As we study Genesis 3 and the fall in this week’s Sabbath School lesson, I am amazed how much Gospel theology is packed into this one chapter. 

In Genesis 3 we find The Plan of Salvation.

The wages of sin is death.

“but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” Genesis 3:3 NKJV

We cannot cover our own sin or be saved by our own works.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:7,10 NKJV

While we cannot save ourselves, God has promised us a Savior.

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15 NKJV

While we cannot cover or save ourselves Jesus, the Lamb of of God died to cover our sins and save us.

Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. Genesis 3:21 NKJV

In Genesis 3 we find the truth about God’s Word.

While Eve reminds the serpent of God’s Word the serpent casts doubt on God’s word at first, and then turns around and calls God’s Word an outright lie. 

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”  And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. Genesis 3:1-4 NKJV

The serpent then suggests that Eve does not need God’s Word. She can be a god herself and decide for herself what is right and wrong.

For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5 NKJV

The serpent assures Eve she won’t die for disobeying God. After all, how dare God tell us what is right and wrong, much less give us consequences for having our own opinions and way of doing things! The serpent tells Eve she will be like God. God makes the rules. God is the judge between right and wrong. If Eve becomes like God she will make the rules and decide for herself what is right and wrong. This was implied in the serpent’s comment to Eve, “you will know both good and evil.” In other words, “She would be a god. She would be a law unto herself. ” Ellen White, Christ Triumphant, January 16

Even with all the deceptions and misrepresentations God’s Word proves true. Adam and Eve died for disobeying. “For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19 NKJV 

In Genesis 3 we find the truth about death. 

The serpent’s lie opens the door for spiritualism. 

Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.” Genesis 3:4 NKJV

We see that mankind really does die and just returns to dust until the resurrection.

For dust you are, And to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19 NKJV 

We see that sinners do not have immortality and do not get to live forever.

Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— Genesis 3:22 NKJV

We see that angels are not our dead loved ones. We do not become angels when we die. God sends Cherubim angels to guard the garden and yet no one has died yet. Angels are not our dead loved ones. 

So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:24 NKJV.

In Genesis 3 we find an investigative judgment. 

Many throw shade on the Biblical teaching of the investigative judgment, saying God does not need to investigate since He already knows everything. Yet we see an investigation in Genesis 3 even though God already knew everything. Remember the investigation is not for God only. He is offering accountability to the entire universe. At the conclusion of the investigation in Genesis 3 and at the end of days, believing mankind will be justified and Satan will bear the ultimate responsibility for and punishment for sin.

And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.  And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:11-15 NKJV

Did I miss anything? Can you find anymore Gospel theology in Genesis chapter 3? 

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/genesis-3-is-packed-with-gospel-theology/

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15, NIV). What did the Lord say to the serpent here, and what hope is implied in these verses?

God begins His judgment with the serpent because he is the one who initiated the whole drama. The serpent, too, is the only being who is cursed in this narrative.

We reach here a kind of “reversal” of Creation. While Creation led to life, the appreciation of good, and blessings, judgment leads to death, evil, and curses — but also, to the hope and promise of salvation. Attached to the somber picture of the crushed serpent eating the dust (Genesis 3:14) shines the hope of the salvation of humankind, which appears in the form of a prophecy. Even before the condemnations of Adam and Eve, which will follow, the Lord gives them the hope of redemption (Genesis 3:15). Yes, they have sinned; yes, they will suffer because of their sin; and, yes, they will die, too, because of the sins. But despite all that, there is the ultimate hope, the hope of salvation.

Compare Genesis 3:15 with Romans 16:20, Hebrews 2:14, and Revelation 12:17. How is the plan of salvation, as well as the great controversy, revealed in these texts?

Notice the parallels between Genesis 3:15 and Revelation 12:17: the dragon (serpent), enraged (enmity); the seed (offspring); and the woman in Eden and the woman in Revelation 12:17. The battle (the great controversy) that moved to Eden, with the Fall, will continue to the end of time. However, the promise of Satan’s defeat was already given in Eden, in that his head will be crushed, a theme more explicitly revealed in Revelation, which depicts his final demise (Revelation 20:10). That is, right from the start, humanity was given hope that there will be a way out of the terrible mess that came from the knowledge of evil, a hope that we all can share in right now.

Why is it so comforting to see that, in Eden itself, where sin and evil on earth began, the Lord started to reveal the plan of salvation?

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/wednesday-fate-of-serpent/