WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.259 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:15.419 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:25.859 --> 00:00:31.300 Good morning, I'm Constance St. Clair and I'm a member of the Christ Church Youth Group. 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:40.340 Today's reading is from the book of Genesis, chapter 2, verses 15 through 17, and chapter 3, verse 1 through 24. 00:00:40.340 --> 00:00:46.680 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 00:00:47.060 --> 00:00:49.000 And the Lord God commanded the man, 00:00:49.480 --> 00:00:57.700 You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for if you eat from it, you will certainly die. 00:00:58.480 --> 00:01:02.980 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. 00:01:03.440 --> 00:01:04.560 He said to the woman, 00:01:05.100 --> 00:01:08.560 Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden? 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:10.600 The woman said to the serpent, 00:01:11.320 --> 00:01:14.480 We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 00:01:14.939 --> 00:01:20.439 You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die. 00:01:21.020 --> 00:01:24.120 You will not certainly die, the serpent said to the woman. 00:01:25.320 --> 00:01:31.140 For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:40.579 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some of it and ate it. 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:44.760 She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 00:01:45.500 --> 00:01:52.599 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked, so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 00:01:52.599 --> 00:02:01.780 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 00:02:02.500 --> 00:02:05.199 But the Lord God called to the man, Where are you? 00:02:05.739 --> 00:02:11.280 He answered, I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid. 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:14.699 And he said, Who told you that you were naked? 00:02:15.340 --> 00:02:18.219 Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? 00:02:18.219 --> 00:02:24.539 The man said, The woman you put here with me, she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it. 00:02:25.180 --> 00:02:28.840 Then the Lord God said to the woman, What is this you have done? 00:02:29.460 --> 00:02:32.680 The woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:40.740 So the Lord God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, cursed are you among all livestock and all wild animals. 00:02:41.300 --> 00:02:44.879 You will crawl on your belly, and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:49.840 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers. 00:02:50.340 --> 00:02:52.799 He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:57.620 To the woman he said, I will make your pains and childbearing very severe. 00:02:58.180 --> 00:03:00.419 With painful labor you will give birth to children. 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:04.139 Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you. 00:03:04.900 --> 00:03:10.319 To Adam he said, Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:11.960 you must not eat from it. 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:14.240 Cursed is the ground because of you. 00:03:14.820 --> 00:03:18.280 Through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:22.840 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 00:03:23.580 --> 00:03:27.020 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, 00:03:27.580 --> 00:03:28.719 since from it you were taken. 00:03:29.300 --> 00:03:31.960 For dust you are, and to dust you will return. 00:03:33.100 --> 00:03:36.819 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. 00:03:36.819 --> 00:03:41.560 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:48.400 And the Lord God said, The man has now become like one of us, knowing the good and evil. 00:03:48.959 --> 00:03:54.439 He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat and live forever. 00:03:55.180 --> 00:04:00.180 So the Lord God banished him from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 00:04:00.180 --> 00:04:10.180 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. 00:04:10.640 --> 00:04:12.780 The grass withers and the flowers fade. 00:04:13.640 --> 00:04:15.360 The Lord for God is forever. 00:04:15.760 --> 00:04:17.000 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:04:17.460 --> 00:04:23.399 We asked the question last week, where did everything come from? 00:04:23.399 --> 00:04:28.299 And we considered our massive universe that we live in. 00:04:28.379 --> 00:04:31.139 We considered the magnificent bodies that we inhabit. 00:04:31.979 --> 00:04:35.079 And I wanted to follow up on that with two quotes this morning. 00:04:35.819 --> 00:04:38.579 The first is from Jeffrey Marcy. 00:04:38.679 --> 00:04:41.679 He was a professor of astronomy here at UC Berkeley. 00:04:42.279 --> 00:04:46.479 And this is, he's describing the planets in our solar system. 00:04:46.579 --> 00:04:47.259 He says this, 00:04:48.259 --> 00:04:50.179 They're all in the same plane. 00:04:50.180 --> 00:04:53.800 They're all going around in the same direction. 00:04:54.519 --> 00:04:55.959 It's perfect, you know. 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:57.160 It's gorgeous. 00:04:57.819 --> 00:04:59.720 It's almost uncanny. 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:03.840 The second quote is from Freeman Dyson. 00:05:04.860 --> 00:05:10.160 He was a theoretical physicist and mathematician who taught at Cornell and Princeton. 00:05:11.259 --> 00:05:12.160 And he said this, he said, 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:34.760 And this fits really well with what we're talking about in Genesis 1 to 2 that reveals this absolute yet personal creator God who made everything out of nothing. 00:05:34.759 --> 00:05:50.959 Many of the pioneers of modern science, multiple winners of Nobel Prizes in physics and chemistry and physiology and medicine have found Christianity to be a fruitful context in which to carry out their research. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:56.560 Cambridge University has a physics laboratory, the Cavendish Laboratory. 00:05:56.560 --> 00:06:02.519 And over the entrance to that laboratory are written the words of Psalm 111 that says, 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:07.379 The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all of them that have pleasure therein. 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:14.199 And at Harvard University, at Emerson Hall, the philosophy department meets in Emerson Hall. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:18.759 It has the words of Psalm 8 engraved in stone above the entrance. 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:19.120 It says, 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:21.279 What is man that thou art mindful of him? 00:06:22.519 --> 00:06:23.840 And that's what we've been talking about. 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:27.459 What an honor it is to be made in the image of God. 00:06:27.579 --> 00:06:30.779 What an honor it is to be the creation of God. 00:06:30.859 --> 00:06:43.919 What an honor it is to have been given this task to rule over creation and to turn creation into a temple where everything and everyone is serving the Lord and praising Him. 00:06:44.919 --> 00:06:51.519 And yet, despite this incredibly high calling and the dignity that's been bestowed upon us, 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:55.399 most people agree that something's off. 00:06:56.740 --> 00:06:58.539 Something is not right. 00:06:58.659 --> 00:07:00.319 It's not the way that it's supposed to be. 00:07:01.339 --> 00:07:02.459 We feel it in ourselves. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:04.240 We feel it in our culture. 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:10.899 We can describe many of the symptoms of our misery with relative ease, 00:07:10.899 --> 00:07:17.359 but we find it harder to agree on a diagnosis of the underlying cause. 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:22.919 You know, what the disease, what the disorder actually is. 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:31.799 Many social commentators that you can read about pretty much on a daily basis are going to talk to you about restlessness. 00:07:32.899 --> 00:07:36.120 You know, the sense of stress and overwhelm that people feel. 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:42.819 They'll talk about psychological ill health and the rise of anxiety and depression. 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:49.920 They'll talk about the culture of fear that is increasing year over year. 00:07:50.840 --> 00:07:57.920 They'll talk about being polarized and our uncivil public discourse. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:06.980 Identity politics, racism, the growth of the extreme right and the extreme left, 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:13.220 the breakdown of community, the erosion of ethical standards and basic morality, 00:08:13.660 --> 00:08:17.800 increasing self-oriented materialism, 00:08:18.200 --> 00:08:23.800 and the widening inequalities in our economy that result from that. 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:27.879 And I'm sure you could add on many, many more that you've read about. 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:31.759 But the question we want to ask today is, 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:36.840 does our problem boil down to a political problem? 00:08:38.560 --> 00:08:40.480 Or to an economic problem? 00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:42.840 Or to a social problem? 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:45.580 Or is there something deeper? 00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:51.620 Is there something more basic, more personal, more spiritual and relational? 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:56.740 And that's what I want to explore here in Genesis chapter 3. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:00.539 I want to talk about living between commands and schemes. 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:04.659 Secondly, I want to talk about living as fallen creatures. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:09.159 And thirdly, about living in the hope of paradise regained. 00:09:09.259 --> 00:09:12.379 So living between commands and schemes, living as fallen creatures, 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:14.620 and living in the hope of paradise regained. 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:19.100 First of all, we are living between commands and schemes. 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:22.480 And you can see that in verse 15 of chapter 2. 00:09:22.580 --> 00:09:22.779 It says, 00:09:22.920 --> 00:09:27.639 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:29.639 And the Lord God commanded the man, 00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:31.460 You're free to eat from any tree in the garden, 00:09:31.540 --> 00:09:34.000 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:36.460 for when you eat of it, you will certainly die. 00:09:37.460 --> 00:09:38.420 We have a slide. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:45.100 And this slide is meant to depict for us the distinction between, 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:47.580 I think it's the other slide, actually. 00:09:47.580 --> 00:09:48.639 Is there another slide? 00:09:49.639 --> 00:09:50.080 There we go. 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:52.900 The distinction between the creator, 00:09:53.300 --> 00:09:59.040 who is sovereign and has sovereign authority and control over his creation and his creatures, 00:09:59.700 --> 00:10:01.180 and therefore he's independent, 00:10:02.300 --> 00:10:05.720 and his creatures which are derivative, 00:10:06.139 --> 00:10:12.040 which depend on God's authority for our existence and our sustenance. 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:14.579 And what this suggests to us, 00:10:14.719 --> 00:10:17.179 what Genesis 2 tells us, 00:10:17.219 --> 00:10:22.219 is that our creator God built into his universe certain laws. 00:10:22.899 --> 00:10:23.000 Right? 00:10:23.099 --> 00:10:24.199 So if you go out today, 00:10:24.439 --> 00:10:27.099 you'll find physical laws out in the world. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:29.539 And if you break those laws, 00:10:29.659 --> 00:10:33.000 if you jump from a high place and you break the law of gravity, 00:10:33.059 --> 00:10:33.559 what's going to happen? 00:10:33.779 --> 00:10:34.480 You will be broken. 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:35.659 Okay? 00:10:35.659 --> 00:10:36.480 If you break that law, 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:37.179 you're going to be broken. 00:10:37.179 --> 00:10:41.179 And there are certain moral and spiritual laws 00:10:41.179 --> 00:10:45.439 that God has also built into the world to protect us and to keep us safe. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:46.519 Right? 00:10:46.579 --> 00:10:49.059 God is like a good parent who says to their child, 00:10:49.199 --> 00:10:50.699 hey, you are totally free. 00:10:51.159 --> 00:10:51.359 Right? 00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:55.239 You're absolutely free to go out and enjoy the whole house. 00:10:55.339 --> 00:10:57.479 You can enjoy the entire yard. 00:10:57.480 --> 00:11:00.220 But just don't touch the stove. 00:11:01.300 --> 00:11:02.879 And don't go play in the busy street. 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:05.379 Because then you're going to be miserable. 00:11:06.560 --> 00:11:07.519 The creator God says, 00:11:07.700 --> 00:11:11.279 look, if you want freedom for enjoying paradise, 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:16.600 then you should not seek freedom from my moral and spiritual laws. 00:11:17.560 --> 00:11:22.539 And this is interesting because our culture seeks freedom from all the time. 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:22.860 Right? 00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:27.940 Freedom from constraints that limit our individualism, our self-expression. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:33.560 We especially seek freedom from even the things that will cause us to be burned 00:11:33.560 --> 00:11:34.940 and cause us to get run over. 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:38.580 And that's strange because also in our culture, 00:11:38.700 --> 00:11:42.720 we know that to have freedom for the things that we value, 00:11:43.460 --> 00:11:46.800 to have freedom to become a master at a sport 00:11:46.800 --> 00:11:48.720 or to gain mastery over an instrument, 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:52.980 to master a field of knowledge or an area of expertise, 00:11:53.300 --> 00:11:57.960 then you have to submit yourself to the right kind of liberating constraints 00:11:57.960 --> 00:12:02.379 if you want to ultimately be free to excel in those things 00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:03.800 and to be excellent in those things. 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:09.779 And what Genesis 2 is telling us is that God gave us this bountiful 00:12:09.779 --> 00:12:14.379 and these lavish provisions in the Garden of Eden. 00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:20.460 And he did that so that his image-bearing human beings could carry out their privilege, 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:24.960 they could carry out their responsibility as image bearers, 00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:28.960 as garden keepers, as culture makers, as temple builders, 00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:31.679 all the things we talked about last week, 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:34.059 so that we could, he gave us all these blessings 00:12:34.059 --> 00:12:37.259 so we could obediently serve God and worship God 00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:40.539 and we could enjoy life and enjoy his goodness. 00:12:40.539 --> 00:12:45.659 Basically what this is telling us is that God gave us one million yeses 00:12:45.659 --> 00:12:49.259 and he gave us one no. 00:12:50.139 --> 00:12:53.299 A million yeses and one no. 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:57.639 And parents, when you tell your kid no, what do they say? 00:12:58.319 --> 00:12:58.959 Why not? 00:12:59.719 --> 00:13:00.500 And then what do you say? 00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:02.459 Because I said so. 00:13:03.779 --> 00:13:05.839 You don't sit there and go, well, let's have a conversation, 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:08.319 let's do a little cost-benefit analysis on what I just, 00:13:08.319 --> 00:13:09.519 no, because I said so. 00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:13.939 Well, something's here in addition to these divine commands, 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:15.279 and we read about it in verse 1. 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:15.539 It says, 00:13:15.699 --> 00:13:20.019 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made, 00:13:20.079 --> 00:13:20.860 and he said to the woman, 00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:24.779 Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden? 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:26.000 Now we're not told how, 00:13:26.599 --> 00:13:29.279 but we just know that there's this dark power here. 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:29.919 It's mysterious. 00:13:31.179 --> 00:13:34.360 He's taken over one of God's good creatures. 00:13:35.319 --> 00:13:37.919 Jesus calls this power the devil or Satan. 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:41.699 He says that he's a liar and he's the father of lies. 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:45.240 Jesus says that he came to steal and kill and destroy. 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:49.939 He told us to pray that God would deliver us from this evil one. 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:55.360 And this is the very same one who came to Jesus when he was in the wilderness for 40 days, 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:56.819 and he tempted Jesus. 00:13:57.959 --> 00:14:01.860 And then he continued to tempt Jesus throughout his ministry all the way to the very end. 00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:05.500 And we need to remember that this is not like Star Wars, 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:09.720 where there's this unending conflict between the true force and the dark side, right? 00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:14.980 God, the creator, and this created angel that's fallen, the devil, 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:20.460 are not these two equal and opposite powers that depend on being balanced with each other. 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:21.860 Right? 00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:23.899 For various reasons, it's another sermon, 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:29.840 but the devil is an angel who sought to usurp God's throne and subvert God's kingdom, 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:33.139 and therefore he's fallen to a very low place. 00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:36.679 And here he is posing a question, 00:14:37.319 --> 00:14:38.559 did God really say? 00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:44.539 And what this tells us is that all the books and the movies that we consume 00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:49.519 that depict evil as something stark and something ugly and something in your face 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:50.519 and something obvious, 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:52.159 all those movies are wrong. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:53.299 All those books are wrong. 00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:56.600 Because evil is subtle. 00:14:58.179 --> 00:14:59.279 It's low key. 00:15:00.579 --> 00:15:05.360 It comes to us as something quite attractive and something quite sophisticated. 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:09.379 The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2, 00:15:09.459 --> 00:15:09.699 he says, 00:15:09.819 --> 00:15:12.939 we are not unaware of Satan's schemes lest he outwit us. 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:18.899 And what he's saying there is that the devil has subtle and shrewd schemes 00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:23.480 that can outsmart us and outmaneuver us and outwit us, 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:25.259 and we need to know what they are. 00:15:25.319 --> 00:15:26.019 So what are they? 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:30.819 Well, it's not so much to win us over to a particular argument 00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:35.879 as it is to cultivate an atmosphere and an attitude. 00:15:37.459 --> 00:15:38.100 Right? 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:43.139 An atmosphere and an attitude about the word of God and the commands of God. 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:46.199 Did God really say? 00:15:46.199 --> 00:15:48.299 Did God really say? 00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:53.059 In that is, are you kidding me? 00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:56.439 This is ridiculous, isn't it? 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.259 This is laughable. 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:01.679 See, he's trying to curate an atmosphere and an attitude, 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:03.500 and if you'll pay very close attention, 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:07.259 he uses the word God rather than the word Lord 00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:13.219 to try to make the Creator seem impersonal and distant and uncaring. 00:16:14.719 --> 00:16:17.699 And then he used the word say, 00:16:18.079 --> 00:16:19.219 did God really say, 00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:20.899 as opposed to did God really command, 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:25.259 because he wants to kind of soften the command into a suggestion. 00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:30.279 And then he uses the word any of the trees, 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.700 not one of the trees, 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:35.179 because he wants God to seem like he's not a provider, 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:38.139 but rather that God is a prohibitor, 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:40.460 that he doesn't want you to enjoy any of the trees. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:45.039 You see, what we saw in Genesis 1-2 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:47.139 is that the Lord's authoritative word 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:49.419 created everything out of nothing. 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:52.279 His powerful commands brought into existence 00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:53.559 things that were not. 00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:57.319 But now there's a question about the precise wording, 00:16:57.939 --> 00:16:58.939 the precise meaning, 00:16:59.079 --> 00:17:01.559 the precise motive of the Lord's commandment. 00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:03.459 Does God have integrity? 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.559 Is God good? 00:17:06.419 --> 00:17:08.200 Are his laws good for people? 00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:09.679 Is this even a command? 00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:12.059 Or is it a suggestion? 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:17.460 And what is it that these image-bearing human beings 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:19.559 should have done right here at this moment 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:21.559 when they're posed with this question? 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:22.319 What should they have done? 00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:25.740 Adam and Eve are right there together. 00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:26.480 Eve's not alone. 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.299 Adam's right there. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.599 What should they have done? 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:32.220 They should have called out to their creator God 00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:33.000 and said, help. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:36.279 And then they should have driven this dark power 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:37.059 out of the garden. 00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:41.460 But Adam's silence is deafening. 00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:45.759 And his inactivity is glaring. 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:50.779 And Eve proceeds to engage with the question 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:52.600 in such a way that she allows herself 00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:54.059 to be pulled into, 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.759 and allows herself and Adam 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:57.340 to be pulled into this atmosphere 00:17:57.340 --> 00:17:58.880 and into this attitude. 00:17:59.059 --> 00:18:00.380 And here's what she says in verse 2. 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.779 The woman said to the serpent, 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:04.579 we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:05.440 but God did say, 00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:07.440 you must not eat fruit from the tree 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.619 that is in the middle of the garden. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:11.319 You must not touch it or you will die. 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:13.279 And again, if you pay very close attention, 00:18:13.379 --> 00:18:14.099 careful attention, 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:17.519 Eve makes several telling changes to God's word. 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.240 First of all, 00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:19.399 the Lord said, 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.700 you may freely eat, 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:22.639 but Eve said simply, 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.680 we may eat. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:25.240 And she left out the key word, 00:18:25.560 --> 00:18:25.820 free. 00:18:27.600 --> 00:18:29.600 She's minimizing the provision of the Lord. 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:31.700 She's disparaging the privileges 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.600 that she's been given. 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:35.060 She's downplaying the one million yeses. 00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:38.580 Secondly, 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.500 the Lord said, 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:41.340 nothing about touching the tree. 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.320 But Eve replies, 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:45.759 God said we must not even touch it. 00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:48.299 Not only is she adding 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:50.900 to the Lord's one no, 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.320 his one prohibition 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:54.439 to make it seem more restrictive 00:18:54.439 --> 00:18:55.679 than it actually is. 00:18:58.119 --> 00:19:00.339 But she's begun to use the language 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:01.720 that the devil's using. 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:02.980 She's talking not about the Lord. 00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:03.779 She's talking about God. 00:19:03.859 --> 00:19:05.319 Maybe he is distant. 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.480 Maybe he is impersonal. 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.720 Maybe he doesn't really care. 00:19:09.659 --> 00:19:10.720 And the third thing is, 00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:11.639 the Lord declared, 00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:13.319 you shall certainly die, 00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:15.259 but Eve said, 00:19:15.419 --> 00:19:16.079 you will die. 00:19:16.179 --> 00:19:17.439 And she left out the word certainly, 00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:19.980 which means she's minimizing 00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:21.539 the penalty for disobedience. 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:24.480 And weakening the just consequences 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.720 for sin. 00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:26.819 And what this means 00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:29.079 is that Satan has her 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:30.819 right where he wants her. 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:33.399 He's primed her 00:19:33.399 --> 00:19:35.480 with this atmosphere 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.839 and this attitude 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:38.379 to, 00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:40.480 he's smoothly and subtly 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.379 outwitted her 00:19:41.379 --> 00:19:42.279 and outsmarted her 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:43.399 and outmaneuvered her 00:19:43.399 --> 00:19:45.700 into this distorted 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:47.019 and doubting perspective 00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:48.639 and gotten her to focus 00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:49.599 on the one no 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:52.019 rather than the one million yeses 00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:53.059 so that God seems like 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:54.939 a cosmic killjoy 00:19:54.939 --> 00:19:58.059 and the ultimate party pooper. 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:02.679 And verse four says, 00:20:03.719 --> 00:20:04.959 you will not certainly die, 00:20:05.679 --> 00:20:06.559 the serpent said to the woman, 00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.339 for God knows 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:08.219 that when you eat of it, 00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:09.039 your eyes will be open 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:10.000 and you will be like God, 00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:11.579 knowing good and evil. 00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:14.359 It's interesting that the first 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:15.879 biblical doctrine to be denied 00:20:15.879 --> 00:20:17.299 is divine judgment. 00:20:18.919 --> 00:20:20.179 But along with that, 00:20:21.179 --> 00:20:22.619 the attributes of God 00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:23.159 are questioned. 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:27.119 Satan is saying, 00:20:27.379 --> 00:20:27.559 you know, 00:20:27.639 --> 00:20:28.619 God's not really good. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:30.559 He's, 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:31.939 God's holding out on you. 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.460 He's not sharing all 00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.240 of the goodness 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.599 that he has with you 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.039 and therefore 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:38.659 he can't be trusted in you. 00:20:39.300 --> 00:20:40.279 You should take matters 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:41.080 into your own hand 00:20:41.080 --> 00:20:42.700 and you should put yourself 00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:43.640 in the place of God. 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.460 Now how does this practically 00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:48.040 apply to our lives 00:20:48.040 --> 00:20:49.200 this week? 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:49.920 Well, number one, 00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:50.820 first application, 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.700 is that the devil 00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.640 quotes scripture. 00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:56.940 The devil quotes scripture 00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:58.800 and he does the very same thing 00:20:58.800 --> 00:20:59.880 when he tempts Jesus. 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:00.940 He quotes the scripture 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.779 and that means 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.820 that if you're a Christian 00:21:02.820 --> 00:21:04.940 and if you've allowed yourself 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:07.120 to become more literate 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:09.719 about our culture 00:21:09.719 --> 00:21:10.679 than you are literate 00:21:10.679 --> 00:21:11.599 about God's word, 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:14.579 if you're giving more time 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:15.219 and energy 00:21:15.219 --> 00:21:16.239 to bestsellers 00:21:16.239 --> 00:21:16.959 and blockbusters 00:21:16.959 --> 00:21:18.359 to the latest 00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:19.259 and greatest trends 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:20.399 to breaking headlines 00:21:20.399 --> 00:21:22.559 and, you know, 00:21:22.919 --> 00:21:24.799 insightful op-ed pieces 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:27.639 than you are 00:21:27.639 --> 00:21:29.199 to our sacred scriptures. 00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.979 You're a sitting duck 00:21:31.979 --> 00:21:35.359 and you need to change 00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:37.599 that habit immediately, 00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:38.740 starting tomorrow. 00:21:39.659 --> 00:21:41.299 You need a plan 00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:42.699 for reading God's word. 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.319 You need a plan 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:44.740 for memorizing God's word 00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:46.019 because this is how Jesus 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:48.019 was able to distinguish 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:49.799 between good and evil 00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:50.679 and how he was able 00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:52.000 to resist temptation. 00:21:52.159 --> 00:21:53.319 If he had to do it that way, 00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.339 there's no way 00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:54.939 that you're going to do it 00:21:54.939 --> 00:21:55.539 a different way. 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:57.439 Application number one. 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.479 Application number two 00:21:58.479 --> 00:22:00.839 is that we can be naive 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:02.079 about nuances. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.139 We can be naive 00:22:05.139 --> 00:22:05.980 about nuances 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:07.319 and the way 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:07.899 that the devil 00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:10.339 disguises his malevolent intent 00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:11.699 in benevolent words. 00:22:14.379 --> 00:22:15.179 One of the things 00:22:15.179 --> 00:22:16.099 I've seen over the past 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:18.039 ten years of ministry 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:20.579 is that there are 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:21.539 many different forms 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.159 and forces 00:22:22.159 --> 00:22:25.059 of deconstruction, 00:22:25.419 --> 00:22:26.599 deconstruction of faith, 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:29.939 both in the real world 00:22:29.939 --> 00:22:31.779 and in the online world 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:33.339 that have led 00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:34.919 a lot of people 00:22:34.919 --> 00:22:36.199 that I know and love 00:22:36.199 --> 00:22:37.019 away from God 00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.279 and away from the people of God. 00:22:40.219 --> 00:22:41.919 And that means 00:22:41.919 --> 00:22:43.480 that we need to not be naive. 00:22:45.199 --> 00:22:47.000 That you need to guard yourself 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:48.259 not just against 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.899 obvious arguments 00:22:49.899 --> 00:22:50.899 that are vying 00:22:50.899 --> 00:22:51.579 for your attention 00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:53.259 and for your allegiance, 00:22:53.699 --> 00:22:55.539 but you need to guard yourself 00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:56.299 for more subtle 00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:57.119 atmospheres 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:57.759 and attitudes 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.659 that you might 00:22:58.659 --> 00:23:00.220 immerse yourself in. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.599 My friend group, 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:04.960 my media environment, 00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:07.119 the books I read, 00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:09.099 the artists I pay attention to, 00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.559 the stuff I consume, 00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:13.000 lest you allow yourself 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.799 to be slowly 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.099 and subtly outwitted 00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:18.379 by these predictable schemes. 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.220 And parents, 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:20.899 it's your job, 00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.980 and I know it's a hard job, 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:22.720 but it's your job 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.420 to curate 00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:24.480 and to channel these things 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:25.299 for your kids. 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.419 Do not leave them out there 00:23:26.419 --> 00:23:27.259 to fend for themselves. 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:30.680 The third application 00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:31.279 is this, 00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:32.720 that details matter. 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:35.980 Details matter. 00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:38.799 Three times here, 00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:39.419 the Word of God 00:23:39.419 --> 00:23:39.899 is quoted, 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.779 but it's never quoted 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.440 appropriately. 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.399 It's, first of all, 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:45.139 questioned in a misleading way. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:45.519 Secondly, 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:46.419 it's paraphrased 00:23:46.419 --> 00:23:47.279 with major changes. 00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:48.299 And third, 00:23:48.419 --> 00:23:49.720 it's just flatly denied. 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:52.579 And if you study 00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:53.220 church history, 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:53.919 you can see that 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:55.880 over the past 200 years, 00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:56.460 the church 00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.400 in the Western world, 00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.700 whenever she's loosened 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.240 her grip 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:01.580 on those primary 00:24:01.580 --> 00:24:02.580 biblical doctrines 00:24:02.580 --> 00:24:03.400 and those primary 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:05.080 biblical ethics 00:24:05.080 --> 00:24:06.920 that we are not 00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:08.039 to lose our grip on, 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:11.300 chaos 00:24:11.300 --> 00:24:12.900 and death 00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:13.300 just unsurprisingly 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:15.220 come rushing in 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:15.800 to ruin 00:24:15.800 --> 00:24:16.740 both the message 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.320 of the church 00:24:17.320 --> 00:24:18.200 and the mission 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:18.779 of the church. 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.740 And this is why 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:21.740 at least your pastors 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.639 and your elders 00:24:22.639 --> 00:24:23.279 of the church 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:24.859 think that the details 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.619 really matter. 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:27.500 And, 00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:29.680 so sorry about that 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:31.460 if we offend you, 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:32.539 but 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:34.119 it's right here 00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:34.680 on page 00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:36.099 two or three 00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:36.639 of our Bible. 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:38.980 So, 00:24:39.379 --> 00:24:40.319 this is the thing 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:40.980 I want you to see 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.639 is that you're living 00:24:41.639 --> 00:24:42.960 between commands 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:43.420 and schemes. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.160 You're living between 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:45.139 divine commands 00:24:45.139 --> 00:24:46.220 and devilish schemes. 00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:46.879 There's no getting 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:47.420 out of that. 00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:49.680 That's just where you are. 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:50.540 That's where you're living. 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.940 Second thing I want you 00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:53.520 to see is 00:24:53.520 --> 00:24:55.220 living as fallen creatures. 00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:57.940 Living as fallen creatures. 00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.540 Verse six is really 00:25:00.540 --> 00:25:01.580 the center point 00:25:01.580 --> 00:25:02.180 of this narrative 00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:03.220 and it says this, 00:25:04.560 --> 00:25:05.440 when the woman saw 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.380 that the fruit of the tree 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:07.220 was good for food 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.160 and pleasing to the eye 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.060 and also desirable 00:25:09.060 --> 00:25:10.020 for gaining wisdom, 00:25:10.760 --> 00:25:11.440 she took some 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:11.960 and ate it. 00:25:12.020 --> 00:25:12.840 She also gave some 00:25:12.840 --> 00:25:13.400 to her husband 00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:14.140 who was with her 00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:15.640 and he ate it. 00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:18.120 And what's interesting 00:25:18.120 --> 00:25:18.900 to me is that 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:20.360 the devil is nowhere 00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:21.020 to be found 00:25:21.020 --> 00:25:21.620 at this point. 00:25:24.260 --> 00:25:25.740 His job is done. 00:25:27.080 --> 00:25:27.200 Right? 00:25:27.280 --> 00:25:27.880 Once he's 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:29.900 doubted the goodness 00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:30.420 of God 00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:31.220 and once he's 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:32.180 questioned the 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:33.260 truthfulness of God 00:25:33.260 --> 00:25:33.860 and once he's 00:25:33.860 --> 00:25:34.720 removed the fear 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.160 of God, 00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:37.140 he's out of there. 00:25:39.100 --> 00:25:39.800 Once he's 00:25:39.800 --> 00:25:40.640 deconstructed 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.940 the command of God 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:44.020 and deconstructed 00:25:44.020 --> 00:25:44.420 the judgment 00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:45.300 judgment of God 00:25:45.300 --> 00:25:46.240 on disobedience, 00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:48.480 Eve and Adam 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:50.259 right there together, 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:51.259 they believe 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:52.880 that they can 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.580 put themselves 00:25:53.580 --> 00:25:54.279 in the place 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:54.779 of God 00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:55.700 without any 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.380 consequences. 00:25:58.300 --> 00:25:59.180 And with this 00:25:59.180 --> 00:25:59.900 attitude 00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:01.400 that's crept 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:02.120 into their heart 00:26:02.120 --> 00:26:02.960 and with this lie 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:03.400 that's gotten 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.320 into their head, 00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:05.759 they say 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:06.980 to themselves 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.680 these words 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:09.039 from the prophet 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.440 Isaiah. 00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:10.560 Isaiah chapter 14 00:26:10.560 --> 00:26:11.220 says this, 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.400 I will ascend 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.120 to the heavens. 00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:14.759 I will sit 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.220 enthroned 00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:15.920 on the heights. 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.500 I will make 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:18.240 myself like 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:18.740 the most 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.600 high God. 00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:21.539 And from there 00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.220 the dominoes 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.279 began to fall. 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:24.120 We see that 00:26:24.120 --> 00:26:24.860 she saw 00:26:24.860 --> 00:26:26.640 the physical 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.420 value of the 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:27.720 food. 00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:29.960 She saw 00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:30.640 the emotional 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:31.299 pleasure 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.600 of its 00:26:32.600 --> 00:26:33.160 aesthetic 00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:33.900 beauty 00:26:33.900 --> 00:26:35.620 that it was 00:26:35.620 --> 00:26:36.019 pleasing. 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:38.200 And she saw 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:38.839 the spiritual 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:39.339 potential 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:41.179 of advancing 00:26:41.179 --> 00:26:42.339 her interests. 00:26:44.419 --> 00:26:45.119 And she, 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:45.639 and again, 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.000 Adam's right 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.299 there, 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.619 but she 00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:50.399 trusts her 00:26:50.399 --> 00:26:50.939 impressions 00:26:50.939 --> 00:26:51.779 more than 00:26:51.779 --> 00:26:52.220 she trusts 00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:52.559 God's 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.019 instructions. 00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.319 And she 00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.039 substitutes 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:57.019 her values 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:57.799 for God's 00:26:57.799 --> 00:26:58.179 norms. 00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:00.619 And what 00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:01.720 she does 00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.000 in this 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.240 moment, 00:27:02.359 --> 00:27:02.799 she becomes 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.519 autonomous. 00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:05.319 That word 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:06.299 autonomy just 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:07.019 means auto 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.799 means self 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.519 and nomos 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:09.259 means law. 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:09.779 She became 00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.319 a law 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:10.959 unto 00:27:10.959 --> 00:27:11.459 herself. 00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:11.899 She 00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:13.079 became 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:14.539 the interpreter 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:15.399 of reality. 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.220 She became 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:16.699 the one 00:27:16.699 --> 00:27:17.240 who would 00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:17.579 say, 00:27:18.159 --> 00:27:18.359 this is 00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:18.679 good 00:27:18.679 --> 00:27:19.379 and this 00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:19.899 is evil. 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:23.500 And her 00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.099 heart and 00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:24.619 her head 00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:26.000 led her 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.539 finally to 00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:27.099 this illicit 00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:27.759 reach of 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.500 autonomy with 00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.459 her hands. 00:27:29.459 --> 00:27:29.740 Now, 00:27:30.639 --> 00:27:31.079 again, 00:27:31.159 --> 00:27:31.419 how does 00:27:31.419 --> 00:27:31.879 this apply 00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:33.059 to us? 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:34.480 Well, 00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:34.859 I think many 00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:35.159 of us, 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:35.599 if we're 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.099 honest with 00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:36.619 ourselves 00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:36.899 and our 00:27:36.899 --> 00:27:37.579 own hearts, 00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:38.079 we say 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:39.119 this, 00:27:39.199 --> 00:27:39.439 we say, 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:39.659 you know, 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.079 if I 00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:40.679 obey God, 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:41.299 he's going 00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:41.599 to keep 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.019 me down. 00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:44.359 If I 00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:44.799 obey God, 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.000 I'm going 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.279 to miss 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:45.939 out and 00:27:45.939 --> 00:27:46.199 I'm not 00:27:46.199 --> 00:27:46.339 going to 00:27:46.339 --> 00:27:46.759 be happy. 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:47.919 And if I 00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:48.339 obey God, 00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:48.519 I'm going 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:48.779 to cut 00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.519 myself off 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:49.879 from better 00:27:49.879 --> 00:27:50.740 options and 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.059 I won't 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:51.599 be all 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.939 that I 00:27:52.939 --> 00:27:53.319 want to 00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:53.419 be. 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:53.699 I'm not 00:27:53.699 --> 00:27:53.899 going to 00:27:53.899 --> 00:27:54.220 thrive, 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:54.559 I'm not 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:54.759 going to 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.159 flourish. 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.039 And so, 00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.419 I'm not 00:27:58.419 --> 00:27:58.980 sure that 00:27:58.980 --> 00:27:59.779 God is 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.199 enough for 00:28:00.199 --> 00:28:00.279 me. 00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:00.559 I'm not 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:01.079 sure God's 00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:01.599 goodness is 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:01.939 enough for 00:28:01.939 --> 00:28:02.000 me. 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.240 I'm not 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:02.519 sure I 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:02.919 can trust 00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:03.259 the good 00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:03.660 will of 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.140 God for 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:04.340 me. 00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:04.920 I need 00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:05.300 to broaden 00:28:05.300 --> 00:28:05.980 my horizons. 00:28:06.060 --> 00:28:06.259 I need 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:06.600 to take 00:28:06.600 --> 00:28:07.660 matters into 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:08.080 my own 00:28:08.080 --> 00:28:08.519 hands. 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:10.700 And here's 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.300 three particular 00:28:11.300 --> 00:28:12.340 ways that we 00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:13.340 do that with 00:28:13.340 --> 00:28:13.779 respect to 00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.500 power and 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:14.960 money and 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.259 sex. 00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:15.820 First of all, 00:28:15.860 --> 00:28:16.300 with power, 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:16.740 we say, 00:28:17.300 --> 00:28:17.460 you know, 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:18.100 I know the 00:28:18.100 --> 00:28:19.200 Bible says 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:19.900 not to hold 00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:20.460 a grudge 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:21.039 against this 00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:21.820 person and 00:28:21.820 --> 00:28:22.400 not to seek 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:24.700 revenge and 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:25.140 that I should 00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:26.039 humbly forgive 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:26.680 this person and 00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:27.400 go serve this 00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:27.940 person, but 00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:28.440 oh, I don't 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:28.960 want to. 00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:30.460 And I'm 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:30.779 not really 00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.259 sure I can 00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:32.860 trust God 00:28:32.860 --> 00:28:33.279 in that. 00:28:34.660 --> 00:28:35.620 Or with 00:28:35.620 --> 00:28:36.660 money, we 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.240 say, I know 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.039 the Bible says 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.980 that I 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.640 shouldn't spend 00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:40.220 all of this 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:40.779 on myself. 00:28:42.100 --> 00:28:43.180 I know that 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:43.980 I'm supposed 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.579 to give at 00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.559 minimum at 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.460 least 10% of 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.799 this away to 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:48.579 other people and 00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.240 other causes, 00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:51.279 but I'm not 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.740 really sure I 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.759 can trust God 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.220 with that. 00:28:54.360 --> 00:28:55.120 Or with 00:28:55.120 --> 00:28:55.559 sex. 00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:56.559 You know, 00:28:56.620 --> 00:28:57.279 even our 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.039 secular friends 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.579 know what the 00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:58.940 Bible says. 00:28:58.960 --> 00:28:59.740 about sex. 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.660 That sex is 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.360 not a product 00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:04.299 to be consumed 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:05.039 outside of 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.759 marriage for 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.480 our personal 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.160 fulfillment, but 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:08.680 rather it's a 00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:09.279 gift to be 00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:11.420 stewarded inside 00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:13.220 the safety of 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:13.759 an exclusive, 00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:14.460 permanent, 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.279 whole life 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.100 covenant 00:29:16.100 --> 00:29:16.880 commitment between 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:18.100 a man and 00:29:18.100 --> 00:29:18.480 a woman. 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.240 And we say, 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.539 I know, but 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:22.940 I'm not sure I 00:29:22.940 --> 00:29:24.079 can trust God 00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:24.500 in that. 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:26.759 And with 00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.240 every single 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.799 one of these, 00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:28.559 money, sex, and 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.659 power, we 00:29:29.659 --> 00:29:30.559 say, yes, you 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:31.159 know, but my 00:29:31.159 --> 00:29:31.919 way seems 00:29:31.919 --> 00:29:33.579 good. 00:29:34.399 --> 00:29:34.960 And my way 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:35.720 seems pleasing. 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:36.299 And my way 00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:37.599 seems desirable. 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:38.339 And if I trust 00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:39.279 God, if I obey 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:40.480 God, then I just 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.440 won't be happy. 00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.500 And meanwhile, 00:29:43.639 --> 00:29:44.500 God is saying to 00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:46.059 us, oh, my 00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:49.019 children, I am 00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.579 your Lord. 00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:52.440 Your life is a 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:52.700 gift. 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:54.819 The world is a 00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:55.019 gift. 00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.079 gift. 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.559 And I want you 00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:57.440 to live as if 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:59.180 your life in 00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.700 this world were 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:00.180 not your 00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:00.960 possession to do 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.639 with whatever you 00:30:01.639 --> 00:30:02.440 want with it. 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.480 But rather, I want 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.099 you to live as if 00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:05.700 I'm God. 00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.859 And I want you to 00:30:07.859 --> 00:30:08.400 live as if your 00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:09.099 life is dependent 00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:10.599 upon my power. 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.480 So please don't 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.160 eat the tree. 00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:14.099 Please don't walk 00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:14.720 through the door. 00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:17.000 Please do not put 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:17.759 yourself in the 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:19.279 place where only I 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.240 deserve to be. 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:23.720 please respect my 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:25.900 no so that you 00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:26.700 can enjoy the one 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.779 million yeses that 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.460 I've given you. 00:30:31.620 --> 00:30:32.859 Verse 7 says that 00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:33.920 then the eyes of 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.480 both of them were 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:36.359 open and they 00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:36.980 realized they were 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:37.599 naked so they 00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:38.380 sewed fig leaves 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:39.140 together and made 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:39.720 coverings for 00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.099 themselves. 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:40.759 And then the man 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:42.039 and his wife heard 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:42.700 the sound of the 00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:43.579 Lord God as he was 00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:44.140 walking in the 00:30:44.140 --> 00:30:44.779 garden in the cool 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.160 of the day. 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.380 And they hid from 00:30:46.380 --> 00:30:47.099 the Lord God among 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:47.720 the trees of the 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:47.980 garden. 00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.420 But the Lord God 00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:50.200 called to the man 00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:50.880 where are you? 00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:52.840 He answered I heard 00:30:52.840 --> 00:30:53.360 you in the garden 00:30:53.360 --> 00:30:54.340 and I was afraid 00:30:54.340 --> 00:30:55.340 because I was 00:30:55.340 --> 00:30:57.000 naked so I hid. 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:03.340 There's 20 more 00:31:03.340 --> 00:31:05.039 sermons in here and 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:05.600 so I'm going to be 00:31:05.600 --> 00:31:05.960 brief. 00:31:07.420 --> 00:31:09.799 But this reminds me 00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:10.880 of the book of 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:11.299 Proverbs. 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:12.160 It's our book of 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:12.680 wisdom in the 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:12.900 Bible. 00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.160 One of our books 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:14.600 of wisdom. 00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:16.740 And Proverbs 14 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:18.519 12 says there's a 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.440 way that seems right 00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:20.140 to a man but 00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:20.800 in the end it 00:31:20.800 --> 00:31:21.500 leads to death. 00:31:23.540 --> 00:31:25.000 And what happened 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.820 here is that the 00:31:25.820 --> 00:31:26.900 evil one promised 00:31:26.900 --> 00:31:27.680 life but he 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.520 delivered death. 00:31:28.560 --> 00:31:29.259 And he always does 00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:29.400 that. 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.240 He promises life 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:31.240 delivers death. 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.820 Death entered into 00:31:33.820 --> 00:31:34.500 our souls. 00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:35.540 Death entered into 00:31:35.540 --> 00:31:36.220 our friendships, 00:31:36.600 --> 00:31:37.120 our marriages, 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:37.940 our families, 00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:38.580 our work, 00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:39.140 our leisure. 00:31:39.780 --> 00:31:40.580 And worst of all 00:31:40.580 --> 00:31:41.480 death entered into 00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:42.380 our relationship 00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:44.280 with our creator 00:31:44.280 --> 00:31:44.680 God. 00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:48.600 God, we're told he 00:31:48.600 --> 00:31:49.539 comes by for his 00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:50.539 customary afternoon 00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:52.680 chat with his 00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:53.580 beloved creatures, 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:54.160 his partners. 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.720 But now the very 00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.680 thought of God's 00:31:57.680 --> 00:32:00.000 presence leads them 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:01.100 to duck and cover, 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:01.480 right? 00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:03.700 To hide over behind 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:04.640 the trees from God. 00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:07.120 And if you read on, 00:32:07.300 --> 00:32:07.720 you know, they'll 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.640 ultimately confess 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:09.440 their crimes but 00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:10.700 only after running 00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:12.740 from God and evading 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.560 God's questions, 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:15.480 changing the subject 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:16.460 multiple times, 00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:18.259 shifting blame, 00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:18.940 accusing their 00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:19.280 neighbors, 00:32:19.780 --> 00:32:20.259 minimizing 00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:21.500 responsibility, 00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.759 justifying themselves. 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:25.720 And these fig leaves, 00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:27.819 these fig leaves are a 00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:28.559 desperate act of 00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:29.480 self-protection. 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.660 Where once there was 00:32:31.660 --> 00:32:33.259 innocence and they 00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:34.259 were unashamed and 00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:34.920 they were open, 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:37.220 now in their sense of 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:38.619 guilt and shame and 00:32:38.619 --> 00:32:40.660 fear, they feel that 00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:42.940 they have to hide not 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:43.819 only from God and 00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:44.619 from each other, even 00:32:44.619 --> 00:32:45.420 they have to hide from 00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:46.859 themselves behind 00:32:46.859 --> 00:32:48.440 protective barriers. 00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:52.000 Our alienation from God 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.839 and from each other 00:32:52.839 --> 00:32:53.559 and from the created 00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:54.740 world and from our 00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:56.440 very selves is 00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:57.619 absolutely tragic. 00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.160 It's absolutely 00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:58.680 heartbreaking. 00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:01.519 And again, there are 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:03.160 more applications of 00:33:03.160 --> 00:33:04.579 this for our work and 00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:05.619 our dating and our 00:33:05.619 --> 00:33:07.180 marriages and our 00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:09.640 parenting than we 00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:10.339 have time to chase 00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:10.680 down. 00:33:11.619 --> 00:33:12.619 But what I want us to 00:33:12.619 --> 00:33:14.460 focus on as we close 00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:16.559 are God's questions. 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:20.240 Because God asks 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:20.920 some questions and 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:21.539 he says this, he 00:33:21.539 --> 00:33:21.720 says, 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.839 Adam, where are you? 00:33:26.839 --> 00:33:29.259 It's a poignant and 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:30.140 profound thing. 00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:34.059 The first thing God 00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:34.960 does is he asks a 00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.339 question. 00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:37.740 And he says, where 00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:39.299 are you? 00:33:41.859 --> 00:33:44.680 And who told you that 00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:45.200 you were naked? 00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.680 And have you eaten from 00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:48.339 the tree that I 00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:49.160 commanded you not to 00:33:49.160 --> 00:33:49.619 eat from? 00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:51.139 And what is this you 00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:51.539 have done? 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.559 Four questions. 00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:55.319 He asks him not because 00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:57.539 he's ignorant or because 00:33:57.539 --> 00:33:58.559 he needs more information 00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.399 or because he doesn't 00:33:59.399 --> 00:33:59.979 know the answers. 00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:02.479 He asks him because he's 00:34:02.479 --> 00:34:04.559 a loving father and he's a 00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:06.500 gentle counselor and he 00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:08.920 refuses to abandon his 00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:10.139 image-bearing creatures. 00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:11.139 He doesn't vaporize them. 00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:13.199 He doesn't vaporize them. 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.879 He doesn't give them a 00:34:15.879 --> 00:34:17.619 verbal lashing. 00:34:17.739 --> 00:34:18.379 He doesn't give them a 00:34:18.379 --> 00:34:18.980 physical beating. 00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:19.839 He doesn't do any of 00:34:19.839 --> 00:34:19.960 that. 00:34:20.019 --> 00:34:20.980 He just asks these 00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:21.980 questions, inviting them 00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:23.819 to open up, inviting them 00:34:23.819 --> 00:34:24.759 to reveal themselves, 00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:25.980 inviting them to confess 00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:26.940 their wrong, inviting them 00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:28.420 to take responsibility. 00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:33.000 And in this moment of 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:36.539 rebellion, in this moment 00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:38.039 of defiance and of 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:40.900 treason, this moment of 00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:42.599 an attempted overthrow of 00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:43.440 the government of the 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:44.400 universe, the attempted 00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:48.340 de-godding of God, God 00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:49.539 is so gracious. 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:51.139 God is so merciful. 00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:51.239 God is so merciful. 00:34:53.779 --> 00:34:54.679 It's absolutely 00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:55.519 breathtaking and that's 00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.519 where I want us to close 00:34:56.519 --> 00:35:00.339 with, we've talked about 00:35:00.339 --> 00:35:01.500 living between commands 00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:03.019 and schemes and living as 00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:03.960 fallen creatures, but I 00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:05.019 want to talk finally about 00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:06.900 living in the hope of 00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:08.139 paradise regained. 00:35:09.400 --> 00:35:10.539 Living in the hope of 00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:11.379 paradise regained. 00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:14.319 Many people around us are 00:35:14.319 --> 00:35:15.739 living in cynicism. 00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:17.839 They're living in despair. 00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:19.159 They're living with a sense 00:35:19.159 --> 00:35:19.879 of nihilism. 00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:22.160 And Christians reject 00:35:22.160 --> 00:35:22.460 that. 00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:23.740 Christians absolutely 00:35:23.740 --> 00:35:26.500 resist that because of 00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:27.720 this slide that I think 00:35:27.720 --> 00:35:28.579 you had a preview of 00:35:28.579 --> 00:35:29.500 earlier, but we'll pull 00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:29.980 back up. 00:35:31.220 --> 00:35:33.619 We believe that the good 00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:34.880 creation of God was here 00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:35.940 before the fall of 00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:36.280 humanity. 00:35:37.480 --> 00:35:38.640 We believe that the 00:35:38.640 --> 00:35:40.180 common grace of God in 00:35:40.180 --> 00:35:41.680 his good creation continues 00:35:41.680 --> 00:35:43.140 despite all the effects 00:35:43.140 --> 00:35:44.039 of our fallenness. 00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:46.940 We believe that the 00:35:46.940 --> 00:35:48.720 redemption of God reveals 00:35:48.720 --> 00:35:49.680 the power of his 00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:51.059 special grace to save us 00:35:51.059 --> 00:35:52.199 from our fallen condition. 00:35:53.639 --> 00:35:54.899 And we believe that all 00:35:54.899 --> 00:35:56.259 the tears and the thorns 00:35:56.259 --> 00:35:58.819 of our fallen reality will 00:35:58.819 --> 00:36:00.359 be no part of the new 00:36:00.359 --> 00:36:01.179 creation of God. 00:36:02.299 --> 00:36:03.179 Now where do I get all 00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:03.319 that? 00:36:03.399 --> 00:36:04.299 Well if you pay attention 00:36:04.299 --> 00:36:07.739 to verses 14 to 24 and 00:36:07.739 --> 00:36:09.699 what the Lord says and 00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:11.019 does even in the midst of 00:36:11.019 --> 00:36:12.399 his just judgment of these 00:36:12.399 --> 00:36:14.839 sinners, you'll see that 00:36:14.839 --> 00:36:15.699 he sovereignly and 00:36:15.699 --> 00:36:16.839 majestically does at least 00:36:16.840 --> 00:36:19.280 five incredibly gracious 00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:20.140 acts. 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:21.960 And I'll just list them for 00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:22.100 you. 00:36:22.180 --> 00:36:24.300 First of all, he goes 00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:25.260 straight to the source of 00:36:25.260 --> 00:36:27.480 evil and he curses it. 00:36:27.559 --> 00:36:29.360 He curses the serpent, he 00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:31.220 curses the devil, he 00:36:31.220 --> 00:36:32.579 curses the ground that 00:36:32.579 --> 00:36:33.720 human beings work. 00:36:34.100 --> 00:36:35.559 But notice that he does not 00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:37.200 directly curse his image 00:36:37.200 --> 00:36:37.860 bearing creatures. 00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:41.360 That's the first act of 00:36:41.360 --> 00:36:41.559 grace. 00:36:41.640 --> 00:36:42.900 The second act of grace is 00:36:42.900 --> 00:36:44.660 that though this man and 00:36:44.659 --> 00:36:45.559 this woman have broken 00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:46.980 God's image in themselves, 00:36:48.299 --> 00:36:49.639 God provides for them. 00:36:49.699 --> 00:36:50.599 He provides protective 00:36:50.599 --> 00:36:52.299 clothing for them. 00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:54.119 And in order to do that, 00:36:54.179 --> 00:36:55.139 an animal's blood had to 00:36:55.139 --> 00:36:56.460 be shed, an animal's life 00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:59.359 had to be taken in their 00:36:59.359 --> 00:37:01.980 place and a satisfactory 00:37:01.980 --> 00:37:04.779 substitute was provided in 00:37:04.779 --> 00:37:06.420 order for God to cover over 00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:07.960 their guilt and their shame. 00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:11.219 God's third act of grace is 00:37:11.219 --> 00:37:13.079 that he removes them from the 00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:14.139 garden completely. 00:37:15.340 --> 00:37:16.920 And by removing them from 00:37:16.920 --> 00:37:18.119 the garden, he prevented 00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:19.199 them from eating from the 00:37:19.199 --> 00:37:21.460 tree of life and remaining 00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:23.159 in that state of disobedience 00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:24.639 and sin permanently. 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:27.799 But rather he puts these 00:37:27.799 --> 00:37:29.000 angels, he puts these 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:32.079 cherubim to guard the way to 00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:33.360 the tree of life and to the 00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:35.980 living God himself until 00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:37.219 something can be done to 00:37:37.219 --> 00:37:38.279 permanently deal with their 00:37:38.279 --> 00:37:38.639 sin. 00:37:39.599 --> 00:37:40.759 And that's why, by the way, 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:42.559 cherubim, these great angels, 00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:43.920 are woven into the curtain 00:37:43.920 --> 00:37:45.219 of the temple to separate 00:37:45.219 --> 00:37:47.400 sinful human beings from the 00:37:47.400 --> 00:37:48.519 holy presence of God. 00:37:50.480 --> 00:37:52.019 The fourth thing that God 00:37:52.019 --> 00:37:54.440 does is that he restrains and 00:37:54.440 --> 00:37:56.199 counteracts all the devastating 00:37:56.199 --> 00:37:57.820 effects of sin and says that 00:37:57.820 --> 00:38:00.500 evil will not destroy the 00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:01.659 enduring goodness of my 00:38:01.659 --> 00:38:02.159 creation. 00:38:04.239 --> 00:38:05.719 Eve will become a mom. 00:38:06.679 --> 00:38:08.000 Adam will become a dad. 00:38:08.739 --> 00:38:09.719 Babies will be born. 00:38:09.880 --> 00:38:10.900 Life will continue. 00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:12.420 Weddings will happen. 00:38:12.579 --> 00:38:13.539 Marriages will mature. 00:38:13.780 --> 00:38:14.619 Families will grow. 00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:15.519 Work will be done. 00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:17.160 Culture will develop. 00:38:19.460 --> 00:38:20.860 And the fifth gracious thing 00:38:20.860 --> 00:38:22.119 that God does is he gives this 00:38:22.119 --> 00:38:23.740 mother promise in verse 15 00:38:23.740 --> 00:38:27.180 about future relief and an 00:38:27.180 --> 00:38:27.740 ultimate victory. 00:38:27.739 --> 00:38:28.419 victory. 00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:31.459 And in that verse he says, 00:38:32.639 --> 00:38:33.399 verse 15, 00:38:34.399 --> 00:38:35.979 I will put enmity between you 00:38:35.979 --> 00:38:37.000 and the woman and between your 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:37.939 offspring and hers. 00:38:38.659 --> 00:38:40.719 He will crush your head and you 00:38:40.719 --> 00:38:42.119 will strike his heel. 00:38:45.079 --> 00:38:46.319 An offspring of the woman is 00:38:46.319 --> 00:38:47.599 going to come and be terribly 00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:48.059 wounded, 00:38:49.059 --> 00:38:50.739 but he'll crush the head of the 00:38:50.739 --> 00:38:50.979 serpent. 00:38:51.239 --> 00:38:53.539 A great representative of the 00:38:53.539 --> 00:38:55.979 human race, a great person who 00:38:55.980 --> 00:38:57.760 bears the image of God is going 00:38:57.760 --> 00:38:59.039 to come and he's going to 00:38:59.039 --> 00:39:01.980 suffer horribly, but he's going 00:39:01.980 --> 00:39:05.539 to bear the curse and the 00:39:05.539 --> 00:39:06.719 just judgment that we 00:39:06.719 --> 00:39:07.880 deserved and he'll do it in 00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:08.500 our place. 00:39:10.260 --> 00:39:11.539 And in that way he will win a 00:39:11.539 --> 00:39:12.740 victory over evil and he'll 00:39:12.740 --> 00:39:14.760 release us from all the effects 00:39:14.760 --> 00:39:18.360 of the curse and he will win a 00:39:18.360 --> 00:39:19.639 victory in triumph and glory. 00:39:19.639 --> 00:39:23.279 So friends, what do these five 00:39:23.279 --> 00:39:25.319 actions of God's grace tell us 00:39:25.319 --> 00:39:26.000 about God? 00:39:26.059 --> 00:39:28.279 They tell us that we are the 00:39:28.279 --> 00:39:29.659 hiders and God is the seeker. 00:39:31.059 --> 00:39:32.619 They tell us that we are hiding 00:39:32.619 --> 00:39:34.199 but God is seeking us. 00:39:35.980 --> 00:39:37.699 And we see that in the end of the 00:39:37.699 --> 00:39:40.159 gospel because we find Jesus there 00:39:40.159 --> 00:39:41.339 at the end of the gospel and he's 00:39:41.339 --> 00:39:41.879 in a garden. 00:39:43.859 --> 00:39:45.599 And in that garden he's talking to 00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:46.519 God about a tree. 00:39:46.519 --> 00:39:48.980 He's talking about his cross. 00:39:50.500 --> 00:39:52.679 And though we said not your will 00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:54.320 but my will be done, Jesus says the 00:39:54.320 --> 00:39:54.679 opposite. 00:39:54.840 --> 00:39:56.900 He says not my will but your will 00:39:56.900 --> 00:39:57.300 be done. 00:39:59.280 --> 00:40:01.019 And though we put ourselves in the 00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:03.000 place where only God deserves to be, 00:40:03.800 --> 00:40:05.619 God and Jesus Christ came and put 00:40:05.619 --> 00:40:08.179 himself where we deserve to be. 00:40:10.539 --> 00:40:12.880 And in that moment he decided I'm 00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:14.719 going to take all their thorns 00:40:14.719 --> 00:40:16.500 upon my brow. 00:40:17.699 --> 00:40:19.659 And I'm going to put all their sins 00:40:19.659 --> 00:40:20.439 on my shoulders. 00:40:21.839 --> 00:40:23.239 And I'm going to go to that tree. 00:40:24.379 --> 00:40:25.919 And I'm going to experience hell. 00:40:27.099 --> 00:40:28.259 And I'm going to battle with the 00:40:28.259 --> 00:40:28.500 devil. 00:40:29.579 --> 00:40:30.899 And I know I'm going to be laid in 00:40:30.899 --> 00:40:31.379 the dust. 00:40:33.239 --> 00:40:34.879 And in that moment what happened, 00:40:34.980 --> 00:40:36.699 the veil of the temple with those 00:40:36.699 --> 00:40:39.659 cherubim was torn in two and the 00:40:39.659 --> 00:40:42.239 way to God was opened up. 00:40:42.239 --> 00:40:44.759 And through the resurrection of 00:40:44.759 --> 00:40:46.799 Jesus, death changed into life. 00:40:46.859 --> 00:40:48.559 And he was able then to clothe us 00:40:48.559 --> 00:40:51.179 with his righteousness and with his 00:40:51.179 --> 00:40:51.559 life. 00:40:52.119 --> 00:40:54.439 And one day we're going to share in 00:40:54.439 --> 00:40:54.899 his glory. 00:40:57.439 --> 00:41:01.239 So I'll close with these words about 00:41:01.239 --> 00:41:03.179 the hope that we have for paradise 00:41:03.179 --> 00:41:03.839 regained. 00:41:03.840 --> 00:41:07.680 The Apostle Paul says this in Romans 5. 00:41:07.760 --> 00:41:10.000 He's talking about the second Adam. 00:41:12.400 --> 00:41:13.039 He says, 00:41:13.120 --> 00:41:15.600 For if by the trespass of the one man 00:41:15.600 --> 00:41:17.200 death reigned through that one man, 00:41:18.280 --> 00:41:20.380 how much more will those who receive 00:41:20.380 --> 00:41:22.220 God's abundant provision of grace and 00:41:22.220 --> 00:41:24.300 of the gift of righteousness reign in 00:41:24.300 --> 00:41:26.740 life through the one man, Jesus Christ? 00:41:28.260 --> 00:41:29.860 And consequently, just as one 00:41:29.860 --> 00:41:32.019 trespass resulted in condemnation for 00:41:32.019 --> 00:41:35.759 all people, so also one righteous act 00:41:35.759 --> 00:41:37.519 resulted in justification in life for 00:41:37.519 --> 00:41:37.980 all people. 00:41:39.340 --> 00:41:40.960 For just as through the disobedience of 00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:42.219 the one man, the many were made 00:41:42.219 --> 00:41:43.900 sinners, so also through the obedience 00:41:43.900 --> 00:41:46.519 of the one man, the many will be made 00:41:46.519 --> 00:41:46.880 righteous. 00:41:48.340 --> 00:41:50.239 And just as sin reigned in death, so 00:41:50.239 --> 00:41:51.780 also grace might reign through 00:41:51.780 --> 00:41:53.840 righteousness to bring eternal life 00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:56.400 through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 00:41:56.400 --> 00:42:02.700 Friends, have you received God's abundant 00:42:02.700 --> 00:42:05.480 provision of grace in the ultimate 00:42:05.480 --> 00:42:05.900 Adam? 00:42:08.300 --> 00:42:11.139 And do you have this gift of His 00:42:11.139 --> 00:42:13.180 obedience and of His righteousness and 00:42:13.180 --> 00:42:14.099 of His justification? 00:42:16.139 --> 00:42:19.079 And are you reigning in eternal life 00:42:19.079 --> 00:42:20.800 with Him? 00:42:20.800 --> 00:42:25.720 Let's think about that as we come to 00:42:25.720 --> 00:42:26.880 this table in the name of the Father, 00:42:26.880 --> 00:42:27.840 Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:42:28.580 --> 00:42:28.860 Amen. 00:42:28.860 --> 00:42:29.000 Amen. 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:29.000 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:58.980 Thank you.