Gen. 3:1-24		GOD’S GRACE IN THE FALL
Intro:  Ill. The Creation and the fall of man.  In that fall, the entire human race was 
plunged into darkness, sin and death.  In that terrible instant when man sinned 
against God, man died and became spiritually separated from Almighty God.  Man 
also became helpless in his ability to get back in a right relationship with a God.   
From the moment mankind fell into sin and ruin, God has made it His business to 
seek fallen man and attempt to establish a relationship with him.  This truth is clearly 
presented in the story of the fall of Adam and the immediate aftermath.  As God 
gives liberty this afternoon, I would like to preach on the thought, God’s Grace In 
The Fall.

  I.  v. 8				HE CAME TO THEM
    A.  Ill. Man had transgressed the commandment of God and had sinned.  Now, 
	there was great gulf between God and man – Isa. 59:2.  (Ill. Apparently it was 
	God’s custom to join Adam in the cool of the day for fellowship and 
	communion.  Now, man had sinned and God had every right to stay away, but 
	He came anyway!  That is grace!
    B.  Ill. He is still doing that today!  When the sinner’s heart is stirred and he is 
	made aware of the great love of God.  That is just the Lord walking in the cool 
	of the day seeking fellowship!  (Ill. Jesus – Luke 19:10)  (Ill. God – Eph. 2:1-
	9)
    C.  It is grace and grace alone that allows Holy God to come to us!  Thank God for 
 	Grace!

 II.  v.9-10		     HE CALLED THEM
    A.  He didn’t just come to look upon their misery., He called out to Adam in an 
	effort to reach him.
    B.  Ill. Man is dead in sin, Eph. 2:1, until God awakens him to that fact.  It is only 
	at the call of God that the sinner can be saved – John 6:44; John 6:65.
    C.  Again, it is pure grace that Holy God would call any one into love relationship 
	with Himself.  (Ill. The disciples – Ill. You and me!)

III.  v. 11				HE CONFRONTED THEM
    A.  God challenged man on the basis of His sin.  Ill. God wasn’t fishing for 
	information, He knew what Adam and Eve had done.  He was looking for a 
	confession.  What He got was accusation, Ill. V.12.  (Ill. Adam’s double 
	accusation.)
    B.  Ill. This is what God does for the sinner.  He reveals to us the sinfulness of our 
	lives and calls upon us to repent.  (Ill. John the Baptist – “Repent”  Ill. Jesus – 
	“Repent”  Ill. John and Herod.)	
    C.  Ill. It is pure grace that shows the sinner the error of his lifestyle.  Without His 
	revelation, we would continue into Hell – Ill. Pro. 16:25.  It may be painful to 
	see yourself as you really are, but until you do, you will never see as need to be 
	different!  (It is grace that challenges us in our lifestyle!  Thank God He 
	doesn’t just let us go!)  (Ill. The ministry of the Holy Ghost – John 16:7-11)

 IV.  v. 12-20			HE CHASTISED THEM
    A.  Ill. The various punishments meted out on the sinners.  This too was the grace 
	of God.  Ill. He would have been within His rights to have killed them outright 
	– Gen. 2:17.
    B.  God’s chastening and restraining hand stands as a reminder that there is a price 
	on sin.  Imagine for a moment that God just allowed us to go on as we pleased 
	without any checks. We would all sin our way into Hell, or into deep trouble.  
	He chastens us to call our attention away from the pleasure of sin so that we 
	might see the reality of sin.  That it is brutal, ugly and defiling!
    C.  Nobody likes chastisement, but it too is a product of God’s grace – Rev. 3:19; 
 	Pro. 3:11-12.

  V.  v. 21				HE COVERED THEM
    A.  Their sin became real when that animal died to cover their nakedness.  They 
	instantly realized that they were responsible.  It was the grace of God that 
	accepted the sacrifice of an innocent party to atone for the sins of the guilty.
    B.  Our salvation is the same way.  It is pure grace that saves the sinner., cleanses 
	him and clothes him the righteousness of Jesus Christ – Eph. 2:8.  (Ill. Our 
	salvation is free, but it is anything but cheap!  Ill. The cross and the awful 
	death Jesus faced there for sinners.  It was pure grace in action!)
    C.  Grace is the sinner’s only hope.  Pure grace and nothing they can ever do can  
	atone for sin.  It is through grace that we enter salvation.

 VI. v. 22-24			HE COMMANDED THEM
    A.  Ill. The context!  Ill. The implications of man being allowed access to the tree 
	of life in a fallen state!  What a horrible hell that would have been.  Eternally 
	separated from the presence and love of God.  His command to cast them out 
	was a command of compassion and grace!
    B.  His grace is evident in our lives in the things He keeps us from.  He isn’t a cosmic
	killjoy, He knows what is best for you and me.  Therefore, some things are off 
	limits to us as children of God.  It is grace that protects us, our testimonies, and 
	our fellowship with the Father.  (Ill. Adam thought it was the worst that could 
	happen, when all along it was the best possible solution to a terrible problem.)
    C.  Grace is why you and I can rest assured of a home in Heaven – 2 Cor. 12:9.

Conc:  Thank God for grace this evening.  It is evident all the way back to the 
Garden of Eden.  It is still evident tonight!  We ought to praise Him for His grace 
and rest in it with full assurance of faith.  His grace truly is amazing!

Sermon By Alan Carr