Forbidden Fruit Is The Pits! If I could learn just one thing from: ADAM AND EVE… Genesis 3:1-19.

Forbidden Fruit Is The Pits!Forbidden Fruit Is The Pits!

If I could learn just one thing If I could learn just one thing from:from:

ADAM AND EVE…ADAM AND EVE…

Genesis 3:1-19Genesis 3:1-19

A New Series of LessonsA New Series of Lessons

Each week we’ll examine an incident in Each week we’ll examine an incident in the life of important Bible characters.the life of important Bible characters.

We will search for at least one important We will search for at least one important lesson we can learn from each.lesson we can learn from each.

This week we begin – in the BEGINNING This week we begin – in the BEGINNING – with the life of Adam and Eve.– with the life of Adam and Eve.

If we could learn just one lesson from their If we could learn just one lesson from their life, what would it be?life, what would it be?

When God Speaks – You’d Better Listen!When God Speaks – You’d Better Listen!

God gave Adam and Eve a clear, concise God gave Adam and Eve a clear, concise commandment:commandment:

““And the LORD God commanded the And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free toman, "You are free toeat from any eat from any tree in the tree in the garden; but you garden; but you must not eat must not eat from the tree of from the tree of the knowledge of the knowledge of good and evil, good and evil, for when you eat for when you eat of it you will of it you will surely die."surely die."

Genesis 2:16-17

Eve gave a clear, concise statement of the Eve gave a clear, concise statement of the commandment…commandment…

The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "

Genesis 3:2-3

There was no possibility of misunderstanding There was no possibility of misunderstanding the original statement from God.the original statement from God.

God wants our ears, eyes, hearts, minds and God wants our ears, eyes, hearts, minds and bodiesbodies

God’s words must be carefully heeded or God’s words must be carefully heeded or disaster is sure to follow.disaster is sure to follow.

Even a child is known by his actions,        by whether his conduct is pure and

right.  Ears that hear and eyes that see—        the LORD has made them both.

Proverbs 20:11-12

•If we obey God, then our conduct will be pure and right.

“In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:    " 'You will be ever hearing but never

understanding;       you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.  For this people's heart has become calloused;

      they hardly hear with their ears,       and they have closed their eyes.

   Otherwise they might see with their eyes,       hear with their ears,

      understand with their hearts    and turn, and I would heal them.‘

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”

Matthew 13:14-16

When Satan SpeaksWhen Satan SpeaksYou Better Cover Your EarsYou Better Cover Your Ears

A “Tiny” Re-interpretation of God’s WordA “Tiny” Re-interpretation of God’s Word

•You will NOT surely die!

•Satan changes only one word of God’s original statement.

•Satan convinces them that he knows more than God.

•He also convinces them that he can be trusted more than God.

A “Small” Enticing hors’ d’oeuvreA “Small” Enticing hors’ d’oeuvreto enhance the forbidden fruitto enhance the forbidden fruit

•You will be like God.

•Your eyes will be opened.

•You will be enlightened.

•Only Satan could make “knowing evil” sound like a good thing.

•Remember: God had only ever shown Adam and Eve goodness.

Doesn’t Sin Taste Good?Doesn’t Sin Taste Good?

At first!

Forbidden Fruit is Really The PitsForbidden Fruit is Really The Pits

•We need to know the real truth about equality with God

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,        neither are your ways my ways,"

       declares the LORD.  "As the heavens are higher than the earth,        so are my ways higher than your ways        and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

The Real Truth About the Cost of SinThe Real Truth About the Cost of Sin

•Romans 6:23 -- For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

•Mankind suffered the loss of paradise

•Mankind suffered physical death

•Mankind suffered spiritual death

•Enmity entered into the world

The Real Truth About the Nature of SatanThe Real Truth About the Nature of Satan

•John 8:44 – Jesus says Satan is a murderer and the father of lies.

•2 Corinthians 11:14-15 – Paul says he disguises himself as an angel of light. So, he is a deceitful, chameleon schemer.

•1 Peter 5:8 – Peter tells us Satan prowls about like a ravenous lion. He is an insatiable hunter.

The Real Truth About Resisting TemptationThe Real Truth About Resisting Temptation

•God always gives us a way out!

•No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

God will never tempt me: Only Satan WillGod will never tempt me: Only Satan Will

•James 1:13 -- When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

Only I Am To BlameOnly I Am To Blame

James 1:14-16James 1:14-16 -- …but each one is -- …but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.brothers.

So…So…

What’s the one thing I learn from Adam and What’s the one thing I learn from Adam and Eve?Eve? The devil wants to kill me.The devil wants to kill me. God wants to save me.God wants to save me. Only I can decide which direction to go.Only I can decide which direction to go. God has enabled us to withstand any God has enabled us to withstand any

temptation.temptation. We simply have to refuse to eat forbidden We simply have to refuse to eat forbidden

fruit.fruit.