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Lifepoint Church
Origin Story Part 4 - When Everything Broke
Lifepoint on YouVersion. Thank you for joining us at Lifepoint this morning. Follow along with the message using this YouVersion app and see all of the notes and details from today's sermon. If you want more information about the church feel free to visit our website at http://lp.church
Locations & Times
Lifepoint Church
250 Johnston St SE, Decatur, AL 35601, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
Humanity didn’t fall because of a lack of ability or blessing.
Adam and Eve had everything they needed.
Adam and Eve had everything they needed.
The fall began with a private decision to step outside God’s design, to believe that fulfillment could be found apart from obedience, and to manage life on their own terms.
And just like every real fall from grace, the consequences reached far beyond the original choice.
Trust was broken.
Shame followed.
Hiding began.
And the world has never been the same.
Shame followed.
Hiding began.
And the world has never been the same.
Genesis 3 shows us that sin doesn’t start with public collapse, it starts with private compromise.
And yet, this chapter doesn’t just show us how humanity fell.
It shows us something even more remarkable:
when everything broke, God didn’t walk away.
when everything broke, God didn’t walk away.
He came looking.
Genesis introduces us to a new character: the serpent.
Satan rarely begins by telling us to reject God outright.
He begins by planting doubt about God’s Word and God’s goodness.
He begins by planting doubt about God’s Word and God’s goodness.
Notice what he does:
- He questions God’s command
- He distorts God’s Word
- He reframes God as restrictive rather than generous
- He questions God’s command
- He distorts God’s Word
- He reframes God as restrictive rather than generous
One restriction, but infinite provision.
And then comes the lie beneath all lies:
“You will not surely die… you will be like God.”
You’ll have full control of your life…you don’t have to trust God, because God knows if you do this, then you’ll know as He knows and you can be fully in control!
“You will not surely die… you will be like God.”
You’ll have full control of your life…you don’t have to trust God, because God knows if you do this, then you’ll know as He knows and you can be fully in control!
This is the essence of sin.
Sin is not just breaking God’s rules, it is rejecting God’s authority and redefining good and evil on our own terms.
At its core, sin says:
“I know better than God.”
“I want life without submission.”
“I want the gifts without the Giver.”
“I know better than God.”
“I want life without submission.”
“I want the gifts without the Giver.”
And that temptation still works.
Because we don’t fall into sin because we hate God.
We fall into sin because, in the moment, we stop trusting Him.
Because we don’t fall into sin because we hate God.
We fall into sin because, in the moment, we stop trusting Him.
Notice the progression:
- Desire - Eve sees and it was a “delight” to her eyes.
- Rationalization – It was desirable and it HAD to be good, right? It would make you wise!
- Action – She took it.
- Desire - Eve sees and it was a “delight” to her eyes.
- Rationalization – It was desirable and it HAD to be good, right? It would make you wise!
- Action – She took it.
And Adam, who is with her, remains silent and in that moment, everything breaks.
The first sin is not eating fruit. It is rejecting God’s word in favor of your perceived wisdom.
They don’t become like God, they become aware of their nakedness and they’re ashamed, exposed and afraid.
See, sin promises freedom, but it delivers bondage.
Sin promises enlightenment, but it produces shame.
We still try to cover shame with performance.
With success.
With image.
With religion.
With success.
With image.
With religion.
But self-made coverings never heal the soul. Hear me this morning church, you can try all you want to heal what’s broken inside you, but NOTHING will fill you completely, wholly, but Jesus.
You know one thing that gets me in the story of Adam and Eve after they ate the fruit…
It’s not that they got kicked out of the garden….
Or that they suddenly realized they were naked…
It’s what happens immediately after when God comes down and walks in the garden.
It’s not that they got kicked out of the garden….
Or that they suddenly realized they were naked…
It’s what happens immediately after when God comes down and walks in the garden.
See… He doesn’t start with… What did you do?
He asks one simple question…Where are you?
He asks one simple question…Where are you?
And can we sit with that for a second…
Because God wasn’t asking for Adam’s location. He knew exactly where Adam was.
That question wasn’t about hiding behind trees.
It was about distance.
Because God wasn’t asking for Adam’s location. He knew exactly where Adam was.
That question wasn’t about hiding behind trees.
It was about distance.
See… Something had shifted.
God had breathed life into Adam’s body.
But the moment disobedience entered something else entered too.
God had breathed life into Adam’s body.
But the moment disobedience entered something else entered too.
Death. Not just physical death, but relational death.
Something in their intimacy broke.
Something in their closeness changed.
Something in their connection died.
Something in their closeness changed.
Something in their connection died.
And God names it with a question; “Where are you?”
Because a lot of people are still in the garden.
Still in church.
Still praying.
Still reading scripture.
Still saying “God knows my heart.”
Still in church.
Still praying.
Still reading scripture.
Still saying “God knows my heart.”
But something in the relationship has shifted.
Sin fractures relationships:
- Between humanity and God
- Between husband and wife
- Between people and creation
- Between humanity and God
- Between husband and wife
- Between people and creation
God now speaks words of judgment; but not all judgment is equal.
The serpent is cursed, the ground is cursed and pain, frustration, and death enter the world.
But notice something crucial: Humanity is not cursed directly.
Instead, God describes the consequences of life in a fallen world.
Work becomes painful.
Relationships become strained.
Life becomes marked by suffering and death.
Relationships become strained.
Life becomes marked by suffering and death.
But right in the middle of judgment, God speaks hope.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
This is the first gospel promise in Scripture.
From the very moment sin enters the world, God announces redemption.
Genesis 3 is not the end of the story; it’s the beginning of the rescue plan.
Jesus is the promised offspring.
The serpent bruised His heel at the cross.
But Jesus crushed the serpent’s head through the resurrection.
But Jesus crushed the serpent’s head through the resurrection.
God Himself provides the covering.
Blood is shed. An innocent life is taken. Shame is covered by God, not man.
We are not saved by fig leaves.
We are saved by grace.
We are saved by grace.
Adam and Eve are expelled from Eden.
Not as an act of cruelty, but mercy.
To live forever in sin would be eternal death.
What was lost in Eden is restored in Christ.
When everything broke, God didn’t walk away. He moved toward us.
“Where are you?”
That question is still being asked today.
Not because God doesn’t see you… But because He feels the distance.
That question is still being asked today.
Not because God doesn’t see you… But because He feels the distance.
Not... what did you do?
But WHERE ARE YOU?
Because before restoration comes honesty.
But WHERE ARE YOU?
Because before restoration comes honesty.
He doesn’t force intimacy, He invites it.
We keep hiding behind church attendance.
Behind good deeds.
Behind “I’m trying.”
Behind “We all fall short.”
Behind good deeds.
Behind “I’m trying.”
Behind “We all fall short.”
But God isn’t asking for perfection…. He’s asking for presence.
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