Genesis 3—The Fall of Man I. How did Satan attack the Word of God to Adam and Eve? If Satan was to overthrow Adam and Eve he had to undermine the word of God, he had to mar the character of God and he had to convince Adam and Eve that they would be better off disobeying God’s clear commandment.

Notice the five step process in the fall of Adam and Eve. A. Satan put a question mark on God’s Word when he said, “Has God indeed said?” (Gen. 3:1). In doing so he wanted to get Eve to doubt the Word. B. Eve added to the Word of God when she said, “Nor shall you touch it” (Gen. 3:3). In doing so she made God’s command more rigid than it actually was.

C. Eve altered or watered down the Word of God (Gen. 3:3). In doing so she put a question mark on the certainty of the judgment. D. Satan directly contradicted the Word of God (Gen. 3:4). 1. Satan now presented to Eve a clear choice between two words—the Word of God and the word of Satan. 2. Eve was presented with two wills—the will of God (Mt. 7:21) and the will of Satan (II Tim. 2:26).

3. Eve now had a choice about who or what to believe. a. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom.10:17). b. Unbelief comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Satan. E. Satan put a question mark on the character of God (Gen. 3:5).

II. What was the three-fold temptation that Satan presented to Adam and Eve? It is important to note that when Adam and Eve were tempted in the Garden of Eden, it was not God who was involved in the temptation. God is not the tempter. Satan is the tempter. But Satan plays to our own inner lusts or desires (Jam. 1:13-16).

A. The temptation of Adam and Eve appealed to the three parts of man (I Th. 5:23; I John 2:16). 1. Man was tempted in the realm of the body—the lust of the flesh. 2. Man was tempted in the realm of the soul—the lust of the eyes. 3. Man was tempted in the realm of the spirit—the pride of life.

B. The temptation of Christ the last Adam was paralleled to that of Adam and Eve (Heb. 4:15; Luke 4:1-13). 1. Christ was tempted in the realm of the body—the lust of the flesh (Luke 4:3-4). 2. Christ was tempted in the realm of the soul—the lust of the eyes (Luke 4:5-8). 3. Christ was tempted in the realm of the spirit—the pride of life (Luke 4:9-13).

Jesus overcame the same way that Adam and Eve should have overcome by quoting that God has said. The word of God is the Sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17).

III. Why did Satan go through Eve? Satan went to the woman because: A. The woman can be more easily deceived (I Tim. 2:14; II Tim. 3:6). Part of this is because God has given women a special grace to believe in people. B. The woman may not have heard the commandment firsthand and would be more vulnerable to misinterpretation (Gen. 2:16-17). C. The woman would be left without an excuse.

IV. Why did God hold Adam responsible? God held Adam ultimately responsible because: A. As the priest of his home he was responsible for those under his authority. B. Adam was not deceived, but sinned knowingly or willfully (I Tim. 2:14). C. Adam is the transmitter of the seed. In that sense Adam is the federal head of the race of mankind (I Cor. 15:21-22).

V. What were the effects of the fall of Adam and Eve? A. The conscience of man was activated (Gen. 3:7). B. Man recognized the need for covering (Gen. 3:7; Job 31:33; Is. 64:6). Question: Was Adam clothed prior to his fall into sin? See: Ex. 34:29-30; Ps. 104:1-2a C. Man was cut off from direct fellowship with God (Gen. 3:8, 24).

D. Man became fearful of God’s presence (Gen. 3:8). E. Man became a “self-justifier” and a “blame-shifter” (Gen. 3:11-14). 1. Adam excused himself by blaming the woman. 2. Eve excused herself by blaming the serpent. F. Death passed upon all men (Rom. 5:12, 19).

G. Man’s spirit and mind were darkened (Pro. 20:27; Eph. 4:17-18). H. Man’s physical body became vulnerable to sickness, disease and death.