(All Bible passages from NASB: 1995 Update)
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?’” —Genesis 3:1
“And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” —Revelation 12:9
The Temptation & Disobedience
“On your belly you shall go…” —Genesis 3:14
“Indeed, has God said, ’You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” —Genesis 3:1
“From any tree of the garden you may eat freely.” —Genesis 2:16
The first thing Satan challenges is the integrity of God’s Word.
“From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” —Genesis 3:2-3
This is the first act of religious legalism.
Doubt to denial
The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” —Genesis 3:4-5
“I will make myself like the Most High.” —Isaiah 14:14
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 desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. —Genesis 3:6
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. —James 1:14-15 (ESV)
The first act of religion
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. —Genesis 3:7
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. —Genesis 3:8
9Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” 11And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” 13Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” —Genesis 3:9-13
Take home truth
The Evil One seeks to destroy by
getting us to doubt God’s character
Small Group Study Guide
Ice breaker question: Share with your group about a time when you were young that you did something bad or broke the rules. What were the consequences?
- What’s the main idea or “plank” of Genesis 3:1-14?
- Who is the “serpent” in 3:1? Where would you go to substantiate your answer?
- What tactics does the serpent use to get Adam and Eve to discredit and disobey God? Be specific.
- How would you explain that Genesis 3:7 is humanity’s first religion?
- What all is cursed because of sin and rebellion?
Where do you see the Gospel or a picture of Jesus in Genesis 3:1-14?
How does Genesis 3 impact your present situation? Your life and relationships? Be as specific as you can.
Prayer - spend time praying for one another. Thank God for sending his Son to die on the cross to take away our sins.