185 00:28:09.395 --> 00:28:11.405 What was I thinking? 186 00:28:15.085 --> 00:28:19.185 It was our first house. It was brand new. 187 00:28:19.244 --> 00:28:23.935 It had all the new smells. It was awesome. 188 00:28:27.385 --> 00:28:32.045 The carpet, however, we didn't get to pick that and it, 189 00:28:32.484 --> 00:28:35.125 and the color of it, it was a little too close to white. 190 00:28:37.285 --> 00:28:39.905 And you add to that equation, three small boys, 191 00:28:41.365 --> 00:28:46.185 we are not building a recipe for success or clean carpet. 192 00:28:49.595 --> 00:28:54.335 One day we decided to, uh, get takeaway food. I think it was from Wendy's. 193 00:28:55.965 --> 00:28:59.695 What was I thinking? But being good parents, 194 00:29:00.305 --> 00:29:01.295 being good parents. 195 00:29:01.635 --> 00:29:06.055 We didn't opt for soft drinks because we didn't want to 196 00:29:06.345 --> 00:29:10.175 sugar 'em up and ruin any opportunity that they would take a good afternoon nap. 197 00:29:11.525 --> 00:29:15.785 So what we did, we opted for them to have fruit punch, 198 00:29:18.555 --> 00:29:21.705 which would later be known as red drink 199 00:29:23.735 --> 00:29:28.425 in our house. What was I thinking? 200 00:29:30.025 --> 00:29:32.765 So we get back to the house and, and all the boys, 201 00:29:32.795 --> 00:29:37.165 they get their bag of stuff in their, in their, their their red drink. 202 00:29:38.065 --> 00:29:42.685 And we come into the house and the middle one, 203 00:29:44.265 --> 00:29:48.965 you know about those middle ones straight through the kitchen, 204 00:29:49.145 --> 00:29:53.805 storms right into the living room and proceeds to spill his red drink all over 205 00:29:53.806 --> 00:29:57.805 the couch and on the two close to white carpet. 206 00:30:05.725 --> 00:30:10.295 What was I thinking? I'm not exactly sure what red drink is made of, 207 00:30:12.355 --> 00:30:17.215 but I can tell you this for sure. It leaves a significant stain, 208 00:30:19.125 --> 00:30:23.525 a significant stain. And we cleaned and we cleaned and we cleaned. 209 00:30:25.105 --> 00:30:28.405 We emptied our arsenal on cleaning products. 210 00:30:29.305 --> 00:30:31.765 We went to the store. We are up and down the roads looking at, 211 00:30:31.785 --> 00:30:34.285 is there anything else? We're looking at online remedies. 212 00:30:34.825 --> 00:30:38.845 We are trying everything. And you know what? Nothing worked. 213 00:30:40.435 --> 00:30:43.125 Despite our great efforts and our fierce attempts, 214 00:30:43.985 --> 00:30:47.365 the stain remained glaringly obvious. 215 00:30:49.905 --> 00:30:54.595 So , we did what any great parents would do. 216 00:30:55.655 --> 00:30:56.835 Get ready to write this down. 217 00:30:59.035 --> 00:31:01.015 We did what any great parents would do. 218 00:31:02.755 --> 00:31:06.935 We flipped the cushion and we scooched up the couch, 219 00:31:09.235 --> 00:31:13.735 we flipped the cushion and we scooted up the couch. 220 00:31:16.595 --> 00:31:20.135 Now the stain remained, there's no doubt that it was still there, 221 00:31:20.315 --> 00:31:24.875 but we felt like we did the best that we could and it felt good enough 222 00:31:26.855 --> 00:31:28.275 so we deemed it done. 223 00:31:31.255 --> 00:31:35.195 Has there ever been an event a moment, 224 00:31:35.725 --> 00:31:37.195 maybe it was a weekend, 225 00:31:37.645 --> 00:31:41.755 maybe it was a season that if you looked back, 226 00:31:42.375 --> 00:31:44.915 if you look back on that time in your life, 227 00:31:45.255 --> 00:31:47.515 you wish you could just flip the cushion 228 00:31:49.165 --> 00:31:52.225 and scooch up the couch because there was an experience, 229 00:31:52.226 --> 00:31:55.825 there was a decision that you wish that could just go away. 230 00:31:58.505 --> 00:32:01.485 But my question is sort of a question behind that question. 231 00:32:01.975 --> 00:32:04.085 Where does that feeling come from? 232 00:32:04.415 --> 00:32:08.925 Where we think that there are decisions and actions that we, we should cover up? 233 00:32:10.155 --> 00:32:14.105 Where does that come from? And so that's what I want us to talk about today. 234 00:32:14.925 --> 00:32:16.105 So if you have your Bible, 235 00:32:16.205 --> 00:32:19.465 go ahead and grab that and meet me in Genesis chapter three, 236 00:32:19.775 --> 00:32:21.545 Genesis of the first book of the Bible. 237 00:32:21.565 --> 00:32:23.545 So you're just right in the front end of this thing. 238 00:32:23.645 --> 00:32:26.065 Ben got us started last week with chapters one and two. 239 00:32:26.645 --> 00:32:30.265 So we are in this series that we're calling foundations of the Faith. 240 00:32:31.205 --> 00:32:34.585 And we're basically looking at some of the core beliefs, 241 00:32:35.735 --> 00:32:39.725 some of the core beliefs that will help us understand our faith and help us 242 00:32:40.125 --> 00:32:42.805 navigate life and help us to understand what's going on in the world. 243 00:32:43.065 --> 00:32:47.485 And I love the way that Ben summed this up last week when he said, he said, 244 00:32:47.505 --> 00:32:52.185 we are created, we are broken, we can be fixed, 245 00:32:52.685 --> 00:32:54.865 and that we're on our way towards something better. 246 00:32:55.325 --> 00:32:58.065 And so today we're gonna take an honest look. 247 00:32:58.435 --> 00:33:02.825 We're gonna take an honest look at our brokenness and we're gonna 248 00:33:03.585 --> 00:33:06.265 evaluate how did we get here? 249 00:33:07.635 --> 00:33:09.255 How did it come to this? 250 00:33:09.835 --> 00:33:13.615 And we're also gonna look at the role that we played in that 251 00:33:14.845 --> 00:33:17.985 and the role that we played in that. So when we come to Genesis chapter three, 252 00:33:18.285 --> 00:33:22.425 we are diving into a conversation that's underway. So beginning with verse one, 253 00:33:22.445 --> 00:33:27.355 we see now the serpent was more crafty than any other 254 00:33:27.356 --> 00:33:32.155 beast of the field that the Lord God had made. Now here crafty. 255 00:33:32.615 --> 00:33:35.355 Crafty is not necessarily a negative term. 256 00:33:35.775 --> 00:33:39.075 It can just mean speaking to wisdom and cleverness. 257 00:33:39.535 --> 00:33:41.515 So it's not necessarily a negative thing, 258 00:33:41.695 --> 00:33:45.875 but we need to understand who are the players here? Who is this the serpent? 259 00:33:46.535 --> 00:33:49.435 And for that information, we continue to look at scripture. In fact, 260 00:33:49.436 --> 00:33:52.755 we'll go all the way to the end. We're gonna go to the Book of Revelation. 261 00:33:52.756 --> 00:33:53.589 So we're in Genesis, 262 00:33:53.895 --> 00:33:57.275 but we're gonna look at Revelation and find out what do we need to know about 263 00:33:57.276 --> 00:34:00.755 this person, the serpent. Revelation 12, nine, this is what we find. 264 00:34:00.975 --> 00:34:05.555 And the great dragon was thrown down that ancient serpent. 265 00:34:05.785 --> 00:34:08.755 There's what we're looking for, and this is pointing back to Genesis, 266 00:34:09.255 --> 00:34:13.235 who is called the devil and Satan, 267 00:34:13.695 --> 00:34:18.075 the deceiver of the whole world. So we now have clarity on who this is. 268 00:34:18.135 --> 00:34:21.035 The serpent is Satan, it's the devil, it's the deceiver. 269 00:34:21.215 --> 00:34:24.075 And none of these descriptors should give you any confidence 270 00:34:26.094 --> 00:34:30.515 or any evidence to think that any way that this is a good person or that he 271 00:34:30.516 --> 00:34:34.445 wants it to go well for you. He is a deceiver. 272 00:34:35.385 --> 00:34:38.205 And notice in our story that we're just one verse in, 273 00:34:38.344 --> 00:34:40.844 he comes in disguise and he's asking questions. 274 00:34:40.915 --> 00:34:44.525 He's raising questions and planting doubts. 275 00:34:45.305 --> 00:34:49.645 And you know what? That's still how he works in our lives today. 276 00:34:50.825 --> 00:34:53.725 He shows up in disguise raising questions 277 00:34:55.315 --> 00:34:59.614 and planting doubts. But come on, can we at least be honest for a minute? 278 00:34:59.795 --> 00:35:00.628 For a minute, 279 00:35:01.925 --> 00:35:06.465 the most massive red flag that we've encountered so far is what 280 00:35:07.344 --> 00:35:12.155 a talking snake. I mean, come on, 281 00:35:12.156 --> 00:35:16.105 right? Does that not give anybody pause? Nobody. 282 00:35:17.625 --> 00:35:19.125 To me, this is a massive problem. 283 00:35:19.785 --> 00:35:21.925 We have ways for dealing with this in the south. 284 00:35:24.825 --> 00:35:29.605 So he's raising questions and he's planting these doubts that are ultimately 285 00:35:29.614 --> 00:35:31.445 about trusting God's word. 286 00:35:33.085 --> 00:35:37.205 He's questioning whether God's word is reliable. And the problem that we, 287 00:35:37.355 --> 00:35:41.525 when we begin to have questions about God's word, see, 288 00:35:41.775 --> 00:35:46.045 small seeds of doubt can bloom into great believable and damaging lies. 289 00:35:48.995 --> 00:35:52.575 And the serpent, when he shows up, he's focusing on the negative. 290 00:35:52.995 --> 00:35:54.775 That's what he's accentuating. 291 00:35:55.245 --> 00:35:58.975 He's pointing out what God prohibits rather than what God provides. 292 00:36:00.114 --> 00:36:02.135 And that's how he works in our life too. 293 00:36:03.245 --> 00:36:05.935 This is the narrative that he's trying to get us to buy into. 294 00:36:06.045 --> 00:36:09.895 That God's trying to limit you. That God doesn't want what's best for you, 295 00:36:10.645 --> 00:36:14.935 he's trying to undercut it. He, he doesn't want you to be all that you can be. 296 00:36:16.735 --> 00:36:21.465 The conversation continues. And then we have to see, well, who's he talking to? 297 00:36:22.395 --> 00:36:25.815 Who is the serpent talking to? Because understand, at this point in history, 298 00:36:25.816 --> 00:36:30.295 there are only two people in the world, Adam and Eve, man and woman. 299 00:36:30.755 --> 00:36:35.255 And so you got the serpent in the garden talking to Adam and Eve. 300 00:36:37.905 --> 00:36:42.805 We see this in verse two. And it says, the woman that's Eve said to the serpent. 301 00:36:43.225 --> 00:36:46.525 So they're having this conversation, she's talking to a snake 302 00:36:50.765 --> 00:36:55.385 and she says that we may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden. 303 00:36:57.864 --> 00:37:00.125 But God said, this is verse three, but God said, 304 00:37:00.126 --> 00:37:04.085 you shall not eat of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden. 305 00:37:04.435 --> 00:37:07.925 Neither shall you touch it lest you die. 306 00:37:08.705 --> 00:37:10.325 And so we, as we look at this, 307 00:37:10.344 --> 00:37:12.844 we see that there's a subtle shift that takes place. 308 00:37:13.555 --> 00:37:15.005 There's a subtle shift here. 309 00:37:15.265 --> 00:37:20.005 She even minimizes the provision that God has given and she adds to the 310 00:37:20.245 --> 00:37:23.265 prohibition. We can't even touch it. 311 00:37:24.295 --> 00:37:28.075 And then she weakens the penalty because she says, lest we die. Now, 312 00:37:28.076 --> 00:37:31.114 for us to fully understand what's going on with that, we have to look back, 313 00:37:31.305 --> 00:37:35.795 well what did God actually say about this tree? And we find that in chapter two, 314 00:37:35.796 --> 00:37:37.715 verse 17. And this is what God says, 315 00:37:37.735 --> 00:37:41.114 but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, 316 00:37:41.735 --> 00:37:45.675 you shall not eat for in the day that you eat of it, 317 00:37:46.415 --> 00:37:50.715 you will surely die. No question, 318 00:37:51.655 --> 00:37:55.715 no question, no wiggle room here And now when you, when you look at this tree, 319 00:37:55.835 --> 00:38:00.445 I don't get a sense that there's anything magical about the tree in comparison 320 00:38:00.545 --> 00:38:04.485 to the other trees. But God has pointed out this tree, this tree is a test. 321 00:38:06.035 --> 00:38:09.245 This is a test. And then in verse four, 322 00:38:09.585 --> 00:38:14.235 the serpent responds to Eve's comments. And this is what the serpent says. 323 00:38:15.235 --> 00:38:19.195 Ah, that can't be right. That can't be right. 324 00:38:19.735 --> 00:38:23.455 You will not surely die. 325 00:38:25.094 --> 00:38:27.635 You will No, no, no, no, no. 326 00:38:27.855 --> 00:38:32.795 And here is the lie that has Allred and derailed humanity forever. 327 00:38:33.805 --> 00:38:38.445 Satan is basically saying there is no consequence or 328 00:38:38.614 --> 00:38:43.285 punishment for sin. He's saying there's nothing to worry about. Keep on going, 329 00:38:43.315 --> 00:38:46.925 keep on doing that. You look like you're, you're good at it. Keep going. 330 00:38:47.945 --> 00:38:52.645 The serpent is challenging, that there is punishment or consequences for sin. 331 00:38:52.864 --> 00:38:56.485 And for some of us, this is good news. This is exactly what we want to hear, 332 00:38:56.755 --> 00:39:00.325 that we can have all the pleasure that we desire with no consequence. 333 00:39:02.945 --> 00:39:05.605 And for that we would say, amen. There's, there's, 334 00:39:05.875 --> 00:39:10.445 there's nothing to lose that we can de define and determine what's 335 00:39:10.535 --> 00:39:13.864 right or wrong. Myself, 336 00:39:15.125 --> 00:39:19.205 I get to decide that. I get to decide that. But here's the problem. 337 00:39:19.605 --> 00:39:21.085 'cause sin is so shortsighted, 338 00:39:22.145 --> 00:39:25.765 the lens through which sin operates is super clouded. 339 00:39:26.785 --> 00:39:31.725 And it doesn't even notice the inevitable end that's on the horizon at 340 00:39:31.726 --> 00:39:34.205 the end of the day, sins basically, it just shrugs at God. 341 00:39:36.205 --> 00:39:40.775 It's not a problem, it's not a problem. The Puritan Thomas Brooks, 342 00:39:40.776 --> 00:39:44.625 this is what he says about this. This is very good. He says, 343 00:39:44.825 --> 00:39:49.745 A di device of Satan is to present the bait and to hide the 344 00:39:49.746 --> 00:39:54.665 hook, to present the bait, but hide the hook to present the bait. 345 00:39:54.666 --> 00:39:59.065 Because the bait is what is appealing. It's what's a, a compelling, 346 00:39:59.335 --> 00:40:00.625 it's what we desire. 347 00:40:01.405 --> 00:40:05.585 And we are so focused on the bait that we don't even see that there is a hook 348 00:40:05.586 --> 00:40:08.185 there. And listen to me, 349 00:40:09.005 --> 00:40:13.745 we've all taken that bite at some time. We have all, 350 00:40:14.485 --> 00:40:15.318 we have all 351 00:40:18.585 --> 00:40:22.825 clumped down on that. So you see, sin is always a bait and switch. 352 00:40:23.205 --> 00:40:26.025 It is always a bait and switch. Now, John, 353 00:40:26.026 --> 00:40:29.625 recording the words of Jesus reminds us of who we're dealing with. 354 00:40:30.705 --> 00:40:33.705 I don't want us to lose sight of who we're dealing with because he's still 355 00:40:33.706 --> 00:40:38.225 active today, active in trying to mess you up and trying to derail you. 356 00:40:38.415 --> 00:40:41.985 This is what he says, recording the words of Jesus. This is in John. 357 00:40:43.094 --> 00:40:47.935 He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth 358 00:40:47.965 --> 00:40:52.015 because there is no truth in him. When he lies, 359 00:40:52.235 --> 00:40:54.295 he speaks out of his own character, 360 00:40:54.715 --> 00:40:58.215 for he is a liar and the father of lies. 361 00:40:59.885 --> 00:41:02.745 So when he's in conversation with you, how is he gonna interact? 362 00:41:03.015 --> 00:41:04.305 He's probably not gonna tell the truth. 363 00:41:05.435 --> 00:41:09.425 Satan will go to great lengths to keep you from God's word and to keep you from 364 00:41:09.426 --> 00:41:12.844 trusting God's word. His mission is clear. 365 00:41:12.845 --> 00:41:16.555 This is how Jesus describes his mission. He said, 366 00:41:16.556 --> 00:41:21.035 the thief comes only to steal and to kill and destroy. 367 00:41:22.525 --> 00:41:25.105 And Jesus, in contrast to that says, 368 00:41:25.625 --> 00:41:29.505 I came that you may have life and have it abundantly. 369 00:41:30.085 --> 00:41:33.105 One comes bringing life, one comes bringing havoc. 370 00:41:34.275 --> 00:41:37.965 Satan's goal is to help you train, wreck your life. 371 00:41:39.685 --> 00:41:44.385 He would like nothing better to see you in a big heap of rubble. 372 00:41:45.775 --> 00:41:50.555 And so he tempts you and he nudges you and he provokes you. 373 00:41:52.255 --> 00:41:57.175 And he gives you this idea that it, it's okay, it's okay. 374 00:41:57.325 --> 00:42:01.415 He's planting seeds of doubt in your mind so that you won't trust God. 375 00:42:01.525 --> 00:42:05.535 He's trying to offer what will appear to be something better. 376 00:42:05.675 --> 00:42:08.695 And here's his argument. Here's his argument. Look at this in verse five. 377 00:42:09.435 --> 00:42:14.375 For God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be open and mm, 378 00:42:14.755 --> 00:42:19.445 you'll be like God. You will be like God, 379 00:42:19.705 --> 00:42:21.805 he offers something that appears to be better. 380 00:42:22.025 --> 00:42:24.685 He offers something that appears to be more satisfying. 381 00:42:24.905 --> 00:42:27.965 But what a big whopper of a lie that we get here. 382 00:42:29.685 --> 00:42:34.545 You will be like God. And what he's saying is, see, God is restricting you. 383 00:42:34.765 --> 00:42:38.145 He doesn't want you to eat this because he doesn't want you to have what he's 384 00:42:38.146 --> 00:42:42.965 got. He's trying to hold you back. 385 00:42:42.985 --> 00:42:45.925 And so we're like, yeah, that doesn't seem right. 386 00:42:49.385 --> 00:42:52.565 The serpent is tempting Eve with a better menu. 387 00:42:54.545 --> 00:42:58.445 He is offering her autonomy and self-sufficiency. 388 00:43:00.455 --> 00:43:05.035 And man, does that feed into our desires because at the end of the day, 389 00:43:05.036 --> 00:43:07.915 we all want to be in charge. We all want to be the boss. 390 00:43:10.364 --> 00:43:15.355 Some of you may even said it today to somebody, you either said, 391 00:43:15.415 --> 00:43:19.835 I'm the boss or you're not the boss of me. Come on. That's just where we go. 392 00:43:20.735 --> 00:43:25.035 And Satan makes us promise that we could be divine. 393 00:43:26.295 --> 00:43:29.635 Boy, yeah, that's compelling. You are telling me. So let me get this straight. 394 00:43:29.655 --> 00:43:33.614 You are telling me that I could be like God, 395 00:43:35.255 --> 00:43:39.515 and he's smooth because he doesn't present it as rebellion. 396 00:43:40.335 --> 00:43:43.395 He presents it as this quest for wisdom. 397 00:43:45.665 --> 00:43:50.525 Oh man, that's smooth. That's smooth. But what he, that and, and, and, 398 00:43:50.725 --> 00:43:55.685 and that's bait. But the hook is that this is autonomous wisdom that requires no 399 00:43:55.805 --> 00:43:58.364 reliance on or submission to 400 00:44:01.245 --> 00:44:02.078 God. 401 00:44:03.515 --> 00:44:07.165 He's offering the bait and hiding the hook. 402 00:44:07.625 --> 00:44:12.525 And just remember he's a liar and he's very good at what he, at, what he does. 403 00:44:13.225 --> 00:44:15.965 And so let me just ask you and push into your business a little bit. 404 00:44:16.155 --> 00:44:18.765 What are the lies that you're su susceptible to? 405 00:44:19.035 --> 00:44:20.885 What are the ones that you are prone to believe? 406 00:44:21.675 --> 00:44:26.205 What is the bait that you are anxious and interested 407 00:44:27.205 --> 00:44:30.895 in biting down on? Because at the end of the day, some of this, 408 00:44:31.045 --> 00:44:33.965 this language begins to look like this. It begins to look like, yeah, 409 00:44:34.045 --> 00:44:37.245 I should do it. It's no big deal. Yeah, I, if I do it, 410 00:44:37.645 --> 00:44:40.855 it is not gonna hurt anybody. What's the problem? 411 00:44:41.005 --> 00:44:45.835 This is not gonna hurt anybody. And I'm pretty smart. So I, I mean, 412 00:44:45.915 --> 00:44:47.555 I don't, I don't think I'll get caught. 413 00:44:47.795 --> 00:44:50.555 I other people who are less smart than me, they, 414 00:44:50.715 --> 00:44:52.475 I mean they'll probably get caught, but not me. 415 00:44:53.614 --> 00:44:56.835 And then when you take it to even another level, people begin to say, this, 416 00:44:58.355 --> 00:45:01.075 I deserve, fill in the blank. 417 00:45:03.575 --> 00:45:04.408 I deserve. 418 00:45:05.435 --> 00:45:09.935 And this is where it gets dicey because when we begin to minimize sin, 419 00:45:10.915 --> 00:45:14.415 listen, when we begin to minimize sin, 420 00:45:16.175 --> 00:45:19.395 we begin to minimize our need for grace. 421 00:45:21.325 --> 00:45:24.055 When we minimize sin, 422 00:45:24.155 --> 00:45:28.895 we then dismiss the idea that we need help, that we need a redeemer. 423 00:45:29.665 --> 00:45:32.725 So think of it this way, when we minimize sin, we minimize a savior. 424 00:45:34.505 --> 00:45:38.995 This is where it gets dicey. And this is why we need a robust 425 00:45:41.465 --> 00:45:42.905 doctrine of sin. 426 00:45:42.935 --> 00:45:46.905 This is why we need a robust doctrine and understanding of what sin is. 427 00:45:47.085 --> 00:45:48.745 If we have this big view of sin, 428 00:45:49.055 --> 00:45:53.985 then we'll understand and appreciate and respond with worship and gratitude to 429 00:45:54.065 --> 00:45:59.025 a God who can deliver us from some big mess. If we have a low view of sin, 430 00:45:59.026 --> 00:46:00.265 we'll have a low view of a savior. 431 00:46:03.125 --> 00:46:04.255 Paul David Trip says, 432 00:46:04.275 --> 00:46:07.215 we are either reminding ourselves of the seriousness of sin 433 00:46:09.315 --> 00:46:13.855 or we are working to convince ourselves that our sin 434 00:46:14.305 --> 00:46:15.975 isn't that sinful. 435 00:46:18.085 --> 00:46:18.918 After all. 436 00:46:24.225 --> 00:46:25.058 Hmm. 437 00:46:25.715 --> 00:46:29.395 Temptation is tricky. It it, 438 00:46:29.396 --> 00:46:33.395 it's tricky because it's so, it shows up in surprising places, 439 00:46:33.755 --> 00:46:34.635 in surprising times, 440 00:46:35.055 --> 00:46:39.195 it comes in disguise and it blurs the lines between right and wrong. 441 00:46:41.605 --> 00:46:45.025 And it's always promising something better. And come on, 442 00:46:46.094 --> 00:46:49.515 our hearts are thinking, you know what? I deserve something a little better. 443 00:46:51.965 --> 00:46:55.265 And then in Eve's example, we see that there's this pattern, 444 00:46:56.225 --> 00:47:00.795 this pattern to sin that we all seem to fall into. When you look at verse six, 445 00:47:00.815 --> 00:47:02.515 it says, so when the woman saw, 446 00:47:04.355 --> 00:47:08.575 she saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes 447 00:47:10.225 --> 00:47:14.445 and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, 448 00:47:14.825 --> 00:47:19.775 she took, She saw, she took, 449 00:47:20.035 --> 00:47:25.015 she ate, she saw, she took, she ate all of this flowing into our desires, 450 00:47:25.016 --> 00:47:26.895 the things that we desire and that we want to do. 451 00:47:27.344 --> 00:47:31.805 Satan appeals to our physical and our emotional and our spiritual senses. 452 00:47:32.065 --> 00:47:34.125 And these are good things in they're God-given. 453 00:47:36.325 --> 00:47:41.105 But how and where and who are we gonna turn to to 454 00:47:41.125 --> 00:47:45.565 see these desires fulfilled? And this is challenging right here. 455 00:47:46.005 --> 00:47:48.205 Brian Chapel would word it this way. He says, we sin, 456 00:47:48.344 --> 00:47:52.165 not because we don't love Christ at all, 457 00:47:53.065 --> 00:47:56.085 but because we don't love him above all, 458 00:47:58.135 --> 00:48:02.715 for many of us. Come on, many of us, this religious stuff, this church stuff, 459 00:48:02.915 --> 00:48:04.635 the Jesus stuff, it's an add-on. 460 00:48:05.925 --> 00:48:09.065 We try to do all the things and do all the stuff through life. 461 00:48:09.066 --> 00:48:12.985 And we're trying to do it busy, busy, busy. Oh, and on Sunday or on Thursday, 462 00:48:13.485 --> 00:48:18.094 we just attack this on and add it in to ease our conscience, to ease our mind. 463 00:48:20.945 --> 00:48:25.445 But do we love him above all or is he just part of what we're doing? 464 00:48:27.175 --> 00:48:31.965 And then what we see is that Eve took and she ate, 465 00:48:32.305 --> 00:48:37.045 and then it says, and she gave to her husband who was with her. 466 00:48:39.485 --> 00:48:42.085 And then my experience, and maybe it's not yours, 467 00:48:42.945 --> 00:48:47.435 but sinning with others helps us justify our actions. 468 00:48:51.475 --> 00:48:54.815 And so we have to ask the question, who are you hanging out with? 469 00:48:55.594 --> 00:48:59.215 Are they encouraging you towards Christ's likeness? 470 00:49:00.315 --> 00:49:02.655 Or are they enabling you 471 00:49:06.415 --> 00:49:09.395 to excel at your pet sins? 472 00:49:12.425 --> 00:49:17.265 And then husbands and fathers, I'm looking at this and I'm like, what the heck, 473 00:49:17.266 --> 00:49:22.025 Adam? What's going on here? You are startlingly silent. 474 00:49:25.364 --> 00:49:29.885 You are noticeably quiet. Where is your head? 475 00:49:30.515 --> 00:49:33.965 He's failing to lead. He's failing to, to interrupt. He's failing to, 476 00:49:34.425 --> 00:49:38.555 to protect in this situation. Why doesn't he speak up? 477 00:49:39.645 --> 00:49:43.614 Because to me, when he fails to lead, he's failing to love. Come on husbands. 478 00:49:43.615 --> 00:49:48.445 Come on dads. Are we failing to love because we're failing to lead? 479 00:49:48.625 --> 00:49:53.285 Are we not modeling the way that we should and setting the spiritual tone for 480 00:49:53.286 --> 00:49:57.205 our families and for our homes and we want our families to thrive? 481 00:49:57.545 --> 00:49:59.965 But it it it comes to you. Will you lean in? 482 00:49:59.966 --> 00:50:04.765 Will you own your responsibility as a dad and as a 483 00:50:04.766 --> 00:50:05.599 husband 484 00:50:09.885 --> 00:50:12.985 to set the spiritual thermostat in your home? 485 00:50:15.495 --> 00:50:20.114 So he's silent and they had to be thinking at this moment, you know what? 486 00:50:21.675 --> 00:50:26.195 'cause we all get here, don't we? This seemed like a good idea at the time. And 487 00:50:27.925 --> 00:50:32.745 then usually after that, you know, do, do, do. What was I thinking? 488 00:50:35.955 --> 00:50:37.445 What was I thinking? 489 00:50:37.835 --> 00:50:42.685 Because what you need to know is what just happened is what is known as the 490 00:50:42.715 --> 00:50:47.325 fall of man. This is where sin enters the world. 491 00:50:47.326 --> 00:50:52.165 This is the epicenter of the mess that we find ourselves swimming in. 492 00:50:53.225 --> 00:50:57.045 Sin has entered the world and it has touched and affected 493 00:50:57.935 --> 00:50:58.768 everything. 494 00:50:59.335 --> 00:51:03.844 Everything is broken and dented and dinged because of this moment. 495 00:51:04.305 --> 00:51:06.605 And let me be clear with what I mean by sin. 496 00:51:07.105 --> 00:51:08.685 Sin means that we have missed the mark. 497 00:51:08.905 --> 00:51:11.165 It means that we have fallen short of God's standard. 498 00:51:13.135 --> 00:51:15.315 Sin is self-centered in itself, absorbed. 499 00:51:15.855 --> 00:51:19.555 If you're unclear of my view and what I think the biblical view of sin is, 500 00:51:20.385 --> 00:51:21.218 it's bad. 501 00:51:26.355 --> 00:51:30.305 Verse seven in the eyes of both were open and they knew that they were naked 502 00:51:31.685 --> 00:51:35.665 and they sowed fig leaves together and made themselves loin claws. 503 00:51:37.665 --> 00:51:39.114 This is not what they expected. 504 00:51:42.175 --> 00:51:44.864 This is not what they thought that they were saying yes to. 505 00:51:47.635 --> 00:51:51.215 Sin never delivers the satisfaction that it promises. 506 00:51:51.795 --> 00:51:54.815 And so here are Adam and Eve and here is their response. 507 00:51:55.205 --> 00:51:58.295 They thought that they were getting this. And then the next thing you know, 508 00:51:58.296 --> 00:52:01.335 they're going, ah, we're naked. 509 00:52:04.165 --> 00:52:06.705 And they're feeling vulnerable and they're feeling exposed. 510 00:52:06.925 --> 00:52:10.105 And what we see happen is they sowed fig leaves together. 511 00:52:10.575 --> 00:52:14.545 What is going on here is this is their feeble attempt to cover their sin. 512 00:52:14.855 --> 00:52:19.225 This is them flipping the couch cushion and scooching up the couch. 513 00:52:20.635 --> 00:52:22.655 That's what's going on right there. 514 00:52:26.114 --> 00:52:27.614 And before we're too judgy on them. 515 00:52:27.755 --> 00:52:29.495 You need to understand that's what we all do. 516 00:52:31.885 --> 00:52:33.055 It's what we all do. 517 00:52:33.315 --> 00:52:36.495 We come from a long line of cushion flippers and couch pushers 518 00:52:38.995 --> 00:52:40.735 all the way back to this moment. 519 00:52:40.835 --> 00:52:44.295 If you're trying to figure out where it came from, this is the moment. 520 00:52:45.175 --> 00:52:47.955 And so then we begin ask, well now what? Because this is not good. 521 00:52:48.385 --> 00:52:51.594 What happens here? Well, come on, think about what is your instinct? 522 00:52:51.625 --> 00:52:53.075 What is your instinct when you, 523 00:52:53.135 --> 00:52:56.515 how do you respond when you get caught and when you've done something wrong and 524 00:52:56.516 --> 00:53:00.235 you know it's wrong? We try to run, we try to hide, 525 00:53:00.335 --> 00:53:01.835 we try to like get away. 526 00:53:03.485 --> 00:53:06.864 But the problem is how do you run and hide from God? 527 00:53:08.635 --> 00:53:11.435 I mean, he's all knowing. He's all powerful. He's all present. 528 00:53:11.815 --> 00:53:15.435 And then here you are. But Adam and Eve thought, well, 529 00:53:15.436 --> 00:53:19.035 let's give it a shot and see what happens in verse eight. And it says, 530 00:53:19.195 --> 00:53:21.995 and they heard the sound of the Lord God. I mean, 531 00:53:21.996 --> 00:53:24.155 just think about what's going on in their head. 532 00:53:26.005 --> 00:53:29.535 Just think about what's going on in their head. Oh, you hear him? I hear him. 533 00:53:29.965 --> 00:53:33.575 What should we do? I don't know. I think we should hide. And then you, I mean, 534 00:53:33.576 --> 00:53:36.415 come on, put yourself in the moment. And they're crouching behind a tree. 535 00:53:36.594 --> 00:53:39.735 And maybe one says to the other, no, I was here first. You go get that tree. 536 00:53:40.364 --> 00:53:43.395 Come on. 537 00:53:43.535 --> 00:53:47.755 Our thinking gets massively skewed when we're trying to cover up our sin 538 00:53:51.325 --> 00:53:53.905 and they're trying to hide themselves from the presence of God. 539 00:53:54.085 --> 00:53:58.275 And then in verse nine it says, and God called, oh, we hear him walking. 540 00:53:58.375 --> 00:53:59.355 And now he's calling. 541 00:54:01.375 --> 00:54:02.208 He. 542 00:54:03.725 --> 00:54:05.705 And he ask, where are you? 543 00:54:07.505 --> 00:54:10.885 And let me just interrupt the story. This is grace right here. 544 00:54:12.475 --> 00:54:16.405 This is God coming and looking for them. 545 00:54:17.675 --> 00:54:20.765 This is grace. He's asking this question not for his benefit. 546 00:54:20.795 --> 00:54:24.805 Like I don't know where they are. He knows exactly where they are. 547 00:54:25.465 --> 00:54:27.165 He knows exactly what they've done 548 00:54:28.815 --> 00:54:33.435 and he's coming anyway and he's coming anyway and he's looking for them. 549 00:54:34.825 --> 00:54:37.315 This is an opportunity for them to come clean. 550 00:54:38.645 --> 00:54:41.375 This is an opportunity for them to fess up. 551 00:54:44.955 --> 00:54:46.255 How often do you pause 552 00:54:48.094 --> 00:54:52.715 and evaluate your life and maybe ask the question, where am I? 553 00:54:55.325 --> 00:54:59.155 Where am I? And by where am I? I'm asking like, 554 00:54:59.156 --> 00:55:04.065 what about your trajectory? If your life continues in the current direction, 555 00:55:04.066 --> 00:55:08.505 in the current course that you're moving, where will you be in five years? 556 00:55:08.515 --> 00:55:12.305 Where will you be in 10 years? And wherever that place is, 557 00:55:12.445 --> 00:55:17.405 is that where you want to be? That's what I mean by I'm asking, where are you? 558 00:55:17.875 --> 00:55:19.125 What is your trajectory? 559 00:55:21.175 --> 00:55:23.515 And God offers grace amidst brokenness. 560 00:55:24.055 --> 00:55:27.155 So whether you're trajectory is you're in the middle of trying to cover sin and 561 00:55:27.156 --> 00:55:29.915 you're flipping cushions like crazy and is stained on both sides, 562 00:55:30.864 --> 00:55:35.555 that God comes looking amidst our brokenness. And in the middle of our shame, 563 00:55:35.614 --> 00:55:37.275 in the middle of us trying to run, 564 00:55:40.395 --> 00:55:42.685 Adam responds, well, we heard the sound of you 565 00:55:44.785 --> 00:55:48.135 and we were afraid because I was naked. 566 00:55:49.614 --> 00:55:53.495 And so I hid. And then God, 567 00:55:54.155 --> 00:55:56.655 the creator of the universe, begins asking questions, 568 00:55:57.275 --> 00:55:59.335 how comfortable do you think this conversation was? 569 00:56:02.545 --> 00:56:06.465 Um, who told you that you were naked? Did you guys eat of the tree? 570 00:56:06.545 --> 00:56:07.985 I told you that, that not that one. 571 00:56:11.305 --> 00:56:14.645 And then we see something that we are super familiar with. 572 00:56:15.265 --> 00:56:17.405 We recognize what happens next. 573 00:56:20.905 --> 00:56:22.125 The blame game starts, 574 00:56:25.385 --> 00:56:28.485 God and Adam are talking and, and then Adam says, 575 00:56:29.105 --> 00:56:30.445 you know what the problem is here, 576 00:56:33.114 --> 00:56:35.175 the woman that you gave me. 577 00:56:37.375 --> 00:56:41.395 And you know all the animals are going, Mm-Hmm mm-Hmm mm-Hmm m bad idea. 578 00:56:42.435 --> 00:56:46.515 Like, mm-Hmm, what are you thinking? And you know, Eve's over there like, 579 00:56:50.045 --> 00:56:52.545 and then it comes to Eve. And then she's seeing how you know, 580 00:56:52.705 --> 00:56:57.065 the the way has been modeled. And so then she passes the buck as well. 581 00:56:57.405 --> 00:57:01.185 She says, well, is that, you know the serpent? The serpent deceived me. 582 00:57:03.045 --> 00:57:04.185 And then it gets serious. 583 00:57:05.575 --> 00:57:09.344 Because what we see next is that a just God begins to bring justice. 584 00:57:11.395 --> 00:57:12.228 And we learn. 585 00:57:13.475 --> 00:57:17.415 We learn in this moment that the consequences of sin are real. 586 00:57:19.445 --> 00:57:23.655 In verse 14, the serpent is cursed above all livestock. 587 00:57:23.815 --> 00:57:28.015 It says that he's gonna crawl on his belly and he's gonna eat dust. 588 00:57:28.515 --> 00:57:32.095 And then to the woman, he says, you will have pain and childbearing. 589 00:57:34.195 --> 00:57:37.125 Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you. 590 00:57:37.195 --> 00:57:38.765 There's this challenge that you're gonna have. 591 00:57:38.766 --> 00:57:41.565 You're gonna want to be in charge and it's gonna bring tension to the 592 00:57:41.566 --> 00:57:44.765 relationship. So relationships are gonna be hard. 593 00:57:46.195 --> 00:57:48.575 And then to Adam, he cursed is the ground, 594 00:57:50.115 --> 00:57:52.935 cursed is the ground in pain. You shall eat. 595 00:57:53.775 --> 00:57:55.755 And the gist of this is work's gonna be hard. 596 00:57:55.975 --> 00:57:58.955 So our relationships are gonna be hard. Our work life is gonna be hard. 597 00:57:59.135 --> 00:58:00.355 Thorns and thistles, come on. 598 00:58:00.356 --> 00:58:03.955 How many of you working with thorns and thistles don't call out their name, 599 00:58:06.645 --> 00:58:08.225 but work can be difficult. 600 00:58:12.125 --> 00:58:16.145 And then we get the ultimate consequence of sin. 601 00:58:16.525 --> 00:58:19.865 And it's this the verdict of death. Look at verse 19. 602 00:58:21.205 --> 00:58:22.545 By the sweat of your face, 603 00:58:23.205 --> 00:58:27.705 you shall eat bread till you return to the ground for out of it you were taken. 604 00:58:29.005 --> 00:58:30.865 For you are dust. 605 00:58:32.575 --> 00:58:34.675 And to dust you shall return. 606 00:58:37.855 --> 00:58:41.545 Paul writing to believers in Rome sums up that this way. 607 00:58:42.765 --> 00:58:43.825 He says, therefore, 608 00:58:44.295 --> 00:58:48.705 just as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, 609 00:58:49.365 --> 00:58:53.825 so death spread to all men, because all sinned, 610 00:58:55.085 --> 00:58:59.605 it goes back to this moment that we're talking about, this moment, 611 00:59:00.225 --> 00:59:03.325 the fall of man. And we're learning that sin is serious. 612 00:59:03.785 --> 00:59:05.965 The consequences are die dire. 613 00:59:07.475 --> 00:59:12.255 The ultimate result is death. There's alienation and fractured in relationships. 614 00:59:12.555 --> 00:59:15.495 And when we look at this, we begin to say, well, is this, is it fixable? 615 00:59:15.725 --> 00:59:17.575 Because my goodness, when we look at this, 616 00:59:17.755 --> 00:59:20.015 it certainly seems like death is justified. 617 00:59:21.825 --> 00:59:25.005 But when we back up a little bit, there's a glimmer of hope, 618 00:59:25.805 --> 00:59:29.485 a glimmer of hope in verse 15. And this is God speaking to the serpent. 619 00:59:29.545 --> 00:59:32.845 And he says, I will put enmity between you and the woman, 620 00:59:34.185 --> 00:59:37.565 and between your offspring and her offspring, 621 00:59:37.905 --> 00:59:42.315 he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise 622 00:59:42.815 --> 00:59:43.875 his hill. 623 00:59:44.495 --> 00:59:48.155 And the glimmer that we get here is that death can be reversed, 624 00:59:48.495 --> 00:59:53.335 but it will come at great cost because God 625 00:59:53.795 --> 00:59:58.735 out of his love and his grace is going to send a true and better 626 00:59:58.925 --> 00:59:59.758 Adam, 627 01:00:00.355 --> 01:00:04.815 who will resist temptation and remain sinless and thus be qualified to pay the 628 01:00:04.816 --> 01:00:07.695 penalty that we deserve. And he will die in our place. 629 01:00:07.955 --> 01:00:12.635 And the curse will be reversed. But in this moment, 630 01:00:12.655 --> 01:00:17.505 that's in the future. And again, Paul expanding on this, this idea 631 01:00:19.025 --> 01:00:23.275 says four by one man's disobedience, the many were made sinners. 632 01:00:24.565 --> 01:00:26.665 So by one man's obedience, 633 01:00:27.165 --> 01:00:31.945 the many will be made righteous and that 634 01:00:33.095 --> 01:00:34.265 that is good news. 635 01:00:36.655 --> 01:00:39.235 But consider Adam's perspective after this day, 636 01:00:41.165 --> 01:00:43.395 we're back to chapter three, verse 21. 637 01:00:43.396 --> 01:00:48.075 And the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments and notice the word and 638 01:00:48.325 --> 01:00:50.795 skins, and he clothed them. 639 01:00:52.095 --> 01:00:55.875 We see provision in this moment at the expense of life. 640 01:00:56.335 --> 01:01:00.275 For the first time, something had to die to cover, 641 01:01:01.605 --> 01:01:05.135 something had to die. And it's alluding to here, I think, 642 01:01:05.535 --> 01:01:09.455 I think pointing to a substitute, 643 01:01:10.455 --> 01:01:11.815 pointing to a substitute. 644 01:01:12.235 --> 01:01:16.815 God is expressing grace in the face of sin and judgment to us. 645 01:01:17.115 --> 01:01:18.935 To us death 646 01:01:21.485 --> 01:01:23.745 is familiar. But to Adam, 647 01:01:24.005 --> 01:01:27.785 he recognized death as a punishment for sin. 648 01:01:29.285 --> 01:01:33.345 Every time he got dressed, every time he got dressed, 649 01:01:33.645 --> 01:01:36.705 he knew that something had to die so that he could be covered. 650 01:01:38.465 --> 01:01:40.885 The fall is fatal, 651 01:01:43.205 --> 01:01:45.945 but the good news is it's not final 652 01:01:47.595 --> 01:01:52.125 this moment, this worst moment in history, you talk about a very bad day. 653 01:01:52.475 --> 01:01:54.565 This is that day. And because of this, 654 01:01:55.105 --> 01:01:59.725 we get exposed to and experience sin all the time. And it drains, 655 01:01:59.785 --> 01:02:02.365 sin disrupts, it, disorients, it destroys, 656 01:02:02.385 --> 01:02:06.445 it motivates and moves us to run and to hide and to try to cover things up. 657 01:02:07.145 --> 01:02:10.765 And the presence of sin is so familiar to us. 658 01:02:10.875 --> 01:02:13.885 It's around us all the time that it doesn't make us afraid. 659 01:02:14.345 --> 01:02:16.005 And as sad as it should, 660 01:02:18.475 --> 01:02:22.345 it's just just normal. But it shouldn't be. 661 01:02:24.015 --> 01:02:27.505 There's a better way. There's two responses to sin. 662 01:02:27.855 --> 01:02:31.265 There's two responses to sin. And you will choose one, 663 01:02:32.165 --> 01:02:35.545 you'll choose one. And David, one of the heroes from the Old Testament, 664 01:02:36.105 --> 01:02:39.265 provides us examples for both. And here's the first. 665 01:02:39.285 --> 01:02:43.905 The first is the one that we tend to go to. We try to cover sin ourselves. 666 01:02:45.005 --> 01:02:46.625 We try to cover sin ourselves. 667 01:02:46.845 --> 01:02:50.465 But look at how David describes his experience when he tried to cover it up 668 01:02:50.466 --> 01:02:55.065 himself. He said, for when I kept silent, when I kept silent, 669 01:02:55.325 --> 01:03:00.105 my bones wasted away through my groaning all day 670 01:03:00.375 --> 01:03:04.065 long for day and night. Your hand was heavy upon me. 671 01:03:04.685 --> 01:03:08.305 My strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. 672 01:03:09.455 --> 01:03:11.665 When you try to cover sin, you're just miserable. 673 01:03:12.845 --> 01:03:17.585 You're just miserable because there's never quite enough material or 674 01:03:17.905 --> 01:03:21.265 cloth or cushion or couch to cover it up. 675 01:03:21.265 --> 01:03:26.045 There's something that's always hanging out. And so we're always exposed, 676 01:03:26.465 --> 01:03:28.645 but there's a second way to respond to sin. 677 01:03:29.505 --> 01:03:34.425 And this is the one that I would commend to you confess sin to God 678 01:03:36.075 --> 01:03:40.495 and let him cover it. David experienced this as well. He said, 679 01:03:40.615 --> 01:03:44.735 I acknowledge my sin to you. I did not cover my iniquity. 680 01:03:46.365 --> 01:03:46.925 I said, 681 01:03:46.925 --> 01:03:51.775 I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and you forgave the iniquity 682 01:03:51.776 --> 01:03:55.205 of my sin. And then he says, 683 01:03:55.475 --> 01:03:58.325 blessed is the one whose transgressions 684 01:03:59.845 --> 01:04:03.985 is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 685 01:04:04.525 --> 01:04:06.825 And the question that you have to wrestle to the ground, 686 01:04:07.885 --> 01:04:12.105 the question that you have to wrestle to the ground is who will cover 687 01:04:12.685 --> 01:04:16.215 my sin? The fall is fatal, 688 01:04:18.035 --> 01:04:22.335 but it's not final. We are fixable. We're fixable. 689 01:04:22.635 --> 01:04:27.575 And Jesus invites us into the unhidden life of faith. 690 01:04:29.995 --> 01:04:30.975 And for more on that, 691 01:04:34.315 --> 01:04:37.735 you'll have to come back next week. Let me pray for us. 692 01:04:39.525 --> 01:04:43.545 Dear heavenly Father. Lord, help us 693 01:04:48.475 --> 01:04:50.735 not to overlook the seriousness of sin, 694 01:04:51.155 --> 01:04:55.455 but have a healthy understanding of what it is so that we would have a good 695 01:04:55.456 --> 01:04:59.415 appreciation for who you are and what you've done for us. 696 01:05:00.715 --> 01:05:02.935 But I pray that you would work in our heads and our hearts, 697 01:05:02.936 --> 01:05:06.055 that we would not be moved to try to cover our sin, 698 01:05:06.056 --> 01:05:11.055 but realize that there's a better way And a better one who can cover it. 699 01:05:13.615 --> 01:05:14.448 Lord, help us, 700 01:05:15.685 --> 01:05:20.565 help us to be wise and dependent and 701 01:05:20.625 --> 01:05:22.645 not buy into the lies of the enemy 702 01:05:24.185 --> 01:05:27.365 and think that we can find something better apart from you. 703 01:05:28.945 --> 01:05:32.125 We ask for this in the strong matchless powerful name of Jesus, 704 01:05:32.825 --> 01:05:36.245 our substitute and our savior. Amen.