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How is There Judgment and Hope? | Genesis 3:15-24 | Darien Gabriel
Series: Chaos to Covenant
Title: "How is there judgment and hope?"
Scripture: Genesis 3:15-24
Romans 5:15-19; Numbers 21:4-9
Bottom line: Even in the face of God's curses and judgment of humanity, there is hope for us in King Jesus.
INTRODUCTION
CONTEXT
SERMON OUTLINE
CONCLUSION
NOTES
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
OUTLINES
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
MAIN REFERENCES USED
INTRODUCTION
Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on our state and nation this past week. We want to pause and pray right now for those who are still dealing with that aftermath.
Why do we have hurricanes anyway? And earthquakes, meteorites, tsunamis, floods, droughts, and pandemics?
We have them because of The Fall.
CONTEXT
Adam and Eve have been created and married. They are in a blissful garden of existence where they have all that they need and their Creator, the Lord God, spends time walking and talking with them everyday. They have no relational distress with God or each other or creation. They are experiencing perfect peace and joy.
And yet they find themselves capable of being tempted to forget that God is good and doubt his trustworthiness.
They give into the temptation to doubt God's goodness and trustworthiness and disobey God's single, clear command. They fall from grace and we have the first--the original--sin. This sin has far reaching consequences too including Hurricane Helene.
SERMON
Q. What do I want them to know?
A. Sin has consequences including God's judgment. But it does sometimes come with God's grace too.
Q. Why do I want them to know it?
A. Because we should remember that there's always hope in Christ Jesus.
Q. What do I want them to do about it?
A. Embrace the judgment but lean into the grace and point others to it.
Q. Why do I want them to do it?
A. So we don't despair and give up when we're tempted to.
Q. How can they begin to do this?
A.
Turn from your ways to the Lord asking for him to show you the way to that hope found only in Jesus Christ.
Tell others how they can also find this hope.
NOTE the chiasm here in vv. 11-19:
Sin of Adam (9-11)
Sin of Eve (12)
Sin of Serpent (13)
Judgment of Serpent (14-15) But also the hope of his defeat prophesied (protoevangelion = first gospel)
Judgment of Eve (16)
Judgment of Adam (17-19)
What's at the focal point is: Sin, death and Satan will be defeated by Eve's offspring. Why not Adam's? Because her offspring is Jesus and he was born of a virgin, not of Adam or his seed.`
CONCLUSION
Bottom line: Even in the face of God's curse and judgment of humanity, there is hope in King Jesus.
““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” Acts 2:36-39 NIV
How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:
Invitation
What is God saying to me right now?
What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.
What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.
[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.
Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.
Pray
NOTES
Synonyms for
enmity
noun a world free from enmity between nations and races:
HOSTILITY, animosity, antagonism, friction, antipathy, animus, opposition, dissension, rivalry, feud, conflict, discord, contention;
My first question:
I have a question about Adam and Eve in the Bible. I am seminary trained so talk to me as if I have some knowledge about the Bible. My question is why did God remove Adam and Eve from the garden?
"God's removal of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:22-24 is primarily to prevent them from accessing the Tree of Life after their disobedience. After Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they gained the knowledge of good and evil, which was not meant for them. Their newfound awareness brought sin and separation from God into the world.
Genesis 3:22 states, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—" God immediately expels them from Eden to prevent them from eating from the Tree of Life and thus living eternally in their fallen state.
So, the expulsion from Eden serves a dual purpose:
1. As a consequence of their disobedience (i.e., sin), they are removed from the place of God's direct presence and blessing.
2. It is also an act of mercy, ensuring they do not live forever in a corrupted state.
In a theological sense, this introduces the concept of death as a limitation, but also as part of God’s redemptive plan, allowing for eventual resurrection and redemption rather than eternal life in a fallen condition." -ChatGPT
My second question: But if Adam and eve stay in the garden and eat from the tree of life and while there repent and believe, would they still live forever in a corrupted state? I seems to me that they would be forgiven?
"That’s an interesting theological question, and you’re right to focus on the dynamic tension between the Tree of Life, repentance, and the consequences of sin.
Here’s the key theological consideration: **repentance and belief** are indeed central to forgiveness in the biblical narrative, but there’s more to the situation in Genesis than just forgiveness. The Garden of Eden is not simply about access to eternal life but also about the state in which that life would be lived.
1. **The Nature of the Tree of Life and Eternal Life**: In Genesis 3:22, God’s concern is not just about forgiveness but about the state in which humanity would live eternally. The Tree of Life represents the ability to live forever, but in the context of the narrative, eternal life in a corrupted state would be a disaster. Imagine living forever with the ongoing effects of sin—physical, emotional, and spiritual decay. Even if Adam and Eve repented and believed, they would still be living in a world now subject to the curse of sin (pain, toil, suffering, and eventual death as outlined in Genesis 3:16-19).
So the problem isn't just moral guilt but the entire reality of living in a world where sin has entered. God’s removal of them from the garden was not simply about preventing eternal life—it was about preventing eternal life **in a corrupted world**. Repentance alone doesn’t reverse the cosmic consequences of sin. The entire creation needed restoration (Romans 8:20-22).
2. **The Larger Redemptive Plan**: While forgiveness is essential, so is the **plan of redemption** that goes beyond forgiveness to full restoration. For instance, the ultimate goal of the biblical narrative isn’t just the forgiveness of individual sins, but the **renewal of all creation**. This is why Christ’s work includes not just forgiveness but also the promise of **resurrection** and **new creation** (Revelation 21-22). Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of Life after sinning might grant them eternal life, but not in the transformed, glorified state God intends for His people.
3. **Why Death is Necessary**: In God’s redemptive plan, death became a necessary part of undoing the effects of sin. God allowed death to enter the world not merely as punishment but also as part of the plan that ultimately leads to resurrection. Paul speaks of death as the last enemy to be defeated (1 Corinthians 15:26), but through Christ, death becomes the gateway to new life. Had Adam and Eve eaten from the Tree of Life while in their fallen state, they might have bypassed death, but they would have missed out on the full restoration that comes through death and resurrection.
4. **The Typology of Christ and the Tree of Life**: Theologically, Christ is often seen as the fulfillment of the Tree of Life. In the new creation, those who believe in Him will once again have access to the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:14). This shows that eternal life comes not just through forgiveness but through transformation. Christ doesn’t just forgive; He renews all things, including the body and the entire creation. Adam and Eve, even if they had repented and believed in the garden, would still need this fuller redemptive work to be fully restored to God’s ultimate intention for humanity.
In summary, even if Adam and Eve had repented and believed, staying in the garden and eating from the Tree of Life would have meant eternal life in a fallen state. Forgiveness alone would not have solved the problem of the corruption of their nature and the curse on creation. God’s plan required not just forgiveness but the eventual defeat of death and the renewal of all creation, something that could only be achieved through Christ’s redemptive work. The removal from Eden, then, can be seen as a merciful act, preserving them for a future, greater restoration." -ChatGPT
From Wilmington's Bible Handbook:
It's primeval history (universal world history) of the world (universe) made up of 5 stories with the same structure. (1-11)
The Fall
Cain
Sons of God marrying daughters of man
The Flood
Tower of Babel
They all follow this 4-fold pattern:
Sin: the sin is described
Speech: There is a speech by God announcing the penalty for the sin
Grace: God brings grace to the situation to ease the misery due to sin
Punishment: God punishes the sin
Patriarchal history (12-50) or the history of Israel's founding fathers. It continues to reveal the many graces of God based on the gracious promise God made to and through Abraham in Genesis 12:3.
Notes from Bible Project Videos
1-11 God and the world
12:3 Hinge verse
12-50 God and Abraham's family
"Blessing" is a key word here
Choice: Tree of knowledge of good and evil
Trust God's definition of good and evil, or
Seize autonomy and define good and evil for themselves?
Serpent (against God) tells a different story. He lies when he tells them that if they eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that they will be like God. Because they already are like God (made in his image).
The Pattern
See D. J. A. Clines, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, No. 38 (1976), pp. 487, 488. Clines explains that Gerhard Von Rad initially observed a pattern of sin, mitigation, and punishment. Then Claus Westermann discerned another element, that of divine speech. Though he did not include it in the pattern, Clines does. Thus the following chart:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
SIN
SPEECH
GRACE
PUNISHMENT
FALL
3:6
3:14-19
3:21
3:22-24
CAIN
4:8
4:10-12
4:15
4:16
SONS OF GOD
6:2
6:3
6:8, 18ff
7:6-24
FLOOD
6:5, 11f
6:7, 13-21
6:8, 18ff
11:8
BABEL
11:4
11:6f
10:1-32
11:8
Preach the Word, Genesis, Kent Hughes, chapter 1, note 3, p. 625
Hamilton puts it this way:
"God acts and speaks; man rebels; God punishes; God protects and reconciles." P. 201
GOD ACTS & SPEAKS MAN REBELS GOD PUNISHES GOD PROTECTS & RECONCILES
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
Who is God?
What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?
Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)
What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)
How do I do it?
OUTLINES
OUTLINE (GENESIS 3:1-24) by H. Willmington
This section describes the corruption of all things.
I. THE TRANSGRESSION OF ADAM (3:1-24)
A. Adam's disobedience (3:1-6)
1. The treachery (3:1-5)
a. Satan begins by casting doubt on God's Word (3:1-3): "Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?"
b. Satan concludes by denying God's Word (3:4-5): "'You won't die!' The serpent hissed...'You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil.'"
2. The tragedy (3:6): Both Eve and Adam disobey God and eat of the forbidden tree.
B. Adam's deceit (3:7-8): He attempts to cover his nakedness by making clothes from fig leaves. He then hides among the trees.
C. Adam's despair (3:9-11): He acknowledges his fear and nakedness before God.
D. Adam's defense (3:12-19): Adam blames Eve, but Eve blames the serpent.
E. Adam's discipline (3:14-19): God sets up his divine court in Eden and imposes the following sentences:
1. Upon the serpent (3:14-15): to be the most cursed of all creatures and to crawl on its belly, eating dust. Also, his head will be crushed by the offspring of the woman.
2. Upon the woman (3:16): to suffer pain in childbirth and to be ruled by her husband.
3. Upon the man (3:17-19): to endure wearisome labor as he grows food from unproductive soil and to eventually die physically.
4. Upon nature (3:18): to be infested with thorns and this-tles.
F. Adam's deliverance (3:15, 20-21)
1. The promise (3:15): Someday a Savior will defeat Satan, the serpent!
2. The provision (3:20-21): After Adam names his wife Eve, God clothes both of them with animal skins.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/
Read the passage together.
Retell the story in your own words.
Discovery the story
What does this story tell me about God?
What does this story tell me about people?
If this is really true, what should I do?
What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)
What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)
Who am I going to tell about this?
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:
Who is God?
What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?
Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)
What do I do? (In light of who I am)
How do I do it?
Final Questions (Write this down)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
MAIN REFERENCES USED
“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes
Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt
The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris
The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis
“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)
Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/
Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)
ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org
The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com
“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)
Series: Chaos to Covenant
Title: "How is there judgment and hope?"
Scripture: Genesis 3:15-24
Romans 5:15-19; Numbers 21:4-9
Bottom line: Even in the face of God's curses and judgment of humanity, there is hope for us in King Jesus.
INTRODUCTION
CONTEXT
SERMON OUTLINE
CONCLUSION
NOTES
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
OUTLINES
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
MAIN REFERENCES USED
INTRODUCTION
Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on our state and nation this past week. We want to pause and pray right now for those who are still dealing with that aftermath.
Why do we have hurricanes anyway? And earthquakes, meteorites, tsunamis, floods, droughts, and pandemics?
We have them because of The Fall.
CONTEXT
Adam and Eve have been created and married. They are in a blissful garden of existence where they have all that they need and their Creator, the Lord God, spends time walking and talking with them everyday. They have no relational distress with God or each other or creation. They are experiencing perfect peace and joy.
And yet they find themselves capable of being tempted to forget that God is good and doubt his trustworthiness.
They give into the temptation to doubt God's goodness and trustworthiness and disobey God's single, clear command. They fall from grace and we have the first--the original--sin. This sin has far reaching consequences too including Hurricane Helene.
SERMON
Q. What do I want them to know?
A. Sin has consequences including God's judgment. But it does sometimes come with God's grace too.
Q. Why do I want them to know it?
A. Because we should remember that there's always hope in Christ Jesus.
Q. What do I want them to do about it?
A. Embrace the judgment but lean into the grace and point others to it.
Q. Why do I want them to do it?
A. So we don't despair and give up when we're tempted to.
Q. How can they begin to do this?
A.
Turn from your ways to the Lord asking for him to show you the way to that hope found only in Jesus Christ.
Tell others how they can also find this hope.
NOTE the chiasm here in vv. 11-19:
Sin of Adam (9-11)
Sin of Eve (12)
Sin of Serpent (13)
Judgment of Serpent (14-15) But also the hope of his defeat prophesied (protoevangelion = first gospel)
Judgment of Eve (16)
Judgment of Adam (17-19)
What's at the focal point is: Sin, death and Satan will be defeated by Eve's offspring. Why not Adam's? Because her offspring is Jesus and he was born of a virgin, not of Adam or his seed.`
CONCLUSION
Bottom line: Even in the face of God's curse and judgment of humanity, there is hope in King Jesus.
““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” Acts 2:36-39 NIV
How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:
Invitation
What is God saying to me right now?
What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.
What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.
[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.
Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.
Pray
NOTES
Synonyms for
enmity
noun a world free from enmity between nations and races:
HOSTILITY, animosity, antagonism, friction, antipathy, animus, opposition, dissension, rivalry, feud, conflict, discord, contention;
My first question:
I have a question about Adam and Eve in the Bible. I am seminary trained so talk to me as if I have some knowledge about the Bible. My question is why did God remove Adam and Eve from the garden?
"God's removal of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:22-24 is primarily to prevent them from accessing the Tree of Life after their disobedience. After Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they gained the knowledge of good and evil, which was not meant for them. Their newfound awareness brought sin and separation from God into the world.
Genesis 3:22 states, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—" God immediately expels them from Eden to prevent them from eating from the Tree of Life and thus living eternally in their fallen state.
So, the expulsion from Eden serves a dual purpose:
1. As a consequence of their disobedience (i.e., sin), they are removed from the place of God's direct presence and blessing.
2. It is also an act of mercy, ensuring they do not live forever in a corrupted state.
In a theological sense, this introduces the concept of death as a limitation, but also as part of God’s redemptive plan, allowing for eventual resurrection and redemption rather than eternal life in a fallen condition." -ChatGPT
My second question: But if Adam and eve stay in the garden and eat from the tree of life and while there repent and believe, would they still live forever in a corrupted state? I seems to me that they would be forgiven?
"That’s an interesting theological question, and you’re right to focus on the dynamic tension between the Tree of Life, repentance, and the consequences of sin.
Here’s the key theological consideration: **repentance and belief** are indeed central to forgiveness in the biblical narrative, but there’s more to the situation in Genesis than just forgiveness. The Garden of Eden is not simply about access to eternal life but also about the state in which that life would be lived.
1. **The Nature of the Tree of Life and Eternal Life**: In Genesis 3:22, God’s concern is not just about forgiveness but about the state in which humanity would live eternally. The Tree of Life represents the ability to live forever, but in the context of the narrative, eternal life in a corrupted state would be a disaster. Imagine living forever with the ongoing effects of sin—physical, emotional, and spiritual decay. Even if Adam and Eve repented and believed, they would still be living in a world now subject to the curse of sin (pain, toil, suffering, and eventual death as outlined in Genesis 3:16-19).
So the problem isn't just moral guilt but the entire reality of living in a world where sin has entered. God’s removal of them from the garden was not simply about preventing eternal life—it was about preventing eternal life **in a corrupted world**. Repentance alone doesn’t reverse the cosmic consequences of sin. The entire creation needed restoration (Romans 8:20-22).
2. **The Larger Redemptive Plan**: While forgiveness is essential, so is the **plan of redemption** that goes beyond forgiveness to full restoration. For instance, the ultimate goal of the biblical narrative isn’t just the forgiveness of individual sins, but the **renewal of all creation**. This is why Christ’s work includes not just forgiveness but also the promise of **resurrection** and **new creation** (Revelation 21-22). Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of Life after sinning might grant them eternal life, but not in the transformed, glorified state God intends for His people.
3. **Why Death is Necessary**: In God’s redemptive plan, death became a necessary part of undoing the effects of sin. God allowed death to enter the world not merely as punishment but also as part of the plan that ultimately leads to resurrection. Paul speaks of death as the last enemy to be defeated (1 Corinthians 15:26), but through Christ, death becomes the gateway to new life. Had Adam and Eve eaten from the Tree of Life while in their fallen state, they might have bypassed death, but they would have missed out on the full restoration that comes through death and resurrection.
4. **The Typology of Christ and the Tree of Life**: Theologically, Christ is often seen as the fulfillment of the Tree of Life. In the new creation, those who believe in Him will once again have access to the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:14). This shows that eternal life comes not just through forgiveness but through transformation. Christ doesn’t just forgive; He renews all things, including the body and the entire creation. Adam and Eve, even if they had repented and believed in the garden, would still need this fuller redemptive work to be fully restored to God’s ultimate intention for humanity.
In summary, even if Adam and Eve had repented and believed, staying in the garden and eating from the Tree of Life would have meant eternal life in a fallen state. Forgiveness alone would not have solved the problem of the corruption of their nature and the curse on creation. God’s plan required not just forgiveness but the eventual defeat of death and the renewal of all creation, something that could only be achieved through Christ’s redemptive work. The removal from Eden, then, can be seen as a merciful act, preserving them for a future, greater restoration." -ChatGPT
From Wilmington's Bible Handbook:
It's primeval history (universal world history) of the world (universe) made up of 5 stories with the same structure. (1-11)
The Fall
Cain
Sons of God marrying daughters of man
The Flood
Tower of Babel
They all follow this 4-fold pattern:
Sin: the sin is described
Speech: There is a speech by God announcing the penalty for the sin
Grace: God brings grace to the situation to ease the misery due to sin
Punishment: God punishes the sin
Patriarchal history (12-50) or the history of Israel's founding fathers. It continues to reveal the many graces of God based on the gracious promise God made to and through Abraham in Genesis 12:3.
Notes from Bible Project Videos
1-11 God and the world
12:3 Hinge verse
12-50 God and Abraham's family
"Blessing" is a key word here
Choice: Tree of knowledge of good and evil
Trust God's definition of good and evil, or
Seize autonomy and define good and evil for themselves?
Serpent (against God) tells a different story. He lies when he tells them that if they eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that they will be like God. Because they already are like God (made in his image).
The Pattern
See D. J. A. Clines, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, No. 38 (1976), pp. 487, 488. Clines explains that Gerhard Von Rad initially observed a pattern of sin, mitigation, and punishment. Then Claus Westermann discerned another element, that of divine speech. Though he did not include it in the pattern, Clines does. Thus the following chart:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
SIN
SPEECH
GRACE
PUNISHMENT
FALL
3:6
3:14-19
3:21
3:22-24
CAIN
4:8
4:10-12
4:15
4:16
SONS OF GOD
6:2
6:3
6:8, 18ff
7:6-24
FLOOD
6:5, 11f
6:7, 13-21
6:8, 18ff
11:8
BABEL
11:4
11:6f
10:1-32
11:8
Preach the Word, Genesis, Kent Hughes, chapter 1, note 3, p. 625
Hamilton puts it this way:
"God acts and speaks; man rebels; God punishes; God protects and reconciles." P. 201
GOD ACTS & SPEAKS MAN REBELS GOD PUNISHES GOD PROTECTS & RECONCILES
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
Who is God?
What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?
Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)
What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)
How do I do it?
OUTLINES
OUTLINE (GENESIS 3:1-24) by H. Willmington
This section describes the corruption of all things.
I. THE TRANSGRESSION OF ADAM (3:1-24)
A. Adam's disobedience (3:1-6)
1. The treachery (3:1-5)
a. Satan begins by casting doubt on God's Word (3:1-3): "Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?"
b. Satan concludes by denying God's Word (3:4-5): "'You won't die!' The serpent hissed...'You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil.'"
2. The tragedy (3:6): Both Eve and Adam disobey God and eat of the forbidden tree.
B. Adam's deceit (3:7-8): He attempts to cover his nakedness by making clothes from fig leaves. He then hides among the trees.
C. Adam's despair (3:9-11): He acknowledges his fear and nakedness before God.
D. Adam's defense (3:12-19): Adam blames Eve, but Eve blames the serpent.
E. Adam's discipline (3:14-19): God sets up his divine court in Eden and imposes the following sentences:
1. Upon the serpent (3:14-15): to be the most cursed of all creatures and to crawl on its belly, eating dust. Also, his head will be crushed by the offspring of the woman.
2. Upon the woman (3:16): to suffer pain in childbirth and to be ruled by her husband.
3. Upon the man (3:17-19): to endure wearisome labor as he grows food from unproductive soil and to eventually die physically.
4. Upon nature (3:18): to be infested with thorns and this-tles.
F. Adam's deliverance (3:15, 20-21)
1. The promise (3:15): Someday a Savior will defeat Satan, the serpent!
2. The provision (3:20-21): After Adam names his wife Eve, God clothes both of them with animal skins.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/
Read the passage together.
Retell the story in your own words.
Discovery the story
What does this story tell me about God?
What does this story tell me about people?
If this is really true, what should I do?
What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)
What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)
Who am I going to tell about this?
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:
Who is God?
What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?
Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)
What do I do? (In light of who I am)
How do I do it?
Final Questions (Write this down)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
MAIN REFERENCES USED
“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes
Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt
The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris
The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis
“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)
Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/
Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)
ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org
The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com
“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)
How to prepare for the end | Revelation 6:1-8
Bottom line: We must prepare for the end of life and the end of the world the same way: as if living and dying for Christ was worth it. And ordering our lives accordingly. Pastor Darien Gabriel walks us through Revelation 6:1-8 and the reality of martyrdom both in the early church and now. This sermon is one of the most important you will hear as it relates to the effects of the gospel and what it means to follow Christ no matter what.
Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come
Title: How to prepare for the end
Scripture: Revelation 6:1-8
Main commentary help:
Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin
Revelation by Jim Hamilton
Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger
Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon
Last week: “How to Live in this world of suffering”
This week: “How to prepare for the end”
I. Intro
My dad died in 2014. He was in his 80s and died because of dementia. He forgot how to swallow. Watching him die like that was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. But because he knew the disease would eventually take him, he prepared himself financially, mentally, physically, relationally and spiritually. And when his brain forgot how to swallow, he started to die. But he knew that the best was yet to come. I realize that talking about God like this can get me canceled. When people don’t like what you’re saying, they want to just cancel instead of discuss and debate the issues. As a result, it’s getting riskier and riskier to speak truth—especially from the Bible. Yet Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney does so in the middle of the pandemic on a world-wide simulcast where he said the following:
“The best is not behind us. The best is yet to come, especially for those who know Jesus. I would not be able to do a positive summit and try to speak some hope and positivity if I did not say that because that is what I know. I know true peace and happiness comes from knowing Jesus. Jesus is the hope of the world. Always has been, always will be. The hope of the world is not a vaccine. It is not a politician. It is not some stimulus package. It is not any of those things. The hope of the world comes from knowing Jesus. That is what I believe and that is why I know that the best is yet to come.” -Dabo Swinney
https://www.powerofpositivesummit.com/
Where does the courage to say that and risk all he’s accomplished come from? Sheep among wolves, Luke 10:3Power of the resurrection, Phil 3:10How to prepare for what end? The end of my life or the end of the world? Yes, both. Because the answer is the same for both.
But he was ready. We talked about it often. He wasn’t wanting to leave this place but he was at peace about it whenever it happened. He’d trusted Christ at an early age.He’d led his family to follow Christ.He’d walked with Christ the best way he knew how.He’d had the important conversations while he was still thinking well. Hospice was called in when it was time.He was prepared for the end. Are you prepared for the end yet?
Bottom line: We must prepare for the end of life and the end of the world the same way: as if living and dying for Christ was worth it. And ordering our lives accordingly.
Let’s dive into the 5th and 6th seals. The 7th seal is the 7 Trumpets (judgments) we’ll learn about in the weeks to come.
II. The 5th Seal—Martyrs (6:9-11)
A. What’s a martyr? Martyr = witness. So a Christian martyr is someone willing to be a witness even if it kills them in the process.
B. Why were these people martyred? Because they were faithful to the word of God (Proclaim Jesus), and Because they were faithful to the testimony (Embody Jesus).Does your life do these 2 things?
C. They want vengeance, justice and vindication. After all, they died for loving God and loving people like Jesus did/does.
D. Vengeance is God’s job—not ours.
E. God’s character—holy and true.F. God’s method—sovereign and always on time.lG. Future martyrs? Church of Smyrna and us.
III. 6th Seal—The End. (6:12-17)
A. Common throughout scripture to be cosmic, cataclysmic destruction. Could be literal.Could be symbolic. No less real either way. Goal is to lead people to repent and believe. People would rather die than...
B. ...Face God and the wrath of the Lamb.
C. The great leveling begins. God’s justice and mercy are for all no matter your station or status in life.
D. What about you? What are you putting your hope in for your deliverance in the end? Politicians? World leaders? Scientists? Wealthy people? The Military?
Application
How do we prepare for the end?
Bottom line: We must prepare for the end of life and the end of the world the same way: as if living and dying for Christ was worth it. And ordering our lives accordingly.
Share story of Nigerian funeral
Decide if my faith is worth living for. If it’s worth living for, then it’s worth dying for. Saturate your mind and heart with scripture daily. Memorize it as if you might have to live without a printed copy one day. Pray like you might be martyred one day. Proclaim Jesus daily. Embody Jesus daily.
Bottom line: We must prepare for the end of life and the end of the world the same way: as if living and dying for Christ was worth it.We do this daily as we Proclaim & Embody Jesus.
Let’s pray.
Other notes:
How to Love
Four bullets hit Pope John Paul II – two of them lodging in his lower intestine, the others hitting his left hand and right arm. This assassination attempt on the Pope in May 1981 left him severely wounded and with considerable blood loss – his health was never the same again. In July 1981, the perpetrator, Ali Ağca, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Pope John Paul II asked people to pray ‘for my brother Ağca, whom I have sincerely forgiven’.
Two years later, he was to take the hand of Ali Ağca, then in prison, and quietly tell him that he had forgiven him for what he had done (even though his would-be killer had not asked for forgiveness). He developed a friendship over the years, meeting Ağca’s mother in 1987 and his brother a decade later. In June 2000 Ağca was pardoned by the Italian President at the Pope’s request. In February 2005 Ağca sent a letter to the Pope wishing him well. When the Pope died on 2 April 2005, Ağca’s brother, Adrian, gave an interview saying that Ağca and his entire family were grieving and that the Pope had been a great friend to them.
Pope John Paul II’s response of love and mercy is exemplary. God’s love and mercy is even more extraordinary because ‘At the cross of Jesus, pardon is complete. Love and justice mingle, truth and mercymeet.’
How to Make the Most of Your Life
‘People often ask me what Mother Teresa was like,’ writes Shane Claiborne in his book The Irresistible Revolution. ‘Sometimes it’s like they wonder if she glowed in the dark or had a halo. She was short, wrinkled, and precious, maybe even a little ornery, like a beautiful, wise old granny. But there is one thing I will never forget – her feet. Her feet were deformed.
Each morning I would stare at them. I wondered if she had contracted leprosy. One day a Sister explained, “Her feet are deformed because we get just enough donated shoes for everyone, and Mother does not want anyone to get stuck with the worst pair, so she digs through and finds them. And years of doing that have deformed her feet.” Years of loving her neighbour as herself deformed her feet.’
When people are asked about the person whose life they most admire, so often the answer is ‘Mother Teresa’. She made the most of her life. It is a paradox, because her life was a life of self-denial, taking up her cross and following Jesus.
Bible in One Year 2021 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 56 • Devotional