“The Fall”
Series: A Journey through the Old Testament [on screen]
Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD
First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida
May 2, 2021
Introductory Comments:
We are continuing our series called “A Journey through the Old Testament.” We learned last week that God created everything and He has a plan for us and our world.
Today, we will be discussing the Fall.
Why is it called the Fall? Because everything got messed up. We fell from God’s design and God’s blessing when sin came into the world.
Most of what we’re going to talk about today is based on what is recorded in Genesis 3. So, join me in Genesis 3 and let’s look at the passage together.
(read Genesis 3)
Let’s pray now and ask God to speak to us.
(prayer)
As we did last week, we’re going to look at three main sections as we walk through the truths of this part of the Old Testament story.
So, first, let’s look at the . . .
I. Major elements [on screen]
These are the major elements of the story of the Fall:
First, . . .
The Events: [on screen]
The Serpent deceived Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1, 4-5) [on screen]
The serpent in this story has generally been accepted as Satan, the devil. The book of Revelation refers to Satan as “The Ancient Serpent.”
Also, Satan is referred to as a deceiver in the Bible. He even tried to deceive Jesus by tempting Him in the wilderness. Satan was unsuccessful in convincing Jesus to sin, but he was successful in convincing Eve to sin.
Eve ate the fruit, gave some to Adam, and Adam ate (Genesis 3:6) [on screen]
They both were tempted. They both ate. They both sinned.
God calls out Adam for his sin (Genesis 3:9-13) [on screen]
God starts with Adam, but He will eventually holds each party accountable.
Adam blames Eve (Genesis 3:12) [on screen]
Adam is already trying to atone for his sin with an excuse, so he blames his wife.
Eve blames the serpent (Genesis 3:13) [on screen]
Eve tries to cover her sin as well by blaming the serpent.
God curses the serpent (Genesis 3:14-15) [on screen]
He says that the serpent will have to crawl on his belly from now on. This curse and what the serpent was like before this moment are somewhat mysterious.
Finally, we see that God prophesies concerning the offspring of the woman (Genesis 3:15) [on screen]
This prophecy is very important and we’ll come back to it in a moment.
Next, we see the . . .
Immediate Consequences of the Fall: [on screen]
Adam and Eve recognized their nakedness (no longer naked and unashamed) (Genesis 3:7) [on screen]
Adam and Eve now had shame before God. They sewed fig leaves together to try and hide their shame.
Adam and Eve hid from God (Genesis 3:8) [on screen]
From this moment on, humanity will hide from God and feel shame before God and others.
Eve is cursed (Genesis 3:16) [on screen]
She will have pain in birth and the roles in marriage will be modified as well as her desire to have Adam’s role.
Adam is cursed (Genesis 3:17-19) [on screen]
Painful labor that will be by the “sweat of your brow.”
(Presumably) the first animal sacrifice (Genesis 3:21) [on screen]
Animal skins were made by God to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness.
Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22-24) [on screen]
Let’s not underestimate the heartbreak of them being banished from their home because of their sin. Their lives, and all our lives, would be changed forever.
Well, what were the . . .
Lasting Consequences of the Fall: [on screen]
Death came into the world [on screen]
Romans 5:12 – Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. [on screen]
Physical and spiritual death came to all people.
This is a problem for all humanity!
The very next chapter, Cain murders Abel!
Separation from God [on screen]
Isaiah 59:2 – But your iniquities are separating you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not listen. [on screen]
The worst part of the Fall is our separation from God. We need to be in a relationship with God, but sin messed that up!
We have sinful natures [on screen]
Psalm 51:5 – Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. [on screen]
We are born with a sinful nature! It is a curse that comes to all humanity.
Our judgment is flawed [on screen]
Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. [on screen]
Sin even messes up the way we think! We don’t even know what’s best for ourselves any longer!
Punishment in Hell [on screen]
Matthew 25:41 – Then he will also say to those on the left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!” [on screen]
Eternal fire awaits those who are in sin. What a terrible reality!
Natural consequences of sin [on screen]
There are also natural consequences. If you speed, you may get a ticket. If you cheat on a test, you may fail a class. If you lie, you may ruin your career or your relationships. It you dishonor your parents, you may run into a difficult life.
There are natural effects that are caused by our sin.
Well, what are the major truths from the story of the Fall? Let’s look at those now:
II. Major truths [on screen]
The Fall spread to all people [on screen]
As we read earlier, in Romans 5:12, death has come to all people because all have sinned. No one is unaffected!
The Fall affected all of creation [on screen]
Romans 8:20-22 – 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. [on screen]
The very physical world in which we live was affected by the Fall.
Trees now die, lakes dry up, hurricanes destroy things, animals get sick and die. Sin has affected everything!
The Fall distorted God’s design [on screen]
God’s imprint is still on Creation, but His design has been distorted by sin.
The Fall brought brokenness in our lives [on screen]
Sin brought all kinds of brokenness in our lives. Sin brought addiction, abuse, abandonment, arrogance, atrocities, apathy, altercations, and more.
The Fall separates us from God [on screen]
I already mentioned this, but it’s certainly worth mentioning again. We are separated by God because of sin. This is a huge problem.
Now, let us see how . . .
III. The Gospel speaks [on screen]
How do we see and hear the Gospel speaking to us through this passage?
From the very beginning, God had a plan for redemption [on screen]
Remember the prophecy from Genesis 3:15? It says, I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. [on screen]
God Himself prophesies that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. Well, who might that be? As you trace the genealogy it leads right to a baby boy born in Bethlehem. That boy would become a man who would give His life on a cross. His name is Jesus!
Ephesians 1:4 – For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. [on screen]
God had a plan for redemption long before sin even came into the world.
God loves us in the midst of our sin [on screen]
John 3:16 – For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:8 – But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [on screen]
Even though we rejected God and singed against Him, He loves us anyway and sent Jesus to rescue us.
Sin is powerful, but God is more powerful [on screen]
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. [on screen]
Death will not win. Sin will not win. The serpent will not win.
Life will win! Love will win! Jesus will win!
Here’s what we can take away from Genesis 3. Here’s our bottom line:
Bottom Line: Sin messed-up everything. [on screen]
(repeat)
Every created thing was affected. We must understand that.
If we don’t understand sin, we won’t understand the Gospel.
Weekly Challenge: [on screen]
1. Consider how sin struck you. [on screen]
Think about the devastating effects of sin in your life.
Reflect upon the way the Fall has poisoned your life.
2. Strike back against sin in your life. [on screen]
Through the power of the Gospel, strike back against sin. Paul says in Romans 6, in Jesus, we are dead to sin! Death no longer has power over us!
3. Strike back against sin in the world. [on screen]
Sin has devastating effects on our world. However, God has tremendous blessings for our world! Strike back against sin! Beat back the darkness! Bring life to a dying world through the power of Jesus!
Love in the name of Jesus! Serve others in the name of Jesus! Share the good news of Jesus with the world!
In just a moment, we’re going to take the Lord’s Supper and reflect upon the work of Jesus: His death, burial, and resurrection. Through the work of Jesus, sin can be defeated. Let’s remember that and celebrate that.
(Gospel presentation)
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