The text for this lesson is Genesis 3.
Key Points
- In love, God sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden to save them from the consequences of their sin. In love, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to save us and all humanity from the eternal death that our sin deserves.
- Law: Because I sin, I deserve to die.
- Gospel: Because of Jesus’ death in payment for my sins, I will live forever.
Discussion Points
- Today we learn how God’s perfect creation was ruined by sin. A sin occurs when someone disobeys a command of God. Are we sinners because we commit sins, or do we commit sins because we are sinners? After discussing this question, see Psalm 51:5 for insight into this question.
- Have you ever tried to eradicate the sin from your life? If so, did you have any success? What is the solution to this sin problem?
- What are some examples of sins that we commit that affect our relationships with each other? What are some examples of sins that affect the health of our bodies?
- In our relationship with God, is it more harmful that we commit sins (actual sin) or that we are born dead in a sinful condition (original sin)? How far does sin separate us from God? See Isaiah 59:2. Why is it so important that God forgives all our sin for Christ’s sake?
- To set the stage for Genesis 3, we must review Genesis 2:8–9, 15–17. Read these verses. To whom did God directly give the command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Why might God give such a command? What made the fruit deadly to those who ate it?
- Read Genesis 3:1–3. What did the serpent throw into question in his temptation of Eve? Did she accurately quote God’s original command? In Genesis 3:6, we find that Adam was with Eve. As head of his household and recipient of God’s original command, what should he have done to prevent this disaster?
- After the fall, God could have simply destroyed the creation and started over from scratch. Yet He had created the world “very good,” and He would not give up on it. Read Genesis 3:15 and John 3:16. Why did God not destroy the world? How far was He willing to go to redeem His creation?
- In Genesis 3:21, God gave garments of animal skin to cover Adam and Eve’s shame over their sin. This pointed forward to the sacrificial system of Israel and ultimately to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Read Hebrews 9:22, 27–28 and Galatians 3:26–27. How did Christ’s death on the cross fulfill God’s Law and reverse the effects of Adam’s sin? What garments does God give us to cover our sins?
- In Genesis 3, Satan casts doubt on God’s Word in order to tempt Eve. Read 1 Peter 5:8–9. Whom is Satan most interested in tempting? What is Satan’s ultimate goal? What is our best defense against Satan?
- Genesis 2:25 tells us that “the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” Genesis 3:7 explains that immediately after Adam and Eve sinned, they recognized their nakedness and covered themselves out of shame. When Jesus was crucified, it is likely that He was stripped completely naked because this was a sign of shame and degradation. How does our culture show that it no longer sees shame in nakedness? How do these things tempt people to sin and destroy lives? How can we help friends and family members who struggle with these temptations?
- In Genesis 3:22–24, we see that if Adam and Eve had eaten of the tree of life after the fall, they would have lived forever in their sinful condition. When God banished them from the garden, how was this an act not only of wrath, but also of grace? How does God’s Law function to show us both God’s wrath toward sin and also His love for our well-being?
- Adam and Eve were righteous before they sinned, that is, they were free from the guilt of sin. Read Genesis 3:10–13. How did Adam and Eve try to justify themselves, that is, declare themselves righteous before God? What are some ways that we try to justify ourselves before one another and before God when we know we are guilty? How is it that Paul can say that we are justified, or declared righteous, in God’s sight? See Romans 5:18–19.
