The Fall — Part 2: 02/20/2024

Broadcast

                           The Fall - Part 2
                             Genesis 3:1-3
                              02/20/2024


        1    Now the serpent was more crafty than any other
             beast of the field that the LORD God had made.  He
             said to the woman, ``Did God actually say, You
             shall not eat of any tree in the garden?''
        2    And the woman said to the serpent, ``We may eat of
             the fruit of the trees in the garden,
        3    but God said, `You shall not eat of the fruit of
             the tree that is in the midst of the garden,
             neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'''
             (ESV)

        We believe, teach, and confess that the account of the fall
   of man into sin as recorded in Genesis is true.  God's response
   echoed throughout history and gives us hope today, even when we
   are surrounded by sin and death.

        Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of
        the field that the LORD God had made.  He said to the
        woman, ``Did God actually say, You shall not eat of any
        tree in the garden?''  And the woman said to the
        serpent, ``We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the
        garden, but God said, `You shall not eat of the fruit
        of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither
        shall you touch it, lest you die.'''


        The devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh desire that
   we turn our backs on God, that we ignore Him and His love.  We
   desire to be in control, even when everything is falling apart.
   Sin begins with doubting God's Word.  ``Did God actually say?''

        Did God actually give a single command to Adam, who in turn
   told Eve?  Did God actually promise a Savior who would pay the
   price of our sin, of our rebellion?  Did God actually raise Jesus
   from the dead?  Did God actually say that Jesus will come again
   to judge the living and the dead?  If we doubt God's Word, we
   eventually will have no hope when everything is falling apart.
   Because God gave a single command, because Adam did not protect
   Eve when she disobeyed the command, and then also disobeyed, sin
   and death entered the world.  Yet God, in His mercy, even on the
   day of the first sin, graciously promised to redeem us from sin
   and death.

        May our Lord comfort you with the sure and certain knowledge
   that Jesus died and rose again for your redemption.  Amen.