By Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

Read: Genesis 3:20-24

By Rev. Ron Purkey

“And I will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise (Christ’s) heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

The only Gospel Adam heard was what God said in Genesis 3:15, yet Adam believed it and was saved.

How do we know he believed it? Because he called his wife’s name “Eve” which means “life” or “lifegiver.” God had said Adam and Eve would die, and Adam did die physically after many years. But he also died spiritually, in that he was separated from God because of sin.

God promised the birth of a Savior through the woman, and Adam believed this promise and was saved. God did not change the physical consequences of sin, but he did remit the eternal consequences — judgment!

The coats of skins in verse 21 are pictures of the salvation we have in Christ. There must be the shedding of blood, the offering of innocent life for the guilty. Adam and Eve had tried to cover their sin and shame with leaves (Genesis 3:7), but these good works were not accepted by God. Nor does he accept such works today.

Notice God wanted Adam and Eve to be covered; he approved their sense of shame. It is always a sign of degeneration when a people reverse this and go back to nakedness. “Modest apparel” is always God’s standard (1 Timothy 2:9).

Genesis 3:22-24 show a strange action of the grace of God: He drove the man and woman out of the garden! They had forfeited their right to the tree of life by disobeying God. If they had eaten of that tree, they would have lived forever in their sinful state. This would mean the Savior, the Second Adam, could not come to die to deliver humans from sin.

Therefore, in driving Adam and Eve out of paradise, God was showing his grace and mercy to the whole human race. The sword that God placed at the garden barred the way. It is possible to translate this “a swordlike flame” — the fire of God that speaks of his holiness (Hebrews 12:29).

Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15:42-49 explain the contrasts between the first Adam and the Last Adam, Christ.

Adam was made from the earth, but Christ came down from heaven.

Adam was tempted in a perfect garden, while Christ was tempted in a terrible wilderness.

Adam deliberately disobeyed and plunged the human race into sin and death, but Christ obeyed God and brought righteousness.

Today, our only way to forgiveness and heaven is faith in Jesus Christ!

Notice in Romans 5 we have several “much more” statements (verses 9, 15, 17, 20), indicating the death of Christ did not simply put us back to where Adam was. It gave us much more than Adam ever had.

True Christian believers are kings and priests unto God and will one day reign with Christ forever!

Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines free at rcpbibleoutlines.com. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.