The Fall — Part 4: 02/22/2024

Broadcast

                           The Fall - Part 4
                            Genesis 3:11-13
                              02/22/2024


        11   He said, ``Who told you that you were naked? Have
             you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not
             to eat?''
        12   The man said, ``The woman whom you gave to be with
             me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.''
        13   Then the Lord God said to the woman, ``What is
             this that you have done?'' The woman said, ``The
             serpent deceived me, and I ate.''  (ESV)

        When God confronted Adam and Eve with their sin, neither one
   took responsibility.  Adam tried to place the blame on God for
   giving him the gift of marriage.  The woman blamed the serpent.
        He said, ``Who told you that you were naked? Have you
        eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to
        eat?''  The man said, ``The woman whom you gave to be
        with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.''
        Then the Lord God said to the woman, ``What is this
        that you have done?'' The woman said, ``The serpent
        deceived me, and I ate.''


        Immediately the desire to be like God, the desire to be in
   control, the desire to be perfect in our own eyes was evident.
   ``I am innocent, it is Your fault, God, for giving me this woman.
   If you didn't do that, I would not have eaten from the tree.  I
   am innocent.''  And Eve said, ``Don't blame me, I am a poor
   innocent bystander who was deceived by the serpent.  I am
   innocent.''

        Thus sin entered the world.  Every child is conceived in
   sin.  How do we know this?  God said, ``If you sin, you will
   surely die.''  Saint Paul wrote, ``For the wages of sin is death,
   but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
   Lord.''1 Only sinners die, and children die, therefore children
   are sinners.

        But God, in cursing the serpent, gave hope to Adam, Eve, and
   all people.  The gift of eternal life is found in Jesus.

        May our Lord comfort you with this gift of life.  Amen.