WHY THINGS ARE THE WAY THEY ARE

GENESIS 3

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. SOME OF SATAN'S FAVORITE TOOLS [V. 1-6]

The Devil has many tools at his disposal. He will twist legitimate desires into destructive lusts anywhere and anytime he can... and he can almost anywhere and anytime. His goals of course relate back to his desire for power and his determination to try to frustrate the purpose of God. Genesis 3 introduces us to 7 of Satan's favorite tools for the destruction of mankind and the defilement of God's purpose. Because of God neither of Satan's long-range goals will be reached.

1. Doubt the Word of God [v. 1-3]

2. Deny the Word of God [v. 4]

3. Despise the God of the Word [v. 5] Luke 16:13

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

He (Satan) had said, "your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil"; but he had left out a material part of the truth, namely, that they should know good without the power to do it, and that they should know evil without the power to avoid it!" -CHM (Rm. 7)

4. Lust of the flesh [v. 6] "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food"

5. Lust of the eyes [v. 6] "...and that it was pleasant to the eyes,"

6. Pride of life (the one that got him) [v. 6, Is. 14, Ez. 28] "...and a tree to be desired to make one wise,"

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

7. People [v. 6] "...she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."

1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression

Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

II. THE TROUBLES OF SIN [V. 7-13]

1. GUILT [v. 7, Hebrews 4:13] Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

2. SHAME [v. 8-10, Proverbs 13:18] Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

1 John 3:20-21 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

3. BLAME [v.11-13]

III. THE SOLUTION OF GOD [V. 14-24]

Though I have divided this into 3 sections please note that the solution is One. All accomplished through the person of the second Person of the Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. THE PROMISE OF SATAN'S DOWNFALL [v. 14-15] Isaiah 53:5

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

II. THE PRONOUNCEMENT OF SIN'S DEFILEMENT [v. 16-20] Rm. 8:21-22

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

III. THE PATTERN OF THE SAVIOUR'S DELIVERANCE [v. 21-24, Heb. 9:14-28]