Monday: Judgment and Grace in Eden
Think about this: before sin, there was no need of grace because there was nothing to forgive, nothing to pardon, nothing to cover. It’s the same with judgment. Before sin, there was nothing to judge, nothing to condemn, nothing to be punished. Both grace and judgment arise, at least in a human context, only because of humanity’s sin.1
Read Genesis 3, the account of the Fall. In what ways are both themes, that of judgment and grace, revealed?
Satan succeeded in bringing sin into the world, changing everything as a result. Immediately, though, the Lord entered, calling out “Where are you?” This question doesn’t have to be seen as condemnatory; it was more an invitation to come to Him, the One who created and loved them. It was a call to turn away from their deceiver and to return to their Maker.
Notice, too, what happens. The first few lines from the mouth of God in this fallen world are questions (see Gen. 3: 9, 11, 13). Then the first thing God says after He’s done questioning is to declare His judgment against the serpent. But next, in verse 15, even amid His judgment against the serpent, what does God say?
Verse 15 is the first gospel promise. As soon as He declares His judgment against the serpent, He then immediately gives the first message of grace, of redemption, of salvation for humanity. And only then, only after that gospel promise, does He start declaring His judgments against the woman and the man. Though they fell, the first things God gives them are hope and grace—the grace that forms the background against which judgment is to unfold. Thus, even before judgment, the promise of grace is given for those who will accept it.
It’s too late for Satan; his destruction is assured. But there, even amid the judgments passed on to the man and the woman, God makes His grace known.
At the beginning of fallen human history, then, a relationship between sin, judgment, and God’s grace emerges. Though God must judge and condemn sin, the promise of grace is always there, always present, always available for those who will claim it for themselves.
In what ways might the Lord be saying to you, “Where are you?” What are you doing that, perhaps, is causing you to hide from Him? Why is understanding grace a crucial first step in heeding His call to draw near to Him and away from the deceiver?
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I thought God's Grace and God's Judgement was forever and always has been just like Love (agape) come to think of it, isn't that the same thing!?>Romans 5:20 ....And also I see Gods Grace and Judgement on everything I see like the Grace of life giving itself and his judgement in the creation e.g distance from the earth to the sun and the human body. Its amazing how he perfectly judged everything
Am I being out of context here!??
Please correct me if I'm wrong
Thank you
Just a little bit my sister, GOD used no judgement in creation he knew exactly how far the sun needed to be from the earth.he was exact in all ways.
Pray for me. This really speaks to me and I could see the sermon in that one phrase, before I even got to the end. "Where are you?" For me times that I openly/knowingly sin, I hear God saying to me, "Where are you?" It almost always comes in the form of a gospel song... And much like Adam and Eve I will hide by thinking of a secular tune to drown it out.
But Lord thank you for your grace and your mercy. I am getting better at listening the first time, but I still struggle.
I think the more we read scripture the more we learn and understand God. Reading Genesis 3:9 through to end i see God giving the devil a suprise on verse 15. By giving man hope and grace before passing judgement is something the devil didn't expect. This just shows really that God is a God of GRACE. The ancient grace is unchangeable. When we were born in this sinful world we found this grace awaiting us,(meaning grace comes first then judgement follow) if we deny it we will be judged for our doings. I thank God for giving me grace before judgement. Thank you.
Gods Grace has been there before creation,he knew the first couple will chose a wrong way but still he created them. what is that? GRACE
I think it is so difficult if not impossible for us sinners to understand{comprehend) clearly the issue of grace and salvation in Christ. From the definition of grace(something offered to someone who deserves not) it seems that grace started even before we were created. We were not created in Adam because we deserved it but because of grace,and it is grace that we live even to question if grace real existed in our creation.the bible says "the plan of salvation was there even before there was the foundation of the earth" No body would blame God for not planning for our salvation because it is by GRACE we know that sin can be pardoned through the GRACE of GOD. GRACE is GOD'S gift for HUMANITY and it reveals to us how GOD values us than even angles! BY GRACE GOD DIED FOR THE FALLEN HUMANITY NOT FOR THE FALLEN ANGLES.
Of our own we cannot make it thru this CORRECT,WELL DETAILED JUDGEMENT,where everything including secret things are all brought to book..The law demands our death every time we sin and seeing such a consequence God says I can stand in their place,let them claim on my faithfulness and my righteousness that I can give to them. No matter how sure judgement is, lets humbly claim on the Merits of His Grace that He so freely gives, it's thru this Grace that we face the thought of judgement without the fear of being Condemned, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1 KJV).
I was always scared of judgement days, but now I'm no more, by the grace of God.
I have been blessed and uplifted by this week's lesson.