The Extent of the Fall of Adam (Genesis 3:1-24 outlined)

 

On  May 11, 2000 a lady found a new e-mail message on her computer, which simply said, “I love you”. It looked innocent enough, perhaps even romantic. Like most of us would, she clicked to open the message, and the so-called “Love Bug” was born. With lightning speed it raced around the world, bringing politics and business to a halt. It was a deadly computer virus that caused millions of computer software programmes to crash. One virus, but so much contamination. But it’s not the first time that a single virus has caused so much grief to mankind. In fact, it’s a kind of replay of a deadlier virus that hit Planet Earth more than six thousand years ago polluting the first human couple, Adam and Eve. Despite God’s warning not to click on to Satan’s message, they did so with appalling consequences for them, and through them to all mankind. That virus is called “Sin”.

I. The First Dialogue: The Serpent and the Woman (3:1-7)

a. Satan spoke twice (3:1, 4-5)

b. The woman was open to dialogue (3:2-3, 6)

c. The Immediate Results (3:7)

1). Their eyes opened (3:7a; cf. v. 5) knowledge of Good and Evil by experience of disobedience

2). They knew that they were naked (3:7b) – Shame, fear cf. v. 10; 2:24-25)

3). They made to themselves coverings around their waist (3:7c) – Lost Freedom cf. v. 21

II. The Second Dialogue: The Lord confronts Adam and Eve (3:8-13)

III. The Third Dialogue: The Pronouncement of Judgment (3:14-19)

a. Judgment on Satan (3:14-15)

1). On the literal Serpent (3:14)

“The serpent had earlier been a noble creature; as a result of the judgment it was altered in form and shape. Because the serpent exalted itself it would now be forced to crawl on its belly and eat the dust of the earth as it crawled along” (Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook, p. 309).

2). On the force behind the Serpent – Satan (3:15; Rom 16:20)

b. Judgment on the Woman (3:16)

1). Experience Pain in childbirth (3:16a)

2). Struggle with Submission (3:16b)

c. Judgment on the Man (3:17-19)

1). The Curse of the Ground (3:17b-18)

2). The Need to Work (3:19a)

3). The Entrance of Physical Death (3:19b cf. Rom 5:12)

The fall of Adam and Eve effected all of mankind. We as children of Adam inherited Adam’s sin.

IV. The Naming of the Woman, The Making of the garments, and casting out of the Garden (3:20-24)

a. The Naming of the Woman (3:20)

b. The making of garments (3:21): Gives us several hints concerning God

1). God took initiative to resolve our problem (Eph 2:1-4)

2). God provided a sacrifice to die on behalf of Adam and Eve (Heb 9:11-14)

3). God provided Christ’s Righteousness to cover us (2 Cor 5:21; Rom 3:21-31)

c. The Driving out of the Garden (3:22-24)

But God in His mercy found a solution for our problem of sin. He provided a sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins.

 

Outline of the End Times

C.S. Lewis once wrote in his book The Problem of Pain this,

We are very shy nowadays of even mentioning Heaven. We are afraid of the jeer about “pie in the sky,” and of being told that we are trying to “escape from the duty of making a happy world here and now into dreams of a happy world elsewhere.” But either there is “pie in the sky” or there is not. If there is not, then Christianity is false, for this doctrine is woven into its whole fabric. If there is, then this truth, like any other, must be faced, whether it is useful at political meetings or no.

The Scripture is clear that for the believer heaven  is our hope (Philippians 3:20-21). Further thinking of the end times and the coming of our king ought to be our motivation in this life (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). In this post we will work our way in outlining the events of the end time from a dispensational view point.

An Overview of the End Times Events

The Rapture

The coming of Christ for His church meeting her in the sky. The church (living and dead) is raptured to meet the Lord in the air either at the beginning (pre-tribulation view) of the seven years of tribulation; tribulation saints and Old Testament dead will be raised at the end of the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 14:1-3; Revelation 3:10).

For a biblical evidences for a pre-tribulational rapture see this article by Mike Vlach. Mike Vlach is a professor at the Master’s Seminary in California.

The Judgement seat of Christ: (Greek, bema)

In heaven the saints of the church age are being judged (rewarded) for their service to Christ during their time on earth (Romans 14:10-11; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:9-10; 1 John 2:28; Revelation 3:11-12).

For a biblical treatment of the judgment seat of Christ look up this article by R. Bruce Compton professor of biblical languages and exposition at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary.

The Tribulation

Earth will experience tribulation that has never experienced before.  A seven-year period (the 70th week of Dan 9:25-27) containing the reign of the Anti-Christ just prior to the millennium; restoration of Jews to Israel, conversion of the remnant of Israel, temple rebuilt, priesthood, sacrifices restored.

A Gap of 45 Days Period

This time window (Daniel 12:11-12) when the Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead (Daniel 12:1-3).

Millennium – A thousand years

Christ will return at the end of the tribulation to institute a 1000 year rule from a holy city (the New Jerusalem); those who come to believe in Christ during the tribulation (including the 144,000 Jews) and survive will go on to populate the earth during this time; those who were raptured or raised previous to the tribulation period will reign with Christ over the millennial population (Isaiah 11:4; Jeremiah 3:17; Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 20:2-7).

For a short defense of the pre-millennium position, i.e. the coming of Christ before the beginning of the millennium see this article.

for a longer and comprehensive defense of the pre-millennium position see article by Walter C. Kaiser Jr. “What’s So Important About Pre-Millennialism?”

Post Millennium

Satan, bound during Christ’s earthly reign, will be loosed to deceive the nations, gather an army of the deceived, and take up to battle against the Lord; the battle will end in the judgment of the wicked and Satan, followed by entrance into the eternal state of glory by the righteous (Revelation 20:7-10).

Eternal State

The Great White Throne

This time the Lord will judge the wicked according to their works (Revelation 20:11-15). All those who refused to believe in the Lord Jesus and trust in Him as their Savior they will be thrown into the eternal fire.

New Heaven and New Earth

The dwelling place of the righteous who is saved by faith in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Revelation 21, 22).

Major proponents: John Whitecomb, John Walvoord, Charles Ryrie, Louis Sperry Chafer, J. Dwight Pentecost, Norman Geisler, Charles Stanley, Chuck Smith, and Chuck Missler.

For a visual chart of the events of the end times look at this chart.

In order to listen to John MacArthur explains what is dispensationalism and end times.

Dispensationalism – Part 1 (Bible Q&A)

Dispensationalism – Part 2 (Bible Q&A)

Q&A on Heaven and the Rapture (John MacArthur)

Using Roman’s Road Method in Evangelism

The Book of Romans contains a series of verses that explain God’s  plan of Salvation for man. This book provides the road to know what God require of us as sinners to understand in order to be saved. So please walk with me this wonderful road in order to understand God’s wisdom to mankind.

First of all we have to understand that God is the Creator of all things including mankind. He is the one graciously revealed Himself to mankind. As Paul says in,

Romans 1:19-20 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

However, mankind rebelled against their Creator and did not acknowledge His rightful right as a the sovereign Lord and Master of all. Thus they sinned against Him by disobeying His commandments. We are as human kind sinners not only by act but also by nature. See what Paul says in,

Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—”

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

We have all sinned. Every one of us falls short of God’s glory and His plan for us. Read Through Romans 3:10-18 for more information.

Thirdly, we have to acknowledge that God is just. In order for God to demonstrate His justice he had to punish the rebellion and sin. Thus the wages of sin is according to Paul in,

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Because of our sin, we are separated from God. We cannot know eternal life except through Him.

But the road does not stop there. God in His wonderful grace provided a sacrifice that would be satisfying to His demand of justice. Christ Jesus God’s only Son voluntarily came to earth, died on the cross, and thus took away our sins once for all.

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

This verse finishes what is started in Romans 6:23. For our purposes here, visualize your sin as deep, black, wide crevice or fissure in the Earth before you. When you look across the divide, you can see your goal. God is waiting there for you. Your sin is keeping your from Him. As you stand on the edge if you look left or right you cannot see the ends. If you look down, you cannot see the bottom. The gap is insurmountable for you, but Jesus Christ died for you! Jesus’ death paid for the price of our sins. Jesus’ resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus’ death as the payment for our sins. Jesus’ death is the bridge that will span your sin and return you to God.

Now God demand of the sinners to REPENT AND BELIEF. We are to repent of our sins and trust in Jesus Christ as our provision for sin. The word below to confess is a synonym for repent. To confess is to agree with God or to conform your mind to God’s.

Romans 10:9, “…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Jesus died on the cross for us. As such, all we have to do is believe in Him. You must have faith that Christ’s blood was shed for you and you will be saved! Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. He bridged the gap. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. When you ask God to forgive your sins, you have been washed clean. The stain of sin is no longer on you.

If you would repent of your sin and trust in Jesus Christ. Christ Jesus becomes your Lord and you ought and should be living according to what pleases Him. Now you desire to live a life that is different of the world around us. You desire to pursue righteousness.

Romans 6:10-18 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

While generally not included in the “Roman’s Road” I believe these verses are crucial to the salvation story. While believing in Jesus and what he did is essential. Repentance is necessary. You must turn from your sin and pursue holiness and obedience. You cannot claim Christ and still lead a life of sin. It is impossible. You will still sin, but you must diligently pursue righteousness.

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Please know that accepting Jesus as your Personal Savior is not just about Eternal Life.

Peace with God means that you have a relationship with Him both here on Earth and eternally in Heaven. You can now walk with Him and be in tune with the plan that He has for you. You have been forgiven and now you are being restored to the life He has for you while you walk this Earth.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that your life with God will be like living on easy street. You will face challenges and trials. In fact, you may face more challenges now that you have accepted Christ. Now you are a threat to Satan. When you were lost in your sin, Satan had you where he wanted you. Now that you are a child of God, Satan wants you back. He certainly wants to make sure you don’t share what God is doing in your life.

Now you have the opportunity to respond to this message above. Christ died for our sins and rose again to have victory over death. He is calling all people to repent and believe. We as sinners are to repent of our sins, meaning to agree with God at the depth of our sins. We by our sin offended an absolutely Holy God. Second, we are to believe and trust Jesus Christ. You have to believe that He is God who appeared in the flesh who lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, rose with victory conquering death and sin, and ascended to heaven and now he is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for us.

Cry out to God for mercy knowing that He is the Savior who can save you.

If you made this commitment, this is the first step in your journey and relationship with God. Now you have to obey Christ’s commandments, read His Word, pray to Him, and be involved in a Bible-believing local church near you to equip you for ministering and serving others. please contact us we would love to connect with you and help you grow further in the knowledge and love of God.

Related articles

• God’s Wonderful Plan of Salvation for Sinners like Me and You! (compasschurchamman.wordpress.com)
• What we Believe (compasschurchamman.wordpress.com)
• God’s Plan of Salvation (compasschurchamman.wordpress.com)

The Sacrifices in the Old Testament (Taurat) and Their Significance in the New Testament (Injil)

By Issa Haddad

Why do both the Old Testament scripture and the New Testament scripture agree of the need of sacrifices?

Why shedding blood of perfect sacrifices is essential to atone for sins?

Let us read what God says concerning the need of sacrifices:

I. The Old Testament Teaching:

Exodus 12:1-13 “¹The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, ² “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. ³ Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. ⁴ If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. ⁵ The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. ⁶ Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. ⁷ Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. ⁸ That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. ⁹ Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts. ¹⁰ Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. ¹¹ This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover. ¹² “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. ¹³ The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”

Exodus 29:36 “Sacrifice a bull each day as a sin offering to make atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it.”

Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”

Leviticus 19:22 “With the ram of the guilt offering the priest is to make atonement for him before the LORD for the sin he has committed, and his sin will be forgiven.”

Numbers 29:1, 5 “On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets…. Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you.”

Zechariah 9:11 “As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.

Hebrews 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

Where the Old Testament sacrifices of sufficient value to the offerer? According to the teaching of the New Testament the answer is no. The reason for that is simple. The value of a human being is of much greater value than animals. In order for a sacrifice to atone for a human another human must die. However, this is not the only condition in order to atone for the sins of humanity. The second condition is the person must be sinless. The third condition is in order to atone for the sins of all humanity the sacrifice must be of infinite value.

These three conditions are only met in Christ Jesus.

1. Christ Jesus is the perfect human. For he is fully human (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-21; 3:23; 8:40; Galatians 4:4; 1 Timothy 2:5).

2. Christ Jesus is the sinless human (Matthew 27:3-4; John 7:16-18; 8:29, 46, 50; Romans 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 1:9; 2:10; 4:15; 7:26-28; 1 Peter 1:19; 2:22, 23; 1 John 3:5). Even the Qur’an testifies of the sinlessness of Christ Jesus. For in sura 19:19 it reads: “He said: “Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son [Jesus].”

3. Lastly, Christ Jesus is the God-man thus his sacrifice is of an infinite value (Hebrews 9:12, 14, 22; 13:20; see also John 1:1, 14, 18; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 12:4-6; Ephesians 6:23).

II. The New Testament Teaching:

The Old Testament sacrifices were symbolic of the perfect sacrifice in Christ Jesus. See below for the significant of the Old Testament sacrifices.

Matthew 26:28 Christ’s speaking: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Acts 20:28 “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”

Romans 3:24, 25 “And are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished….

Romans 5:8, 9 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”

Hebrews 9:12, 14, and 22 “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption… How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!… In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

Hebrews 10:19, 20 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body…” (see also Hebrews 12:24; 13:12)

Hebrews 13:20 “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep…”

1 Peter 1:2 “Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”  (see also 1 Peter 1:18, 19; 1 John 1:7; 5:6; Revelation 1:5; 5:9; 7:14; 12:11; 13:8)

            III. The sacrifices of the Old Testament

Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1:1-17; 6:8-13)

The purpose: of this sacrifice is to make payment for sin in general, enabling an unholy people to approach a holy God

The Offering: Atoning sacrifice of an unblemished bull; male sheep or goat; male or female dove/pigeon (based on wealth).

Significance: Showed a person’s devotion to God

How does it symbolize Christ? Christ’s death was the Perfect Offering.

Scriptural References: (Genesis 8:20-22; Exodus 29:42-46; Numbers 28-29; 1 Samuel 7:9-10; 1 Chronicles 21:18-22:1; Isaiah 1:11-20; Mark 12:33; Romans 3:25; 8:3; Hebrews 10:1-18 The cost of Salvation (1 Samuel 24:24).

Grain Offering (Leviticus 2:1-16; 6:14-23)

The purpose: To show honor and respect to God in worship

The offering: Flour or grain

Significance: Acknowledged that all we have belongs to God

Symbolic to: Christ was the perfect man, who gave all of himself to God and others

Scriptural References: (Exodus 30:9; 40:29; Numbers 16:15; 28-29; Nehemiah 10:33, 37; cp. 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; 1 Timothy 5:17-18)

Fellowship (peace) Offering (Leviticus 3:1-17; 7:11-38)

Purpose: An expression of gratitude and desire for fellowship with God

Offering: Unblemished bull/male or female sheep/goat

Significance: Symbolized peace and fellowship with God

Symbolic to: Christ is the only way to fellowship with God

Scriptural Reference: (Exodus 18:12; 24:9-11; 1 Samuel 9:15-25; Acts 2:42; 10:32; Romans 5:1; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:17-34; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

Sin Offering (Leviticus 4:1-5:13; 6:24-30)

Purpose: Atonement for unintentional sins of weakness or carelessness

Offering: Unblemished bull/male or female sheep/goat

Significance: Restored the sinner to fellowship with God; showed seriousness of sin

Symbolic of: Christ’s death restores our fellowship with God

Scriptural References: (Numbers 15:22-31; Galatians 6:1; Hebrews 10:26-31; 1 John 1:8-9)

Guilt (Trespass) Offering (Leviticus 5:14-6:7; 7:1-10)

Purpose: Atonement for specific sins; injured persons compensated for their losses

Offering: Unblemished ram

Significance: Provided compensation (repayment) for injured parties

Symbolic of: Christ’s death takes away the deadly consequences of sin

Scriptural References: (Matthew 5:23-24; Romans 6:12-23; 7:21-8:4)

Why Christ died? Let me give you some reasons why Christ must die.

1. Jesus died to Destroy the enemy’s power:

a. Christ’s death destroyed the power of death (Romans 6:9; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 Timothy 1:10)

b. Christ’s death destroyed the power of Satan (Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8)

2. Jesus died to do away with evil

a. Christ’s death did away with guilt (Isaiah 53:10).

b. Christ’s death did away with impurity (Zechariah 13:1)

c. Christ’s death did away with Iniquity (Isaiah 53:5-11)

d. Christ’s death did away with sin (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; Romans 6:9, 10; 8:3; 1 Peter 3:18)

3. Jesus died to free us from God’s wrath (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9)

4. Jesus died to satisfy God’s Justice (Romans 3:23-26; Galatians 3:11-13)

5. Jesus died to save mankind (John 3:14-16; 5:24-25)

In conclusion, there is a reason why Christian insists on the death of Christ. I urge you to study this information and may God give you understanding of His way of salvation.