The Image Of God #7: Sin & Temptation
GENESIS SERMON SERIES
I. Introduction
a. Talking serpent?
i. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. (Rev 20:2)
ii. Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. (Genesis 3:1)
b. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil?
i. 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:15-17)
ii. “Unless we know everything, we only know relatively; unless we know comprehensively, we cannot know absolutely. Therefore, only God in heaven who transcends time and space, has the power to know truly what is good and bad for life. Thus, the tree represents knowledge and power that belongs to God alone. Human beings must depend upon a revelation from the only one who truly knows good and evil.” (Bruce Waltke)
II. Dynamics of Temptation
a. Isolation
1.. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1)
2. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1)
b. Distortion
1. “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1)
2. He [the serpent] said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall NOT eat of ANY (= “ALL”) tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1)
3. And the woman said to the serpent, “… God said…” (Genesis 3:3)
4. And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden…” (Genesis 3:2)
5. “… 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.’” (Genesis 3:3)
6. 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.’” (Genesis 3:2-3)
c. Negation
1. But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. (Genesis 3:4)
2. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5)
III. Overcoming Temptation
a. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Cor 10:13)