WEBVTT

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 in your pew Bible.

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 You can turn there with me.

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 Genesis chapter three.

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 Let me pray for us

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 as we come to God's word.

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 Oh Lord Jesus,

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 indeed you are worthy

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 of all blessing

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 and honor and glory.

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 Thank you that you have not left us, Lord,

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 to try to search

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 for you

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 and to grasp for you

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 aimlessly

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 and in the dark.

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 But you've given us

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 your sure

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 and good word

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 written and preserved

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 down through the ages

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 that we might have

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 a clear view of you

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 so that you might speak to us

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 and that we might know you

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 and give you the praise

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 that our hearts so long

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 to pour out to you.

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 So visit us

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 in these moments

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 as we come

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 to the book of Genesis again

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 and reveal yourself to us,

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 we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Genesis chapter three.

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 Let me read verses one through thirteen

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 for us.

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 Now,

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 the serpent

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 was more crafty

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 than any other beast

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 of the field

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 that the Lord God

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 had made.

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 he said to the woman,

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 did God actually say

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 you shall not eat

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 of any tree

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 in the garden?

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 And the woman said

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 to the serpent,

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 we may eat

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 of the fruit

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 of the trees

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 in the garden,

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 but God said,

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 you shall not eat

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 of the fruit

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 of the tree

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 that is in the midst

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 of the garden,

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 neither shall you touch it

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 lest you die.

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 But the serpent

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 said to the woman,

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 you will not surely die,

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 for God knows

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 that when you eat of it,

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 your eyes will be opened

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 and you will be like God,

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 knowing good

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 and evil.

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 So when the woman saw

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 that the tree

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 was good for food

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 and that it was

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 a delight to the eyes

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 and that the tree

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 was to be desired

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 to make one wise,

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 she took of its fruit

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 and ate

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 and she also gave some

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 to her husband

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 who was with her

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 and he ate.

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 And the eyes of both

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 were opened

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 and they knew

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 that they were naked.

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 And they sewed

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 fig leaves together

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 and made themselves

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 loincloths.

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 And they heard

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 the sound

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 of the Lord God

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 walking in the garden

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 in the cool of the day.

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 And the man

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 and his wife

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 hid themselves

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 from the presence

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 of the Lord God

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 among the trees

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 of the garden.

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 But the Lord God

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 called to the man

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 and said to him,

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 where are you?

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 And he said,

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 I heard the sound

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 of you in the garden

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 and I was afraid

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 because I was naked

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 and I hid myself.

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 He said,

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 who told you

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 that you were naked?

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 Have you eaten

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 of the tree

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 of which I commanded

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 you not to eat?

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 The man said,

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 the woman

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 whom you gave

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 to be with me,

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 she gave me fruit

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 of the tree

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 and I ate.

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 Then the Lord God

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 said to the woman,

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 what is this

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 that you have done?

00:03:05.299 --> 00:03:06.239
 The woman said,

00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:07.899
 the serpent deceived me

00:03:07.899 --> 00:03:09.079
 and I ate.

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 Well,

00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:14.500
 for the last four weeks,

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 we have been journeying

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 together through

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 Genesis chapters 1 and 2.

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 And what we've seen

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 so far

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 is God

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 lovingly

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 and powerfully

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 creating all things

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 and pronouncing them

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 good.

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 And we've seen humans

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 made in God's image,

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 male and female,

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 created to steward

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 and keep this creation

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 so teeming

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 with life and joy.

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 Anyway,

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 chapter 2 ends,

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 you'll remember,

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 by saying that the man

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 and the woman,

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 husband and wife,

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 were both naked

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 and they were not ashamed.

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 So the opening two chapters

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 of Genesis

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 picture God

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 as a good king

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 and we humans

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 as rulers

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 under God's good kingship

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 full of life

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 and potential

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 and love.

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 It's quite a picture.

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 But,

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 that is not

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 how we experience life

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 today,

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 is it?

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 Rather than that

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 order of Genesis 1,

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 we so often

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 see chaos.

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 And rather than

00:04:14.199 --> 00:04:14.799
 flourishing,

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 we see pain

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 and suffering.

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 Rather than feeling

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 naked and unashamed,

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 most of us,

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 if we're honest,

00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:22.699
 are full of fears

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 and underneath it all,

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 we are quite

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 ill

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 at ease

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 with ourselves.

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 things are not

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 how they're supposed

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 to be

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 or at least

00:04:34.500 --> 00:04:35.699
 how Genesis 1 and 2

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 say they're supposed

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 to be.

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 What

00:04:38.920 --> 00:04:39.939
 went

00:04:39.939 --> 00:04:40.920
 wrong?

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 How did we get

00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:43.819
 from there

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 to here?

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 Now,

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 that's an important

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 question

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 because

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 if we

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 misdiagnose

00:04:51.660 --> 00:04:52.379
 the problem,

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 then we will be

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 misguided

00:04:54.379 --> 00:04:55.780
 as to the solution.

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 When I was in

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 middle school,

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 my older brother,

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 who was in high

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 school at the time,

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 was experiencing

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 pretty frequent

00:05:01.699 --> 00:05:02.779
 fatigue and

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 some aches

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 and pains.

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 So we went

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 to the doctor,

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 we went to our

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 pediatrician,

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 and the doctor

00:05:06.459 --> 00:05:06.919
 said it was

00:05:06.919 --> 00:05:07.379
 probably just

00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:07.839
 some growing

00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:08.319
 pains,

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 nothing too

00:05:08.859 --> 00:05:09.239
 serious,

00:05:09.339 --> 00:05:09.879
 watch your diet,

00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:10.619
 get some sleep.

00:05:11.619 --> 00:05:12.339
 But for some

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 reason,

00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:13.019
 that didn't

00:05:13.019 --> 00:05:14.099
 quite sit right

00:05:14.099 --> 00:05:15.000
 with my mother,

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 so we went

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 and we got a

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 second opinion.

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 And it turns out

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 my brother

00:05:19.619 --> 00:05:20.500
 actually had

00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:21.500
 stage 3

00:05:21.500 --> 00:05:22.199
 Hodgkin's

00:05:22.199 --> 00:05:22.559
 disease.

00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:25.420
 Now thankfully,

00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:26.180
 that is a

00:05:26.180 --> 00:05:27.199
 treatable form

00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:27.740
 of cancer,

00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:28.699
 and my brother's

00:05:28.699 --> 00:05:29.300
 been in remission

00:05:29.300 --> 00:05:30.300
 now for decades.

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 But you see,

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 that early

00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:34.000
 misdiagnosis

00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:35.280
 very,

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 really,

00:05:36.420 --> 00:05:36.639
 could have

00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:37.199
 been fatal.

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 Could it be

00:05:41.259 --> 00:05:42.279
 that spiritually,

00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:44.899
 we humans

00:05:44.899 --> 00:05:45.360
 have been

00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:46.439
 misdiagnosing

00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:47.480
 our problem

00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:49.980
 and reaching

00:05:49.980 --> 00:05:50.660
 for the wrong

00:05:50.660 --> 00:05:51.279
 solutions

00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:52.659
 and finding

00:05:52.659 --> 00:05:53.599
 no real

00:05:53.599 --> 00:05:54.739
 lasting help?

00:05:56.739 --> 00:05:57.379
 What

00:05:57.379 --> 00:05:57.979
 went

00:05:57.979 --> 00:05:58.659
 wrong?

00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:02.419
 Genesis 3

00:06:02.419 --> 00:06:02.779
 is the

00:06:02.779 --> 00:06:03.559
 biblical answer

00:06:03.559 --> 00:06:04.339
 to that

00:06:04.339 --> 00:06:04.819
 question.

00:06:05.699 --> 00:06:06.459
 It's the

00:06:06.459 --> 00:06:06.919
 account

00:06:06.919 --> 00:06:07.619
 of

00:06:07.619 --> 00:06:08.479
 the fall.

00:06:09.500 --> 00:06:10.159
 Humanity's

00:06:10.159 --> 00:06:10.599
 willful

00:06:10.599 --> 00:06:11.079
 rebellion

00:06:11.079 --> 00:06:11.939
 against God

00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:13.159
 in and

00:06:13.159 --> 00:06:13.419
 through

00:06:13.419 --> 00:06:14.059
 our first

00:06:14.059 --> 00:06:14.579
 parents,

00:06:14.839 --> 00:06:15.139
 Adam and

00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:15.379
 Eve.

00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:17.299
 Now we're

00:06:17.299 --> 00:06:17.479
 going to

00:06:17.479 --> 00:06:17.939
 take two

00:06:17.939 --> 00:06:18.699
 weeks on

00:06:18.699 --> 00:06:19.599
 this chapter

00:06:19.599 --> 00:06:20.339
 of Genesis.

00:06:20.339 --> 00:06:21.459
 This morning

00:06:21.459 --> 00:06:21.779
 we're just

00:06:21.779 --> 00:06:21.979
 going to

00:06:21.979 --> 00:06:22.379
 focus on

00:06:22.379 --> 00:06:22.819
 those first

00:06:22.819 --> 00:06:23.639
 13 verses.

00:06:24.500 --> 00:06:25.019
 And today

00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:25.560
 I want to

00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:26.299
 consider the

00:06:26.299 --> 00:06:27.619
 fall under

00:06:27.619 --> 00:06:28.439
 three big

00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:28.979
 headings.

00:06:29.699 --> 00:06:30.199
 I want us

00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:30.659
 to think of

00:06:30.659 --> 00:06:31.039
 the fall

00:06:31.039 --> 00:06:31.539
 or consider

00:06:31.539 --> 00:06:32.159
 the fall

00:06:32.159 --> 00:06:33.079
 as first

00:06:33.079 --> 00:06:33.699
 history,

00:06:34.659 --> 00:06:35.699
 second as

00:06:35.699 --> 00:06:36.719
 mystery,

00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:37.979
 and third

00:06:37.979 --> 00:06:39.279
 as reality.

00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:41.919
 History,

00:06:42.559 --> 00:06:42.919
 mystery,

00:06:43.659 --> 00:06:44.059
 reality.

00:06:44.219 --> 00:06:44.659
 So first

00:06:44.659 --> 00:06:45.179
 let's take a

00:06:45.179 --> 00:06:45.719
 look at this

00:06:45.719 --> 00:06:47.620
 passage as

00:06:47.620 --> 00:06:48.159
 history.

00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:48.640
 And what I

00:06:48.640 --> 00:06:49.180
 mean here

00:06:49.180 --> 00:06:49.620
 is that

00:06:49.620 --> 00:06:50.260
 the account

00:06:50.260 --> 00:06:50.920
 of Genesis

00:06:50.920 --> 00:06:52.120
 3 is

00:06:52.120 --> 00:06:52.780
 intended to

00:06:52.780 --> 00:06:53.620
 communicate an

00:06:53.620 --> 00:06:54.740
 actual event

00:06:54.740 --> 00:06:55.500
 in space

00:06:55.500 --> 00:06:56.180
 and time.

00:06:57.380 --> 00:06:58.160
 What we're

00:06:58.160 --> 00:06:58.680
 dealing with

00:06:58.680 --> 00:06:59.720
 here is not

00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:00.620
 a mere

00:07:00.620 --> 00:07:01.520
 myth.

00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:03.300
 Now,

00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:04.879
 of course,

00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:05.440
 there are

00:07:05.440 --> 00:07:06.100
 elements that

00:07:06.100 --> 00:07:07.080
 initially feel

00:07:07.080 --> 00:07:07.580
 that way,

00:07:07.660 --> 00:07:07.900
 right?

00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:08.280
 I mean,

00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:08.840
 come on.

00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:09.980
 We got a

00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:11.060
 talking snake

00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:11.800
 and a

00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:12.860
 forbidden tree.

00:07:13.760 --> 00:07:14.220
 What could

00:07:14.220 --> 00:07:14.560
 be more

00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:15.140
 mythological

00:07:15.140 --> 00:07:15.720
 than that?

00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:17.860
 But the

00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:18.340
 narrative of

00:07:18.340 --> 00:07:19.000
 Genesis 3,

00:07:19.080 --> 00:07:19.440
 if you keep

00:07:19.440 --> 00:07:19.840
 reading the

00:07:19.840 --> 00:07:20.040
 Bible,

00:07:20.180 --> 00:07:20.660
 the narrative

00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:21.060
 of Genesis

00:07:21.060 --> 00:07:21.760
 3 rolls

00:07:21.760 --> 00:07:22.420
 directly on

00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:22.800
 into chapter

00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:23.620
 4 and 5

00:07:23.620 --> 00:07:24.000
 and 6

00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:24.400
 and 7

00:07:24.400 --> 00:07:24.960
 and so on.

00:07:25.020 --> 00:07:25.460
 There's no

00:07:25.460 --> 00:07:26.600
 literary break

00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:27.460
 in the book

00:07:27.460 --> 00:07:28.280
 to suggest

00:07:28.280 --> 00:07:29.060
 that Genesis

00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:29.920
 3 is any

00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:30.480
 less of a

00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:30.920
 historical

00:07:30.920 --> 00:07:31.520
 narrative than

00:07:31.520 --> 00:07:31.900
 what's to

00:07:31.900 --> 00:07:32.200
 come.

00:07:33.340 --> 00:07:33.620
 Now,

00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:34.120
 it's certainly

00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:35.460
 possible that

00:07:35.460 --> 00:07:36.000
 Genesis 3

00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:36.660
 could be using

00:07:36.660 --> 00:07:37.500
 some figurative

00:07:37.500 --> 00:07:38.660
 language to

00:07:38.660 --> 00:07:39.300
 look back and

00:07:39.300 --> 00:07:40.100
 describe these

00:07:40.100 --> 00:07:40.480
 events,

00:07:40.860 --> 00:07:41.940
 but the events

00:07:41.940 --> 00:07:42.520
 are considered

00:07:42.520 --> 00:07:43.360
 real events

00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:43.740
 nonetheless,

00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:45.519
 even if some

00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:46.500
 figurative language

00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:47.519
 is used in

00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:47.939
 order to

00:07:47.939 --> 00:07:48.620
 convey it.

00:07:50.579 --> 00:07:51.199
 Now,

00:07:51.259 --> 00:07:51.720
 let's take this

00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:52.540
 talking serpent

00:07:52.540 --> 00:07:53.579
 for starters.

00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:55.980
 Nearly all

00:07:55.980 --> 00:07:56.920
 early interpreters

00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:57.379
 of Genesis

00:07:57.379 --> 00:07:58.939
 understood that

00:07:58.939 --> 00:07:59.680
 this serpent,

00:07:59.900 --> 00:08:00.360
 if it was a

00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:00.920
 real serpent,

00:08:01.060 --> 00:08:01.840
 was under the

00:08:01.840 --> 00:08:02.780
 control of a

00:08:02.780 --> 00:08:03.660
 much more sinister

00:08:03.660 --> 00:08:04.340
 power,

00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:05.720
 the one that

00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:06.480
 the Bible calls

00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:07.000
 Satan,

00:08:08.259 --> 00:08:08.860
 a name that

00:08:08.860 --> 00:08:09.639
 literally means

00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:10.480
 the accuser.

00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:11.480
 Satan was

00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:13.100
 somehow using

00:08:13.100 --> 00:08:14.120
 this serpent

00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:15.300
 to undermine

00:08:15.300 --> 00:08:16.260
 the first

00:08:16.260 --> 00:08:16.840
 humans.

00:08:18.080 --> 00:08:18.480
 Now,

00:08:18.520 --> 00:08:18.860
 when it comes

00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:19.320
 to thinking

00:08:19.320 --> 00:08:19.860
 of Satan,

00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:20.420
 of spiritual

00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:20.879
 beings,

00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:21.439
 of angels,

00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:22.040
 of demons,

00:08:22.540 --> 00:08:23.160
 I think we

00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:23.700
 need to be

00:08:23.700 --> 00:08:25.020
 aware and

00:08:25.020 --> 00:08:26.060
 to beware of

00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:26.700
 two equal

00:08:26.700 --> 00:08:27.400
 and opposite

00:08:27.400 --> 00:08:28.180
 dangers.

00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:29.540
 As C.S.

00:08:29.580 --> 00:08:30.040
 Lewis put it

00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:30.540
 so helpfully

00:08:30.540 --> 00:08:30.840
 in the

00:08:30.840 --> 00:08:31.200
 screw tape

00:08:31.200 --> 00:08:31.480
 letters,

00:08:31.700 --> 00:08:32.840
 one is to

00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:33.620
 disbelieve in

00:08:33.620 --> 00:08:34.180
 their existence

00:08:34.180 --> 00:08:35.540
 and the other

00:08:35.540 --> 00:08:36.200
 is to believe

00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:36.720
 and to feel

00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:37.340
 an excessive

00:08:37.340 --> 00:08:38.240
 and unhealthy

00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:39.139
 interest in

00:08:39.139 --> 00:08:39.379
 them.

00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:42.019
 Now,

00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:42.279
 of course,

00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:42.779
 many of us

00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:43.179
 today think

00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:43.459
 that any

00:08:43.459 --> 00:08:43.860
 talk of

00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:44.480
 angels or

00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:45.199
 fallen angels

00:08:45.199 --> 00:08:46.259
 is sort of

00:08:46.259 --> 00:08:46.980
 primitive and

00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:47.799
 even irrational.

00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:50.360
 But,

00:08:50.439 --> 00:08:50.559
 you know,

00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:50.879
 if one

00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:51.459
 believes in

00:08:51.459 --> 00:08:51.980
 God,

00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:53.199
 the creator

00:08:53.199 --> 00:08:53.779
 of all

00:08:53.779 --> 00:08:54.639
 things seen

00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:55.519
 and unseen,

00:08:55.740 --> 00:08:56.000
 and there

00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:56.439
 are very

00:08:56.439 --> 00:08:57.639
 good reasons

00:08:57.639 --> 00:08:58.279
 for believing

00:08:58.279 --> 00:08:58.899
 in God,

00:08:59.019 --> 00:08:59.399
 the creator

00:08:59.399 --> 00:08:59.759
 of all

00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:00.259
 things seen

00:09:00.259 --> 00:09:00.860
 and unseen,

00:09:02.779 --> 00:09:03.620
 then believing

00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:04.019
 that God

00:09:04.019 --> 00:09:04.600
 could create

00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:05.360
 unseen

00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:06.019
 spiritual

00:09:06.019 --> 00:09:06.500
 personal

00:09:06.500 --> 00:09:07.120
 beings to

00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:08.019
 magnify him

00:09:08.019 --> 00:09:08.439
 and to

00:09:08.439 --> 00:09:09.199
 praise him

00:09:09.199 --> 00:09:10.100
 is not

00:09:10.100 --> 00:09:11.039
 irrational in

00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:11.539
 the least.

00:09:13.099 --> 00:09:13.599
 And that

00:09:13.599 --> 00:09:13.799
 some of

00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:14.240
 those spiritual

00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:14.799
 beings may

00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:15.379
 rebel against

00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:15.980
 God is also

00:09:15.980 --> 00:09:17.000
 not illogical.

00:09:19.620 --> 00:09:20.059
 But,

00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:22.099
 haven't we

00:09:22.099 --> 00:09:22.879
 grown past

00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:23.439
 all that,

00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:24.099
 you say?

00:09:25.099 --> 00:09:25.559
 I mean,

00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:26.120
 come on.

00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:27.259
 Even if you

00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:29.299
 could possibly

00:09:29.299 --> 00:09:30.339
 logically justify

00:09:30.339 --> 00:09:31.079
 a belief in

00:09:31.079 --> 00:09:31.480
 these things,

00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:32.419
 it all still

00:09:32.419 --> 00:09:33.039
 feels a bit

00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:33.459
 medieval,

00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:34.299
 doesn't it,

00:09:34.319 --> 00:09:34.839
 a bit primitive?

00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:37.980
 And yet,

00:09:38.560 --> 00:09:39.820
 it is worth

00:09:39.820 --> 00:09:40.740
 noting that

00:09:40.740 --> 00:09:41.280
 the Bible's

00:09:41.280 --> 00:09:41.920
 understanding

00:09:41.920 --> 00:09:42.620
 of angels,

00:09:42.820 --> 00:09:43.160
 of Satan,

00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:43.820
 of demons,

00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:44.820
 in other words,

00:09:44.899 --> 00:09:45.519
 what I mean,

00:09:45.560 --> 00:09:46.300
 the balanced

00:09:46.300 --> 00:09:47.720
 biblical understanding

00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:48.600
 of these things

00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:49.960
 that avoids both

00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:50.480
 the extremes

00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:51.160
 of denial

00:09:51.160 --> 00:09:52.200
 and obsession,

00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:53.200
 that biblical

00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:53.920
 understanding

00:09:53.920 --> 00:09:55.899
 doesn't make

00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:57.080
 our view

00:09:57.080 --> 00:09:58.120
 of reality

00:09:58.120 --> 00:09:59.600
 less

00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:00.540
 sophisticated,

00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:02.800
 but more.

00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:06.979
 You see,

00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:07.359
 according to

00:10:07.359 --> 00:10:07.639
 the Bible,

00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:08.059
 there are

00:10:08.059 --> 00:10:08.939
 physical realities

00:10:08.939 --> 00:10:09.379
 at work in

00:10:09.379 --> 00:10:09.799
 the world.

00:10:11.319 --> 00:10:11.939
 There are

00:10:11.939 --> 00:10:12.740
 social realities

00:10:12.740 --> 00:10:13.240
 at work in

00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:13.599
 the world.

00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:14.879
 There are

00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:15.379
 psychological

00:10:15.379 --> 00:10:16.120
 realities.

00:10:16.819 --> 00:10:17.099
 There are

00:10:17.099 --> 00:10:18.019
 economic realities.

00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:18.319
 There are

00:10:18.319 --> 00:10:19.259
 structural realities.

00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:21.879
 But there are

00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:22.759
 also spiritual

00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:23.819
 realities at work

00:10:23.819 --> 00:10:24.620
 in our world.

00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:27.500
 When we look

00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:27.879
 at the world

00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:28.699
 through the lens

00:10:28.699 --> 00:10:29.279
 of the Bible,

00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:30.240
 we're not

00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:30.839
 putting on a

00:10:30.839 --> 00:10:32.099
 pair of blinders

00:10:32.100 --> 00:10:33.320
 that excludes

00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:33.840
 reality,

00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:35.200
 we're actually

00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:35.759
 putting on a

00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:36.960
 pair of fine-tuned

00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:37.840
 glasses that

00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:38.500
 capture the

00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:39.540
 whole of reality.

00:10:42.060 --> 00:10:42.940
 So when we

00:10:42.940 --> 00:10:43.600
 come up against

00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:44.440
 Genesis 3

00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:44.860
 with this

00:10:44.860 --> 00:10:45.800
 talking serpent,

00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:46.960
 which the rest

00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:47.399
 of the Bible

00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:48.259
 identifies with

00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:48.960
 the activity of

00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:49.279
 Satan,

00:10:49.740 --> 00:10:50.800
 we're not in

00:10:50.800 --> 00:10:51.420
 the region of

00:10:51.420 --> 00:10:51.899
 myth,

00:10:52.980 --> 00:10:54.320
 but we've got

00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:55.040
 some fine-tuned

00:10:55.040 --> 00:10:55.820
 glasses on,

00:10:56.440 --> 00:10:57.220
 and we're talking

00:10:57.220 --> 00:10:57.800
 about cold,

00:10:57.879 --> 00:10:58.600
 hard realities.

00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:02.759
 And the

00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:03.240
 same goes for

00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:03.700
 this tree of

00:11:03.700 --> 00:11:04.040
 the knowledge

00:11:04.040 --> 00:11:04.420
 of good and

00:11:04.420 --> 00:11:05.220
 evil, as it's

00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:05.580
 called in

00:11:05.580 --> 00:11:06.240
 Genesis 2.

00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:07.940
 Now keep in

00:11:07.940 --> 00:11:08.340
 mind, this

00:11:08.340 --> 00:11:09.920
 tree is not

00:11:09.920 --> 00:11:10.740
 a magical

00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:11.220
 tree.

00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:12.300
 It's a

00:11:12.300 --> 00:11:13.100
 symbolic one.

00:11:13.820 --> 00:11:14.899
 It stands for

00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:15.259
 something.

00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:15.980
 And we know

00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:16.720
 what that's like,

00:11:16.779 --> 00:11:17.100
 don't we?

00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:17.659
 After all,

00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:19.200
 why is burning

00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:20.220
 a flag, for

00:11:20.220 --> 00:11:21.100
 instance, such a

00:11:21.100 --> 00:11:22.240
 controversial action?

00:11:23.420 --> 00:11:24.300
 Not because a

00:11:24.300 --> 00:11:25.320
 flag is magical,

00:11:26.060 --> 00:11:26.560
 but because a

00:11:26.560 --> 00:11:27.639
 flag stands for

00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:28.120
 something.

00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:29.819
 It's not

00:11:29.819 --> 00:11:30.639
 magical, but

00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:31.439
 meaningful.

00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:33.879
 The tree of the

00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:34.519
 knowledge of good

00:11:34.519 --> 00:11:35.620
 and evil stood

00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:36.759
 for God's

00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:38.100
 sovereign kingship

00:11:38.100 --> 00:11:39.019
 in his good

00:11:39.019 --> 00:11:39.580
 creation.

00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:40.860
 Remember, in this

00:11:40.860 --> 00:11:42.000
 context, to know

00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:42.860
 good and evil

00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:43.559
 meant something

00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:44.659
 like to determine

00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:45.559
 good and evil,

00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:47.100
 to know enough,

00:11:47.199 --> 00:11:48.299
 to claim to know

00:11:48.299 --> 00:11:49.460
 enough, to be able

00:11:49.460 --> 00:11:50.460
 to determine what's

00:11:50.460 --> 00:11:51.279
 right and wrong,

00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:52.559
 to decide what

00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:53.399
 should and should

00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:54.019
 not be.

00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:57.179
 And if Adam

00:11:57.179 --> 00:11:57.799
 and Eve would

00:11:57.799 --> 00:11:58.639
 trust God's

00:11:58.639 --> 00:11:59.500
 goodness and

00:11:59.500 --> 00:12:00.199
 let God be

00:12:00.199 --> 00:12:01.079
 God, if they

00:12:01.079 --> 00:12:01.679
 would let him

00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:02.399
 be the one who

00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:03.399
 knows, who

00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:04.419
 determines good

00:12:04.419 --> 00:12:05.479
 and evil, then

00:12:05.479 --> 00:12:06.759
 the promises from

00:12:06.759 --> 00:12:07.620
 the very first,

00:12:07.959 --> 00:12:08.500
 then they would

00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:09.059
 flourish.

00:12:10.099 --> 00:12:10.939
 And how would

00:12:10.939 --> 00:12:12.120
 they express that

00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:13.759
 glad, obedient

00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:15.839
 trust in God

00:12:15.839 --> 00:12:16.699
 as God?

00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:19.079
 Through a

00:12:19.079 --> 00:12:19.620
 symbolic,

00:12:20.379 --> 00:12:21.759
 meaningful action.

00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:21.819
 salvation.

00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:24.059
 They would not

00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:25.080
 eat from the

00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:26.200
 one tree that

00:12:26.200 --> 00:12:27.340
 God designated

00:12:27.340 --> 00:12:28.539
 to represent

00:12:28.539 --> 00:12:29.220
 his reign.

00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.379
 So the fall

00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:35.200
 is presented to

00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:36.019
 us as history,

00:12:36.460 --> 00:12:37.319
 a real event

00:12:37.319 --> 00:12:38.100
 in space and

00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:38.460
 time.

00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:40.159
 And the good

00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:41.179
 news about that

00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:43.200
 is it means

00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:43.960
 something can be

00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:44.600
 done about it.

00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.559
 If the fall

00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:48.220
 were merely a

00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:48.980
 mythical description

00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:49.799
 of how things

00:12:49.799 --> 00:12:53.039
 always are, there

00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:53.500
 could be little

00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:54.439
 hope of undoing

00:12:54.439 --> 00:12:54.659
 it.

00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:58.099
 But if, as

00:12:58.099 --> 00:12:58.719
 Paul says in

00:12:58.719 --> 00:13:00.059
 Romans 5, sin

00:13:00.059 --> 00:13:00.679
 came into the

00:13:00.679 --> 00:13:01.299
 world through one

00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:02.699
 man, and death

00:13:02.699 --> 00:13:03.559
 through sin, and

00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:04.539
 so death spread to

00:13:04.539 --> 00:13:05.419
 all men because all

00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:05.899
 sinned.

00:13:06.219 --> 00:13:07.120
 In other words, if

00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:07.939
 the fall was a

00:13:07.939 --> 00:13:09.679
 real event, then

00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:10.699
 perhaps another

00:13:10.699 --> 00:13:11.719
 event could take

00:13:11.719 --> 00:13:13.359
 place to rescue

00:13:13.359 --> 00:13:14.579
 and to heal, to

00:13:14.579 --> 00:13:15.379
 liberate and to

00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:15.859
 transform.

00:13:17.479 --> 00:13:18.799
 If in Adam we

00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:19.679
 all fell, then

00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:21.079
 perhaps God

00:13:21.079 --> 00:13:22.059
 could make a

00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:23.279
 way through a

00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:24.519
 new Adam to

00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:25.120
 raise us up

00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:25.439
 again.

00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:30.939
 So history.

00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:33.819
 But also there

00:13:33.819 --> 00:13:34.519
 is, if we're

00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:35.339
 honest, much

00:13:35.339 --> 00:13:36.379
 mystery here in

00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:37.059
 Genesis 3.

00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:38.599
 And by that I

00:13:38.599 --> 00:13:39.219
 mean that there

00:13:39.219 --> 00:13:40.259
 are many questions

00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:41.339
 that are not

00:13:41.339 --> 00:13:42.139
 answered here.

00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:44.219
 How exactly did

00:13:44.219 --> 00:13:45.019
 Satan communicate

00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:45.579
 through this

00:13:45.579 --> 00:13:45.879
 serpent?

00:13:46.479 --> 00:13:47.219
 How much time

00:13:47.219 --> 00:13:47.939
 passed between

00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:48.660
 Genesis 2 and

00:13:48.660 --> 00:13:49.320
 Genesis 3?

00:13:49.540 --> 00:13:50.240
 And why did

00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:51.200
 God pick a tree

00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:52.080
 to represent his

00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.480
 reign?

00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:53.380
 And while we're

00:13:53.380 --> 00:13:54.380
 at it, where did

00:13:54.380 --> 00:13:55.200
 Satan come from?

00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:56.420
 What would cause an

00:13:56.420 --> 00:13:57.380
 angelic being to

00:13:57.380 --> 00:13:58.180
 rebel against a

00:13:58.180 --> 00:13:58.660
 good God?

00:13:58.700 --> 00:13:59.380
 And when did this

00:13:59.380 --> 00:14:00.100
 angelic rebellion

00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:00.600
 happen?

00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:02.160
 Lots of really

00:14:02.160 --> 00:14:03.220
 good questions.

00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:06.480
 And yet here in

00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:07.360
 Genesis 3, those

00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:08.440
 questions are not

00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:08.880
 answered.

00:14:12.280 --> 00:14:13.620
 And if that is

00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:17.580
 frustrating, consider

00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:18.779
 that it is also

00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:19.899
 focusing.

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:24.460
 The camera angle

00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.639
 has to point

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.360
 somewhere.

00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:28.320
 What is it that

00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:28.919
 we see?

00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.279
 To what does the

00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:31.679
 narrator point our

00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:32.100
 attention?

00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:35.240
 Now we can always

00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:36.560
 take a step back and

00:14:36.560 --> 00:14:37.320
 look across the

00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:38.259
 whole of scripture and

00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:39.080
 try to answer some of

00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:39.700
 these questions.

00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:40.720
 And that's a good

00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:41.379
 thing to do.

00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:43.720
 If in Genesis 1, God

00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:44.539
 pronounces all of

00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:46.159
 creation very good, then

00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:47.019
 the rebellion of some

00:14:47.019 --> 00:14:47.980
 angelic beings against

00:14:47.980 --> 00:14:49.320
 God must have happened

00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:50.220
 sometime between

00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:51.620
 Genesis 1.31 and

00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:52.460
 Genesis 3.1.

00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:55.860
 But not much else

00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:56.240
 is said.

00:14:57.580 --> 00:14:58.139
 Sorry.

00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:01.600
 And as the biblical

00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:03.480
 story develops, we

00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:04.860
 see Satan presented as

00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:05.740
 the primary or

00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.620
 principal one among

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.120
 those rebels.

00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:08.320
 Jesus himself will

00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:09.379
 refer to Satan as a

00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:10.139
 murderer from the

00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:10.460
 beginning.

00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:11.879
 And a liar and the

00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:12.680
 father of lies.

00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:13.639
 And in Revelation, the

00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:14.160
 last book of the

00:15:14.160 --> 00:15:15.080
 Bible, Satan will be

00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:16.120
 called that ancient

00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:18.120
 serpent who stands at

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:18.960
 the head of the

00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:19.820
 spiritual rebellion

00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:20.879
 against God and God's

00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:21.220
 people.

00:15:22.280 --> 00:15:23.540
 But again, we don't

00:15:23.540 --> 00:15:24.580
 find excessive

00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:25.220
 descriptions.

00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:26.639
 No long narratives.

00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:28.400
 No epic poems about

00:15:28.400 --> 00:15:29.300
 Satan's fall.

00:15:31.060 --> 00:15:32.400
 No, you see, that's not

00:15:32.400 --> 00:15:33.560
 the focus of the

00:15:33.560 --> 00:15:34.340
 biblical story.

00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:36.120
 The Bible is very

00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:36.780
 comfortable with

00:15:36.780 --> 00:15:38.480
 mystery because the

00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.899
 Bible wants us to

00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:40.420
 focus.

00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:43.720
 An event has

00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:45.279
 happened that has

00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:46.379
 changed the course

00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:46.980
 of history.

00:15:48.060 --> 00:15:49.519
 The world is no

00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.600
 longer the way it's

00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:51.420
 supposed to be.

00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:53.399
 And where does the

00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.620
 camera point?

00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:58.039
 To the relationship

00:15:58.039 --> 00:15:59.440
 between God and

00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:00.000
 humanity.

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.759
 God's image bearers are

00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:05.180
 first human parents,

00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:06.700
 rather than driving the

00:16:06.700 --> 00:16:07.379
 serpent from the

00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:09.020
 garden, listened to

00:16:09.020 --> 00:16:09.700
 his voice.

00:16:10.780 --> 00:16:11.720
 They considered a

00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:13.240
 creature to be more

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.340
 trustworthy than the

00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:15.960
 creator, and they

00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:17.300
 disobeyed God's good

00:16:17.300 --> 00:16:19.140
 word, putting

00:16:19.140 --> 00:16:20.500
 themselves in the

00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:23.360
 place of God so that

00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:24.360
 they might know, so

00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:25.379
 that they might decide

00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.480
 good and evil and

00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.560
 everything in between.

00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:32.879
 There's much left to

00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:34.420
 mystery so that we

00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.919
 might focus on the

00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:37.120
 main thing.

00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.479
 But now the third

00:16:41.479 --> 00:16:42.179
 thing we need to see

00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:43.219
 in Genesis 3 is that

00:16:43.219 --> 00:16:43.979
 this isn't just an

00:16:43.979 --> 00:16:44.979
 event in history long

00:16:44.979 --> 00:16:45.319
 ago.

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:48.019
 This is reality right

00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:48.539
 now.

00:16:50.339 --> 00:16:51.559
 The fall has affected

00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:52.519
 each one of us.

00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:54.139
 You know, in 1986,

00:16:54.699 --> 00:16:55.620
 when the Chernobyl

00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.740
 nuclear power plant

00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:57.579
 melted down in

00:16:57.579 --> 00:16:59.000
 Russia, it wasn't

00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.059
 just a disaster for

00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:01.399
 that day and for

00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:02.099
 those present.

00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:03.920
 The fallout of that

00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:04.680
 event affected

00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:05.900
 generations of people

00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.839
 as they lived in the

00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:07.220
 aftermath.

00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:09.900
 You see, because the

00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:11.160
 fall in Genesis 3 is

00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:12.740
 history, it is now

00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:14.259
 our undeniable

00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:15.279
 reality.

00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.559
 So what reality do we

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.380
 see here in Genesis

00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:20.720
 3?

00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:23.400
 I'm going to point to

00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:24.019
 three things.

00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:26.120
 First, the reality of

00:17:26.120 --> 00:17:27.420
 how Satan tempts us.

00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:31.099
 The reality of how

00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:31.960
 Satan tempts us.

00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:33.100
 Verse 1 says the

00:17:33.100 --> 00:17:34.700
 serpent is crafty or

00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:35.480
 shrewd.

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.340
 Now that word doesn't

00:17:37.340 --> 00:17:38.519
 have to have negative

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.579
 connotations in Hebrew,

00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:41.380
 but in this context, it

00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:42.360
 certainly is ominous,

00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:42.700
 isn't it?

00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:44.220
 And there's actually a

00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:45.039
 play on words here.

00:17:45.120 --> 00:17:46.140
 In Hebrew, the word for

00:17:46.140 --> 00:17:48.000
 crafty sounds a lot like

00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.180
 the word for naked at the

00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:50.059
 end of chapter 2.

00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:52.380
 As if to say, what will

00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:54.059
 happen when this pair of

00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:55.920
 humans, innocent and free,

00:17:56.360 --> 00:17:58.519
 meet the craftiness of the

00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:58.799
 serpent?

00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:04.419
 Even Satan coming to the

00:18:04.419 --> 00:18:05.440
 woman in the guise of a

00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.519
 serpent is telling, right?

00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:07.399
 It's deceptive.

00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:08.379
 It's shrewd.

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.940
 Satan doesn't appear as a

00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:11.500
 fallen rebel enemy of God,

00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.319
 but a mere snake.

00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:14.399
 Sliding his way into the

00:18:14.399 --> 00:18:15.819
 garden and asking a

00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:16.700
 seemingly innocent

00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:17.399
 question.

00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:21.640
 temptation often comes this

00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:22.300
 way to us.

00:18:23.100 --> 00:18:25.400
 Not obvious, not big, bold

00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:27.540
 declarations, but subtle,

00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:29.240
 seemingly innocent.

00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:33.480
 But notice the trap that the

00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:35.400
 serpent sets, even with this

00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:36.660
 seemingly simple question.

00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:39.280
 Did God actually say, you

00:18:39.280 --> 00:18:41.080
 shall not eat of any tree in

00:18:41.080 --> 00:18:41.500
 the garden?

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:47.019
 First, Satan wants us to

00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:48.380
 question God's word.

00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:50.279
 To put yourself in a

00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:51.039
 position of judge.

00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:53.279
 Did God actually say?

00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:54.980
 What do you think?

00:18:56.299 --> 00:18:57.960
 Now, of course, not all

00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.700
 questions are bad.

00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.299
 Questions are good.

00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.319
 We have doubts.

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.319
 We need to ask questions.

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:03.240
 We need to search these

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:03.859
 things out.

00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:06.500
 But you can tell from the

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.579
 start that this isn't that

00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:08.880
 kind of question, is it?

00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:12.160
 Satan is misrepresenting

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.020
 God through this question,

00:19:13.080 --> 00:19:13.400
 isn't he?

00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:14.700
 If you look back at chapter

00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:16.540
 two, what did God tell the

00:19:16.540 --> 00:19:17.360
 first humans?

00:19:17.860 --> 00:19:19.160
 God told them to eat of

00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:20.440
 every tree in the garden.

00:19:21.520 --> 00:19:22.100
 Except one.

00:19:23.320 --> 00:19:26.820
 They had total liberty with

00:19:26.820 --> 00:19:27.960
 one condition.

00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:32.940
 God reserves one tree for

00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.860
 himself, that's all.

00:19:35.020 --> 00:19:37.860
 One symbolic place where they

00:19:37.859 --> 00:19:40.279
 could give expression to

00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:41.339
 their acknowledgement that

00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:42.059
 God is God.

00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:43.099
 And they are not.

00:19:45.979 --> 00:19:47.719
 But Satan's question already

00:19:47.719 --> 00:19:50.019
 makes God look like a divine

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:51.099
 killjoy.

00:19:52.399 --> 00:19:53.939
 You can't eat of any of these

00:19:53.939 --> 00:19:54.659
 trees, can you?

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.579
 And what begins with a

00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:01.619
 question soon turns out to

00:20:01.619 --> 00:20:02.740
 become a flat contradiction.

00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:03.919
 When the woman corrects the

00:20:03.919 --> 00:20:05.359
 serpent, the serpent contradicts

00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:05.639
 God.

00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:07.759
 You shall not surely die.

00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.420
 For God knows that when you

00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:10.460
 eat of it, your eyes will be

00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.920
 opened and you'll be like God

00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:13.180
 knowing good and evil.

00:20:14.060 --> 00:20:15.440
 Do you see what Satan is doing

00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:15.780
 here?

00:20:17.820 --> 00:20:20.560
 Portraying God as withholding

00:20:20.560 --> 00:20:21.940
 something good from us.

00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:27.360
 God, Satan says, cannot be

00:20:27.360 --> 00:20:27.800
 trusted.

00:20:28.820 --> 00:20:31.020
 He doesn't want your best.

00:20:31.280 --> 00:20:32.700
 He doesn't love you.

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:34.600
 He wants to keep you down.

00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.860
 He's afraid you'll become like

00:20:36.860 --> 00:20:37.160
 him.

00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:39.720
 That one thing that he told you

00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.480
 is off limits.

00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:42.720
 That's the one thing that's going

00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:44.819
 to bring you real freedom and joy.

00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:51.460
 But here's the irony.

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:55.140
 Satan tells them this tree will

00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:56.080
 make them like God.

00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:00.099
 But Adam and Eve were already

00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:00.639
 like God.

00:21:03.439 --> 00:21:04.960
 They were made in God's image.

00:21:06.179 --> 00:21:08.460
 They were as much like God as

00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:10.819
 any created being could be.

00:21:12.399 --> 00:21:14.019
 And so Satan wants the woman and

00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:15.539
 the man not just to be doubtful

00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:17.659
 about God's character, but about

00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:19.939
 their own identity in relation to

00:21:19.939 --> 00:21:20.639
 God as well.

00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:25.380
 And friends, this is the dynamic

00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:27.140
 of temptation still today.

00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:29.560
 Haven't you heard those same

00:21:29.560 --> 00:21:31.420
 voices in your heart at times?

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:35.740
 This can't be that bad.

00:21:36.820 --> 00:21:38.040
 I mean, I'm not going to die.

00:21:41.840 --> 00:21:43.780
 God's withholding something good

00:21:43.780 --> 00:21:44.340
 from you.

00:21:44.339 --> 00:21:47.740
 You won't be happy if you don't

00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:50.199
 have this and God is keeping it

00:21:50.199 --> 00:21:50.699
 from you.

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:57.079
 Satan will always try through lies

00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:59.519
 and half-truths to get us to doubt

00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:02.899
 the goodness of God, to question the

00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:06.279
 truthfulness of his word, and to

00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:08.699
 become blind to the glory to which

00:22:08.699 --> 00:22:11.839
 he's promised us and made us as

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.259
 humans.

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:17.339
 You see, God had made Adam and Eve

00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:19.299
 in his image, and he had promised

00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.599
 them the tree of life if they

00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.379
 obeyed his word.

00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:24.140
 So in reality, what Satan is trying

00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:27.220
 to get them to do is to shortcut the

00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:29.180
 obedience and go straight for the

00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:29.460
 goal.

00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:33.539
 Satan is in essence saying, the way to

00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:35.279
 life isn't through being a servant of

00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:37.900
 God, but through grasping the place of

00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:39.160
 God for yourself.

00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:43.259
 You know, it's the same when Satan

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.580
 tempted Jesus in the wilderness.

00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:48.080
 What was Satan trying to get Jesus to

00:22:48.080 --> 00:22:49.580
 do in that reading we heard earlier?

00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:56.920
 Satan was trying to convince Jesus to

00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:59.800
 become a king without being a servant.

00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:04.180
 to get the crown without the cross.

00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:07.339
 Don't experience hunger.

00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:09.059
 Turn these stones into bread.

00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:12.180
 Don't be rejected by the chief priest.

00:23:12.299 --> 00:23:14.159
 Do something so spectacular at the

00:23:14.159 --> 00:23:16.039
 temple that they'll have to praise you.

00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:18.259
 Don't suffer and die.

00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:20.799
 Bow to me and I'll hand the kingdoms of

00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.819
 this world over to you.

00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:25.680
 Satan will always propose what seems like

00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:27.900
 the easy way to happiness.

00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:33.000
 The tree was good for food and a delight

00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:34.759
 to the eyes, just like all the other

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:36.100
 trees in the garden, according to

00:23:36.100 --> 00:23:37.120
 chapter 2, verse 9.

00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:40.279
 But then Eve starts thinking, this tree,

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:43.460
 well, it just might make me something

00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:44.380
 I'm not.

00:23:44.840 --> 00:23:46.820
 Maybe it really does have the power to

00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:47.920
 make one wise.

00:23:48.320 --> 00:23:51.120
 That is, maybe I can be like God without

00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:52.539
 having to serve God.

00:23:57.659 --> 00:23:59.500
 So friend, can you recognize the voice

00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.899
 of temptation when it comes?

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.439
 Twisting God's word.

00:24:04.959 --> 00:24:07.259
 Denying God's goodness and his love for you.

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:12.179
 These voices are not the voices of your

00:24:12.179 --> 00:24:12.819
 liberation.

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:15.839
 They are the voices of your ruin.

00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:21.379
 And that's the second reality that we see

00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:21.539
 here.

00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:23.699
 The reality not just of how Satan tempts us,

00:24:23.939 --> 00:24:25.619
 but of how sin defiles us.

00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:28.699
 What is the result of the woman and then

00:24:28.699 --> 00:24:29.740
 the man eating the fruit?

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:34.939
 Ironically, what the serpent told them

00:24:34.939 --> 00:24:36.339
 seems to come true.

00:24:37.439 --> 00:24:38.439
 They don't die.

00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.459
 And their eyes are opened.

00:24:43.659 --> 00:24:45.659
 But what do their eyes now see?

00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:48.619
 As their consciences burn within them.

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:52.519
 And what sort of life do they now live?

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:57.259
 What comes of their disobedience to God's word?

00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:02.699
 First, sin brings shame.

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.859
 They knew that they were naked.

00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:07.919
 And they sewed fig leaves together and

00:25:07.919 --> 00:25:09.079
 made themselves loincloths.

00:25:10.879 --> 00:25:12.879
 Fig leaves, you see, are broad enough to

00:25:12.879 --> 00:25:13.819
 actually make a covering.

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:17.759
 And so feeling now that their nakedness is a

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:20.439
 problem and not a gift to be enjoyed,

00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:22.439
 they cover themselves and they hide from

00:25:22.439 --> 00:25:22.919
 one another.

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.960
 Satan promised that their eyes would be

00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:26.379
 opened.

00:25:26.839 --> 00:25:29.019
 And now all that they can see is their

00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.439
 shame.

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:33.460
 Second, sin brings fear.

00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:36.919
 God comes and they hide from him.

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.700
 Why do they hide?

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:38.799
 God.

00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.380
 Because they're afraid.

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:45.080
 No longer do they have a filial relationship

00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:45.539
 with God.

00:25:45.620 --> 00:25:47.680
 That is a relationship of sons and daughters

00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.759
 to their loving maker.

00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.039
 But they're afraid.

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.920
 They're afraid to be seen.

00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:53.400
 They're afraid to be known.

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:55.519
 They're afraid to come into the presence of their

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.160
 good creator.

00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:59.319
 Satan promised them that they'd be like God

00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:02.120
 and now they can't even stand to be in God's

00:26:02.120 --> 00:26:02.500
 presence.

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:07.400
 And third, sin brings blame.

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:11.519
 In response to God's questions, the man blames the

00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:13.940
 woman and the woman blames the serpent.

00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:16.420
 And in effect, they both blame God.

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:19.079
 It's the woman you gave me.

00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:21.400
 It's the serpent you made.

00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.619
 That's the problem.

00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:28.599
 Satan promised that they would know good and evil

00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:32.299
 and now they can't even come to admit when they are

00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:32.679
 wrong.

00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:38.519
 It's worth pausing here and considering.

00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:40.479
 Do you see those dynamics in your own heart?

00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:46.259
 We often think that if we were in Adam and Eve's shoes, we

00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.359
 would have chosen differently.

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:52.299
 But is that the case in your own life?

00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:55.019
 Have you chosen differently?

00:26:59.639 --> 00:27:01.939
 And what about your interior world?

00:27:03.659 --> 00:27:08.759
 Is there not shame and fear and the blaming of others?

00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:14.259
 Isn't it funny we don't have to try to do those things?

00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:15.419
 They just happen.

00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:21.899
 Sin promises us freedom and life.

00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:23.720
 But what does it deliver?

00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:29.440
 Alienation from ourselves in shame.

00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:32.560
 Alienation from God in fear.

00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:36.720
 And alienation from one another in blame.

00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:43.460
 But there's a third reality here.

00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:45.780
 Not just how Satan tempts us.

00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.980
 Not just how sin defiles us.

00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:50.880
 But also how God approaches us.

00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:57.759
 In the evening, God comes into his garden to meet with the man and the woman.

00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:02.759
 Now next week, we'll see that God pronounces a curse because of Adam and Eve's sin.

00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:04.539
 And he exiles them from the garden.

00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:08.839
 But here, before that, he comes asking questions.

00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:11.659
 Where are you?

00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:14.259
 Who told you?

00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:16.639
 What have you done?

00:28:19.159 --> 00:28:21.859
 God, of course, knows the answer to these questions, doesn't he?

00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:24.379
 So why does he ask them?

00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:36.720
 To call them out of hiding and into the light.

00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:44.420
 You see, the way through the fall, the way through our sin,

00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:50.279
 is not by denying it or by hiding it, but by confessing it.

00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:58.420
 To admit that we are rebels and to plead for mercy.

00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:04.400
 But will God be merciful?

00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.920
 That's the question.

00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:10.240
 Will God forgive his rebellious image bearers?

00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:12.779
 And will he make things right again?

00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:17.920
 You know, when Genesis 3 was originally compiled,

00:29:18.080 --> 00:29:20.160
 Israel was on the verge of entering the promised land.

00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:24.840
 God was putting his people back into his garden, as it were.

00:29:26.120 --> 00:29:28.200
 And again, the choice was before them.

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:32.740
 Would they obey his voice, his word, his law?

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:35.759
 Or would they obey the voice of the enemy?

00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:38.580
 Would they listen to the voice of their creator?

00:29:39.580 --> 00:29:43.120
 Or would they worship and serve a created thing instead?

00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:49.880
 And the long, tragic history of Israel

00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:54.000
 is really the story of all humanity.

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:59.720
 Like a play within the play of the entire human drama,

00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:02.860
 there are God's people, the Israelites,

00:30:03.840 --> 00:30:05.420
 just like all of us.

00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:08.160
 Rather than keeping God's word,

00:30:08.860 --> 00:30:10.380
 they listen to other voices,

00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:12.840
 and they too rebel.

00:30:13.900 --> 00:30:16.279
 And in rebellion, God gives them over to death.

00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:20.960
 And so by the end of the Old Testament,

00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:23.539
 we see that Israel cannot undo the fall.

00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:27.339
 They too are in Adam,

00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:29.720
 part of this fallen human race,

00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:32.440
 willingly listening to the voice of the serpent,

00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:34.940
 needing themselves to be rescued.

00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:39.960
 But that's not the end of the story.

00:30:41.600 --> 00:30:43.620
 When we could not save ourselves,

00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:46.740
 God comes to save us.

00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:50.620
 When Jesus begins his public ministry,

00:30:50.620 --> 00:30:53.440
 he too faces the accuser, Satan.

00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:56.500
 But this time, not in a garden,

00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:58.740
 but in a wilderness.

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:03.220
 With everything good stripped away,

00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:06.680
 a great confrontation happens.

00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:07.400
 A great confrontation happens.

00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:10.680
 And Satan comes tempting,

00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:14.360
 speaking half-truths and lies,

00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:17.240
 getting Jesus to question his own identity.

00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:18.940
 Are you really the son of God?

00:31:19.360 --> 00:31:22.160
 Couldn't the son of God just turn some of these stones into bread

00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:23.400
 and fix this whole thing?

00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:27.059
 Couldn't you show that you're the Messiah of Israel

00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:28.379
 by going to the temple

00:31:28.379 --> 00:31:30.679
 and doing something a little spectacular?

00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:34.279
 Wouldn't that prove that you're the son of God?

00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.539
 And by the way,

00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:37.399
 wasn't the son of God promised to reign

00:31:37.399 --> 00:31:39.099
 over all the kingdoms of the world?

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:41.159
 We can fix this right now.

00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:43.480
 Bow to me and I will hand them over to you

00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:45.279
 and you'll prove that you are the son of God.

00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:52.980
 But where Adam failed,

00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:55.779
 and where Israel failed,

00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:57.920
 and where we failed,

00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.960
 Jesus conquered.

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:03.079
 The voice of the serpent

00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:04.779
 was at last overcome

00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:06.980
 by the word of God.

00:32:08.099 --> 00:32:09.359
 The incarnate word

00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:11.700
 speaking the written word.

00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:15.980
 And just as humanity fell

00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:18.680
 into condemnation and guilt in Adam,

00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:20.920
 so now in Christ

00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:22.519
 there is justification

00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:25.539
 and life for all who believe.

00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:30.920
 And united to Christ by faith,

00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:31.660
 what happens?

00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:33.420
 What happens when we are united

00:32:33.420 --> 00:32:36.599
 to this better and last Adam

00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:38.420
 who's blazed a new path

00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:40.059
 through the human story?

00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:42.920
 Well, you know,

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:44.539
 united to Christ by faith,

00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:46.359
 knowing that we have a champion

00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:47.799
 who's overcome for us,

00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:49.599
 one who succeeded

00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:51.500
 where we have failed in our place,

00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:54.000
 united to him,

00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:55.720
 we can at last confess

00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:57.420
 that we are sinners.

00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:01.200
 And we can come out of hiding

00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:03.460
 and we can come into the light

00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:07.000
 because we know

00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:09.220
 that God's judgment

00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:11.259
 has been met

00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:12.700
 in his own son

00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:14.980
 so that we might receive mercy.

00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:15.039
 mercy.

00:33:16.620 --> 00:33:18.680
 And we can move beyond shame

00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:20.220
 and fear and blame

00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:21.740
 before God

00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:22.759
 and before one another.

00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:27.880
 And we can resist the voice

00:33:27.880 --> 00:33:28.860
 of the evil one now.

00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:30.599
 Not perfectly,

00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:32.500
 but we can.

00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:34.120
 Why?

00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:37.779
 Not because we are strong,

00:33:38.239 --> 00:33:40.079
 but because Christ

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:41.379
 has conquered for us.

00:33:42.399 --> 00:33:43.939
 And this obedience of Christ

00:33:43.939 --> 00:33:45.919
 was so unrelenting, you see,

00:33:46.899 --> 00:33:48.000
 that he was willing

00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:49.559
 not just to face

00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:51.739
 our enemy in the wilderness,

00:33:52.959 --> 00:33:55.279
 but he was willing

00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:57.239
 to take the form of a servant

00:33:57.239 --> 00:34:00.239
 and become obedient to death,

00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:02.739
 even death on a cross,

00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:04.519
 as the apostles will say.

00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:07.839
 Listen,

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:10.079
 do you want to know

00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:10.980
 how to stand against

00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:12.360
 the scheme of the enemy?

00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:15.579
 When the tempter gets you

00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:17.460
 to question God's goodness

00:34:17.460 --> 00:34:20.559
 and wonder whether God

00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:21.920
 really loves you,

00:34:24.300 --> 00:34:27.059
 friends, look to the last Adam,

00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:29.820
 to Jesus, your Savior,

00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:32.300
 who came and went

00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:33.640
 into the wilderness for you

00:34:33.640 --> 00:34:35.400
 and who died for you,

00:34:36.140 --> 00:34:37.600
 how could God not love you?

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:40.120
 And when the tempter tells you

00:34:40.120 --> 00:34:41.160
 that God is withholding

00:34:41.160 --> 00:34:42.519
 something good from you,

00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:44.640
 again, look to Christ

00:34:44.640 --> 00:34:45.440
 and know that God

00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:46.980
 has given over his son for you.

00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.620
 God was willing to lose

00:34:48.620 --> 00:34:49.700
 what is most precious

00:34:49.700 --> 00:34:51.700
 in all of eternity,

00:34:51.700 --> 00:34:53.560
 that you might be reclaimed

00:34:53.560 --> 00:34:54.860
 from the ruin of the fall.

00:34:55.700 --> 00:34:56.539
 And when the tempter

00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:57.280
 gets you to doubt

00:34:57.280 --> 00:34:58.539
 that obedience to God

00:34:58.539 --> 00:35:00.000
 will bring joy in the end,

00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:02.739
 that these short-term acts

00:35:02.739 --> 00:35:04.000
 of service and obedience

00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:05.320
 are not going to bring

00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:06.079
 the freedom and joy

00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:06.900
 that you want,

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:09.739
 look at the risen Jesus.

00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:14.519
 See how he did not turn back

00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:15.199
 from suffering

00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:17.059
 so that we might enter

00:35:17.059 --> 00:35:18.239
 into glory with him.

00:35:19.940 --> 00:35:21.880
 See how the way to glory

00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:23.400
 is the road of the cross.

00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:26.460
 And yet whatever we lose

00:35:26.460 --> 00:35:27.619
 is nothing compared

00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:28.860
 to what we gain in him.

00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.480
 So the fall then

00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:36.360
 is our reality.

00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:39.059
 But for those in Christ,

00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:41.400
 it's not the last word.

00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:44.740
 Christ has clothed us

00:35:44.740 --> 00:35:45.960
 not with mere fig leaves,

00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:47.119
 but with his own righteousness.

00:35:47.660 --> 00:35:48.480
 And through his spirit

00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:49.240
 living in us,

00:35:49.400 --> 00:35:50.720
 we need no longer listen

00:35:50.720 --> 00:35:51.740
 to the voice of the serpent,

00:35:51.739 --> 00:35:53.119
 but we can obey

00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:54.619
 the voice of our living God.

00:35:56.919 --> 00:35:57.319
 Amen.

00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:58.500
 Isn't that good news?

00:36:00.459 --> 00:36:01.239
 We're about to take

00:36:01.239 --> 00:36:02.199
 the Lord's Supper together

00:36:02.199 --> 00:36:05.399
 to continue to let these truths

00:36:05.399 --> 00:36:06.179
 sink into our hearts.

00:36:06.219 --> 00:36:07.059
 And isn't it wonderful

00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:09.199
 that the very act

00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:11.199
 that brought us such ruin,

00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:14.119
 Adam and Eve took and ate,

00:36:15.399 --> 00:36:17.119
 would now be the very act

00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:19.119
 that symbolizes our redemption.

00:36:19.619 --> 00:36:21.179
 We take and we eat.

00:36:21.739 --> 00:36:25.339
 Adam and Eve stood before a tree

00:36:25.339 --> 00:36:26.879
 and rebelled against God.

00:36:27.779 --> 00:36:29.339
 Friends, we sit before a table

00:36:29.339 --> 00:36:31.279
 and have been made friends of God

00:36:31.279 --> 00:36:33.359
 because Christ was willing

00:36:33.359 --> 00:36:34.659
 to be crucified on a tree,

00:36:35.239 --> 00:36:36.439
 on the cross.

00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:39.179
 So let's take a moment

00:36:39.179 --> 00:36:39.899
 and let's pray

00:36:39.899 --> 00:36:41.619
 and let's prepare to commune

00:36:41.619 --> 00:36:42.639
 with Christ at his table.

00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:42.739
 Amen.

00:36:42.739 --> 00:36:42.839
 Amen.

00:36:42.839 --> 00:36:42.919
 Amen.

00:36:51.739 --> 00:36:52.239
 Amen.

00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:07.459
 I wonder if those who are

00:37:07.459 --> 00:37:08.539
 helping to serve would come up.

00:37:08.539 --> 00:37:38.519
 Thank you.