SERMON –The Fall of Man
Text: Genesis 3:1-24; 4:1-26; 5:1-32.
At creation, God in His infinite love and care placed Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden, Eden, where they enjoyed His presence, fellowship and perfect relationship. However, their intimacy and fellowship with God was shortlived when they disobeyed His command by yielding to temptation and deception masterminded by Satan. The disobedience of Adam, the first man, had grave consequences on humanity generally. God, however, intervened and held out a lifeline for man.
Any act of disobedience to God’s clear commandments attracts grievous punishment, Adam and Eve were consequently expelled from the Garden of Eden underscoring the fact that we can lose any privilege through sinful acts and lifestyles. The only way to keep whatever blessing God has bestowed on us is to continue in total trust and obedience to His word. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12).
THE ENTRANCE OF SIN AND CURSE INTO THE WORLD
Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12,14-19; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-19; 1Timothy 2:14; Revelation 12:7-9,12.
Our test opens with the serpent who engaged Eve in a mischievous conversation in the Garden of Eden. His approach was subtle and designed to make her sin against God. It is important to state here that being tempted is not a sin, but yielding to it. Anyone, regardless of age, colour, race, social or spiritual status can be tempted. Even our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted.
AN EMBLEM OF ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE AND REJECTION OF CAIN’S OFFERING
Genesis 4:1-26; Hebrews 11:4; Deuteronomy 15:19; Leviticus 9:3; Matthew 26:28; 1John 3:12.
After their expulsion from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve gave birth to Cain followed by Abel. Being offspring of the fall, they were sinners. In process of time, they brought offerings to God. Cain took of his farm produce, but Abel brought a choice firstling out of his flock. In response, God accepted the offering of Abel but rejected Cain and his offering. “But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.” (Genesis 4:5). The New Testament explains that
Abel offered his sacrifice by faith and followed God’s acceptable pattern. Therefore, he was counted righteous by God. (Hebrews 11:4; Matthew 23:35) while Cain’s offering was rejected because he approached God on his own merit and not by faith. Also, his sacrifice consisted of his own works (farm produce) instead of life wherein there is blood (Hebrews 9:22; Leviticus 17:14).
Some people today act like Cain, they are defiant to sin; they reject God’s gracious entreaties and offer of mercy. Being often reproved, they harden their necks and would be destroyed without remedy (Proverbs 29:1). But believers are expected to be teachable, tender in heart, and be their brother’s keeper.
EXPOSITIONS ON THE GENEALOGY OF ADAM
Genesis 5:1-32; Luke 3:23-38; Romans 5:12; Ecclesiastes 3:1,2; Hebrews 9:27.
“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him.” (Genesis 5:1). The Scripture provides a clear but concise detail of the ancestry or genealogy of the human race. The ultimate purpose of Bible genealogies is to trace the descent from Adam to Jesus Christ, the seed of the woman. Notice that the tracing of genealogies ended with that of Jesus in the New Testament. It is also plain that Bible
genealogies are selective to exclude names or family lines that are not relevant to the set
objective.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
