Genesis 3 – Pastor Kyle McClellan

Intro. Springsteen lyrics – everyone has hungry hearts.

So where did that hunger come from?

The big idea: God the Sovereign Creator judges the rebellion of his creation pronouncing both judgment and mercy.

I. Respond properly to God’s call vv 8-9.

Respond like Mary and Isaiah and Samuel with Eli, ‘here I am.’

However, this is not how Adam and Eve respond to God. They run and hide in shame when God asks where they are. Where there was once perfect communion and relationship with God, there is now fear and shame.

II. Don’t play the blame game vv12.

Adam is not so much throwing Eve under the bus as he is God under the bus. Your fault God for giving me this woman. What does Eve do? She says the serpent deceived me, but who made the serpent? God too. So they blame shift and blame God.

It’s what has always been wrong with the world: it’s always someone else’s fault. In contrast, G K Chesterton wrote the London Times in reply to their question what is wrong with the world? He is. This is repentance and true honesty!

God was angry with us. It was not Jesus that broke God’s law – we did. He died in our place on the tree.

III. The Sovereign Creator judges the rebellion of his creation vv 14-19.

Notice that this is not a dialogue nor a plea bargain nor a negotiation. God alone speaks and hands out their judgement.

A. The serpent. Vv. 14-15

B. Eve vv16. There will now be much confusion and heartache around what it means of woman as helper. She will be abused at times, and she will also try to usurp man’s accountabilities.

C. Adam vv 17-19. His work is now cursed.

These curses attack our very calling and vocation: role of being fruitful and multiplying comes now in birth pangs. Thorns and thistles now make work exhausting, and we fight futility.

IV. The Sovereign Creator bestows mercy to his rebellious creation vv15.

There is good news! God not only judges mankind but also proclaims mercy! Verse 15 says there will be a seed to come and set all things right. Galatians 4:4ff Christ was a man born of woman – the seed promise in Gen 3:15 is fulfilled in the birth of Christ!

In God’s mercy, we can still procreate and fulfill our vocation to subdue the earth and have dominion.

God covers their sin v21. Adam and Eve are no good at covering themselves with fig leaves. Something had to die in order to cover the shame, nakedness and sin of our first parents. So we see in Christ that it is in his death and blood that we are covered better than we can cover our own shame and nakedness like Adam and Eve.

God saves them from eternal life in a sinful and broken world vv 22-24.

What are you covering yourself with? Run to Christ as your highest Treasure. He is who your hungry heart is really seeking!