- “Redeemed” – Lesson One – ADAM – Prophecy Of A Coming Savior
- “Redeemed” – Lesson Two – ABRAHAM: Promise Of A Coming Savior
- “Redeemed” – Lesson Three – The Law Of MOSES
- “Redeemed” – Lesson Four – The Cross Of CHRIST
- “Redeemed” – Lesson Five – The Simple New Testament Plan of Salvation
- “Redeemed” – Lesson Six – Saved By Grace
- “Redeemed” – Lesson Seven – “The Church – The Family Of God”
- “Redeemed” – Lesson Eight – “The Brotherhood”
- “Redeemed” – Lesson Nine – “The Holy Spirit – How He Works In The Life Of Christians Today!”
- “Redeemed” – Lesson Ten – “Be Filled With The Holy Spirit”
- “Redeemed” – Lesson Eleven – “Today Is The Day Of Your Salvation”
- “Redeemed” – Lesson Twelve – “Heaven Bound”
- “Redeemed” – Lesson Thirteen – “Gehenna” “The Final Place Of The Wicked”
- “Redeemed” – “A Personal Note From Dad”
(This series is taken from the book “Redeemed” by Jack Exum, published in e-Book format on Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/488224 (as well as on Amazon.com).
Adam and Eve had disobeyed God, which resulted in immediate judgment. Follow with me as we look at Genesis 3.
The progression of sin seen in Verse 6: (1) The tree had “good” fruit (“pleasing to the eyes”), 2.) It would “make one wise,” 3.) Eve took it and got Adam to eat as well. (Compare this to I John 2:15-17). God had ‘provided the maximum’ and ‘forbidden the minimum’, yet they went after the one thing which was forbidden. They found out, nothing good comes from sin. They could not blame God, because he warned them.
Using their example, let’s notice what happened: (1.) Unguarded talk (Eve had conversation with Satan (Verse 1). (2.) She loosened her hold on God as doubt grew in her mind (Verse 3). (3.) She looked (and kept looking) at the forbidden fruit (Verse 6), (4.) She longed for (lusted) the forbidden fruit, (Verse 6). (5.) She induced Adam and he listened, and followed her example, (Verse 6).
James speaks of sin’s progression and says “…each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15).
Consider the consequences of sin. As you read Genesis 3 here is what you find, (1.) Innocence is lost (Verse 7), (2.) Shame (Verse 7), (3.) Fear (Verse 8), and finally (4.) Death. They discovered what we all know, SIN IS NOT WORTH IT! “All Satan’s apples have big, ugly worms.”
We are all sinners (Romans 3:23), we all deserve to ‘pay the price’ of death as a result of our sins as Paul says in Romans 6:23. God judges all involved in Genesis 3, the Serpent (Genesis 3:14-15), the Woman (Genesis 3:16), and Adam (Genesis 3:17). Let’s begin with Adam…
1.) Adam: Because he listened and followed Eve’s prompting, the ground was cursed and weeds, briars, thorns result. If he was going to eat, it would not come easily. Physical death was also a result of sin, brought into the world (Genesis 3:17-19).
2.) Eve: Her part in sin resulted in pain in childbearing, and a continual struggle to be in control over her husband (Genesis 3:16). (The curse on woman was NOT about sex… That is not a curse!)
3.) Serpent: The snake is cursed (Verse 14), Satan is addressed for his part in this. Here is the FIRST prophecy of God’s plan to save mankind though a Savior. “And I (God) will put enmity (hate, struggle) between you (Satan) and the woman (Eve) and between your offspring (followers of Satan/unrighteous) and hers (Jesus/ followers of righteousness); he (Jesus) will crush your head (fatal wound), and you (Satan) will strike his heel (non-fatal wound, because of His resurrection)” (Genesis 3:15).
Here we see the first ‘glimmer of hope’ for the salvation of man from the awful consequences of sin. In Genesis 3:21, God provides clothing for them with the skins of innocent animals, symbolizing Jesus, and how he would give his life, to cover the sins of man. This is what being redeemed is all about.
The story of redemption is all about JESUS.
(All references are from the 2011 edition of the NIV.)
