Series Big Idea: "Showing how the early stories of Scripture establish God’s Plan of Salvation”

Sermon Big Idea: “God's redemptive plan in Christ brings hope despite humanity's devastating rebellion”

Key Scripture (Genesis 1:1-2:3)

Today we continue our series I am calling "The Blueprint of Redemption," where we are tracing God's redemptive plan through Scripture from its very beginnings in Genesis. I cannot think of a more crucial chapter for understanding our need for redemption than Genesis 3. This chapter is like a dark shadow that makes God’s grace shine even brighter. To truly comprehend the full extent of redemption, we must first understand the gravity of rebellion against God. That begins with the deception of the serpent. 

(Genesis 3)

Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ”4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the LORD God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”10 And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”11 Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”13 So the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. 15 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. 16 He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children with painful effort. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you. 17 And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.” 20 The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. 21 The LORD God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them. 22 The LORD God said, “Since the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.” 23 So the LORD God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.

I. The Deception of the Serpent (Genesis 3:1-7)

The opening scene of this tragic chapter introduces us to one of Scripture's most cunning characters, the serpent. His way of dealing with temptation is still being used today. First, notice how he questions God's Word with that subtle phrase, "Did God really say?" This was not a direct denial of God's command; it was something far more lethal. It is an invitation to question God's truthfulness.

But the serpent does not stop there. He moves from questioning God's Word to distorting God's character. By suggesting that God is withholding something good, he paints God as restrictive, even jealous. "God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened," he says, implying that God is keeping them from reaching their full potential.

Finally, he presents the ultimate temptation, the allure of being like God. This appeal to pride and independence hits at the very heart of human weakness. It is the same temptation we face daily when we choose our wisdom over God's, our ways over His.

The consequences of this deception were immediate and devastating. Eve succumbs to the temptation, and Adam follows suit. In choosing self-will over God's will, they discover that their newly "opened eyes" do not bring enlightenment but shame and fear. The serpent's deception led to the first act of disobedience, and the consequences were devastating. Let’s talk about the consequences.

II. The Consequences of Sin (Genesis 3:8-13)

The immediate effects of their rebellion are truly heartbreaking. We see Adam and Eve who were once comfortable in God's presence, now hiding among the trees. This physical hiding illustrates the spiritual death that had already taken place, separation from God. When confronted, they engage in a blame-shifting scheme that would be almost comical if it were not so tragic. Adam blames Eve and, by doing so, God himself ("the woman YOU gave me"), while Eve points to the serpent.

But the implications reach far beyond that garden. Through this one act of rebellion, sin enters the human story like a virus, infecting every future generation. As Paul would later write in Romans 5:12, "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned." Even creation itself falls under the weight of human sin, becoming subject to futility and decay. Yet even during rebellion, God does not leave His creation without hope. So, what is God’s response to this rebellion?

III. God's Response to Rebellion (Genesis 3:14-19)

God's response reveals both His justice and His mercy. His righteous judgment falls first on the serpent, who is cursed and promised ultimate defeat. Then to humanity, He pronounces the painful consequences of their choices, which are pain in childbirth, toil in work, and ultimately death. But even in this dark moment, grace breaks through.

Notice that God seeks Adam and Eve while they are hiding. This pursuit of sinners becomes a pattern throughout Scripture, revealing God's heart for reconciliation. What is more amazing, in verse 15, we find the first promise of redemption. One day, the seed of the woman would crush the serpent's head, though He would strike his heel. God's judgment is just, but His mercy and plan for redemption shine through, pointing to Christ.

As we meditate on this passage, we must each grapple with our own tendency toward rebellion. Where do you see yourselves questioning God's Word? How often do you choose your wisdom over His? The same choice faced by Adam and Eve confronts us daily. Will we trust God's wisdom or our own?

Conclusion:

The story of the Fall could have been the end of humanity's relationship with God. But instead, it becomes the beginning of the greatest story ever told, the story of redemption. In Christ, the promised Seed, we find the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15. Through His death and resurrection, Christ crushed the serpent's head, offering us restoration and eternal life.

Today, God offers you the same choice. Will you continue in rebellion, or will you embrace His redemption through Christ? During humanity's rebellion, God initiates His redemptive plan. A plan fulfilled in Jesus Christ, offering hope and restoration to all who believe.

Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideas are inspired by:

Holman Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version Bible

King James Version Bible

Christian Standard Bible

Barton, Bruce et al. Life Application New Testament Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001. Print.

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. Print.

Walton, John H. Genesis Zondervan, 2001, p. 65.

Gangel, Kenneth O., and Stephen J. Bramer. Genesis. Edited by Max Anders, B&H Publishing Group, 2002, p. 9.

MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006. Print.

Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933. Print.

Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.

Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.

Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. 

NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture

Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.

NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context

Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson

Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997.

Blum, Edwin A., and Trevin Wax, eds. CSB Study Bible: Notes. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.

Barry, John D., Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Michael S. Heiser, Miles Custis, Elliot Ritzema, Matthew M. Whitehead, Michael R. Grigoni, and David Bomar. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

Wilson, Neil S. The Handbook of Bible Application. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2000.

Dockery, David S., ed. Holman Concise Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.

Water, Mark. Key Word Commentary: Thoughts on Every Chapter of the Bible. AMG Publishers, 2003.

Brannan, Rick, and Israel Loken. The Lexham Textual Notes on the Bible. Lexham Bible Reference Series. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014.

Radmacher, Earl D., Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999.

Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.

Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992.

Hughes, Robert B., and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. The Tyndale Reference Library. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

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