Coachlight Bible
Study – Genesis Lesson XIII - Genesis 3:15 – 4:15
The Curse – Part VII
– A Change of Heart
We have learned that Adam & Eve sinned because they choose to believe a corruption of God’s Word above God’s pure holy Word, which God exalts above all His holy Name. (Psalm 138:2). The result of this choice was a curse upon Satan, Eve, Adam, and the earth, and a provision of atonement (covering) by God after an acceptance of God’s Word.
The result of the curse on Satan resulted in a prophetic revelation to mankind of a battle between two seeds that would continue for ages to come. This prophetic message insured that the coming “Seed of the Woman” would, after many battles, eventually crush the head of the “seed of the serpent”. God’s message to mankind continued with God’s provision of the “coats of skins”. These “coats of skins” also gave a prophetic lesson, teaching that man’s way to atonement (or covering) for sin was useless, but God’s provision would lead man on a path back to paradise. (Revelation 22:3)
We have also learned that the result of the curse on Eve has played out in Eve’s life as pain and suffering in childbirth, but God’s merciful prophetic Word has actually made Eve a “type of Christ” (Isaiah 53:10), Who would be the final sacrifice for sin.
The result of the curse on Adam and the earth, much
of which we also are affected today, played out in Adam’s life in the form of
sorrow, pain & suffering, sweat & tears, and eventually death. God’s “very good” creation now seems to be wearing
down and under the “bondage of corruption”.
The entire “creation was made subject to to
vanity”, and the earth began to “wax old as doth a garment (Hebrews
As a result of this “curse”, are we today doomed to live out this curse of sorrow, pain, sweat, and death with no hope? Does this same satan have power over us so that we are helpless and must live with depression, sin, degeneration, hopelessness, etc.? The world view would tell us so, and the only offer is counseling and other man’s ideas to help us cope. But God’s Word is what will give us the hope we need. How many times have God’s people sincerely tried to live a “good life” and ended up with failure every time? Through trials, God is working with His people to change hearts, not just teach behavior modification.
Romans
Romans
Romans
Romans
I John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us.
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I John
I. The Curse On
Adam – For Adam’s Sake
Genesis 3:17 And
unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and
hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in
sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Genesis
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt
thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
A. The full force of the curse fell on Adam
1. This included all men and women “in Adam” – even Eve was of Adam
2. This included the earth
a. The dust of the earth was brought under the bondage of decay and disintegration
1. The earth became reluctant to yield food
2. Instead of food, noxious weeds and thorns grew
3. This would require sweat and tears on behalf of man for food
4. Despite man’s entire struggle, death would eventually triumph
b. Plants began to mutate
1. What used to be beneficial was now disintegrating
2. Thorns & thistles were the result
1 Peter
1 Peter
c. Animals began to mutate
1. Their diets began to have a deficiency of proteins & vitamins
2. Teeth & nails in animals mutated into fangs & claws for carnivorous appetites
d. Bacteria and other microorganisms began to mutate
1. What used to be beneficial for soil maintenance, purification processes, etc.
2. Now sometimes proved to be harmful and even fatal to other organisms
Hebrews 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation
of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine
hands:
Hebrews
B. Instead of things being made - They are becoming disorganized and simple
C. Instead of life & growth – There is decay & death
D. Instead of evolution – There is degeneration
E. This is called the Second Law of Thermodynamics
F. Man is a sinner and brought God’s curse on the
world
|
Science Laws and Creation |
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First Law of Thermodynamics: Conservation of Energy – Origin After
Creation |
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Matter (and energy) can not be
created or destroyed, it can change state, but the total quantity of matter
plus energy still exists as after the six days of Creation. Preserved are the laws of nature, matter,
energy, basic types of organisms, etc. |
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Second Law of Thermodynamics: Entropy – Origin After The Curse |
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Energy goes from a state of usable
energy to a state of less usable energy for doing work in an isolated system |
|
Complexity
|
1. Deterioration
of energy in a working system 2. Degree of
disorder in a structured system 3. Loss of
information in a structured system |
B. The fourfold Curse on Adam
1. Sorrow – Resulting from continual disappointment and futility
2. Pain & Suffering – symbolized by thorns – hinders man in providing for his family
3. Sweat & Tears – Strong crying of struggle against a hostile environment
4. Physical Death – This would eventually triumph over all of man’s efforts
II. The Answer To The Curse
A. Christ, the Second Adam was made the curse for us:
Galatians 3:10 For
as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written,
Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things
which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Galatians 3:11 But
that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Galatians 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them
shall live in them.
Galatians 3:13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:
for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth
on a tree:
1. Christ is the “man of sorrows”
Isaiah 53:3 He is
despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and
we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
2. Christ was “wounded” and “bruised” for our transgressions and iniquities
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. {wounded: or, tormented} {stripes: Heb. bruise}
3. Christ wore the very thorns of the curse on His crown:
Mark 15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of
thorns, and put it about his head,
4. Christ, in His agony, sweat “drops of blood”
Luke
5. Christ offered up prayers and strong supplication with strong crying and tears:
Hebrews 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had
offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that
was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; {in that…:
or, for his piety}
6. Christ was brought into the “dust of death”
Psalms
7. Because of Christ there will be no more sorrow, pain, crying, or death:
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there
shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any
more pain: for the former things are passed away.
8. Because of Christ there will be no more curse:
Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and
of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
B. Though The Curse Will Not Be Lifted Until Christ Returns to purge
the earth:
1. Christ Has Paid The Price For Redemption
a. Not with corruptible things – (Things under the bondage of corruption):
1 Peter 1:18
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as
silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your
fathers;
b. But With His Precious
Blood:
1 Peter
c. This Work Of Christ Was Planned Before Creation:
1 Peter
d. This Work Of Christ Was So Our Faith & Hope
Would Be In God:
1 Peter
1 Peter
e. This Work Of Christ Was
By The Incorruptible Word Of God
1 Peter
2. We Can Now Accept This Deliverance By Faith:
a. We Can Be In Sorrow, But Rejoice:
II Corinthians 6:10
As sorrowful, yet alway
rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing
all things.
b. We Can Endure The Thorn In The Flesh With Grace & Strength:
II Corinthians 12:7
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the
revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan
to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
II Corinthians 12:8
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it
might depart from me.
II Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I
rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
c. We have
Rest Even When Our Labor Ceases Not Night & Day With
Tears:
Acts 20:31
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to
warn every one night and day with tears.
Matthew 11:28 Come
unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
e. We Now Have
The Down-payment Of Our Inheritance:
Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh
all things after the counsel of his own will:
Ephesians 1:12 That
we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye
were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 1:14 Which
is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of his glory.
III. Adam’s
Confession After The Curse
Genesis
God had pronounced the great curse, with all its intricacies and implications, but He had also given an even greater promise – that of the coming Redeemer. When Adam heard God’s Word this time, he believed God and His promise of salvation in spite of Adam’s sin and the resulting curse.
This time Adam believed God’s Word instead of
corrupting it or doubting and rejecting it.
God’s purpose in a trial is to
change the heart not just modify behavior.
A. This time Adam believed God At His Word
B. Adam called his wife’s name Eve – chavvah meaning “life”
1. This indicates that Adam had faith in God’s promises
a. Adam believed that Adam & Eve would have children
b. Adam knew the Seed of the Woman would come from that offspring
2. Adam Had A Change Of
Heart – Agreed With God’s Word
IV. The Lord God’s Provision
Genesis 3:21 Unto
Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed
them.
A. In response to Adam’s Confession, God Provided A Covering For
Nakedness
1. Their self-made fig leaves were completely inadequate to cover guilt & sin
2. This taught that the provision could only come from God, and God alone
3. God’s provision of Innocent blood was shown to be
needed for the covering:
Leviticus
4. This taught that complete salvation was only to those who:
a. Worshiped God
1. Approached God with a proper offering
2. Worship literally means to: “Bow down to God’s will”
b. Forgot their
own will, and accept God’s Word
1. Acknowledged their own guilt and helplessness
2. Trusted in God alone for complete salvation & provision
B. This
Provision Was Completely Opposite To Satan’s Advise
1. No appeal to the physical or mental senses
2. It required putting down human pride & accepting God’s Word
C. The typical
teaching was that the woman’s Seed would
1. Shed His own blood in the coming conflict
2. This would happen before the complete deliverance
could occur
D. The
Application Today: We also should heed to this typical teaching
1. By reckoning our own “fig leaves” as filthy
rags:
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all
our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do
fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
2. By allowing God to
clothe us with the garments of salvation:
Isaiah 61:10 I will
greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath
clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of
righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with
ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her
jewels. {decketh: Heb. decketh as a priest}
V. The Second
Triune Council
Genesis 3:22 And
the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and
evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life,
and eat, and live for ever:
Genesis 3:23
Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the
ground from whence he was taken.
Genesis 3:24 So he
drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to
keep the way of the tree of life.
A. Man Now
Knew The Evil Of Rejecting God’s Word
1. The council recognized that “Man had become one of Us, to know good and evil”
2. This statement was made in sadness
a. Man had once known only the goodness of God
b. Now man has known the evil in rejecting God’s Word
c. Now man knew the suffering that results from rejecting God’s Word
d. Now man’s “goodness” as promised by the serpent was not what was hoped
e. Man had been created in God’s image – That image was now marred by evil
3. God had to drive out man from the garden
a. Adam & Eve Were Reluctant to leave their paradise for the unknown world
b. They were afraid of never seeing God again
4. To guard the garden’s entrance to the tree of life, God placed two cherubim east
B. Cherubim (And
Seraphim) are always associated with the throne of God
Psalm 80:1 Give
ear, O Shepherd of
Psalm 99:1 The LORD
reigneth; let the people
tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims;
let the earth be moved. {be moved: Heb. stagger}
C. Cherubim
Are Associated With The Throne Of God
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Cherubim Are Associated With The Throne Of God |
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Genesis 3:24 So he
drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to
keep the way of the tree of life. |
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Ezekiel’s Cherubim |
Isaiah’s Cherubim |
John’s Cherubim |
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Ezekiel
1:4-28; 10:1-22 |
Isaiah
6:1-6 |
Revelation
4:6-8 |
D. It Is
Likely That God Continued to Converse with Adam
1. From God’s Throne
2. However, now from a distance
VI. God’s Purpose
Is To Change Hearts – Not behavior modification
I John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and
declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
I John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in
darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
I John 1:7 But if
we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth
us from all sin.
I John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us.
I John 1:9 If we
confess<3670> our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I John
I John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye
sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous:
I John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours
only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
I John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his
commandments.
3670 omologew homologeo hom-ol-og-eh’-o - from a compound of the base of 3674 and
3056; TDNT-5:199,687; v
confess 17, profess 3, promise 1, give thanks 1,
confession is made 1, acknowledgeth 1; 24
1) to say the same thing as
another, i.e. to agree with, assent
2) to concede
2a) not to refuse, to promise
2b) not to deny
2b1) to confess
2b2) declare
2b3) to confess, i.e. to admit or declare one’s self
guilty of what one is accused
3) to profess
3a) to declare openly, speak out freely
3b) to profess one’s self the worshipper of one
4) to praise, celebrate
A. True Confession
Is Much More Than The Telling Of Your Sins
B. True
Confession Is Agreeing With God’s Word
C. True
Confession Is Giving Your Assent To God’s Will Not
Self
D. True
Confession Is Giving Up Our “Fig Leaves” & Agreeing with God’s Word
E. True
Confession Is A Change Of Heart