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We live in a broken world inhabited by broken people who are in search of hope, joy, and lasting peace. The “Book of Beginnings” (Genesis) tells us what went wrong and shows us why Easter matters.

1. In the beginning what went wrong?
Those created by God chose to rebel against Him (vs. 1-13)

- Before the fall of mankind on earth, pride fuelled the first rebellion by a created angel in heaven (cf. Rev. 12:9; Isa. 14:13-14)

- Satan’s mission is to oppose God and obstruct His purposes in people’s lives (cf. Mt. 13:9; Jn. 10:10)

i. Enemy Tactic #1: Plant doubt in people’s minds (vs. 1-5)
     - He tempts us to question God’s Word, His wisdom, and His goodness

ii. Enemy Tactic #2: Tap into people’s desires using deception (vs. 6a)
     - He tempts us to satisfy our desires through forbidden means

iii. Enemy’s Objective: Get people to rebel and disobey God (vs. 6)
     - Through Adam’s rebellion, these 6 realities entered the world:

• Physical and spiritual death (cf. Rom. 5:12; Rom. 3:10-12, 23)
• A reversal of God’s created design for headship within marriage (vs. 16)
• Shame (vs. 7)
• Creation was cursed (vs. 14, 17)
• Severe pain in childbearing for women (vs. 16)
• The need to work hard and toil in labour for our food (vs. 17-19)

Are you living in rebellion against God? Perhaps you have fallen for Satan’s tactics and are living in shame. Repent, confess, and resist: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

2. In the beginning what went right?
Even in our rebellion, God chose to extend grace and mercy to mankind (vs. 15, 20-24)

God graciously:

• Withheld from Adam and Eve what they deserved – death (vs. Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:23)
• Made the first move – “the LORD God called to the man” (cf. 1 Jn. 4:19)
• Gave them the opportunity to confess their sin (but sadly, they did not) (vs. 11)
• Gave a promise of salvation; the good news of a coming Saviour who will defeat Satan and reverse the curse of sin (vs. 15; Isa. 53:5; 1 Jn. 3:8)
• Cares for them in the midst of their shame (vs. 20-21)
• Drives them out of the Garden of Eden for their own good and the good of all humanity (cf. Rev. 21:3-4; 22:1-5)

The only thing that can deliver us, and all of creation, from the curse of sin, is the fulfillment of the promise made in Genesis 3:15. Christ has fulfilled that promise through His death on the cross and His victorious resurrection. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). Have you experienced God’s saving grace and mercy in your life by placing your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour? Allow His amazing grace to inspire you to love Him with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your mind.

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