This is the beginning of the world’s sorry and loss, but in the end there is victory in the cross – seek Him.
Genesis 3: The Fall
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?"
2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,
3 but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'"
4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.
5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"
10 And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."
11 He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
12 The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14 The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
16 To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."
17 And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
20 The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
21 And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
22 Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever---"
23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.
24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 4: Cain and Abel
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD."
2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground,
4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,
5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
6 The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it."
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"
10 And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.
11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."
13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."
15 Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.
19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.
22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.
24 If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold."
25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, "God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him."
26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.
Things to think about…
1. God was the One that created the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil along with the Tree of Life. Why would He do this if it potentially had the result that all of His creation would fall and rebel against Him? The Lord has a purpose even in the fall. A biblical explanation of why this is so is found in Rom 8:18-30. Glory will come even from the tragedy of the fall. But we see the immediate tragic results of the fall after this point.
2. Note that Satan, the father of all lies, was already in the garden before the fall of man. He is lying here in the passage, so we know there was a ‘fall’ in the spiritual realm before the fall of man in the garden. Jesus says of Satan “I saw Satan fall like lightening”, Luke 10:18. But even in these things the Lord has a purpose. Remember the Apostle Paul was afflicted by Satan to keep him from stumbling with pride.
3. Consider how Gen 3:6 is reflected by John’s words in 1 John 2:16 where he says “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” The fall takes eyes off the Creator and onto the creation. Adam is with Eve at this historical crossroads, Gen 3:6. He was created first. He heard God’s voice first and here he is leading his wife poorly through a passive response. They see their nakedness and sew fig leaves to cover and hide themselves. In what ways do we still make fig leaf coverings for ourselves today in order to hide from God, Gen 3:7? Often when we feel the Lord’s conviction of sin, we try and spare ourselves from the conviction. We don’t talk to certain people, we avoid the difficult situation and hope things go away. This just ignores the truth and prolongs the pain of course.
4. Note that God called for Adam, Gen 3:8. The first words from Adam are the sad outcome of eating the forbidden fruit. He is afraid of God, he is ashamed of his nakedness and hides, vs 9. Tragically he blames God’s gift to him (Eve) by saying that it was her fault. Imagine how grieving this would have been and would have added to her loneliness, condemnation and insecurity. May we as husbands promote our wife’s security, honour and identity in Christ by lifting them up, praying for them and speaking well about them to others.
5. The tragedy of the blame given by Adam to his wife, saying she was the ultimate cause of the problem is the immediate fruit of Adam’s fall. Rather than protection and loving leadership he exposes her to shame, guilt and blame. We see this echoed throughout all generations to the present day. The remedy is found in Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:22-33.
6. Even in tragedy God has a purpose. God would set enmity, Gen 3:15, Jesus, between the woman’s offspring and Satan’s offspring. This is the first prophecy of the restoration of man through Christ. God provided the first sacrifice and provided skins for clothing, Gen 3:21 for a more significant covering for Adam and Eve. This also provides a partial answer to yesterdays ‘why can’t we be naked’ question. God wants us now to be covered. Where there is an attempt to uncover in public places, this is more a statement about the heart of rebellion towards God.
7. We see in the declaration of the Lord’s judgements against Adam and Eve this statement to Eve, “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.", 3:16. This is not sexual desire, but a desire for his position and to rule over him, yet he (Adam) will rule over her. Adam was physically stronger and now there is tension. He would now at times enforce his will, and regardless of her desire he will rule over her. Adam was appointed to be a loving leader, but here in decreed judgement, while he still leads it is now with opposition and from a position of greater physical strength. We have seen 6000 years of this tragic truth unfold with much abuse from men towards women, especially within the home.
8. Adam gets 3 verses of curses, Gen 3:17-19. The work rather than a joyful endeavour, is cursed with pain vs 17 and sweat, vs 19. The ground is cursed with thorns and thistles, vs 18, as are all the relationships in the home and the world especially between men and women. We see this in abuse of women, gender confusion, abuse of children, the wickedness of pornography etc. Aside from this, the greatest curse, they would both die, vs 19. The Lord shuts man out of Eden and away from the Tree of Life, Gen 3:22-24. The only way back is through the Man who hung on another tree – Jesus on His cross. Getting to Christ and the cross needs to be by grace through the doorway of repentance and faith. Emotional conversions without an understanding of what happened at the fall limit the understanding of the great cost of Christ’s sacrifice.
9. Was the devil in fact right. Had Adam and Eve now become like God, Gen 3:22 “"Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil.” They had a knowledge of good and evil, like God, but tragically unlike God they had no ability to overcome it because of sin and its unyielding power over their bodies, minds and hearts, as Paul reminds us in Rom 3:10-18.
10. Maybe Eve thought the birth of Cain would be the answer she was promised by the Lord, Gen 4:1. How sadly mistaken she was. We see the tragic result of the fall with the murder of Abel by Cain in Gen 4. Look at the Lord’s warning to Cain in Gen 4:7. “Sin crouches at the doorIts desire is for you but you must rule over it”. The word ‘desire’ here is the same one used in judgement against Eve. Imagine the guilt and pain Adam and Eve felt not only as parents but as the ones who ultimately opened the door for this heartbreak. Temptation isn’t the sin, but when it arises, we must rule over it. This shows not only a command, but also an ability, as James tells us in James 1:13-17. The same for us, sin must never be given an opportunity to rule in our hearts. Often the opportunity comes in the form of anger, greed, revenge or pride. The best way to minimise the potential to give into sin is to allow people to ask you anything about your heart or your faith. In such times of accountability pray for the grace to respond with the truth.
11. Cain does not look to have been judged too harshly by God does he. He builds a city, was blessed with family and from him came valuable inventions of smelting metals, Gen 4:22 as well as the making of musical instruments, Gen 4:21. We see the pride of Lamech in the murder he commits, Gen 4:23, 24. He has two wives and so begins a culture of polygamy, pride and greed that would end in the world being judged via a flood. I fear we are not far off a similar event in today’s climate. Evil seems to be engulfing our world and the church sadly is cloistered and/or silent on the horror show unfolding before its eyes.
12. Praise God we see a ray of hope and light. Eve bears another son – Seth and the testimony is that from that time “people began to call on the name of the Lord”, Gen 4:26. Our Lord has always had a remnant who call on Him because He has known them before the foundation of the world, Eph 1:4.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Prayer points
1. The gospel to challenge and change Australia and Australian politics
2. Pray for peace as Iran war begins again
3. Pray for the church in Australia to rise up and preach the entire truth of scripture.
4. Nigeria must be delivered from Fulani jihadists. Pray for those poor Christians – the widows and orphans.
5. For peace in Ukraine. May Russia see the folly of this war and relent of the bloodshed – mainly from the Russian side.
6. Pray for the Sacred Minds podcast and our online ministry
7. Pray for One for Israel and their witness in this time of challenge and conflict.
8. Pray for the church in Australia that it focuses on Christ, His Word and holiness.
9. Pray for our leaders in Australia that they press in closer to Christ.
10. The Royal Commission that the Jewish people will feel safe in Australia.
11. Pray for new people to step into ministries at CBC – eg worship, café, Kids@church, sound/technical, giving, podcast.
12. Reform and Revival over our city and country.
13. Finances to cover our needs
14. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise God for the new visitors on Sunday.
2. Praise God for the ministry of Dave Pellowe at CBC on Sunday.
3. Praise the Lord for children and grandchildren 😊.
4. Praise God for ministries – Life Groups, Prayer meetings, Kids@Church, Worship, Technical, administration
5. Café team every week. Thankyou to all those who serve and bring food. Especially Fiona, Maddie and Suzy and those who supply it every week Eg Ros - Milk.
6. Worship, Admin and Technical teams – Peter, Nita, Brendon, AJ, Suzy, Maddie, Mathys, Doug.
7. Kids Church teachers – Jacqueline, Maddie, Elise, and Fiona
8. The Lord’s faithfulness this year to CBC and all who have served in ministries
9. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Prayer meeting – Wed 5:30pm.
2. Creation International Ministry – Dr Michael Thompson 16th August 6pm.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for July...
Q. 3. Why did God make you and all things? A. For his own glory.
