9. CORRUPTION: The Problem Of Evil, Part 3 - The Promised Redeemer

Day One Study

Read Genesis 3:14-24.

1. Naively gloating over his victory in the garden, Satan most likely assumed that the allegiance of Adam and Eve and all their descendants was automatic. What counterattack did God use in Gen. 3:15 to thwart Satan’s strike in the garden?

2. The term seed has a biological connotation, of course, and usually refers to man’s part in conception. One could be a physical seed of woman, “her seed,” only if there was no male seed involved in conception. This necessitates a virgin birth. The reference to the seed (singular) of the woman (not the man as ordinarily would be the case) is then to whom? Read the following verses:

·         Isaiah 7:14—

·         Luke 1:31-35—

·         Galatians 4:4—

3. Who or what is meant by “the seed of the serpent?”

·         John 8:44—

·         Acts 13:10—

·         I John 3:8—

4. God made His first Messianic promise in Genesis 3:15. He proclaimed essentially the first Gospel to Adam and Eve, promising victory over Satan and victory over his power against them. Discuss the meaning of Eve’s name in Genesis 3:20.

Day Two Study

5. Compare Genesis 3:21 with Genesis 3:7. Why weren’t the clothes Adam and Eve made good enough? Or, conversely, what was better about God’s provision of clothing?

6. From Genesis 2:9 and16, we learn that Adam and Eve were to eat from the Tree of Life. We can assume they did. From our study of this tree in Revelation 22:1-3, we learn that it bears fruit every month, perhaps to replace what is being eaten. God decided in Genesis 3:22 to withdraw the privilege of eating from this tree. So, the conclusion can be drawn that life was planned to be perpetuated for man and woman as they ate of the Tree of Life consistently. What would be the result if Adam and Eve continued to eat of the Tree of Life after they had sinned?

7. How did God prevent Adam and Eve from eating of the Tree of Life?

8. Discuss God’s driving out Adam and Eve from the garden as both a punishment and an act of mercy.

Scriptural Insight: The fig leaves of Adam and Eve’s own invention were insufficient, for what was actually involved here was the need for spiritual covering, something which would be accomplished only by faith in shed blood (Hebrews 9:22). God graciously provided for their nakedness with “coats of skin.” “Perhaps they silently and sorrowfully waited as God selected two of their animal friends, probably two sheep, and slew them there shedding the innocent blood before their eyes. They learned, in type, that an atonement (or covering) could only be provided by the shedding of blood upon the altar.” (Dr. Henry Morris, The Beginning of the World, p. 77)

9. Deeper Discoveries (optional): What other information is given in scripture about the cherubim and the sword? See Ezekiel 1:4-8; 10:1-22; 28:14; Revelation 4:6-8 plus any others you find.

10. What remained the same and what was different regarding Adam’s job description before the Curse as opposed to afterward? Compare Genesis 1:28; 2:15; 3:17-19, 23.

·         BEFORE—

·         AFTER—

Appreciation Application:

11. Sin has consequences. But, as the hymn goes,

“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt.

Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace will pardon and cleanse within.

Grace, grace God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.”

Read and comment on Romans 5:12-21. How has God’s plan benefited you?

Think About It: If you accept millions of years, you are accepting death before Adam which nullifies the work of Christ on the cross.

Day Three

Appreciation Assignment:

12. Almighty God loves man and woman—stubborn, disobedient, selfish, and frail—so much that He provided suitable clothes for them. Covering that provided protection and warmth. And, He planned to redeem them, us, making us perfect again so we can once again have perfect fellowship with Him. Read John 1:29 and John 3:16 and meditate on the meaning.

Deeper Discoveries:

Go to www.answersingenesis.org. SEARCH a word or phrase from today’s passage such as Cherubim, Garden of Eden, etc. Select an article to read or video to watch. Also visit www.icr.org and search.