2019.01.21 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 3:20-24

Read Genesis 3:20-24

Questions for Littles: What does Adam call his wife (v20)? Why? Of whom is she the mother? Who made tunics for Adam and his wife (v21)? Of what did He make them? What else did He do? Whom did Yahweh say the man had become like (v22)? In what way? What might the man put out his hand to take? To do what with it? Why? Where did Yahweh send the man (v23)? To do what? What did God place at the east of the garden of Eden (v24)? What else did He place? What did it do? To guard what?

The Scripture for this week’s sermon was all about life.

First, we saw life praised. Adam has heard what the Lord said about his wife. She would be the mother of the Seed who would crush the serpent’s head. She would also be the mother of the entire line of those between whom and the serpent the Lord would put enmity. She is going to be the mother of all the living.

Isn’t that amazing, after man’s fall into sin? There is going to be a line of the living! In honor and praise of this wonderful fact, he renames his wife “life.”

Next, we saw life provided. Adam and Eve had failed to cover themselves with the fig leaves. Yet, the problem wasn’t so much that their skin was exposed as it was that their sin was exposed. Now, God Himself provides the covering. This is a covering that will protect them physically, as they are put out of paradise into the harsher world. And, they know that it covers them spiritually as well, for God Himself has provided it.

Third, we see life pictured. The only true way to the only true life is through Jesus Christ. We have no righteousness or life in ourselves. We cannot even die or suffer well enough to satisfy God’s justice for our sin. Were we to try, it would go on for all eternity and never be sufficient. But, we see Adam and Eve with a covering that is sufficient for them. What is that covering? A substitute. We do not know if it were a lamb or a cow. But we do know to whom it points forward: the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world—Jesus Christ!

Finally, we see life promised. God does not destroy the tree of life. In fact, we will see it again in the New Heavens and New Earth. What He does do is block off the way to it via Eden. He puts the cherub there to indicate that God’s presence is still available, and He puts the sword there to indicate that the way to His presence is going to be by some other means.

In other words, there will be a new way into the presence of the Lord. Hebrews calls it, “that new and living way, which is His flesh.” Jesus, the Son of God made man, and crucified, and risen… He Himself is the way, the truth, and the life.

What habits do you have of rejoicing over and responding to God’s life for you?

Suggested Songs: ARP32A-B “What Blessedness” or TPH265 “In Christ Alone”