to consume their minds. This newfound shame and fear led them to hide from God, but the truth is there is no hiding from God, no covering up our sin in His presence. And when all was said and done, the consequences were handed down and they were expelled from the Garden of Eden. But God didn’t leave it at that.

With the punishment came a promise of new life. It wasn’t the end . . . You see, in order to cover their shame, God made coverings for them from animal skins. In order to do that, a life had to be sacrificed; blood had to be spilled. He clothed them, He protected them and covered their shame. With the sacrifice of Jesus, God made a way to cover our sins forever, to reverse the curse of Adam, and clothe us in His perfection and righteousness. He redeems us and makes us right with Him again through His Son’s blood.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Have you ever been tempted like Eve? What’s your apple?
2. “Where are you?” was God’s first question. He didn’t ask it because He didn’t know . . . He was seeing how Adam and Eve would respond to Him. How do you respond when you sin and get caught?
3. Is there an area of your life where you need redemption? God is able to redeem it. He can clothe you in redemption and you can walk in it. Have you given that area of your life up to Him?

Quote to Remember: God calls us to walk in redemption, not perfection.—Pastor Doug Sauder

FEATURED ARTICLE: GOSPEL IN PLAIN SIGHT

In this week’s featured article, web campus Pastor Dan Hickling shows us how the gospel was evident even in the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Click here to read it!