Why are we in this mess? - Bible Studies for Life for June 10, 2018
Bible Studies for Life
June 10, 2018
Genesis 3:1-7,14-19 (CSB)
In Genesis 3:1-7, we read one of the most well-known passages in all of Scripture – the story of the temptation and fall of man.
As we know from the first two chapters of Genesis, God created the world and everything in it, including the first two humans – Adam and Eve. Special among creation, Adam and Eve were made in the image of God.
Adam and Eve were given dominion over the earth and its creatures and were provided a beautiful garden, in a place called Eden, in which to live.
God told Adam and Eve they were free to eat from any tree in the garden except one – the tree of knowledge of good and evil – because eating from that tree would lead to death.
Adam and Eve lived in a wonderland in which they freely communed with God. In Genesis 3:1-7, we read how Adam and Eve’s decision to disobey God led to all of humanity coming under the curse of sin.
After being instructed by God not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Eve was confronted by a cunning serpent. The serpent questioned God’s command to not eat from the tree, telling Eve that if she ate from the tree, not only would she not die but she would “be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5).
Trusting the serpent’s advice over God’s command, Eve ate of the fruit and gave some to her husband, Adam, who also ate it. After they ate the fruit, their eyes were opened. The curse of sin had entered the world.
Left to itself, the story of the temptation and fall of man is terrible news. After all, as descendants of Adam and Eve, every person today inherits the curse of sin and death. But, thankfully, there is more to the story.
God defeated the curse of sin and death. Through Christ, all who believe are brought from death to life! In Genesis 3:15, we read a foreshadowing of Christ’s victory over sin, death and Satan, “He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” Praise God!