Coachlight Bible Study – Genesis Lesson XI - Genesis 3:1

Coachlight Bible Study – Genesis Lesson XII - Genesis 3:15 – 3:24

The Curse – Part VI – The Path Back To Paradise

We have learned that Adam & Eve sinned because they choose to believe a corruption of God’s Word above God’s pure holy Word, which God exalts above all His holy Name. (Psalm 138:2). The result of this choice was a curse upon Satan, Eve, Adam, and the earth, and a provision of atonement (covering) by God after an acceptance of God’s Word.

The result of the curse on Satan resulted in a prophetic revelation to mankind of a battle between two seeds that would continue for ages to come. This prophetic message insured that the coming “Seed of the Woman” would, after many battles, eventually crush the head of the “seed of the serpent”. God’s message to mankind continued with God’s provision of the “coats of skins”. These “coats of skins” also gave a prophetic lesson, teaching that man’s way to atonement (or covering) for sin was useless, but God’s provision would lead man on a path back to paradise. (Revelation 22:3)

We have also learned that the result of the curse on Eve has played out in Eve’s life as pain and suffering in childbirth, but God’s merciful prophetic Word has actually made Eve a “type of Christ” (Isaiah 53:10), Who would be the final sacrifice for sin.

The result of the curse on Adam and the earth, much of which we also are affected today, played out in Adam’s life in the form of sorrow, pain & suffering, sweat & tears, and eventually death. God’s “very good” creation now seems to be wearing down and under the “bondage of corruption”. The entire “creation was made subject to to vanity”, and the earth began to “wax old as doth a garment (Hebrews 1:10-12). Since all flesh is made of the earth’s physical elements, it is also subject to the law of decay and death as the “grass witherith and falleth away” (I Peter 1:24). In other words, everything will eventually wear out, run down, grow old, decay, and pass into dust.

As a result of this “curse” are we today doomed to live out this curse of sorrow, pain, sweat, and death with no hope? Does this same satan have power over us so that we are helpless and must live with depression, sin, degeneration, hopelessness, etc.? The world view would tell us so and the only offer is counseling and other man’s ideas to help us cope. But God’s Word is what will give us the hope we need.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Romans 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. {the…: or, every creature}

Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

I. The Curse On Adam

Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Genesis 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; {bring…: Heb. cause to bud}

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

A. The full force of the curse fell on Adam

1. This included all men and women “in Adam” – even Eve was of Adam

2. This included the earth

a. The dust of the earth was brought under the bondage of decay and disintegration

1. The earth became reluctant to yield food

2. Instead of food, noxious weeds and thorns grew

3. This would require sweat and tears on behalf of man for food

4. Despite man’s entire struggle, death would eventually triumph

b. Plants began to mutate

1. What used to be beneficial was now disintegrating

2. Thorns & thistles were the result

1 Peter 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: {For: or, For that}

1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

c. Animals began to mutate

1. Their diets began to have a deficiency of proteins & vitamins

2. Teeth & nails in animals mutated into fangs & claws for carnivorous appetites

d. Bacteria and other microorganisms began to mutate

1. What used to be beneficial for soil maintenance, purification processes, etc.

2. Now sometimes proved to be harmful and even fatal to other organisms

Hebrews 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Hebrews 1:11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

B. Instead of things being made - They are becoming disorganized and simple

C. Instead of life & growth – There is decay & death

D. Instead of evolution – There is degeneration

E. This is called the Second Law of Thermodynamics

F. Man is a sinner and brought God’s curse on the world

Science Laws and Creation

First Law of Thermodynamics: Conservation of Energy – Origin After Creation

Matter (and energy) can not be created or destroyed, it can change state, but the total quantity of matter plus energy still exists as after the six days of Creation. Preserved are the laws of nature, matter, energy, basic types of organisms, etc.

Second Law of Thermodynamics: Entropy – Origin After The Curse

Energy goes from a state of usable energy to a state of less usable energy for doing work in an isolated system

Complexity

Down Arrow Callout: Decay

1. Deterioration of energy in a working system

2. Degree of disorder in a structured system

3. Loss of information in a structured system

B. The fourfold Curse on Adam

1. Sorrow – Resulting from continual disappointment and futility

2. Pain & Suffering – symbolized by thorns – hinders man in providing for his family

3. Sweat & Tears – Strong crying of struggle against a hostile environment

4. Physical Death – This would eventually triumph over all of man’s efforts

II. The Answer To The Curse

A. Christ, the Second Adam was made the curse for us:

Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

1. Christ is the “man of sorrows”

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

2. Christ was “wounded” and “bruised” for our transgressions and iniquities

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. {wounded: or, tormented} {stripes: Heb. bruise}

3. Christ wore the very thorns of the curse on His crown:

Mark 15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

4. Christ, in His agony, sweat “drops of blood”

Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

5. Christ offered up prayers and strong supplication with strong crying and tears:

Hebrews 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; {in that…: or, for his piety}

6. Christ was brought into the “dust of death”

Psalms 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

7. Because of Christ there will be no more sorrow, pain, crying, or death:

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

8. Because of Christ there will be no more curse:

Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

B. Though The Curse Will Not Be Lifted Until Christ Returns to purge the earth:

1. Christ Has Paid The Price For Redemption

a. Not with corruptible things – (Things under the bondage of corruption):

1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

b. But With His Precious Blood:

1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

c. This Work Of Christ Was Planned Before Creation:

1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

d. This Work Of Christ Was So Our Faith & Hope Would Be In God:

1 Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

e. This Work Of Christ Was By The Incorruptible Word Of God

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

2. We Can Now Accept This Deliverance By Faith:

a. We Can Be In Sorrow, But Rejoice:

II Corinthians 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

b. We Can Endure The Thorn In The Flesh With Grace & Strength:

II Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

II Corinthians 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

II Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

c. We have Rest Even When Our Labor Ceases Not Night & Day With Tears:

Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

d. We Know The Power Of His Resurrection Even Though We Are Conform table Unto His Death:

Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

e. We Now Have The Downpayment Of Our Inheritance:

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: {places: or, things}

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephesians 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: {heaven: Gr. the heavens}

Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

III. Adam’s Confession After The Curse

Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. {Eve: Heb. Chavah: that is Living}

God had pronounced the great curse, with all its intricacies and implications, but He had also given an even greater promise – that of the coming Redeemer. When Adam heard God’s Word this time, he believed God and His promise of salvation in spite of Adam’s sin and the resulting curse. This time Adam believed God’s Word instead of corrupting it or doubting and rejecting it.

A. This time Adam believed God At His Word

B. Adam called his wife’s name Eve – chavvah meaning “life”

1. This indicates that Adam had faith in God’s promises

2. This indicates that Adam believed that Adam & Eve would have children

3. Adam knew the Seed of the Woman would come from that offspring

4. The Mother Of All Living – Makes Eve a Type Of Our Heavenly home:

Galatians 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

III. The Lord God’s Provision

Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

A. In response to Adam’s Confession, God Provided A Covering For Nakedness

1. Their self-made fig leaves were completely inadequate

2. God’s provision of Innocent blood was shown to be needed for the covering:

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

B. The typical teaching was that the woman’s Seed would

1. Shed His own blood in the coming conflict

2. This would happen before the complete deliverance could occur

IV. Paradise Lost

Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Genesis 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

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

A. The Second Triune Council

1. The council recognized that “Man had become one of Us, to know good and evil”

2. This statement was made in sadness

a. Man had once known only the goodness of God

b. Now man has known the evil in rejecting God’s Word

c. Now man knew the suffering that results from rejecting God’s Word

d. Now man’s “goodness” as promised by the serpent was not what was hoped

e. Man had been created in God’s image – That image was now marred by evil

3. God had to drive out man from the garden

a. Adam & Eve Were Reluctant to leave their paradise for the unknown world

b. They were afraid of never seeing God again

4. To guard the garden’s entrance to the tree of life, God placed two cherubim east

B. Cherubim are always associated with the throne of God

Psalms 18:10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

Psalms 80:1 <<To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph.>> Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. {of: or, for}

Psalms 99:1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. {be moved: Heb. stagger}

C. Cherubim Are Associated With The Throne Of God

Cherubim Are Associated With The Throne Of God
Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Ezekiel’s Cherubim	Isaiah’s Cherubim	John’s Cherubim
Ezekiel 1:4-28; 10:1-22	Isaiah 6:1-6	Revelation 4:6-8

V. Paradise Regained

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Revelation 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Revelation 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: