Although I enjoyed listening to a particular Christian Hip Hop Artist, I was never really a fan of that genre. For me, listening live was far better than listening to his CDs, all of which I bought. Hip Pop to me is prose. It is writing verse and orating it in a way that captures the youth’s attention.
Many want us to believe that Genesis chapter three is poetry, much like famous poets who were able to take a theme and run with is, verse by verse, using obscure concepts, yet pointing to realities … creating a hype and moving towards a climax. It is a story told in verse ending with a punch verse revealing the author’s intended plot. That’s Genesis three, they say.
Well, some of it might well be seen as prose, but the story line is true, taking us from a morally good man and woman, the woman being tempted by a sinister being who used a serpent to where the woman was so enticed that she believed a lie, eating forbidden fruit, causing her husband to follow her, to the serpent being cursed and the woman, then man coming under God judgment, dying spiritually, soon to die physically and the earth knowing God’s curse upon it … all because of man’s sin, resulting in them being chased from the paradise of God into an environment that was hard, harsh and existence very painful. Let’s read the first sevens verse of the chapter again:
Ge 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
1) Historical Characters. Many want us to believe this chapter is myth. A good story to lead to Abraham, Jacob in Egypt, Moses, then Joshua leading the people into Canaan, the prophets, priests and kings so that there is a good link to tell the story of a baby in a manger. Adan and Eve were historical people. They existed. Take as an example … Paul is arguing for male headship in the church leadership as he pens under inspiration:
1Ti 2:11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
I’m not getting into his argument. We have covered that already. Notice though … Adam formed first, then Eve; Adam not the one deceived, Eve was. This passage relies heavily upon Genesis chapter three. If Adam and Eve were not historical persons, Paul’s argument would collapse!
2) The first sinner. I am aware that some want us to believe that only when Adam ate, sin happened, yet we read:
1Ti 2:13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.
The teaching is that Eve sinned first and once Adam arrived on the scene (that is, if he was not there at the time), he saw no negative affects to Eve after she had eaten of the forbidden fruit, so … when she offered, he ate! When Paul says:
1Ti 2:15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety
we see the gravity of her sin. In Genesis three we shall see one of the punishments levelled against the woman is that of pain in bearing children. An ever reminder of the first sin. Even before God appeared to them in the Garden, once they had sinned, they knew they had sinned … and they knew they were naked:
1Ti 2:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
In their pure, sinless state, they were unware that they were without clothing. It was not necessary to cover themselves because the sensual and sexual aspect of their bodies was not known to them. This does not imply that they had not known sexual intimacy at this stage, though it is unlikely. The first time we find our first parents engaging in “making love” (sexual intimacy) is in chapter 4:
Ge 4:1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.
Don’t misunderstand this through. It’s not that sex is bad or related to sin. It is not. Sex is good and healthy. It is loving, enjoyable and satisfying for the husband and wife … yet up to the point of Adam and Eve’s fall into sin, love making (“lay with his wife”) seems unknown to them. Sin revealed nakedness. Moral people today understand this and ensure they cover up their bodies sufficiently to prevent provocation, stimulation, visual adultery and shame.
When we see the shamelessness of people on beaches (men and women), of nude beaches, books, magazines, films … so often lending itself towards the pornographic, we realize that sin has so indwelt the hearts of people that there is no shame! Christians have shame, cover up, turn their heads and outlaw visiting places where the body is exposed. Yet many non-Christians from all walks of life could not care less … they have no shame. In no way am I suggesting that tradition from many years ago where a husband and wife could not see each other naked, be adopted … I am referring to outside of the confines of the privacy of the marriage bed and room.
3) Originator of sin. Although the woman sinned first, Eve’s sin and Adam’s sin were so much in common that it can actually be seen as one sin. Having said that, the Bible sees Adam as the originator of sin:
1 Cor 15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
Although Eve knew about the Probationary Command, it was given to Adam not Eve. When she ate she sinned but she did not directly break the command for it was given to Adam … he broke the command as he ate and sinned.
What we need to understand is this … Adam was the representative man. In the garden he represented the entire race of humans. When he was given the command we were given the command. He represented us! When he ate and sinned, he broke the command and we broke the command. He broke it for us because he represented us in the Garden. If you don’t get that Adam represented us in receiving the command and in breaking the command, you will never grasp Jesus representing us on the Cross, in His death, in His resurrection and in His ascension! In Adam all die. In Christ all are made alive. That is … every human being dies spiritually in Adam. All are born lost sinners. But all in Christ … that is all who believe in Him for salvation, are made spiritually alive and gifted with eternal life.
Thank You Lord Jesus for standing in our place at Calvary, in the grave, in Your resurrection and ascension. Being our substitute guarantees us life with You in Your paradise. Amen.