January 3, 2024
Read Genesis 3, Psalm 3, John 3
Genesis 3 describes the fall of humanity. Sin is real and so are the consequences. People often make little of sin. We compare ours to others, we minimize our own and point the finger at everyone else. After God confronted Adam and Eve in the garden, the blame game started. Each one pointed the finger at the other. Adam not only blamed Eve, but he even threw some shade toward the Lord with “the woman you put here with me…” v. 12. If you have ever been around children, you know this is par for the course, but sadly adults do not respond much better. Each one had their own consequences, each consequence was different, but related to who they were and the role they had. We must learn to confess our sins. It starts with acknowledging that we are sinners (Romans 3:23) and we need to act where we cannot.
Satan is also real. Here he is disguised as the “serpent” whose sole plan is to mislead and cause doubt to enter the picture. The first four words from his mouth were, “Did God really say” v. 1. According to the latest Barna worldview survey’s, most people who identify as Christians do not believe in a literal Satan.
Four out of ten Christians (40%) strongly agreed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” An additional two out of ten Christians (19%) said they “agree somewhat” with that perspective. A minority of Christians indicated that they believe Satan is real by disagreeing with the statement: one-quarter (26%) disagreed strongly and about one-tenth (9%) disagreed somewhat. The remaining 8% were not sure what they believe about the existence of Satan.[JW1]
If Adam and Eve could not fend off the temptation of the servant what hope is there for us? Although we are like Adam and Eve; descended and designed in like manner we have hope. The solution for us all, one Adam and Eve would not see, was hinted at in the Garden when God pronounced his judgment on the serpent. “he will crush your head, and you will strike his heal” v. 15. A future single male descendant of Eve’s would crush the serpent one day. We know now looking back that Jesus was this promised deliverer.
In Psalm 3 we read a psalm of deliverance. David wrote it when he fled from his son Absolom who was trying to take the kingdom away from his own father. In the midst of trouble, David would call on the Lord and trust that God would be “a shield around me” v. 3. Even when David was in the minority and only had a few hundred men, when he was protected by the Lord, he was confident in God’s deliverance.
One of the repeated words and theme in the Gospel of John is the word “believe.” It is used 98 times in the fourth gospel and only 56 times in the remaining 26 New Testament books. John 3 is a much beloved chapter in the Bible. It contains John 3:16 where Jesus tells Nicodemus “that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Let’s not forget the grace gift that God gave to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. He “made garments of skin” for them and covered their nakedness. The implication is that an animal had to be sacrificed to provide the skins for them. This was just the beginning of the sacrifices that would have to be made for everyone going forward who sought forgiveness. Jesus came to give us the ultimate grace gift by giving his life on the cross for our sins. Jesus death on the cross was the final sacrifice that was made for the sins of all humanity.
What else sticks out to you in these chapters? What words or phrases catch your eye? Add your thoughts below.
[JW1]https://www.barna.com/research/most-american-christians-do-not-believe-that-satan-or-the-holy-spirit-exist/
DId God Really Say... 