We start a new series today called Work in Progress. In it, we will explore God’s work in our restoration back to Him. Today’s sermon is called naked and ashamed.

But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he (Adam) said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He (God) said, “Who told you that you were naked? —Genesis 3:9-11a

This is the moment when the fall of Adam and Eve is fully revealed.

And notice God’s question when Adam attempted to explain himself…WHO TOLD YOU YOU WERE NAKED?

But wait a minute…. Weren’t they always naked? When God first created Adam and Eve and before sin entered into the world we’re told

the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. —Genesis 2:25

Notice, they were naked, and they weren’t ashamed WHY? It was because they were innocent before sin entered into their lives.

So in Genesis 2 we’re told they were naked and NOT ashamed… but now - after they ate of the fruit - they’re naked and ashamed. What’s different? THE SHAME

Shame entered in with sin. Naked here speaks not of being unclothed, but of being unprotected, and specifically, out of relationship with God.

The sin of Adam and Eve brought a curse upon mankind, and this curse robs us of God’s blessings. The world around us has become perverted and corrupted all because of Adam and Eve’s decision. Paul says it this way

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. —Romans 5:12

Sin entering the world robbed us of innocence and replaced it with shame. Often the reason folks struggle with shame is because they recognize what they’ve lost, what could have been and in some cases what they have lost.

But have you considered that God had been robbed also? The fall stole the intimate, perfect and open relationship God enjoyed with His first two created people.

The curse of the Garden was that it robbed US - and it robbed God - of the perfect relationship between Him and humanity. There is sometimes a teaching that says God hates mankind because of our sin, but that is NOT correct.

We sin and God hates sin, but God does not hate His creation. Paul identifies our mission in dealing with sin among US

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. —Galatians 6:1

God doesn’t hate you. He loves you. In fact, He loves YOU so much that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. HE LOVES YOU and wants to be in relationship with you!!!

He loves you IN SPITE of your sin. Your sin has robbed us of the intimacy God has wanted to have with us. And the only way God could deal with our sins and restore us as His own was to cover our nakedness.

So… How do you cover your nakedness, so you can get close to God?
Well, one way is to do it yourself. Take a few fig leaves, sew them together and call it good! That’s what Adam and Eve did.

Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. —Genesis 3:7

People put on their fig leaves by pointing to their “good works”, or other WORKS in hopes they are then acceptable to God! But that does not work does it? Paul reminds us

For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. —Romans 3:22-23

If that’s true - how could we possibly cover our nakedness. I mean, if our good deeds can’t do it, what could cover us? And God says: “Let me do it for you.”

Way back in the Garden of Eden, God did this

The LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. —Genesis 3:21

Man’s attempt at covering his sin was a flimsy garment of leaves. But then God gave Adam and Eve garments of animal skins. In order for Adam and Eve’s sin to be covered by those skins, something had to die.
Something had to die to cover their shame and guilt. Something had to be sacrificed to deal with their nakedness and sin.

And the Bible teaches us that - in the same way, there had to be a sacrifice to cover your sins and mine. Isaiah prophesied

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. —Isaiah 53:6

The him here is Jesus!

Unlike Adam and Eve and their garments of skins, Jesus’s sacrifice provides us the privilege of boldly coming into God’s presence and enjoying His love and compassion on a personal level.

So for today, what is it that makes you feel naked and ashamed? What is it that you need to really deal with or address in your life today?