”The God Who Does Not Wipe Out Rebels”

The God Who Is There
Written by D. A. Carson

Chapter Two: “The God Who Does Not Wipe Out Rebels”

Introduction

"You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."  (Genesis 2:16-17, NIV)

• What happens in Genesis 3 is foundational for understanding the rest of the Bible.

Understanding Genesis 3

• Genesis 3 contains symbols that must be interpreted, but the story and its main point are clearly understood.
• Genesis 3 records the disobedience of our first human parents, which had consequences for all humanity and the world.

Deception and Rebellion

• Satan questions God’s words.
• Satan exaggerates God’s restriction.
• Satan causes the woman to doubt God’s goodness.
• Satan lies about God’s judgment.
• Satan entices with self-determination and self-worship.

Consequences

• Inversion of Created Order
• Death
• Shame and Guilt
• Loss of innocence w/ no return
• Broken relationship w/ God
• Broken relationship w/ people
• Denial of personal responsibility
• Attempted self-justification

Curses

• Serpent
  • Cast out and rejected
  • Ultimate defeat predicted
• Woman
  • Pain and difficulty in childbirth
  • Disharmony in marriage relationship
• Man
  • Toil and frustration in work
  • Whole created order suffers

Long-Term Effects

• Sin has consequences.
• Guilt must be covered by atonement.
• Atonement comes by death and the shedding of blood.
• Animal sacrifice was provisional and typological, preparing way for Christ’s ultimate atoning sacrifice.

Implications

• Right and Wrong: moral consciousness or evolutionary aid?
• Evil: horizontal and vertical
• Our problem: idolatry and alienation from God
• Our need: to be reconciled to God-we need a Savior.