ADAM THE FIRST MAN, PART TWO.
Reading: Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-19.
“For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners” Romans 5:19.
At the fall, Adam disobeyed God (Genesis 2:17; 3:6), and was sent away from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23). Adam was punished by had labour, toil and sweat. For Adam willingly sinned against God, 1 Timothy 2:14 “For Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” Adam sinned, Eve was deceived says the Word of the Lord.
Adam's sin was:
1. Instigated by Satan, Genesis 3:1-5.
2. Prompted by Eve, Genesis 3:6.
3. Done knowingly, 1 Timothy 2:14.
4. Resulted in broken fellowship with God, Genesis 3:8.
5. Brought under God's curse, Genesis 3:14-19.
1. ADAM AND THE FALL.
This tragic story explains the plight of the human race, the decline of his environment and the promise of better things to come.
1. HOW GRAND THE FAVOUR.
Blessed with a God like image with infinite potential, exalted to be king of creation, enriched with a beautiful and productive paradise. Granted faculties that functioned to perfection, and betrothed to a choice and kind female. What benefits!
2. HOW GREEN THE VICTIM.
His lack of experience plus his love for Eve put him in a dilemma when she failed. She was his alter ego, his needed companion. How could he shop her how could he give her up! He opted for Eve, and lost favour with the Lord God. He defeated from his lofty estate. The immediate result was mental distress, he feared the Lord, he was taught to love! It was as though a light had been switched off.
Nakedness was his state before the Lord God, once concealed by a halo of glory and innocence, now because of sin in a shameful problem. Naked before God, so they tried to hid behind “aprons of leaves” of their own construction to avoid the presence of God.
Man stills try's to please God by their own sinful deeds. Conscience once dormant now torments them.
3. LOOK AT THE SEVEN-FOLD EFFECT OF SIN ON ADAM:
1. First, he “fell short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. Both in brightness and behaviour.
2. Then he experienced chilling fear, and was unable to face the One whose law he had broken.
3. Looking at his pitiful excuse he gave, he shows a lack of moral courage, a mental blindness, and a weakened will, he had gone to pieces by his words, “the woman you gave me.”
4. Add to this his loss of immortality (being barred from the tree of life), and the inspiring presence of God in his removal from the Garden of Eden.
5. We see the cost of breaking faith with the Almighty. He went down, dragging the human race with him.
6. Future mankind was to live a life with so many negatives from now on; no Eden, no Tree of Life; no evening walks with the Lord.
7. Destruction grew worse for sin slowly poisoned nature and mankind as a whole. When Adam fell all fell with him.
4. HOW GRACIOUS THE LORD.
God clothed the first couple with the skins of sacrificed animals (maybe lambs), teaching them that reconciliation could come only by the shedding of blood. God did not abandon them completely but tabernacled at the gate of Eden, where they could meet with Him. The sword of justice was balanced by the quality of mercy, and the promise of a future redeemer.
Showing posts with label Adam first man.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adam first man.. Show all posts
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
PEOPLE OF THE BOOK.
ADAM THE FIRST MAN, PART ONE.
Reading: Genesis 1:26-30, 2:21-24.
“Let us make man in Our image” Genesis 1:26.
The name Adam was registered with “mankind,” a sense in which it occurs in the Old Testament some 500 times. The first man (Genesis 3:17) was placed in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8). He was put there to work and watch over it. The first trade in the Bible is a gardener; “to work it” is commonly used for labour. So Adam was not to be idle.
At the fall, he disobeyed God (Genesis 2:17; 3:6) and was sent away from the Garden (Genesis 3:23). Adam was punished by hard labour, toil and sweat. The fig leaves and God's coats of skin, speaks of the warnings of colder weather and uncontrolled bushes and thistles.
Adam was 130 years old when Seth was born and he lived 800 years after this event, making him 930 years old at his death (Genesis 5:3-4). It is supposed that Adam had other children then the three mentioned in Genesis. Some give a date of 4004 B.C. for Adam. But no one knows for sure, only the Lord God.
Adam was formed out of the clay of the newly created earth and quickened by the breath of God into a living being. Adam was a man with a particular existence; a being with existence in itself. In him dust and deity met to form the noblest of God's creatures. God's last and best work of creation, “and it was very good.”
Adam was perfect, newly minted by the hand of God with God's divine image stamped upon him. Man became body, soul, and spirit. This image was threefold; it included;
1. RATIONALITY.
The practice of explaining the supernatural in religion in a way that is constant with reason, Job 32:8 “There is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.”
2. RIGHTEOUSNESS.
A moral goodness; correctness of behaviour, Ecclesiastes 7:29 “This only I have found; that God made man upright.”
3. RESPONSIBILITY.
Something which one is responsible, Genesis 2:16-17 “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of the tree of the garden you may freely eat; 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.”
This gives man the ability to think, to have power over moral behaviour, and freedom to choose good or evil. Adam was the apex of God's creation; before him things were “good” Genesis 1:4, 10, 12,18,21,25.
But after him things were “very good” Genesis 1:31. For Adam was physically, mentally, and spiritually a “son of God,” Luke 3:38 “Adam, the son of God.”
In short Adam was a free spirit in judgement and grace; he towered above the world of nature; he was its lord, its king and it governor, he was complete in his manhood and rule, Psalm 8:38 “What is man? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honour, you have made him t have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.”
Adam complete in form and function, yet capable of endless development, the mould of humanity, placed in a perfect environment. Adam in this perfect environment was given a pleasant occupation and a challenging task; granted a companion as himself, the beautiful Eve. Enjoying a radiant fellowship with his Maker. What more could a man want? What possibilities! What possibility for the future!
He did not have a past, but he had a wonderful present and a promising future. Around him lay beauty and order, above him shone the brightness and expanse, before him were the times of greatness and achievement. BUT he lacked one thing, that was experience, and there lies the snag.
Perfect in qualities, but he was imperfect in realities, he had no tradition to guide him. No earthly monitor to instruct him. He was in these things a loner, a pioneer of life. Look out Adam! Danger lies ahead!
Reading: Genesis 1:26-30, 2:21-24.
“Let us make man in Our image” Genesis 1:26.
The name Adam was registered with “mankind,” a sense in which it occurs in the Old Testament some 500 times. The first man (Genesis 3:17) was placed in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8). He was put there to work and watch over it. The first trade in the Bible is a gardener; “to work it” is commonly used for labour. So Adam was not to be idle.
At the fall, he disobeyed God (Genesis 2:17; 3:6) and was sent away from the Garden (Genesis 3:23). Adam was punished by hard labour, toil and sweat. The fig leaves and God's coats of skin, speaks of the warnings of colder weather and uncontrolled bushes and thistles.
Adam was 130 years old when Seth was born and he lived 800 years after this event, making him 930 years old at his death (Genesis 5:3-4). It is supposed that Adam had other children then the three mentioned in Genesis. Some give a date of 4004 B.C. for Adam. But no one knows for sure, only the Lord God.
Adam was formed out of the clay of the newly created earth and quickened by the breath of God into a living being. Adam was a man with a particular existence; a being with existence in itself. In him dust and deity met to form the noblest of God's creatures. God's last and best work of creation, “and it was very good.”
Adam was perfect, newly minted by the hand of God with God's divine image stamped upon him. Man became body, soul, and spirit. This image was threefold; it included;
1. RATIONALITY.
The practice of explaining the supernatural in religion in a way that is constant with reason, Job 32:8 “There is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.”
2. RIGHTEOUSNESS.
A moral goodness; correctness of behaviour, Ecclesiastes 7:29 “This only I have found; that God made man upright.”
3. RESPONSIBILITY.
Something which one is responsible, Genesis 2:16-17 “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of the tree of the garden you may freely eat; 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.”
This gives man the ability to think, to have power over moral behaviour, and freedom to choose good or evil. Adam was the apex of God's creation; before him things were “good” Genesis 1:4, 10, 12,18,21,25.
But after him things were “very good” Genesis 1:31. For Adam was physically, mentally, and spiritually a “son of God,” Luke 3:38 “Adam, the son of God.”
In short Adam was a free spirit in judgement and grace; he towered above the world of nature; he was its lord, its king and it governor, he was complete in his manhood and rule, Psalm 8:38 “What is man? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honour, you have made him t have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.”
Adam complete in form and function, yet capable of endless development, the mould of humanity, placed in a perfect environment. Adam in this perfect environment was given a pleasant occupation and a challenging task; granted a companion as himself, the beautiful Eve. Enjoying a radiant fellowship with his Maker. What more could a man want? What possibilities! What possibility for the future!
He did not have a past, but he had a wonderful present and a promising future. Around him lay beauty and order, above him shone the brightness and expanse, before him were the times of greatness and achievement. BUT he lacked one thing, that was experience, and there lies the snag.
Perfect in qualities, but he was imperfect in realities, he had no tradition to guide him. No earthly monitor to instruct him. He was in these things a loner, a pioneer of life. Look out Adam! Danger lies ahead!
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