#3 The Fall of Man

If Genesis 3 were not in the Bible, there would be no Bible as we know it. Why? Because the rest of Scripture documents the sad consequences of Adam’s sin and explains what God in His grace has done to rescue us. By grasping the basic truths of this important chapter, you can better understand Paul’s discussion of justification in Romans 5, his teaching in 1 Timothy 2:8-15 about men and women in the church, and his explanation in 1 Corinthians 15 of the future resurrection.

Adam’s disobedience brought sin into the human race; but the Bible gives us no explanation for the existence of Satan and evil before the fall of man. The record in Genesis 3 is not a myth. If the fall of man didn’t actually occur, then the Christian faith is built on fables, not fact, and Jesus Christ suffered needlessly on the cross. From Genesis 3 to Revelation 21, the Bible records the conflict between God and Satan, sin and righteousness, and pleads with sinners to repent and trust God for salvation.

If the fall of man were to have occurred in our times, one can hardly conceive of the consequences. I would imagine that the American Civil Liberties Union would immediately file suit—against God and in defense of Eve and her husband (the order of the two is not accidental), Adam. The suit would probably be pressed on the grounds of an illegal eviction. “And after all,” we would be told, “this alleged sinful act was performed in the privacy of the garden, and by two consenting adults.”

But most of all we would be told that the crime (if indeed there was one) and the punishment were totally out of proportion. Could God really be serious in what this account claims to report? Because of a mere bite of some ‘forbidden fruit’ the man and woman are evicted and will suffer a lifetime of consequence? And more than this, that due to this one act the whole world and all mankind continue to suffer the evils about us?

Those who do not take the Bible seriously or literally have little difficulty here. They simply write off the third chapter of Genesis as a myth. To them it is merely a symbolic story which endeavors to account for things as they are. The details of the fall present no problems for they are not fact, but fiction.

Evangelicals probably have tended to console themselves with the reminder that this was the long ago and the far away. Since the fall occurred so long ago, we do not tend to face the issues that glare at us from this passage.

But several serious questions do arise in connection with the account of man’s fall. Why, for example, must Adam assume primary responsibility when Eve is the principle character in the narrative? To put the question in more contemporary terms, why did Adam get the blame when Eve did all the talking?

Furthermore, we must give thought to the severity of the consequences of man’s partaking of the forbidden fruit in the light of what seems to be a rather trifling matter. What was so evil about this sin that brought about such a harsh response from God?

The structure of the first chapters of Genesis demands this description of man’s fall. In Genesis chapters 1 and 2 we read of a perfect creation which received God’s approval as being ‘good’ (cf. 1:10,12,18,21). In chapter 4 we find jealousy and murder. In the following chapters mankind goes from bad to worse. What happened? Genesis 3 answers this question.

And so this chapter is vital because it explains the world and society as we observe it today. It informs us of the strategies of Satan in tempting men. It explains the reason for the New Testament passages that restrict women from assuming leadership roles in the church. It challenges us to consider whether or not we continue to ‘fall’ as did Adam and his wife.

Here is not a chapter that we will regret having studied, however. It does depict the entrance of sin into the human race and the severity of the consequences of man’s disobedience. But beyond man’s sinfulness and the penalties it demands, there is the revelation of the grace of God. He seeks out the sinner and provides him with a covering for sin. He promises a Savior through whom this whole tragic event will be turned into triumph and salvation.

Man’s Sin (3:1‑7)

(3:1-6) Introduction: the world is full of lawlessness, crime, immorality, adultery, drugs, drunkenness, lying, stealing, cheating, greed, covetousness, extravagance, indulgence, murder, assaults, war—all kinds of sin and evil. But this has not always been true. There was a time when the world was perfect, a time when there was not a single act of violence or evil upon earth. In fact, an evil deed had never been committed. The earth was perfect; both man and woman were sinless. They knew only harmony and peace, satisfaction and fulfillment, love, joy, and peace—all the fullness of life prevailed. Perfection ruled and reigned.

What happened? What destroyed the perfection and caused such devastation and lawlessness upon earth? What corrupted the heart of man?

This is the discussion of this Scripture, a passage that reveals the naked truth about temptation and sin. This is “The First Temptation and Sin: Man’s Fall From Perfection—Man and Woman’s First Steps Into Sin.”

2. Step 1: being confronted with suggestive, enticing, and tempting thoughts (v.1).

3. Step 2: entertaining, harboring, and discussing the suggestive thoughts (v.2).

5. Step 4: thinking that one will be more fulfilled, that one will gain and benefit more (v.4-5).

Satan has been caricatured so much by writers, artists, actors, and comedians that most people don’t believe the devil really exists; or if they do believe he exists, they don’t take him seriously. For example, the English novelist Samuel Butler wrote, “It must be remembered that we have heard only one side of the case. God has written all the books.”^5-2 And Mark Twain wrote, “We may not pay Satan reverence, for that would be indiscreet, but we can at least respect his talents.”^5-3 A popular television comedian (Flip Wilson…in the 1970’s) always got laughs when he said, “The devil made me do it!”

Although we don’t understand much about his origin,^5-4 we know that Satan is real, Satan is an enemy, and Satan is dangerous. Here in Genesis 3, Satan is compared to a serpent, an image that’s repeated in 2 Corinthians 11:3. In Revelation 12, he’s called a dragon; and both names are combined in 20:2. But Satan is not only a serpent who deceives, he’s also a roaring lion who devours (1 Peter 5:8). Among his names are “Abaddon” and “Apollyon” which mean “destroyer” (Rev. 9:11); “Satan” which means “adversary”; and “devil” which means “slanderer.”

In John 8:44, Jesus called Satan a murderer and “the father of lies.” He also called him “the evil one” (Matt. 13:19) and “the prince of this world” (John 12:31). Paul and John also called the devil “the evil one” (1 Thes. 3:3; 1 John 3:12), and Paul said Satan was “the god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4), the ruler of the world system (Eph. 2:2), and the leader of demonic forces of evil (Eph. 6:10-12).

In short, Satan is no pushover, and God’s people must be careful not to give him a foothold in their lives (Eph. 4:27). That’s why we’re studying God’s Word and seeking to understand the strategy of Satan (2 Cor. 2:11).

The serpent suddenly appears in verse one rudely and without introduction. Adam, Eve, and the garden we are prepared to find, for we have seen them before. The serpent is said to be one of God’s creatures, therefore, we must take this creature literally. While it was an actual snake, later revelation informs us that the beast was being used by Satan, who is described as a dragon and serpent (cf. II Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9; 20:2).

While we may wish to know the answers to questions pertaining to the origin of evil, Moses had no intention of supplying them for us here. The point God wishes to make is that we are sinful. To pursue more distant causes only removes our responsibility for sin from the focus of our attention.

Notice especially the approach which Satan takes here. He does not come as an athiest, or as one who would initially challenge Eve’s faith in God.[1] Satan may manifest himself as a Madalyn Murray O’Hair, but very often it is as an “angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14). Satan often stands behind the pulpit, holding a Bible in his hand.

A temptation is an opportunity to accomplish a good thing in a bad way. It’s a good thing to pass a school examination but a bad thing to do it by cheating. It’s a good thing to pay your bills but a bad thing to steal the money for the payments. In essence, Satan said to Eve: “I can give you something that you need and want. You can have it now and enjoy it; and best of all, there won’t be any painful consequences. What an opportunity!”

(3:1) Satan— Serpent: this event of the serpent tempting the woman is a shocking scene, a drastic turn of events. God had just created the universe and it was all good. Scripture is pointedly clear about this: God was well pleased—perfectly satisfied—with His creation, for it was perfect. It had to be perfect, for He is God, the Sovereign Lord and Majesty of the universe, and God cannot create anything imperfect. God had also created the Garden of Eden for man, the most perfect place imaginable for man to live. Everything was ideal and perfect: man was in utopia, in paradise. Man could want nothing more.

But then it happened. Out of nowhere, something terrible happened: evil appeared in the form of an evil creature. Where in the world did the creature come from? Was not man in the Garden of Eden, in paradise itself?

“Yes!” The answer to these questions is, “Yes. God did create all things good, and He did give man paradise in which to live.”

But, if this is so, who is this evil creature and where did he come from? How did he get upon earth and into the Garden of Eden, the paradise of earth? Other passages of Scripture tell us.

Does this mean that Satan possessed or energized a real living serpent and spoke through the creature? Some outstanding commentators hold to this position (for example, Leupold, p.142; Kidner, p.67, 70). Or does it mean that Satan actually transformed himself into a serpent (NIV)? Or does it mean that the serpent is only a reference to Satan, whose very name is “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan” (Rev. 12:9)? That is, could this just be a picture of Satan himself? Some outstanding scholars hold this position (for example, W.H. Griffith Thomas, p.47). Is it possible to know which is meant? Is Scripture clear about how Satan tempted man? Some very dear commentators hold that Scripture allows for either interpretation (for example, Matthew Henry, p.21).

In determining just who or what the serpent was, these facts need to be noted about the Scripture.

a. The serpent—when first created—apparently walked upright and was a most magnificent creature (Genesis 3:14). This is either symbolic language referring to Satan (note that Genesis 3:15 is definitely symbolic, for it definitely refers to Satan) or it is literal language referring to an actual serpent. If it is literal, then Genesis 3:15 switches to symbolic language.

b. The craftiness of the serpent is compared to the craftiness of the beast of the field. Scripture says the serpent was more “subtle” (crafty, clever, shrewd) than any of the animals upon earth (Genesis 3:1). This is either a comparison of Satan’s craftiness to the craftiness of the animals, or of the craftiness of one animal to the craftiness of the other animals.

c. Scripture gives examples where Satan had the power to use people as his tools and speak through them.

d. All creation was created perfect by God, even the serpent. If we say that the serpent was a literal serpent used as an evil tool by Satan, then we have a problem explaining how creation was perfect: how could an animal be used as an evil tool in a world of perfect animals? This is the reason some interpreters say that Satan actually transformed or clothed himself as a serpent (NIV, Genesis 3:1).

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it [in tempting Eve]” (John 8:44).

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.... And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:3, 14).

“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20; cp. Genesis 3:15 for the specific event to which Paul refers).

4. Scripture says that Satan had been the most exalted angel ever created by God, that God had created him to rule as the highest of all created beings. His particular reign and rule for God was over the earth and the universe, over the physical and material world and dimension of being. But Satan did the same thing that all men have done: he sinned and fell. He began to look at himself, and he began to want to live like he wanted instead of like God wanted. He wanted...

Satan wanted the very same thing that human nature has wanted down through history: to be one’s own person; to do one’s own thing; to control one’s own life. Satan wanted what so many power-hungry men have wanted down through history: to be the sovereign ruler over nations and over the lives of people. This is what Scripture means when it reveals what Satan said in Isaiah 14:13-14:

· “I will ascend into heaven [God’s position, rule, and authority over the universe]...

· “I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation [be honored, praised, adored, worshipped by the congregation of others]...

· “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High [God Himself]” (Isaiah 14:13-14).

Simply stated, Satan rebelled against God. Consequently, God had no choice but to cast Satan down from his exalted position in heaven. Originally, when Satan ruled as the highest of all created beings...

· he was the anointed cherub who covered the very throne of God Himself. He was the angel in charge of the glory of God’s very own throne throughout the physical and material universe.

Note how the following Scriptures have a double reference referring both to an earthly king and to Satan himself.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” (Isaiah 14:12-15).

“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more” (Ezekiel 28:11-19).

Note one other significant fact: Jesus Christ Himself said that the Isaiah passage was speaking about Satan. He quoted Isaiah 14:12 in referring to Satan in Luke 10:18.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” (Isaiah 14:12).

“And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18).

5. The Bible teaches that Satan has some control over the earth. He has access to influence the world and man. History, the destruction and devastation of nature, and the terrible evil of men—all this—show that the domain of Satan includes the earth and the universe, that is, the physical and material world or dimension of being.

The question arises, when did Satan get access and control of the earth and universe? God certainly did not create the universe and put Satan and his evil forces in charge of it. The only living and true God—the Supreme Lord and Majesty of the universe who is the God of perfection and love—could never create evil nor put evil in charge of His perfect creation. This would be totally against God’s nature. This is discussed in the next point, point six. For now, the fact to see is the control and authority of Satan in the world. Scripture says this:

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Cor. 4:3-4).

“Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (John 12:31).

“Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” (John 14:30).

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephes. 2:2).

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephes. 6:12).

“And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?” (Matthew 12:26).

“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:8-9).

“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19).

6. The Bible teaches that Satan struggles and fights against God and His will. Satan’s purpose in fighting against God is twofold.

a. Satan’s purpose is power and worship, to receive as much of the power and worship of the universe as possible (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-17). He goes about this in at least three ways.

Þ He opposes and disturbs God’s work in the world (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-17; Job 1:6; Job 2:1-6; Matthew 4:10; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:8; Rev. 12:7-9).

Þ He discourages believers through various strategies (see note—Luke 22:31; Ephes. 6:10-12).

Þ He arouses God’s justice against people by leading people to sin and to deny and rebel against God. And when they do, God’s justice has to act and judge people to the fate of their choice: that of living with Satan eternally (see note—John 13:31-33).

b. Satan’s purpose is to hurt and cut the heart of God. Why? Because God has judged and condemned him for rebelling against God. Therefore, Satan does all he can to get back at God. The best way he can do this is to turn the hearts of people away from God and lead them to sin and to follow the way of evil.

The point is this: when did evil enter the world? How did Satan get access to and control of the world? This much can be said: God would certainly not create the universe and then put Satan in charge of it. This would be totally contrary to the nature of the Sovereign Lord and Majesty of the universe, the Sovereign Lord whose very nature is love and perfection. Satan’s history must, therefore, precede man. Satan’s creation and fall happened before man was ever created. In the eons of past history when Satan was created as the highest of angelic beings, he must have been placed in charge of the earth, even as man was later to be. But...

· just as God has not yet utterly destroyed man, so God did not utterly destroy Satan—not yet.

· just as God still has a purpose for man, so God still had a purpose for Satan.

Satan was to be used by God to test man, to give man the opportunity to choose God, to exercise his free will to obey and follow God instead of disobeying and rejecting God. Remember that we as human beings still have the right to roam about the universe. So Satan, as a sinful spiritual being, still has the right to roam about the earth and universe. God’s purpose for creation will not be stopped, neither by man nor by Satan and his evil spirits, not until God’s purpose is completed and fulfilled. God is going to have a race of people with free wills, a race of people who will choose to love and follow Him supremely.

The point is this: the best explanation as to where Satan and evil entered the world is that of the Scripture, that of the Holy Bible—not the conjectures of men—as covered in the above points.

7. Man had to be tempted in order to exercise his free will for God. God had to create a situation whereby man could exercise his will and choose to obey and follow God. As already seen, there was no better way than to demand that man not eat from one of the trees in the Garden. But remember this: man was created perfect, perfectly sinless and innocent. Man had no idea what temptation and sin were. Man had perfect access and fellowship with God. In his perfect state of innocence and sinlessness, there was no way man was going to act against God. Thus, for man to exercise his free will, something other than God telling Adam not to eat from a single tree was needed. Temptation was needed: the arousal of a suggestive thought.

This is the reason God allowed Satan to tempt Eve. Satan’s temptation was needed for man to exercise his will for God, needed so that man could reject his own desire and choose to obey and follow God. But note this: Satan had the right to tempt Eve, but he did not have the power to make Eve sin. Eve was sinless and innocent: she chose to sin. She exercised her own free will by choosing to follow Satan and his evil lusts. The temptation was from Satan arousing lust within her, but the sin was of her own free will and choice.

(3:1) Temptation— Thoughts— Satan— Eve: the first step in temptation and sin involves the thoughts: suggestive, enticing, and tempting thoughts. Several striking things are immediately noticed about Eve and the temptation that attacked her.

What makes us say this—that Eve was thinking about the delicious fruit? Note what Satan said to Eve, “Yea—indeed—has God said, ‘you must not eat from every tree of the garden’?” The very first words, “Yea—indeed,” strongly suggest that Eve was thinking about the tree. At that very moment, while she was thinking about it, Satan attacked and just continued her thoughts: “Yea—indeed [how good it looks]—has God said; ‘You must not eat from every tree of the garden’?”

Note that Satan misquoted God’s Word. God had said that man could eat from every tree in the garden except one. God was good, extremely good. Man had everything he could ever want: all the fruit except one tree. All the trees would benefit man, but the forbidden tree would destroy him. But note what Satan did: he questioned Eve, “Yea—indeed—has God said, ‘You must not eat from every tree’?” The thought was planted in Eve’s mind, the suggestive thought...

· that she must not miss what looked good and would probably feel and taste good.

This is the first step in temptation, the step that involves our thoughts, the thoughts of suggestion. The suggested thought is...

Too many of us get alone or away from loved ones and go places we should not. Tragically, even some husbands and wives do this.

Satan isn’t an originator; he’s a clever imitator who disguises his true character. If necessary, he can even masquerade as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).^5-6 When he came into the Garden, Satan used the body of a serpent. Eve didn’t seems disturbed by the serpent’s presence or its speech, so we assume that she saw nothing threatening about the encounter. Perhaps Eve hadn’t been introduced to this species and concluded that it had the ability to speak.^5-7

Satan still works today as the great impersonator. He has produced a counterfeit righteousness apart from the righteousness that comes only by faith in the Savior (Rom. 9:30–10:13). Satan has false ministers (2 Cor. 11:13-16) who preach a false gospel (Gal. 1:6-10), and he has false brothers (and sisters) who oppose the true Gospel (2 Cor. 11:26). The devil has gathered his counterfeit Christians into false churches that God calls “synagogues of Satan” (Rev. 2:9); and in these assemblies, Satan’s “deep secrets” are taught (Rev. 2:24).

Second Corinthians 11:3 makes it clear that Satan’s target was Eve’s mind and that his weapon was deception. By questioning what God said, Satan raised doubts in Eve’s mind concerning the truthfulness of God’s Word and the goodness of God’s heart. “Do you really mean that you can’t eat from every tree?” was the import of the subtle question. “If God really loved you, He would be much more generous. He’s holding out on you!” Satan wanted Eve to forget that God had told Adam (who had told her) that they could eat freely of the trees of the Garden. For their own good, there was a prohibition: they didn’t dare eat from the forbidden tree in the middle of the Garden (Gen. 2:15-17).

Eve’s reply showed that she was following Satan’s example and altering the very Word of God. Compare 3:2-3 with 2:16-17 and you’ll see that she omitted the word “freely,” added the phrase “nor shall you touch it” (nkjv), and failed to say that God “commanded” them to obey. Note too that Eve copied the devil further when she spoke of “God” (Elohim) and not “the Lord [Jehovah] God,” the God of the covenant. Finally, she said “lest you die”—a possibility—instead of “You shall surely die”—an actuality. So, she took from God’s Word, added to God’s Word, and changed God’s Word, which are serious offenses indeed (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:19). She was starting to doubt God’s goodness and truthfulness.

The wording of Satan’s inquiry is significant. The word ‘indeed’ (verse 1) is dripping with innuendo. The effect of it is this: “Surely God could not have said this, could He?” Also the word God (“Has God said,” (verse 1) is interesting. Moses has been using the expression “the Lord God,” Yahweh Elohim: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made” (Genesis 3:1). But when Satan referred to the Lord God it was merely God. This omission is indicative of Satan’s rebellious attitude toward almighty God.

Satan’s initial approach is to deceive, not deny; to cause doubts, not disobedience. Satan came to Eve as an inquirer. He deliberately distorted the command of God, but in such a way as to imply, “I may be wrong here, so correct me if I am mistaken.”

Now Eve should have never begun this conversation. It was a complete overturn of God’s chain of authority. That chain was Adam, Eve, creature. Adam and Eve were to express God’s rule over His creation (1:26). Eve would no doubt have rebuked such a conversation if it were not for the manner in which it was initiated by Satan.

Had Satan begun to challenge the rule of God or Eve’s faith in Him, her choice would have been an easy one. But Satan erroneously stated God’s command. He stated the question so as to appear that he was misinformed and needed to be corrected. Few of us can avoid the temptation of telling another that they are wrong. And so, wonder of wonders, Eve has begun to walk the path of disobedience while supposing that she was defending God to the serpent.

Did you notice that Satan has not mentioned either the tree of life or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? What a subtle attack! His question brought the forbidden tree to the center of Eve’s thinking, but without any mention of it. She brought it up. By his question Satan has not only engaged Eve in dialogue, but he has also taken her eyes off of the generous provisions of God and caused her to think only of God’s prohibition. Satan does not wish us to ponder the grace of God, but to grudgingly meditate upon His denials.

And this is precisely what has imperceptibly taken place in Eve’s thinking. Eve has revealed her change of attitude by several ‘Freudian slips.’ While God said, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely” (2:16), Eve said, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat” (3:2). Eve omitted “any” and “freely,” the two words which emphasized the generosity of God.

(3:2) Thoughts— Temptation— Sin: the second step in temptation and sin involves discussing our thoughts: actually entertaining, harboring, and discussing the suggestive thoughts. We may discuss the thoughts within our own minds or verbally with someone else. Very practically, what happens with a suggestive thought that begins to tempt us is this: the suggestive thought flies across our minds. At that point it should be rejected and not entertained or harbored and discussed. A tempting thought—a thought that suggests we sin, that we disobey God’s Word—should never be harbored or entertained. As we move about in a sinful world—whether sitting, walking, standing, or riding...

· we cannot always keep from being tempted, but we can always flee the temptation.

· we cannot always keep the appealing thing from crossing our eyes, but we can keep from looking.

· we cannot always keep the thoughts from crossing our minds, but we can keep them from roosting there.

· we cannot always keep the first suggestive thought of temptation from entering our minds, but we can push the thought out. We can turn our thoughts and mind to something else, in particular to quoting Scripture.

a. Eve entertained, harbored, and discussed the suggestive thought. It was at this point that Eve began to sin, for she turned away from the great goodness of God. Note that she omits the word “every” or “all” from “every tree” (Genesis 2:16). She simply says, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees.” God’s glorious goodness in giving all the trees to her is being dimmed in her mind. Her thoughts have slipped from God’s goodness: she is no longer focused upon all that God has done for her. She has turned her thoughts away from God and His goodness and is now harboring and discussing the suggestive thoughts. Sin actually begins when the suggestive thoughts are harbored and thought about. It is then that God and His goodness are being rejected, ignored, neglected, and pushed aside.

b. Eve began to feel that God’s command was too strict and restrictive. This is seen in her words, “Neither shall you touch it.” God never said this (Genesis 2:17). God simply said, “You shall not [must not] eat of it.” Eve was not completely trusting God at this point. She was thinking—rationalizing—that touching the tree would be all right. Perhaps she should not eat of it, but touching it could not hurt anything. Eve’s thoughts were running back and forth discussing God’s Word, just what He had said. She was entertaining and harboring the tempting thought; she was rationalizing and justifying her intentions. She was thinking how restrictive God’s Word was, doubting God’s goodness, that God had not provided the very best for her. Eve was right in the midst of sinning, sinning by questioning and doubting the great goodness of God.

c. Eve began to think about the consequence of the sin. She lightened the consequences some when she said, “lest you die” or “you will die.” This is not what God had said. God had pulled no punches: He had said that man would “surely die” (Genesis 2:17). Again, Eve was rationalizing; a chain of thoughts was running through her mind about God’s Word. She was wavering: wondering and questioning exactly what God had said. She should have fled the first suggestive and tempting thought. Instead, she was entertaining, harboring, and discussing the suggestive thought. She had forgotten the great goodness of God. She was no longer thinking about God and all that He had done for her. She was slipping further and further away from God, rationalizing her behavior more and more.

“You will not surely die” (niv) is a direct contradiction of God’s “You will surely die” (2:17, niv). But Satan is a liar (John 8:44) and God is the God of truth (Deut. 32:4), and our response to what God says should be, “Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right” (Ps. 119: 127). At this point, Eve should have reminded herself of God’s Word, believed it, left the serpent, and found her husband. It’s when we linger at the place of temptation that we get into trouble, especially when we know what we’re thinking is contrary to God’s truth. God’s truth is our shield and buckler (Ps. 91:4; Eph. 6:16), but it protects us only if we take it by faith and use it.

Likewise Eve had a distorted impression of the severity of God in prohibiting the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She expressed God’s instruction in these words: “You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die” (3:3). But God had said, “But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die” (2:17).

While exaggerating the prohibition to the point where even touching the tree was evil, Eve had unconsciously downplayed the judgment of God by omitting the word ‘surely,’ and by failing to report that death would come on the day of the offense. In other words, Eve emphasized God’s severity, but underestimated the fact that judgment would be executed surely and soon.

Satan’s first attack on the woman was that of a religious seeker, in an effort to create doubts about the goodness of God and to fix her attention on what was forbidden as opposed to all that was freely given. The second attack is bold and daring. Now in place of deception and doubt there is denial, followed by the slander of God’s character: “And the serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely shall not die!’” (Genesis 3:4).

(3:3) Word of God— Doubt— Temptation: the third step in temptation and sin involves doubt: doubting the consequences of God’s Word. The suggestive and tempting thought was roosting in Eve’s mind. She had allowed her mind to hesitate, stop, and embrace the suggestive thought. She was now dallying with the temptation, harboring and rationalizing her behavior. She was wondering and questioning if she could get away with it, wondering if she should experiment with the fruit. Then suddenly, unbelievably, Satan thrust the lie into her mind: “You shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). Eve doubted that the consequences would ever happen to her.

Þ “The warning was given to Adam, not to me—not directly. The judgment—if I am to be judged—is bound to be less than death.”

Þ “Certainly, God would not condemn me and leave Adam alone, without a wife, without a companion and helper to help him.”

Þ “God is so good, He’ll forgive me. I’ll just taste the fruit this time, then ask God to forgive me.”

Þ “I’ll make it up to God. I can go ahead and do it, and then serve God as never before, and He will forgive and accept me.”

Þ “Surely God would not let me die; there is still so much to do and accomplish in life and for God.”

Þ “In the final analysis—when everything is said and done—God just would never reject me, not permanently, not to everlasting death.”

But Eve was wrong. We shall see in the next outline that God’s Word stood. Adam and Eve were condemned to die, and they died. Satan lied, suggested a downright lie to Eve. As we shall see in the next note, Eve accepted the lie: she doubted God’s Word. She rationalized and felt that the warning of God’s Word would not apply to her, not completely—not fully—not in the full weight of its judgment.

God’s warning about sin and its consequences stand. There is no escape from the judgment upon sin.

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

“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thes. 1:7-9).

“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them” (2 Peter 2:20-21).

“For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail” (Eccles. 2:26).

“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4; cp. Ezekiel 18:20).

The declaration of God’s Word and of God’s Son is clear: the choice is ours.

“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).

“You will be like God” is a promise that would get anybody’s attention.^5-8 “Glory to man in the highest!” has always been the rallying cry of those who reject the biblical revelation, whether they espouse godless humanism, materialism, or the so-called New Age religion. (Actually, the philosophy of the New Agers isn’t new at all. It’s as old as Gen. 3!)

Romans 1:18-32 describes how Gentile civilization from the time of Cain rejected the truth of God and turned to foolishness and lies. They “exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (v. 25, nkjv). Speaking about Satan, Jesus said “for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). In defiance of God, humans exchanged God’s truth for “the lie” (note the singular), and followed Satan who is the father of “it” (note the singular again).

What is “the lie” (singular) that has ruled civilization since the fall of man? It’s the belief that men and women can be their own god and live for the creation and not the Creator and not suffer any consequences. Believing this, they refuse to submit to God’s truth but prefer to believe Satan’s lies and follow his diabolical plan for their destruction. They don’t realize that Satan is their master (Eph. 2:1-3) and the lake of fire is their destiny (Matt. 7:13-23; Rev. 20:10-15).

When you review the sequence, you can better understand how Satan leads people to the place of disobedience. Once we start to question God’s Word, we’re prepared to deny His Word and believe Satan’s lies. Then it’s just a short step to believing Satan’s promises and disobeying God’s commands. When our Lord was tempted (Matt. 4:1-11), He answered Satan’s lies with God’s truth and three times affirmed, “It is written!” Satan wants to deceive our minds (2 Cor. 11:3), but we defeat him by using the spiritual weapons God provides (Eph. 6:10-18; 2 Cor. 10:4-5).

God’s words of warning were not to be understood as the promise of certain punishment, but as the mere threats of a self‑centered deity.

We may wonder at the dogmatism of Satan’s denial, but it is my opinion that this is precisely what weakened Eve’s opposition. How could anyone be wrong who was so certain? Many today, my friend, are convinced more of the dogmatic tone of a teacher than they are by the doctrinal truthfulness of his teaching. Dogmatism is no assurance of doctrinal accuracy.

(3:4-5) Fulness, Spiritual— Temptation: the fourth step in temptation and sin involves personal fulfillment: thinking that one will be more fulfilled, that one will gain and benefit more if one eats of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:5). This is the final step in temptation. When we have allowed our minds to get this far with suggestive and enticing thoughts, it is difficult—if not impossible—to turn back from sin.

1. There is the thought that we have needs that cannot be met any other way, the thought that the temptation will meet our needs more than what God has given us.

This is exactly what Satan said to Eve: “God knows that when you eat of this tree, your needs are going to be met far more than if you don’t eat of it. God has not provided the best for you, not in the most fulfilling way.”

2. There is the thought that our eyes will be opened, that we will never know if we don’t experience it. This is what Satan said to Eve: “If you eat of the tree—do this thing—you will know more about it, how good it feels and tastes. You must do it to know. You cannot know whether it is good or bad until you actually experience it.”

3. There is the thought of position, power, strength, self-sufficiency, independence, and individuality, of being one’s own person and determining one’s own destiny and fate. The raw thought—the underlying basis to the thought—is what Satan promised Eve: “You shall be as gods. If you do this thing, you will be your own person—independent, individualistic—you will gain position and power. Do it: do your own thing; do what you want when you want. It is worth it.”

Þ “Being your own person brings fulfillment and satisfaction, strong ego and self-image. It brings excitement, stimulation, and pleasure.

Þ “Being your own person makes you as god: you can determine your own life and destiny.”

4. There is the thought that we can know good and evil, that we can determine what is good and evil for ourselves. Satan told Eve...

· that she needed to go ahead and do what she wanted, and by doing her own thing, she would learn (gain the power) to govern and direct her life more and more.

· that the only way she could ever learn to choose the fullest of lives—discern good and evil—would be if she went ahead and did what she wanted.

· that she did not need God to tell her what to do, but she could gain the knowledge herself by doing what she wanted.

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles [strategies] of the devil” (Ephes. 6:11; cp. Ephes. 6:10-18).

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:11).

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3).

4) Satan is as a roaring lion. He goes about seeking to devour all who will follow him.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

5) Satan will tempt us when we have great need and are most susceptible to fall into sin.

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:1-4).

6) Satan will take a person who does not understand the Word and snatch the Word out of the person’s heart. (This shows the critical importance of studying and learning God’s Word.)

“When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side” (Matthew 13:19).

Satan’s fatal blow is recorded in verse 5: “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” (Genesis 3:5).

Many have tried to determine precisely what Satan is offering in verse 5. “Your eyes will be opened,” Satan assures them. In other words, they are living in a state of incompletion, of inadequacy. But once the fruit is eaten, they would enter into a new and higher level of existence: they would become “like God.”[2]

As I understand Satan’s assertion, the statement is deliberately elusive and vague. This would stimulate the curiosity of Eve. To know ‘good and evil’ may be to know everything.[3] But how could Eve possibly grasp the specifics of the offer when she did not know what ‘evil’ was.

One of my friends tells me that women are, by nature, more curious than men. I do not know if this is so, but I know that I have an active curiosity as well. The mysteriousness of this possibility of knowing more and living on some higher plane surely invites speculation and consideration.

I find an illustration on this play upon human curiosity in the book of Proverbs:

The woman of folly is boisterous, she is naive, and knows nothing. And she sits at the doorway of her house, on a seat by the high places of the city, calling to those who pass by, who are making their paths straight; ‘Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,’ and to him who lacks understanding she says, ‘stolen water is sweet; and bread eaten in secret is pleasant’ (Proverbs 9:13‑17).

The women of folly is herself naive and unknowing, but she entices her victims by offering them a new experience, and the fact that it is illicit simply adds to the appeal (verses 16‑17). That is the kind of offer which Satan made to Eve.

Satan, I believe, leaves Eve with her thoughts at this point. His destructive seeds have been planted. While she has not yet eaten the fruit, she has already begun to fall. She has entered into a dialogue with Satan and now she is entertaining blasphemous thoughts about God’s character. She is seriously contemplating disobedience. Sin is not instantaneous, but sequential (James 1:13‑15), and Eve is well on her way.

Notice that the tree of life is not even mentioned or considered. Here before Eve were the two trees, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Seemingly it was not a choice between the one or the other. She only saw the forbidden fruit. It, alone, appeared to be ‘good for food and a delight to the eyes’ (verse 6), and yet in 2:9 we were told that all the trees had these features in common. But Eve had eyes only for what was forbidden. And this tree offered some mysterious quality of life which appealed to the woman.

Satan lied outright in assuring Eve that she would not die, but he simply failed to tell her the fine print in his promise of what the forbidden fruit would offer. Having studied that tree for some time (I would imagine), she finally determined that the benefits were too great and the consequences were unreasonable and therefore unlikely. At that moment she snatched the fruit and ate it.

One may shake his head at Eve’s action, but the real wonder is that Adam seemingly without hesitation succumbed to Eve’s invitation to share her disobedience. Moses employs 6 3/4 verses to describe the deception and disobedience of Eve, but only a part of one sentence to record Adam’s fall. Why? While I am not as dogmatic on this possibility as I once was, two words of Moses could give us the answer: “with her” (verse 6):

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eye, 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 3:6).

(3:6) Temptation— Eve— Sin— Worldliness— Lust: the fifth step in temptation and sin is looking and desiring and lusting. Scripture clearly says:

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16).

1. Eve’s flesh lusted after the tree. She saw that the tree was good for food. She should have stayed away from the tree and controlled her eyes, never looking at it. But she went out alone and went to the tree, a place she should have never gone. She gave the tempter an open door, a wide open chance, to tempt her. As soon as he tempted her, she should have fled the temptation. But as has been seen, she thought about the temptation, harbored and discussed the thoughts of the sin. Now she was looking at the forbidden fruit and her flesh was lusting, craving, and desiring it. She wanted it.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you...that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).

2. Eve’s eyes lusted after the tree. Eve saw that the tree was pleasant, pleasing, and attractive. The fruit—forbidden fruit—appealed to her. She was apparently so attracted that she experienced what we sometimes experience: a lustful craving, a hungering, an unstoppable urge to reach out and take the forbidden fruit.

What are the sins most often committed by the lust of the eyes? Scripture mentions these:

“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).

“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient [natural, normal]” (Romans 1:26-28).

“Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children” (2 Peter 2:14).

“I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1).

“But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:23).

“He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily [secretly] set against the poor” (Psalm 10:8).

“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth

The Statement of Scripture		What Happened to Eve
The lust of the flesh.	Eve saw that the tree was good for food.
The lust of the eyes.	Eve saw that the tree was pleasant, pleasing, and attractive to the eyes.
The pride of life.	Eve saw that the tree was desirable for gaining knowledge, experience, and wisdom.