(Please see Genesis 3:1-14)

In Genesis 2:16-17 we read that, “…the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”

But then the day came, and the devil tempted Eve. He started by questioning God’s Word (3:1). Eve then added to God’s Word (3:3b) by saying they weren’t allowed to touch it. The devil then contradicted God’s Word (3:4) and eventually twisted God’s Word (3:5).

Eve then fell in three areas. 1 John 2:16 describes it as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life for we read in 3:6 that she “saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.”

Eve then gave to her husband Adam, and he ate (3:6b). It was here that sin entered the whole wide world (Romans 5:12). They tried to cover their sin by sewing figs leaves together. Then they tried to hide themselves and their sin from the presence of God – how futile.

When God confronted them, they tried to blame their sin on others. Eve blamed the serpent (v. 13), while Adam blamed the woman – and even God (3:12).

Adam and Eve were then banished from the Garden (3:22-24), and because of their fall, we are all born into sin, because we are now born in the image of Adam (Genesis 5:3; Romans 5:12).

There is so much to learn from this account, beginning with the importance of not questioning God’s Word, or adding to it; not believing anything that would contradict it or weaken it’s warnings. We also need to beware of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. When we do sin, we need to beware of playing the blame-game – remember, “to blame it so b-lame.” We can’t hide our sin from God, and we can’t cover our sin with any amount of good works, but the good news is our sins are covered in Christ, which then restores us to fellowship with Him. Death entered the world through sin as Adam and Eve eventually died physically, and immediately died spiritually – but Life entered the world through Jesus – let’s look to Him today, and for the rest of our lives.

Until the whole world hears, your brother in Christ,

– Manny

#Fall of man

(Originally written on January 27, 2014)