Genesis 3 - Bible study

 SIN

“So, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. “(Gen 3:6)

The Bible has recorded the sad tale of 'paradise lost' in Genesis 3, when the cunning serpent deceived Eve. She allowed Satan to influence her mind and emotions and twist the truth of God. She believed the word of serpent more than the Word of God, disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit. Also, she made her husband to eat the fruit, which caused sin to enter the world and be the root cause for all subsequent generations to be cursed.

Everything God created was very good. However, God tested Adam by telling him, "You are free to eat from ANY tree of the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die." Adam was created with a 'mind' to think and a 'free-will' to make decisions. The cunning serpent cast doubt on the truthfulness of God's Word and the goodness of His character, by asking a question, "Did God really say that you could not eat from ANY tree in the garden?” Eve was carried away by Satan's false teaching that the fruit of the tree would enlighten her and make her wise.  She doubted God's Word by believing the lie that she would not die. Eve placed herself above God in making her own decision to disobey God.

Eve did not commit any sin by looking at the tree. Temptation is not sinful but yielding to temptation is sin. What made Eve to disobey God? Three things influenced Eve to disobey God. The tree's fruit could satisfy her body's appetite for food, the tree was attractive to look at, and the tree could make her wise. These motivations match closely with the Apostle John's description of the things which still control the world today: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).  The tree was good for food : the lust of the flesh;  it was pleasant to the eyes : the lust of the eyes; desirable to make one wise : the pride of life.

Eve gave in to temptation and chose to ignore the consequences of her sin. She took the fruit and ate of it, and gave it to her husband, who was with her and Adam ate. Adam was with his wife. He did not take efforts to warn her or try to prevent her from disobeying God but was equally guilty of sin. In any case, Adam's sin was no less than Eve's. Indeed, as God's created head of the human race, the responsibility of the fall is always assigned to Adam rather than to Eve (Romans 5:12).

Some people willingly give into temptation and commit sin. Some allow others to make decisions for them. Some follow the crowd instead of standing firm for what they know is right.

God, in His supreme wisdom, knew man would sin and graciously planned for the redemption of human race. The second and final Adam was sent to redeem the fallen race: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."(1 Cor 15:22).