3.1 Satan Deceives Eve

Later in the Garden of Eden, Satan approached Adam’s wife, Eve. Genesis 3:1, “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Satan’s first statement to mankind was to question what God said. Satan convinced the woman that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would not bring death, but would make man to be as ‘gods’, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:4-5, “ (4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (5) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” The woman, Eve, was deceived by Satan. Genesis 3:6, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

3.2 Adam’s Sin Brings Death

1 Timothy 2:13-14, “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” When Adam ate of the fruit from the forbidden tree, he violated God’s law. Adam introduced sin into every tribe and nation of man. Every child born inherits a sin nature. A sin nature is an inherited and deeply ingrained drive to rule our own lives, rebel against God, protect and exalt ourselves, and meet our own needs our own way apart from God. This comes originally from the sin of Adam. Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” In Adam the entire human race was plunged into sin and separation from God.

3.3 Sin Is Like the Venom of a Cobra

Just like poison from a cobra works its way through the entire body of the victim – sin is present in every man, woman and child. We are by nature sinners. This means that sin, or breaking God’s law, comes naturally to us. And like the venom of a cobra – it will bring forth death. James 1:14-15, “(14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

3.4 The Definition of Sin:

Sin is defined by two concepts: transgression and falling short. Transgression is doing something that is prohibited, or against the rules. Adam and Eve transgressed because they ate of the tree when they were told not to by God. The idea of falling short is illustrated in the game of football. If a player shoots for the goal, but the ball falls short of the goal, they do not score a point because their attempt fell short of the requirement. Adam and Eve fell short of the requirements of God because they did not follow God’s instructions.

Section 3: Study Questions

Questions from section 3.1:

Who was deceived by Satan?

What lie did Satan convince the woman to believe?

What was the purpose of Satan’s first statement to man?

Questions from section 3.2:

Who did Satan deceive?

What was the result of the sin of Adam?

What is a sin nature?

Questions from section 3.3:

What does the Bible say that sin brings forth in us?

Questions from section 3.4:

What is the meaning of the word “transgression”?

How did Adam and Eve fall short of God’s requirements?