Genesis 3:1-7

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Defining the topic

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““used in a great variety of senses, used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, inferentially (including observation, care, recognition)” recognition)” ((StrongStrong))

““to know, to know, learn to knowlearn to know…to perceive…to …to perceive…to perceive and see, perceive and see, find out and discernfind out and discern…to …to discriminate, distinguish…discriminate, distinguish…to know by to know by experienceexperience…to recognise, admit, …to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess…to consider…to acknowledge, confess…to consider…to know, know, be acquainted withbe acquainted with…to know how, be …to know how, be skilful inskilful in……to have knowledge, be wiseto have knowledge, be wise” ” ((Brown-Driver-BriggsBrown-Driver-Briggs))

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Possessing the moral capacity of good Possessing the moral capacity of good and evil, Deut 1:39; Rom 7:9; Gen and evil, Deut 1:39; Rom 7:9; Gen 3:22 3:22 The use of freewill to make moral choicesThe use of freewill to make moral choices

Ways humans can know good and Ways humans can know good and evil:evil: IntellectuallyIntellectually (factual knowledge), Gen (factual knowledge), Gen

2:172:17 ExperientiallyExperientially (choice, activity through (choice, activity through

freewill), Gen 2:8-9, 15freewill), Gen 2:8-9, 15 5

Possessing the moral capacity of good and Possessing the moral capacity of good and evil (use of freewill to make moral choices)evil (use of freewill to make moral choices)

Can know good and evil:Can know good and evil: By faithBy faith (Rom 10:17) (Rom 10:17)

By believing and obeying what God says (Rom By believing and obeying what God says (Rom 7:7)7:7)▪ What sin is, 1 Jno 3:4; 5:17; Jas 4:17 (Gen 2:17)What sin is, 1 Jno 3:4; 5:17; Jas 4:17 (Gen 2:17)▪ What sin does, Rom 5:12 (Gen 2:17)What sin does, Rom 5:12 (Gen 2:17)▪ Sin is a moral choice – not a biological necessity, Sin is a moral choice – not a biological necessity,

Ezek 18:20; Rom 5:12; Acts 5:3-4; Josh 24:15Ezek 18:20; Rom 5:12; Acts 5:3-4; Josh 24:15

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SummarySummary:: GodGod knows good and evil due to knows good and evil due to

His very nature (Gen 3:22)His very nature (Gen 3:22) ManMan knows good and evil: knows good and evil:▪ IntellectuallyIntellectually (cognitive recognition) (cognitive recognition)▪ ExperientiallyExperientially (choosing good and evil) (choosing good and evil)▪ By faith By faith (by trusting the word of God)(by trusting the word of God)

God’s willGod’s will: We know good and evil : We know good and evil by trusting and obeying Him, by trusting and obeying Him, Psa Psa 119:104, 130 119:104, 130

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Genesis 3:1-7 (Jno 8:44)

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About GodAbout God, Gen 3:1, 5, Gen 3:1, 5 Injects doubt, questioning God’s law, His Injects doubt, questioning God’s law, His

integrity, and diminishing God’s blessings integrity, and diminishing God’s blessings (cf. Rom 7:7-12)(cf. Rom 7:7-12)

About SinAbout Sin, Gen 3:4, Gen 3:4 EffectsEffects (“you will not surely die”)(“you will not surely die”), Gen , Gen

2:17; Rom 5:122:17; Rom 5:12 BenefitsBenefits (“your eyes will be opened and (“your eyes will be opened and

you will be like God, knowing good and you will be like God, knowing good and evil”)evil”), Gen 3:5, Gen 3:5▪ DECEIVED! 1 Tim 2:14 (Rom 7:9-11)DECEIVED! 1 Tim 2:14 (Rom 7:9-11) 9

About man and womanAbout man and woman, Gen 3:5, Gen 3:5 LieLie: That our eyes are not open to sin : That our eyes are not open to sin

(know good and evil) without (know good and evil) without experiencing itexperiencing it▪ TruthTruth: By experiencing sin one becomes : By experiencing sin one becomes

acquainted with its shame, guilt and acquainted with its shame, guilt and death! Gen 1:25; 2:7, 10-11death! Gen 1:25; 2:7, 10-11▪ Jesus did not have to experience sin in Jesus did not have to experience sin in

order to know how sinister it is, Heb order to know how sinister it is, Heb 4:154:15▪ The Mormon doctrine of man and sinThe Mormon doctrine of man and sin 10

LDS: Adam’s sin was a blessing for LDS: Adam’s sin was a blessing for mankind – Enabled our life and joy in this mankind – Enabled our life and joy in this life.life.

“ “And now, behold, if Adam had not And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; which they were after they were created; and they must have remained for ever, and and they must have remained for ever, and had no end. had no end.

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LDS: Adam’s sin was a blessing for mankind LDS: Adam’s sin was a blessing for mankind – Enabled our life and joy in this life.– Enabled our life and joy in this life.

“ “And they would have had no children; And they would have had no children; wherefore wherefore they would have remained in a they would have remained in a state of innocence, state of innocence, having no joy, for having no joy, for they knew no miserythey knew no misery; ; doing no good, for doing no good, for they knew no sinthey knew no sin. . But behold, all things But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.knoweth all things. Adam fell that men Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might might be; and men are that they might have joyhave joy.” .” (2 Nephi 2:22-25)(2 Nephi 2:22-25)

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LDS: Man would never have known LDS: Man would never have known good and evil without sinninggood and evil without sinning

“ “And in that day Adam blessed God and And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, concerning all the families of the earth, saying: saying: Blessed be the name of God, Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see GodI shall see God. .

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LDS: Man would never have known good LDS: Man would never have known good and evil without sinningand evil without sinning

“ “And And EveEve, his wife, heard all these things , his wife, heard all these things and and waswas gladglad, saying: , saying: Were it not for our Were it not for our transgression we never should have transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evilknown good and evil, and the joy of our , and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.” giveth unto all the obedient.”

(Moses 5:10-11, Pearl of Great (Moses 5:10-11, Pearl of Great Price)Price) 14

About man and womanAbout man and woman, Gen 3:5, Gen 3:5 LieLie: That our eyes are not open to sin : That our eyes are not open to sin

(know good and evil) without (know good and evil) without experiencing itexperiencing it

TruthTruth: We can know sin because we : We can know sin because we can also identify temptations to sin! Jas can also identify temptations to sin! Jas 1:13-161:13-16▪ Adam and Eve knew good before they Adam and Eve knew good before they

ever committed sin, Gen 1:28-31ever committed sin, Gen 1:28-31▪ Satan’s lie turns good into evil and evil Satan’s lie turns good into evil and evil

into “good”! Isaiah 5:20into “good”! Isaiah 5:20 15

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We will not see the evil of sin, Rom We will not see the evil of sin, Rom 12:912:9 A distorted view of sinA distorted view of sin

We will not see the good in We will not see the good in obeying God, Gen 2:15; Mal 1:12-obeying God, Gen 2:15; Mal 1:12-13; 1 Jno 5:313; 1 Jno 5:3

We easily convince ourselves and We easily convince ourselves and others that sin produces good, Gen others that sin produces good, Gen 3:6; Heb 11:253:6; Heb 11:25 17

Genesis 2:17; 3:10, 22-24

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Sin produced spiritual death, Rom Sin produced spiritual death, Rom 5:125:12

Sin’s consequences include guilt, Sin’s consequences include guilt, shame, trials, sufferings and shame, trials, sufferings and finally, physical death, Gen 3:10, finally, physical death, Gen 3:10, 16-1916-19

God’s grace: Redemption and God’s grace: Redemption and eternal life, Gen 3:15, 22-24; Rev eternal life, Gen 3:15, 22-24; Rev 2:7; 22:2-32:7; 22:2-3 19

Should come from faith in God Should come from faith in God (believing and obeying His word) (believing and obeying His word) and not from the lies of Satanand not from the lies of Satan FaithFaith leads to everlasting life leads to everlasting life SinSin leads to eternal death leads to eternal death

Love the Lord and hate evil, Psa Love the Lord and hate evil, Psa 97:10; Amos 5:1597:10; Amos 5:15

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