Main Thought
Can we trust what God has said? Humanity has wrestled with this question from the very beginning. In Genesis 3, the enemy attacked God’s Word to distort humanity’s view of God and relationship with Him. Trust in God faltered. Adam (and Eve) fell to temptation. They rejected God and tried to replace Him with lesser things. Adam’s failure brought sin, brokenness, and death into the world - not just for himself, but for all who came after him.
God did not leave humanity in that condition. Jesus came as the “true and better” Adam to restore what was broken. Adam failed under temptation; Jesus remained faithful. Adam shifted blame; Jesus took it upon Himself. Through His perfect life, death, and resurrection, Jesus made a way for us to be restored to God. In Christ, we can reverse the pattern that Adam initiated. We can trust God; love Him in response to His love for us; and, we follow Him as faith flows into action. Jesus made a way that leads to life in God.
Main Passages
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
- Genesis 3:6-7 ESV
22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
- 1 Peter 2:22-24
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Romans 5:18-21 ESV
Discussion Questions
What stands out to you in the Main Thought or Main Passages above?
Adam and Eve replaced trust in God with trust in something else. What are some common “replacements” people turn to instead of God? Why do those things ultimately fall short?
Jesus resisted temptation and trusted the Father completely. What might it look like for you to trust God more deeply in an area where you’re currently being tempted or tested?