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The Beginning

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. (Genesis 1:27)

The book of Genesis in the Holy King James Bible is referred to as the book of beginnings. It records the beginning of the world, of man and woman, of sin and God's plan for salvation, and the formation of the nations.

The first chapter of Genesis describes the creation of the world. The second chapter tells of the creation of man with a reference to woman in 1:27. The main references describing the origin of woman are Genesis chapter 2:

And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.  And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept; and He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh instead thereof;  And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:18, 21-24)

The Bible reveals that woman was:

Created By God:
Genesis 2:7 states that man was created by God from the dust of the earth. God breathed into man the breath of life, and he became a living soul. God decided it was not good for Adam to be alone (Genesis 2:22). God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, then He took one of his ribs and from it created the first woman who was named Eve.

Adam called his mate woman, which means "she-man" or "joined to man," because she was taken out of man. This is where the word "woman" originated.

Created In The Image Of God:
Genesis 2:26-27 documents that God created both male and female in His image:

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. (Genesis 1:26-27)

Man's First Responsibility

Adam and Eve were told by God to:
-Be fruitful.
-Multiply.
-Replenish the earth.
-Subdue the earth.
-Have dominion over every living thing on earth. (Genesis 1:28)

It is interesting to note that God's first command to man and woman was to "be fruitful." This refers to spiritual harvesting, or spiritual fruitfulness.

Spiritual fruitfulness is a Biblical concept traced from this initial command to the final harvest among the nations prophesied in the closing book of Revelation.

Adam and Eve were to be fruitful in each area of their triune nature, physically, spiritually, and mentally as they replenished the earth, subdued and took dominion over it.

Woman's Relationship To God

Woman was created by God, in the image of God, with an eternal soul (Genesis 2:7) related to God in a special union. This relationship is spiritual because God is a spirit (John 4:24). God enjoyed a spiritual relationship with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8). This union was broken due to man's fall into sin, but God provided a plan to restore man's spiritual relationship with his Creator.

Woman's Relationship To Man
The relationship of woman to man was one of:

Love:
Although this is not a study of the subject of Biblical types, a word on this subject needs to be presented in order to understand the original relationship of woman and man.

When we speak of a Biblical type, we are referring to the fact that some incidents recorded in Scripture are not only important in themselves, but are examples of even greater spiritual truths.

Many people and incidents of the Old Testament are "types" of spiritual truths revealed in the New Testament.

The creation of woman from man is an example of the type of relationship that would later exist between Jesus Christ and the Church. While Adam slept, his side was opened and woman was created. Centuries later when Jesus Christ hung on the cross for the sins of all mankind, through the great sleep of His death the Church was created. Christ's side was pierced with a spear and there came forth a creative flow of blood to redeem and water to purify the Church:

...Even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word. (Ephesians 5:25-26)

The creation of woman speaks of a love relationship, similar to that which exists between Christ and the Church. This is a deep, enduring, spiritual love, not a sensual relationship based on external charm or beauty.

Companionship:
God said it was not good for man to be alone. He intended for man and woman to be companions.

Helpfulness:

God said He would create a "help meet" for man (Genesis 2:18). The same Hebrew word for help meet, Azyer, occurs forty times in the Old Testament and is often used to speak of God as helper of His people. The word does not mean subjection, as God is certainly not subject to man. Rather, it pictures a giving, loving, caring, relationship of help similar to that which exists between God and man.

Commitment:

Genesis 2:24 speaks of the relationship of commitment between man and woman. The man is to:
Leave his father and mother: Mental commitment.
Cleave unto his wife: Emotional commitment.
They shall be one flesh: Physical commitment.
Love, companionship, commitment, and a mutual helping relationship are qualities of the union God designed between man and woman.

Further Study
Expand your knowledge about the beginning. Study each Bible reference and summarize what it teaches about creation as illustrated by the example.

Exodus 20:11 God created the world in six days, rested the seventh and called this day the Sabbath.
Nehemiah 9:6
Job 12:9
Job 26:7
Job 38:4-7
Psalm 24:2
Psalm 33:6
Psalm 95:5
Psalm 102:25
Psalm 104:5
Isaiah 40:28
Isaiah 45:12
Isaiah 48:13
Acts 4:24
Acts 7:50
Acts 14:15
Hebrews 11:3

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)

Introduction

Genesis 3 is perhaps the most tragic chapter in the entire Bible, yet at the same time the most wonderful. Before proceeding with this lesson read Genesis 3 in your Bible.

The Temptation

Satan enters the scene in Genesis chapter 3 as a serpent, which is another name for him (see Revelation 12:9). He actually appeared in the shape and form of a serpent or snake. To fully understand Eve's temptation, we must note God's initial instructions to man:

And the Lord God commanded the man saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat;
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.  (Genesis 2:16-17)

The first step in Eve's fall into sin was being in the wrong place. In Genesis 3 we find her near the forbidden tree. Proverbs states of the path of wickedness:

Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. (Proverbs 4:15)

Second, Eve should never have entered into conversation with Satan whose first words questioned the instructions given by God:

And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (Genesis 3:1)

Questioning the truth of the Word of God is often how Satan starts the temptation process. In answering Satan, Eve misquoted God's Word. She added to God's instructions as well as minimizing the penalty for sin:

But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (Genesis 3:3)

Compare this verse with Genesis 2:16-17. God did not say "neither shall ye touch it."

This is added by Eve. Right from the beginning, man started adding his ideas, instructions, and legalism to the Word of God. God also said "thou shalt surely die." This was the penalty for eating of the tree. Eve changed this to "lest ye die," meaning "you might die."

Today, there is the same tendency to minimize the penalty for sin. People say, "Surely a righteous God could not send anyone to Hell!"

Actually, God does not send anyone to Hell. Man chooses to go there by his own sinful actions. The penalty for sin remains everlasting separation from the presence of God in Hell. People often do not identify sin for what it is. Abortion is called a method of "birth control" instead of murder. Adulterous relationships are sometimes referred to as "affairs."

In answering Eve, Satan contradicted God's Word:
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die; For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:4-5)

Note the misuse of God's Word in the first temptation:

First: Questioned
Genesis 3:1 "Hath God said?"
Second: Added to
Genesis 3:3 "Neither shall ye touch"
Third: Penalty for sin minimized
Genesis 3:3 "lest" ye die instead of "ye shall surely die"
Fourth: Contradicted
Genesis 3:4 "ye shall not surely die"

It is important to recognize this pattern, for it is one Satan still uses when he tempts you to sin. He accuses the Word of God and tries to cause discontentment.

 

Eve was holy before God in the beautiful environment of the garden, yet Satan made her discontent. He made her believe she could become like a god and know everything.

 

Discontent leads to sin. For example, unhappiness with financial situations causes men to rob, steal, and cheat. Discontent with marriage leads to adulterous relationships.

Satan wanted to alienate (separate) Eve from God.

 

Satan claimed God knew she would receive great benefits from eating of this tree. She would be more knowledgeable and become like a god. In essence he was saying, "God must not think much of you, Eve, to deny you this wonderful opportunity." Eve should have answered, "I am already like God," because she was created in God's image.

Always remember: Sin usually comes disguised as opportunity.

The Fall

Genesis 3:6 describes the darkest moment in human history:
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:6)

Note the progression into sin:
She heard: The voice of Satan.

She saw: And it looked good.

She took: It to herself.

She ate: Ingesting the fruit of the tree.

She gave: Influenced Adam to sin.

He ate: And sinned also.

It is important to note this pattern, as it is the same pattern followed by people today as they fall into sin.

First, Eve was in the wrong place. She put herself in a place where she was likely to be tempted. Then she listened to the enemy, Satan.

Next she looked longingly upon that which God had forbidden. Temptation here was still at a distance, but then Eve proceeded to take and eat from the tree. She partook of that which God had labeled SIN.

The final result was that her sin affected Adam when she gave the fruit to him and he ate. When you sin, it usually affects those around you and when they sin, they enter the same destructive cycle of sin.

Psalms warns of a similar progression:

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalms 1:1-2)

First you walk in the temptation of sin. If you do not flee, you will soon be standing (pausing) to think about it. Finally, you will be sitting in the seat of the scornful or settling down in the place of sin.

No matter where you are in the cycle of temptation and sin, the cycle can be broken through the power of Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for the sin of all mankind.

The Cycle Of Sin
-Walking in the place of temptation
-Seeing the forbidden sin, admiring it
-Hearing Satan's voice
-Taking (accepting) the temptation to sin.
-Partaking: Entering into the sin
-Enticing others to sin

The cycle of sin can be broken at any point through the power of the cross of Jesus Christ.

On the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for sin. He bruised the head or power of Satan so you can be delivered from both the power and penalty of sin.

If the cycle is not broken in your life, then you will influence others around you. You will entice them to sin and the cycle will continue in their lives. Thus, it becomes a continuous chain spreading throughout the world.

The cycle can only be broken by the power of the Gospel message of the death of Jesus for sin and His resurrection power over death, Hell, and Satan.

There are only two cycles in the world today in which men exist. One is the cycle of sin. The other is the cycle of salvation: Hearing the Gospel, understanding it, accepting it as truth, partaking of the plan of salvation, and leading others to Jesus Christ.

In which cycle do you want to spend your life?

Immediate results Of the Fall
There were several immediate results of the fall into sin:

Knowledge Of Good And Evil:

Immediately after the fall, Adam and Eve were no longer in a state of innocence. They recognized the difference between good and evil and realized they were naked (Genesis 3:7).

Self-Righteousness:

Adam and Eve tried to make clothing from fig leaves which is a type (an outward example) of what man tries to do spiritually. Realizing we are sinners, we try to better ourselves. We think self-improvement will correct our sin (Genesis 3:7), but our self-righteousness is as inadequate as the fig leaves were to cover Adam and Eve:

But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousness are as filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6)

Fear And Shame:

When God came to walk and talk with Adam and Eve, they hid themselves in shame and fear (Genesis 3:10). Shame over the past and fear of the future are the basic emotions which generate all other negative emotional responses.

Separation From God:

God did not remove Himself from man's presence, rather, it was man that removed himself from God. Adam and Eve tried to hide from God. There is another important pattern here.

Adam and Eve:

Doubted God: "Yea, hath God said" Genesis 3:1
Disobeyed God: "She took ..and did eat..." Genesis 3:6
Denied God: "Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord." Genesis 3:8

The knowledge of good and evil, self-righteousness, fear, shame, and separation from God were the immediate results of the fall of man. Other results came with the penalty for sin.

The Meeting With God
A special meeting with God followed the fall. God, Adam, and Eve all participated in the conversation:

God..."Where Art Thou?" God's question was not to discover where Adam and Eve were hiding. God is all knowledgeable, and He knew where they were. The reason for His question was to focus attention on their spiritual condition. "Where art thou, Adam? Where are you spiritually? What has happened?"

God confronts sinful mankind with the same question today. We must recognize our true spiritual condition because without Christ we stand condemned before a holy God.

Adam...Adam answered that he heard God's voice and was afraid because he was naked so he hid himself from God's presence.

God...God's next response was also a question:
Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? (Genesis 3:11)

God already knew Adam had eaten of the tree. His purpose in questioning was to get Adam to confess his sin:
If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)

Adam...His answer demonstrated an inability to accept blame. In blaming Eve, he also blamed God:
The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. (Genesis 3:12)

God...Then God asked the woman,"What is this that thou hast done?"

Eve...Following the pattern set by her husband, Eve also refused to accept blame. She blamed the serpent for her sin.
God...The rest of the conversation was dominated by God who pronounced the penalties for sin.

Penalties For Sin
We previously noted some of the immediate results of sin. Now there are additional penalties as God pronounces judgment on the serpent, man, and woman.

On The Serpent:

Changed physical form: The physical form Satan used for the temptation was cursed.

The serpent, or snake, originally walked upright but from this time on wiggled on his belly through the dust.

Enmity between Satan and man: This was the beginning of what we call "spiritual warfare," with Satan struggling for the soul of man. This warfare continues to the present day. .

A crushed head: The third penalty on the serpent is actually a promise to sinful man. Although Satan would "bruise the heel" of man spiritually through sin, the seed (descendant) that would come from woman would crush the head of Satan (Genesis 3:15).

This was the first promise of a Savior for the sin of mankind. Although Satan would affect man through sin, a Savior would be sent by God through woman and the power of sin would be crushed. The tragedy of sin came through the fall of one woman, but redemption would also come through a woman who would birth the Lord Jesus Christ.

On Adam:
Labor a weariness: Prior to sin Adam tended the ground in happiness, but now he must labor hard. The environment of the earth changed. The ground that was once fertile and without pests or weeds became filled with thorns and thistles.

Death: The penalty of natural death was imposed on Adam. God said his body would return to the ground, for "dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Spiritual death was also a penalty of sin. God said "the soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20). Without forgiveness, man would die the spiritual death of eternal separation from God.

On Eve: The woman also received penalties for her sin:
Sorrow in childbirth: The curse of pain and sorrow was placed upon child bearing.

Subjection: Eve would become subject to her husband.

Penalties On Both Adam And Eve:
God removed Adam and Eve from the beautiful environment of the Garden of Eden to a world filled with sorrow, pain, thorns, and death.

 

Further Study:
What Does The Bible Say About Submission In Marriage?
http://www.christfirstministries.com/articles-31/320---What-Does-The-Bible-Say-About-Submission-In-Marriage-4220

 

 

 

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