Week 2 - Freedom from Shame

After consuming the forbidden fruit and falling into sin, Adam & Eve hid because they realized they were naked. They experienced what every one of us feels after we succumb to temptation - shame. Shame is relentless. It replays our failure in our thoughts every day. It causes us to run from the One who loves us. It causes us to hang our heads in humiliation. Even though Adam and Eve hid, God came looking for them. God is in love with sinful man and sent His Son, Jesus to rescue people. God didn’t cause the separation between Himself and Adam, but He took the initiative to be reconciled. When we see all that He has done for us and we see His heart for us, we should run to him instead of hiding from Him when we sin. Prior to Genesis 3, Adam and Eve walked with God and enjoyed His presence. The Word tells us God made these two humans in His image and gave Adam dominion over everything He had created. God gave Adam authority through the relationship that He established with him. Without their relationship, Adam would not have had authority. When Adam and Eve sinned, they forfeited this authority. Through deception and rebellion, the serpent took the authority and dominion that God had given to man. The Bible tells us that satan’s desire was to exalt his throne above the stars of God. (Isaiah 14:13) Until the fall of man, he lacked power and influence to set up rulership. Jesus called satan “the ruler of this world.” (John 12:31)