If we would understand anything about the grace of God and the workings of grace for and in elect sinners, we must understand something about the fall. Genesis 3 is one of the most important chapters in all the Word of God. Here the foundation is laid upon which all gospel truth is built. If you trace all the rivers of truth back to their source, you will find their source in Genesis 3. Here the revelation of the great drama of redemption begins, that drama of redemption which is being acted out upon the stage of human history. In this one chapter of inspiration we have the present fallen, ruined condition of our race, the subtle devices of the devil, the utter inability of man, the effects of sin, God's attitude toward fallen man, man's pride and self-righteousness, God's gracious provisions for fallen sinners, and the necessity of a Mediator.
There is no understanding of the rest of the Bible until Genesis 3 is understood. IF WE GO WRONG HERE, WE WILL ERR IN OUR INTERPRETATION OF ALL THE REST OF THE WORD OF GOD. If, by the Spirit of God, we can grasp the message of Genesis 3, we will not greatly err in the rest of the Book.
This much is evident–if Genesis 3 is true (and it is!), then both the scientists and the sociologists of our day are wrong. The evolutionary scientists tell us that man is slowly but surely evolving into a perfect being, that though he began very low, he has climbed very high. God tells us that He made man perfect, but he has ruined himself. God tells us that He made man very high, but he has fallen very, very low.
All these wise-acres tell us that man's problem is his environment. Religious leaders tell us that man has great potential; his problems are outward. God tells us that our problem is our heart; and we are in need of redemption, regeneration, and grace. That is the message of Genesis 3.
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