How it all BeganHow it all BeganWhere did the earth come from?Where did the earth come from?

How about human beings?How about human beings?

What/who is the source of evil?What/who is the source of evil?

Where do we go from here?Where do we go from here?

Creation StoryCreation Story

In the beginning …In the beginning …

God made the heavens and the earthGod made the heavens and the earth

Plants, creatures of the sea, animalsPlants, creatures of the sea, animals

Then God made man (Adam…and Eve)Then God made man (Adam…and Eve)

Key thoughtsKey thoughts

God is the creator of all God is the creator of all thingsthings

Creation was/is good….. Creation was/is good….. Human beings are created in Human beings are created in

God’s imageGod’s image God gave man the mandate God gave man the mandate

to take care of the worldto take care of the world

The Fall

• Source of evil is a mystery …• Instructions about the tree of

knowledge• The devil (talking snake) shows up

and introduces doubt(?)• Did God really say that: “you shall

not eat of ….”• “Not even touch it” : Eve

Temptation: Key Temptation: Key thoughts thoughts

• Saw that it was good for foodSaw that it was good for food

It was pleasing to the eyeIt was pleasing to the eye

Desirable for gaining wisdom (1John Desirable for gaining wisdom (1John 2:16)2:16)

• Why not? After all…. we will be like Why not? After all…. we will be like God?God?

• Remember : They were together when Remember : They were together when this happenedthis happened

Adam and EveAdam and Eve Eyes were opened …..and they ran for coverEyes were opened …..and they ran for cover

How did they respond? How did they respond?

Blame: It’s the woman you gave me…Blame: It’s the woman you gave me…

Shame: They realized they were nakedShame: They realized they were naked

ConsequencesConsequences

Creation is cursed Creation is cursed God covers them with skins: GraceGod covers them with skins: Grace Banishment from EdenBanishment from Eden Things will get worse over the Things will get worse over the

yrs…“Sin is crouching….”yrs…“Sin is crouching….” But there is hope?….our salvation But there is hope?….our salvation

draws near!draws near!

The seed of the womanThe seed of the woman

Shall crush the head of the SerpentShall crush the head of the Serpent

God had a plan to rescue us from the separation God had a plan to rescue us from the separation with Himwith Him

Be Image bearers and care-takers of the earthBe Image bearers and care-takers of the earth

He came to earth and took our sins (blows) so that He came to earth and took our sins (blows) so that we might get back to Eden. (Reconciliation)we might get back to Eden. (Reconciliation)

“ Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature

of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires,

not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is

offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he

cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily

pleased.”

- C.S.Lewis (in “The weight of the glory”)