This sermon, "The Fall of Man" from Genesis 2:25 –3:7, explores the pivotal moment in scripture where man turned away from God's will and the enduring consequences of Satan's deception.
The sermon begins by setting the scene: the serpent deceptively led Adam and Eve to eat from the forbidden tree, an act which imparted the knowledge of good and evil. This choice led to sin, resulting in shame, guilt, and the impulse to hide from one another and from God. The guilt of this first sin is assigned to Adam, who not only participated but also abdicated his leadership role by allowing Eve to be deceived. Since this event, everyone who has ever lived has made the same choice, confirming that "all have sinned" (Romans 3:23 , ESV).
The episode then focuses on three essential areas where the Fall teaches us to actively trust God, challenging the listener to overcome the same lies that destroyed humanity's perfect relationship with the Creator:
1. Trust God's Wisdom (Genesis 3:1-3)
Satan works to sow doubt concerning God's wisdom and providence. Adam and Eve had the freedom to choose, but they were not free from the consequences of that choice. The central lie promoted by Satan from the beginning is that choices are free from negative consequences. This lie assures people they can choose what is contrary to the wisdom of God without harm. Listeners are urged to acknowledge that God's providence is good, both in what He provides and in what He restricts or withholds.
2. Trust God's Word (Genesis 3:4-5)
Satan directly questioned the truthfulness of God's word, employing a half-truth to create distrust concerning God's warning about death. While Adam and Eve did not die immediately, God's warning included spiritual death, which was the greater consequence, alongside eventual physical death. The turning point for all people is whether they believe God's word to be true and trustworthy. Obedience to God's word is a testimony to faith in its truthfulness, just as disobedience testifies to a lack of faith. Furthermore, Satan seeks to discredit God's motives, lying that God restricts the fruit because He doesn't want them to be like Him, judging God's intentions as less than good.
3. Trust God's Design (Genesis 3:6-7)
The Fall introduced wills (first Satan's, then Adam's and Eve's) that are in opposition to God's will. Eve's sin was driven by the desire for knowledge that was not meant for her to have, exercising her own rebellious will against God's design. Adam's sin involved rejecting his appointed role by being present but abdicating his leadership. The heart of all sin is judging that one's own will is superior to God's. The tragic consequence, highlighted in the contrast between 2:25 (naked and unashamed) and 3:7 (naked and hiding), is that the freedom they sought proved enslaving, destroying their perfect relationship with one another and with God.
The episode concludes by affirming that, though humanity remains prone to blaming others for sin, the ultimate focus of scripture is God's redemptive work to free man from the slavery of sin. Christ Jesus shines light into the darkness, exposing Satan's lies, and offering hope and abundant life for those who follow Him and trust God's wisdom, word, and good design.