Jan 19
6
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 3:6-8
“So 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 to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And 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 3:6–8, ESV)
New Testament Reading: Romans 5:12-21
“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— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:12–21, ESV)
Introduction
As we begin to consider Genesis 3:6-8 today it would be helpful to remember that this scene is the central scene in the section which runs from Genesis 2:4 through to the end of chapter 3. The narrative of Genesis is highly structured. At first glance you might only see a series of words, sentences and paragraphs. But upon closer examination it becomes evident that the entire book is carefully structured.
I have already mentioned that the book is divided into ten parts after the prologue of Genesis 1:1-2:3. Each of the ten parts begins with the heading, “these are the generations of…”, or something similar. But it is interesting and also helpful to recognize that structure can be found within each of these sections. The structure of the narrative does impact meaning, for it focuses our attention and gives emphasis to certain elements of the text.
1 – 2:5-17 – narrative – God the sole actor, man passive
2 – 2:18-25 – narrative – God main actor, man minor role, woman and animals passive
3 – 3:1-5 – dialogue – snake and woman
4 – 3:6-8 – narrative, man and woman
5 – 3:9-13 – dialogue – God, man and woman
6 – 3:14-21 – narrative – God main actor, man minor role, woman and snake passive
7 – 3:22-24 – narrative – God the sole actor, man passive
I’m not sure that you would remember this, but as we began to study Genesis 2:4 and following back in September of 2018 I pointed out that Genesis 2:4-3:24 is highly structured. This section is divided into seven scenes which form a chiasm, with scene 1 corresponding to scene 7, scene 2 to scene 6, and scene 3 to scene 5. The fourth scene – the scene positioned at the peak or climax of the chiasm – is the scene that we are considering today in 3:6-8. These structures that are found within Genesis help to focus the reader upon the main point of the text. And what I am saying to you is that this passage that we are considering today which describes to us the fall of man is at the heart of the narrative of Genesis 2:4-3:24. We’d better pay attention.
1 – “So 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 to be desired to make one wise…
2 – she took of its fruit and ate…
3 – and she also gave some to her husband who was with her…
4 – and he ate.
5 – Then the eyes of both were opened,
6 – and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
7 – And 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 3:6–8, ESV)
Furthermore, it should be noticed that this little section which is at the heart of the narrative of Genesis 2:5 – 3:24 also has a chiastic structure to it. The first half of the chiasm is marked off by a series of verbs – “saw”, “took”, and “gave” which culminate with the statement, “and he ate”. 1 – “So 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 to be desired to make one wise…”, 2 – “she took of its fruit and ate…”, 3 – “and she also gave some to her husband who was with her…”, 4 – “and he ate.”
This little phrase, “and he ate”, is at the heart of the passage that we are considering today. In fact, this little phrase, “and he ate”, is at the heart of the entire narrative which runs from 2:5-3:24 given that this scene is positioned as the central scene of that narrative. And it should come as no surprise to us, for the question, will Adam eat or not eat? has been on our minds ever since we read the words, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Genesis 2:16–17, ESV). This tree was a tree of testing. The question was, would Adam pass the test? Would Adam remain faithful and true to his God? Would he obey. The central scene of the narrative of Genesis 2:5-3:24, and the central phrase of that scene, answers that question with the words, “and he ate”.
The remainder of the chiasm corresponds to what was was said to us at the beginning of verse 6 concerning the woman’s hope for eating of the tree. Having listened to the voice of the serpent she began to look at the tree differently. The “woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise…” She therefore “took and ate” and “gave” and “he ate”. Their hopes were high. They had grown convinced that there was no real danger in this tree, but that it would good for them, just as all the other trees of the garden were. In fact, this tree would open their eyes and make them wise, making them as powerful as God. The backside of the chiasm corresponds to this hope of theirs and shows that it was a false hope. Adam and Eve were terribly mistaken. 5 – “then the eyes of both were opened”, but it was not what the expected. They expected enlightenment, but instead they experienced the shame of their guilt. 6 – “And they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” The serpent had convinced them that there was no danger in this tree, saying, “you will not surely die”. He convinced them that this tree was a harmless as all the others. But after eating from it “they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:6–8, ESV). Instead of enjoying sweet communion with their Maker, they were terrified by his presence, for now they were in sin and were deserving of God’s just condemnation.
Having now provided an overview of this passage, let us now consider it piece by piece.
Furthermore, it should be noticed that this little section which is at the heart of the narrative of Genesis 2:5 – 3:24 also has a chiastic structure to it. The first half of the chiasm is marked off by a series of verbs – “saw”, “took”, and “gave” which culminate with the statement, “and he ate”. 1 – “So 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 to be desired to make one wise…”, 2 – “she took of its fruit and ate…”, 3 – “and she also gave some to her husband who was with her…”, 4 – “and he ate.”
This little phrase, “and he ate”, is at the heart of the passage that we are considering today. In fact, this little phrase, “and he ate”, is at the heart of the entire narrative which runs from 2:5-3:24 given that this scene is positioned as the central scene of that narrative. And it should come as no surprise to us, for the question, will Adam eat or not eat? has been on our minds ever since we read the words, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Genesis 2:16–17, ESV). This tree was a tree of testing. The question was, would Adam pass the test? Would Adam remain faithful and true to his God? Would he obey. The central scene of the narrative of Genesis 2:5-3:24, and the central phrase of that scene, answers that question with the words, “and he ate”.
The remainder of the chiasm corresponds to what was was said to us at the beginning of verse 6 concerning the woman’s hope for eating of the tree. Having listened to the voice of the serpent she began to look at the tree differently. The “woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise…” She therefore “took and ate” and “gave” and “he ate”. Their hopes were high. They had grown convinced that there was no real danger in this tree, but that it would good for them, just as all the other trees of the garden were. In fact, this tree would open their eyes and make them wise, making them as powerful as God. The backside of the chiasm corresponds to this hope of theirs and shows that it was a false hope. Adam and Eve were terribly mistaken. 5 – “then the eyes of both were opened”, but it was not what the expected. They expected enlightenment, but instead they experienced the shame of their guilt. 6 – “And they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” The serpent had convinced them that there was no danger in this tree, saying, “you will not surely die”. He convinced them that this tree was a harmless as all the others. But after eating from it “they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:6–8, ESV). Instead of enjoying sweet communion with their Maker, they were terrified by his presence, for now they were in sin and were deserving of God’s just condemnation.
Having now provided an overview of this passage, let us now consider it piece by piece.
“So 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 to be desired to make one wise…”
In verse 6 we read, “So 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 to be desired to make one wise…” It was after this that she then took of its fruit and ate.
Notice, then, where Eve’s fall into sin began. The serpent brought the temptation to her (this we considered last week), but her fall into sin began within her mind and heart as she perceived that the forbidden tree was in fact the good and beneficial tree. She “saw” or “perceived” that the tree was good for food, etc., etc., and after this she ate.
And so it is with all our sin. When we sin, we sin from the heart. When we disobey God’s word, we do so from a mind that is bent out of shape. When we listen to another voice and go our own way it is because we have “perceived” that someone or something else is worthy of our obedience and devotion.
Eve’s rebellion began within her heart as she saw or perceived or decided within herself that the serpents way was in fact better than God’s.
She “saw that the tree was good for food…” In other words she had come to believe the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not a danger to her as God had said, but would in fact be for her good at the serpent said. In terms of its danger it was like all of the other trees of the garden – it too was “good for food”. Eve perceived that tree was good for food and so she was no longer cautious about approaching it. In fact the tree that was once a terror to her (remember she had resolved not even to touch it) was now a “delight to [her] eyes”.
And do you not reason in the same way when you sin? Do you not first of all convince yourself that there is really no danger in the thing that God has forbidden? Yes, I know that God has said “be not drunk with wine”, but is there really any harm in drinking to the point of drunkenness with my friends so long it is only occasional and responsibly done? Or yes, I know that God has said that the gift of sex is to be reserved for the marriage bond, but really what is the harm? Or yes, I know that God has said to honor the Lord’s Day Sabbath and to not forsake the assembly, but certainly my situation is different. Brothers and sisters, you sin against God only after you have convinced yourself that God’s word may be disregarded. It is possible that you do this without realizing it, but I am sure that you have done it. If God’s word is in you, then you must explain it away, minimize it or set it aside somehow if you are to disobey it.
Eve convinced herself that the forbidden tree was in fact “good for food” and then it became a “delight to [her] eyes.” You and I are naturally drawn to that which we perceive to be good and right and are repulsed by that which we perceive to bad or evil. You can see the progression, I’m sure. First Eve decided within herself that the forbidden tree was in fact good. Then afterwards the tree that once seemed repulsive to her looked beautiful to her, and she was drawn to it.
Lastly Eve perceived that “the tree was to be desired to make one wise.” Things progressed even further. Not only did the forbidden tree seem harmless and beautiful in appearance to Eve (just like all the other trees), but it now seemed to her that eating from it would in fact give her wisdom and insight. In other words, Eve had convinced herself that the serpent was right and that God was wrong. Instead of bringing death as God said, this tree would open her eyes, and she would “be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5, ESV).
I will say it again: Our acts of obedience to God and our acts of disobedience against him begin in the mind and in the heart. Our behavior is largely determined by our perception of things. We live within God’s world and we are constantly perceiving things. We are constantly observing the world around us and making judgements concerning what we see. This thing we perceive to be good, and this evil; this right and this wrong; this beautiful and that ugly; this true and that false. And we decide to do this thing or that based upon those perceptions.
This is why Jesus said what he said in Matthew 6:22: “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6:22–23, ESV)
What is Jesus encouraging when he urges us to have eyes that are healthy so that our whole body might be filled with light and not darkness? He is urging his followers to perceive the world around them aright. God’s people ought to interpret the world around them according to his word. God’s law should be so engraved upon our hearts that we love what God loves and hate what he hates. What he calles good and right and true, we should call good and right and true. What he calls evil, we should call evil. And we should believe it to the heart.
Where did Eve’s rebellion begin? It began in the heart and in the mind. She would eventually eat of the forbidden tree, not because her hand and mouth rebelled, but because her eye rebelled. She began to slip in her perception of things. What God called evil, she began to perceive as good – this she did in the mind and heart. She found herself in agreement with a voice other than the voice of God.
Brothers and sisters, this is why sound doctrine is so vital to the Christian life. This is why developing a biblical and godly worldview is essential if we are walk before the Lord in holiness. This is why the Apostle says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2, ESV). And again the same Apostle says, “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3, ESV)
“She took of its fruit and ate…”
The woman, after coming to see the tree as good, as delightful, and as desirable then took of it’s fruit and ate. This statement is simple enough. Here the sin of Eve is described. But I will take the opportunity to ask the question, where is Adam?
Adam was the one commanded by God to guard and keep the guarden temple. Eve was given to Adam as his helper. And yet Adam is missing from this narrative. He is nowhere to be found. The snake approached Eve. The snake spoke to Eve. Eve considered the serpents words and came to be of his opinion. And then Eve took of the fruit of the tree and ate. And where is Adam? He is absent.
We should not minimize the sin of Eve, for she knew the law of God herself. She decided to commit sin. But we should also highlight Adam’s failure. When Eve ate she sinned a sin of commission, having violated the law of God by her action. But when Eve ate Adam sinned a sin of omission. He failed to do what God had called him to do by his negligence.
Brothers and sisters, we should be mindful not only of sins of commission, but also sins of omission. In other words, not only should we take care to not commit sin, but we should also take care to not fail to do that which God has called us to do in his word. James 4:17 addresses sins of omission, saying, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
“And she also gave some to her husband who was with her…”
Notice that Eve’s rebellion continues. Not only did she come to see that the forbidden tree was the good and desirable tree, and not only did she herself take and eat of it, but she also gave the fruit to Adam so that he might eat of it as well.
Eve, instead of standing up to the tempter, became the agent of temptation for Adam. The snake did not speak to Adam. He spoke to Eve, and then Eve gave the fruit to Adam. It was Eve who convinced Adam to eat.
Brothers and sisters, we should be mindful of the way that our sin affects those around us.
Most do not like to be alone in their sin, and so they encourage others to sin with them. Most do not drink to drunkenness alone, but they bring others along with them. Sexual sin is always this way. A partner is required. Peter speaks to this in 1 Peter 4:3 and following when he says, “For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (1 Peter 4:3–5, ESV). Those who live in sin love to have company.
And the sins that you commit personally rarely affect only you. Others are impacted somehow and in someway by your decision to violate God’s law. Friends, do not rebel against God for your own sake, but also for the sake of others. We love God when we keep his commandments, and we also love one another when we keep God’s commandments.
Eve, though she was designed by God to function as Adam’s helper, became a hindrance to him by her rebellion. Eve was deceived, and through her the temptation came also to Adam.
“And he ate…”
And now finally we come to the climax of the passage with the words: “and he ate.” Adam was commanded by God not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but he too decided to eat.
Let me make a few observations about Adam’s eating:
First of all, Adam ate being tempted by Eve, and not deceived by the serpent. Paul makes this most clear in 1 Timothy 2:13-14 when he says, “For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.” The serpent deceived Eve, and Eve convinced Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit.
Secondly, notice that humanities fall into sin was not complete until Adam ate of the fruit. Adam functioned as a federal head or representative for all humanity. The Romans 5 passage that we read at the beginning of this sermon makes that clear when it says, “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…”, etc. When Eve sinned, Eve sinned. But when Adam sinned, all sinned, for Adam appointed by God to function as a representive for all humanity.
Thirdly, it obvious that God created man (and also the angels) with freewill. That man was created a volitional creature with the ability to act upon choice was strongly implied by the fact that God set apart two trees in the garden as unique – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life – and then commanded Adam and Eve to choose the one and not the other. Man’s freedom was implied by the choice that was set before them. But now it is most obvious that these creatures were created by God with the freedom to choose. By this time some of the angels had chosen to rebell against God (thus the serpent who was found opposing God’s rule), and now Adam and Eve have clearly chosen a path of rebellion. Adam and Eve were created with freewill.
Our confession is correct when it says in chapter 9 paragraph 1 that “God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.” Paragraph 2 also pertains to the passage today, for speaks of the ability that Adam and Eve had prior to their rebellion when it says, “Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good and well-pleasing to God, but yet was unstable, so that he might fall from it.”
To be human is to have freewill. To be human is to have the “liberty and power of acting upon choice”. When Adam was innocent he had the ability, or the “freedom and power to will to do that which was good and well-pleasing to God, but yet was unstable, so that he might fall from it.” After Adam fell from innocency and into sin he, and all who would descend from him, still possessed the “liberty and power of acting upon choice.” Hear me now – what we lost at the fall was not the freedom to choose, but the ability to chose that which is right and pleasing to God. Chapter 9 paragraph 3 of our confession is helpful when it is say that “Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.” This is the state that Adam and Eve fell into. And this is the state into which all are born in this world. All humans have by nature the ability to choose, but now that we are fallen, we are in bondage under sin.
Paragraph 4 of that same chapter rightly says, “When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin, and by his grace alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruptions, he doth not perfectly, nor only will, that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.” This is the state that those who have faith in Christ are in. Having been regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit these have been freed from their “natural bondage under sin, and by his grace alone [enabled to]… freely… will and to do that which is spiritually good…” though corruptions remain. Our confession is also right in paragraph 5 when it says that” this will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone in the state of glory only.”
What is the common denominator present in each of these states of being – innocence, sin, grace and glory? The common denominator is that human beings have freewill. They possess the “liberty and power of acting upon choice”. To be human is to have freewill. What changes in each of these states of being? Man’s ability changes. Adam in innocence was able to obey or to rebel. Adam in sin is able only to rebel. Adam in grace is able to “will and to do that which is spiritually good”, yet corruptions reman. Adam in glory will be made “perfectly and immutably free to good alone.”
When Adam ate he and his wife died, and so too did all of his posterity. Though the went on living for a very long time, the entered into a state of sin and death when they rebelled against their Maker. They fell from innocency, and into sin. And the wages of sin is death. This is our condition apart from Christ. We are dead in our trespasses and sins. If we are to live, then God must make us alive through Christ.
“Then the eyes of both were opened…”
Verses 7 and 8 make all that I have just said concerning man’s fall into sin and death abundantly clear. Remember that the backside of the chiasm corresponds to the false hopes that Eve had for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Remember that she thought by eating of the tree she and Adam would be made wise. And what was the result of their eating? Indeed, their eyes were opened, but not as they thought.
“And they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”
Instead of bringing delight to the man and the woman, they now experienced the shame of their sin. They immediately “knew that they were naked.” Shame was something that neither of them had experienced before, and now a sense of shame rushed over them.
And notice their response. Their impulse was to cover their shame. They “sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” Were the situation not so serious, it would be comical. Immagine Adam and Eve frantically sewing together coverings for themselves out of leaves.
And this is what we do with our sin. Instead of confessing it to God and to one another, we are tempted to conceal it. But God’s word says, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13, ESV)
And not only does sinful man conceal his sin, he also seeks to provide his own remedy for his sin. And here is the difference between true and false religion. True religion has God and his word as its authority. True religion looks to God and God alone and places all of its hope in him. False religion has the wisdom of man as its source. False religion sets its hope upon the things of this world – things that are manmade.
Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit. And having sinned against God, they hid. And while they hid, they franticly worked to provide atonement for their sins, but as we will see, they could not. Those fig leaves would prove to be inadequate.
“And 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.”
Eve had hoped that the forbidden tree would be harmless – “good for food” like all of the other trees of the garden. But what did she find? Both Adam and Eve found that the tree brought death, just as God said that it would. Verse 8: “And 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.”
Notice a few things about this verse:
First of all, notice that God is here called the LORD God. This name for God (Yahweh Elohim) emphasizes that God is the covenant making and covenant keeping God – the God who is near to and intimate with his people. God has been called by this name throughout Genesis 2 and 3. I failed to mention it last week, but it should be noted that when the serpent spoke to Eve of God he did not call him “the LORD God”, but only “God”. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5, ESV), he said. By calling God “Elohim” instead of “Yahweh Elohim” the serpent was minimizing God’s nearness. But now God is called Yahweh Elohim again. He is still the the covenant making and covenant keeping God, but now the covenant has been broken. He is still the God who is near to and intimate with his people, but now his people are in sin.
Secondly, notice that the LORD God had a habit of walking with Adam and Eve in the garden. Adam and Eve had enjoyed the presence of God in that place prior to their sin. And this corresponds to all that has been said in previous sermons about the garden being a temple with Adam as priest. The garden is where Adam and Eve enjoyed God’s presence – and that is what makes a temple a temple – God’s presence with his people.
Thirdly, notice that God’s presence was no longer a comfort and joy to Adam and Eve after they had sinned. Now God’s presence was a terror to them. Again, “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.”
Conclusion
This passage should cause sinful man to weep and to tremble. What a terrible and heinous thing it is for creatures to rebel against their Creator – a Creator who is nothing but good and generous and kind. And what a sad thought that the relationship that was once a joy to man has become a terror to him. To think of Adam and Eve running and hiding from the sound of the LORD God and from his presence should cause our hearts to ache.
Oh, how far we have fallen. We were made to live for God’s glory and to enjoy him forever and ever, but we have fallen short of the glory of God and are now by nature children of wrath. This is true for all the children of Adam who are still in their sins.
Friends, this bad news. But good news is coming. Soon we will see that LORD God is gracious. He will graciously clothe Adam and Eve and pronounce good news to them, that a Savior would be provide. He is Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us look to him. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23, ESV). “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV).
