“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.
And he said to the woman, ‘Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?’
And the woman said to the serpent, ‘From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.’
And the serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely shall not die!
For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”
Genesis 3:1-6 - NASB
WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE FALL?
3:2-7
Failure to believe and trust in God’s Word Had Eve held the Word of God close to her heart in belief, the serpent’s attempt to cast doubts into her mind would have failed
HOW WAS THAT FAILURE EXPRESSED?
3:2,3
Taking away from God’s Word - From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; (note the absence of the word “freely” 2:16)
Adding to God’s Word - God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.’ (where did God say not to touch it?)
WHAT WAS THE EFFECT OF CHANGING GOD’S WORD?
3:5 (compare to 2:16,17)
Made God out to be self-serving and legalistic, instead of loving and giving
WHAT WAS LOST?
3:6,7
GRACE AND TRUTH!
They fell out of God’s grace wherein they had stood, and lost their capacity to know spiritual truth: just the opposite result from what the serpent had falsely promised.
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WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT REDEMPTION?
Rev. 1:5
Faithfulness and trust in God’s Word
HOW WAS THAT FAITHFULNESS EXPRESSED?
John 17:6-8 & 14 Hebrews 1:9
Adhering to God’s Word perfectly
WHAT WAS THE EFFECT OF ADHERING FAITHFULLY TO GOD’S WORD?
John 17:15-24 Matthew 28:18 Romans 8:17
Showing God to be loving and providing salvation for all who believe.
All authority was given to Jesus, in Heaven and in earth; and all who believe His Word and follow Him are heirs and joint-heirs with Christ
WHAT WAS GAINED?
John 1:14 & 17
GRACE AND TRUTH!
(also see: John 18:37 Romans 5:1,2 & 21)
