The Beginning: Genesis 3:1-8
“16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”—1 John 2:16, NASB 95
“1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 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 desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. 8 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. [1]”—Genesis 3:1–8, NASB 95
The world seduces us with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. We see those same temptations in Genesis 3:6 as Eve sees the fruit as pleasing to look at, good for food, and useful to make her wise. That alone would be temptation enough and then a crafty evil snake is added to the equation. Couple the snake’s twisting and denial of God’s word with the temptations of the world, and we have a deadly combination. A combination we must battle every day.
“1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 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 desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. 8 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. [1]”—Genesis 3:1–8, NASB 95
The world seduces us with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. We see those same temptations in Genesis 3:6 as Eve sees the fruit as pleasing to look at, good for food, and useful to make her wise. That alone would be temptation enough and then a crafty evil snake is added to the equation. Couple the snake’s twisting and denial of God’s word with the temptations of the world, and we have a deadly combination. A combination we must battle every day.
Discussion Questions
1. Lust of the eye is the world drawing us with what we see. Where do you see this in the world today? How does this one specifically tempt you?
2. Lust of the flesh is the world using our normal desires to draw us away from God. Where do you see this in the world today? How does this one specifically tempt you?
3. Pride of life is the ego that begs for autonomy and credit. Where do you see this in the world today? How does this one specifically tempt you?
4. Russell discussed the following three ways the serpent twisted God’s word.
5. The serpent questions Eve to get her to restate the command in her own words, intimating that God’s word is subject to our interpretation.
6. The penalty for eating the fruit of this tree is diminished or, in the least, minimized, which questions the truth of God’s word.
7. God’s prohibition is emphasized over God’s provision, which casts doubt on God’s motive and God’s provision.
8. Which of these do we fall for most often? How do you see this at play in our world?
2. Lust of the flesh is the world using our normal desires to draw us away from God. Where do you see this in the world today? How does this one specifically tempt you?
3. Pride of life is the ego that begs for autonomy and credit. Where do you see this in the world today? How does this one specifically tempt you?
4. Russell discussed the following three ways the serpent twisted God’s word.
5. The serpent questions Eve to get her to restate the command in her own words, intimating that God’s word is subject to our interpretation.
6. The penalty for eating the fruit of this tree is diminished or, in the least, minimized, which questions the truth of God’s word.
7. God’s prohibition is emphasized over God’s provision, which casts doubt on God’s motive and God’s provision.
8. Which of these do we fall for most often? How do you see this at play in our world?
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