The Garden of Eden
Bible Text: Genesis 2:1-25 | Preacher: Henry De Oliveira | Series: Genesis | Introduction
People have rejected the biblical story of creation, of life, of our origin
People say that this reality does not match their experience
People say that it is intellectual suicide to believe Gen 1-2
The Bible is infallible
Do you hold fast to this word?
Gen 2
It broadens the story of creation – the 6th day zoomed in
It outlines a perfect world
No sin
God and man are in perfect union
So beautiful and stunning – alien in our world today
Overview:
Beauty of life in the Garden of Eden
People’s Objections
Future Hope
The Beauty of life in the Garden of Eden
Four Characteristics
A beautiful place specially prepared by God
God was the original gardener/creator
A pleasant place, good for food
Everything immaculate and beautiful
A real place v10-14
In Eden we can see God gives us all things richly to enjoy
The name Eden means paradise
A place of enjoyable work and loving service to God
In the Garden of Eden work was to be enjoyed
cf Gen 1:26
We are to have dominion over all creation
v15 – “To tend and keep it”
v19 – responsibility of naming all the animals
It pleased Adam to obey God
Rest
v3 – God rested on the seventh day
This was the pattern Adam followed
This rest glorified God
The liberty and freedom given to man
God created man to be free
v16 – the freedom of choice
The freedom of ability
The freedom of enjoyment
v17 – freedom of choice
Choice is the ultimate symbol of freedom
The beautiful relation and perfect companionship of man, woman and God
v18 – it was not good for man to be alone
v7 – God shows a desire to be relational to the man He has created
Other animals were not suitable
v20-22 God creates woman
A perfect fit
Both created in God’s image
Created differently
v24 – The man was made to love the woman
Serving each other in their defined roles
Marriage
v25 – Man and woman could live and love without guilt in the ever presence of God
Man and woman in seamless union
People’s Objections
Many people have objections and question the authenticity of the Bible
A beautiful place specially prepared by God
Too mystical
They see a world that is always changing
They would have accept there is a divine creator – there is a God they need to submit too
A place of enjoyable work and loving service to God
Some question the simplicity of life in the garden
It would be too primitive
Working in the garden is not self-seeking
Not for reward
For God’s honour and glory
Why should someone devote their lifes work for someone else, especially an unknown being called God
The liberty and freedom given to man
People say that ultimate freedom is unrealistic
However, people often object to Adam’s desire to obey God
Why would a free man submit to someone, something else, even to God
The beautiful relation and perfect companionship of man, woman and God
People refuse to accept the order of creation
Man first and the woman second
People refuse to accept that the only helper compatible to man is a woman
Many condemn the Bible because of its stance on sexuality
To accept God’s authority would mean submitting to His authority
Why are so many people against God?
Arguing against these objections is fruitless
The simple answer is sin
It has made us wise in our own eyes reducing God’s wisdom to foolishness
We have been tainted by sin
cf Gen 3
We are Adam’s children and living in sin
We are quick to judge God and the Bible
Adam and Eve were cast out from God’s presence
We are cast out because we remain in rebellion against God
Jer 17:9
The sinful world hates God
The world is intolerant to the Bible’s teachings
Our progressive world is totally against the life God intended for us
Our inherent enmity to God
The Future Hope that every Christian has in the Lord Jesus
Gen 2 tells us of the wonderful communion of a life lived with God
Sin has created an ever widening chasm between us and God
Gen 2 should cause to seek a relationship with God
We should put aside sin
We should desire the wonderful relationship in the garden
Our sins must be dealt with
Gen 3 and onwards – God unfolds His great plan of redemption
To bring us back to Himself, to a better Eden
God came down to earth in the person of Jesus Christ
Explanation
2 Cor 5:21
Eph 1:7
Gal 1:4
There is a heavenly place being prepared for us by Jesus
Rev 21
A place only prepared for those who are His – who believe in His name, who faith and hope is entirely on His finished work on the cross
There is another place prepared
Hell
For those who reject
It is not the antithesis of heaven
The reason for hell is because of sin
A terrible place – of eternal shame, no mercy from God, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth
If Jesus has taken hold of you there is much to look forward to
Servants of God – true Christians enjoy serving God
Rev 22:3
Jesus has set us free
John 8:31-32,36
Gal 5:1
Saved Christians are truly the freest people on earth
Closing Remarks
Rev 21:2-6