It is the custom here at, at least when I'm here at CPCC, that we pray and then we sing God's praises. We go to the introduction and we'll be reading Genesis chapter 3 verses 20 to 24. Before that, we will do the introduction. In biblical times, When someone became ruler or king, it was a great risk to keep relatives of previous kings alive because they could get jealous and try to assassinate you. In the Book of Judges, Abimelech killed his brothers when he became king. But this was not how it went with King Saul and young David. David was once a trusted companion, but over time, Saul changed. King Saul made himself a rival against David. He pursued him and tried to kill David. When Saul's son, Jonathan, suggested saving David, Saul was so insane that he even tried to kill his own son. When David was ascended to the throne, there was one survivor of Saul. Well, maybe more than one, but we hear of one in the scriptures, Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was the grandson of Saul, and though he could have gotten himself and everyone else killed by David, he himself was lame in both feet. So he was a low-level threat. So when David called Mephibosheth to the court, that was a stressful time for him, because you know what he's thinking, uh-oh, He's going to take off my head. He thought he was about to be killed, but King David exercised grace and blessed him with a seat at the king's table and gave him servants. This was an example of marvelous grace. But there's an early example of grace in the Bible. It is not as popular. And it can be found in the last verses of chapter 3 of Genesis. The grace that God showed Adam and Eve before they conceived the child is more than marvelous. It's an example of a marvelous, infinite, and matchless grace. We see Adam and Eve in the last verses of Genesis 3. They blew it big time. But God did not deal with them according to their stupidity and gave them a gift. the gift of grace. And now I'll ask that you would turn with me to Genesis chapter 3, and I'll be reading from 20 to 24. This is God's word. The man called his wife name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. And the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments of skin and clothed them. Then the Lord God said, behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and live forever, therefore the Lord God sent him out of the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the Garden of Eden he placed a cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. Let's pray. Gracious Father, we thank you and we give you praise for your word. We pray that you help us to understand it and to obey it. In Jesus' mighty name we pray, amen. Today's message, we will see God's grace because one, God gave Eve a second chance. We will see God's grace in that God clothed them with garments. And lastly, we will see God's grace because God drove them out of the garden. If you poll many Christians across the globe and ask them to give you one word that sums up the book of Genesis, you might get a ray of answers, but most will not say grace. But R. Kent Hughes, in his commentary, emphasizes that Genesis is about grace, and it actually breathes the living grace of God. How many of you actually pick up the book of Genesis and says, I'm going to read a grace book? Not many. Now God gave Adam a commandment and the commandment was very clear, but Adam chose to disobey. The day you eat of the tree, you will die. There was nothing confusing or complicated about this command. There was nothing. There's only two places in Genesis where God curses. God cursed Cain, and when the serpent, and he cursed the serpent. Adam is not cursed, but the ground is decreed under divine curse on his account. And Adam will experience heavy consequences for his actions. But it was Eve that was deceived and took an aid of the tree, yet it was God's act of grace that allowed Eve to receive a second chance. In verse 20, it says, the man called his wife Eve, wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. This is the first time in the Bible that she as an individual receives a name. She had been mentioned all throughout Genesis 1 and 2, but it was always the woman. This is the first time we see her name. In the original language, the name of Eve has a double consonant in the middle of the word. In Semitic languages, words whose second consonant is doubled and have an A, two A vowels, like the word Eve does in verse 20, indicates one who customarily or habitually performs a certain action. The word carpenter has two vowels, and it is one who engages in the trade of carpentry. So also this word Eve is the one who engages in the work of giving life. Life is surely coming from Eve. So Eve did not die immediately because she had to live long enough to deliver Cain. The seed of the serpent had to come from Eve in order to set the stage for a showdown between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman. Eve had to have two seeds in order to set up this scenario. And Eve did not die immediately because she had to live long enough to deliver Seth. Because if you follow the story, Adam, Adam, Eve, Adam, Eve, so you know that in my notes, right? I'm trying to figure this out here. And see, Adam and Eve came, Abel, Abel was killed, right? Abel was killed. And so that seed was, and then Seth had to be born. So that's how it went. From a human perspective though, we often overlook a downplaying offense. if we've come to the conclusion that the offender just doesn't know any better. If a child sneaks onto a counter and grabs some food from the counter, and then you see the rest of the food sprawled all over the floor, you are more likely to forgive the child, even if you drove two hours to Plattsburgh for Chick-fil-A in the dead of winter because the child doesn't know any better. maybe be a true story, maybe. Although you did not warn him about not eating the food from the counter, they have very little experience concerning consequences, so you can't get too angry with the child. But if the child is maybe 16 or 17, that child is without excuse. They are fully responsible for their actions, and nothing can be blamed on niyat niyevite. Eve was not a child, and she had been warned by God not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. As humans, we make allowances for those who transgress. We conclude, well, if they have an excuse, then we will exercise grace. But Eve had no excuse. But God still exercised grace. This is why the grace that is extended to Eve was so marvelous. This is what makes the grace of God so beautiful. Even when there's nothing within our circumstances or within us to excuse us from such a grievous behavior, God still extends his grace toward us. Eve clearly sinned and because of it, she was guilty. But God's grace undoubtedly exceeds our sin and our guilt. By Eve's actions, she introduced death into the world, death that will extend to all life on Earth. Nothing and no one will live forever. Everyone and everything will die. But in the face of all this death, Adam exercises his faith and names his wife Eve. Again, I say living. the mother of all living, Adam looked beyond the circumstances and reached out to God by faith, and God looked beyond our faults, and then he saw our need. This is the nature of Christianity. We don't work hard to get God's approval. There is no human work that will satisfy God's wrath. The only work that could be strong enough to blot out our sins and transgressions is the violent death of Jesus. This is what we need to satisfy the penalty of sin. This is what the world needs to be right with God. We must first acknowledge that our good works are nothing but filthy rags in the sight of God. Then we must ask Christ to forgive us of our sins and make us brand new. God has made a way for you and me to have our sins forgiven. Through the mistake of Eve, we have all sinned, but by the grace of God flowing through the promise of Eve, we can experience God's forgiving power. The death of Christ is not something that has ever happened before and it will never happen again. It's not repeated. Folks, I know there's churches that teach that every time they do communion, Christ is sacrificed again on the cross. That's not what our Bible teaches. And all you have to do is read it. It said that Jesus Christ died once and for all. Well, you can't repeat a once and for all. It's not repeatable. It's one and done, you're out. Never anybody worn the most costly garment made, but not put on. So the death of Christ is something that has never happened before, would never be repeated, for never was any wound healed by a prepared but unapplied cast. Never anybody worn by the most costly garment made but not put on. Never a heart refreshed and comforted by the richest cordial compounded, but not received, nor from the beginning of the world was it ever known that a poor, deceived, condemned, polluted, miserable sinner was actually delivered out of the woeful state until, of God, Christ was made unto him wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Though Eve will eventually die, she will not die immediately, because she needed to live long enough for the promise of God in Genesis 3-15 to be fulfilled. The person of Christ, his incarnation and mediation was promised under the title of the seed of the woman. And the work he shall do in breaking the head of the serpent with the way He should do it by suffering. And when he suffers at the end of that, there will be power. Both Adam and Eve will die, but by faith, Adam named his wife Eve. Eve sounds like the Hebrew for life giver and resembles the word for living. Adam will eventually die. Eve will eventually die. But the seed that comes from Eve will produce the Lord Jesus Christ. And he will live forever. We often talk about the faith of Mary. Well, maybe not in our circles, but a lot of people talk about the faith of Mary. But the dying believing in promise is a greater faith. Mary saw Jesus. She experienced Jesus. But Eve, she did it by faith. The Bible says, now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Eve can be likened to Abraham, who left his homeland, and not knowing where he was going, by faith he went to the land of promise. By faith, Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. By faith, Rahab, the prostitute, did not perish with those who were disobedient because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. Gideon, Barak, Samson, David, Samuel, they were all put in this category. They all wanted, they all waited in faith for the promise. And so did Eve. This is the Christian life. Though we can't see the results of our faith, we stand in confidence waiting for our faith to be actualized. Like those listed in the Hall of Faith, we stand declaring that our Redeemer lives, and that last day we will stand upon the earth. Those of us who know Christ and are suffering at this time, let me remind you, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope. through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. If you know Christ, let us take comfort in this promise from our God, who does not lie. Why did I pause? Because so many of us, even when we want to tell the truth, when we desire to tell the truth, when we make it our business to tell the truth, when we open our mouth, come out lies. So it's a big deal when someone says something and mean it and it's true. God said something. He meant it. And it's true. Adam's naming of Eve is the beginning of hope. It is an example of marvelous grace. God did not give Eve what she deserved, but what God did do for Eve, we may consider this going above and beyond. To not punish someone for doing wrong is one thing, but to go out of your way and bless them with what they need is entirely something different. Providing protection for them is an example of a marvelous and matchless grace. But God didn't just give them a second chance. He protected them from their own ignorance. God clothed them with garments. The Bible says, and the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments of skin and clothed them. What Adam and Eve made to cover themselves was inadequate to cover their shame. God does for the couple what they could not do for themselves. They cannot deal with their shame, but God can. He has the ability. God will. He has the willingness to do so. And most importantly, God does. Adam and Eve tried to hide, but dark was the stain that could not hide. The songwriter says, what can avail to wash it away? Look, there's a flowing, a crimson tide. Whiter than snow you can be today. Grace, grace, God's grace. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God's grace. Grace that is greater than all our sin. If we can get a hold of that, if we can just grasp that, we will walk in victory. We won't walk with our head down. Because even when you sin, you have an advocate. And even when you don't sin, you're fine. So think about it. We walk with God, we're fine. We sin and repent, we're fine. We're fine! Amen? God takes the initiative here. Whatever garment that Adam and Eve tried to make was insufficient to cover their guilt and shame. When we look closely at this verse, we see God made. Only he can make a garment that is sufficient for us. We've been supporting some missionaries for many years now. They are serving in a place where the climate gets really hot. I once asked my friend what him and his family needed most. He surprised me with an answer when he told me that he would like some linen clothing. I never wore linen clothing growing up, and I didn't see the difference between cotton, polyester, wool, rayon, linen. What's the difference? It's all just material. But my missionary friend told me that it was the best material because of its breathability, its durability, and it promotes sleep. This clearly was the best material for missionaries in hot climate. But the best material for Adam and Eve were the garments of skins handcrafted by their maker. God is in the garment business, did you know? And for us, we will be covered with white robes. The Bible says, after this I looked and behold a great multitude that no one could number from every nation, from every tribe, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb clothed in white robes. That's Revelation 7, 9. And then one of the elders addressed me saying, who are these clothed in white robes and from where did they come? I said to him, sir, you know. He said to me, these are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. Now unless we get confused, these robes that the Bible speaks of are not literal robes. In Job 37.22, the Bible says that God is clothed with awesome majesty. Have you ever seen a garment called awesome majesty? No, no. And in Psalm 132.9, it calls for the priest to be clothed with righteousness. What does those robes look like? This robe of righteousness has been cleaned and it is as white as snow. This is the promise of the Father that we will be clothed with power from on high. In Revelation 3, 5, Jesus said that the one who conquers will be clothed in white garments, a robe of pure white, a robe. I will never blot out his name out of the book of life. These robes that come from the Lord are designed especially for the saints. And if you're confused at all, and you're coming from a different background, the word saints means those who are separated for God's purpose. It's not some dead folks that pray. I don't know what the definition is. But let me tell you, the biblical definition are those who are set apart for the service and work of God. That's a saint. Like real linen, these robes will be durable. Linen is one of the strongest natural fibers. It reminds us of our heavenly robe that will protect us from enemy attacks. Linen cloth promotes sleep because it keeps the skin dry. Likewise, our heavenly robe helps us lie down and sleep in peace. For God alone is our safety. And linen is antibacterial, and it helps protect against skin irritation and infections, just as our Heavenly Father's robe protects us against the wiles of the devil. When we are irritated by his schemes, we can think and sing about the protecting power of the Lord. You didn't think I would preach a sermon without singing a song, did you? The windows of heaven are open. The fire is falling tonight. I've got joy, joy, joy in my soul since Jesus made everything right. Don't you know I gave him my old tattered garments? And he gave me a robe of pure white. Now I'm feasting from manna from heaven. That is why I'm happy tonight. If we was in another church, I would say, that is why I'm happy. That is why I'm happy. And we'll sing that for two hours, but we're not in another church. Amen? We should be happy because of those of us who know the Lord has given a robe of pure white. And this is one of the proofs that Jesus made everything right with our soul. Some of us are clothed with filthy garments, but today if you repent of your sins, God will give you that robe of righteousness. Others here are clothed with tattered garments. I am pleading with you to get it right today. Come to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask for him to cleanse you of your sins and you can have a robe like I have a robe and those of us who know Jesus has a robe, a robe of righteousness. Verse 22 says, then the Lord said, behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and live forever. Therefore, the Lord God sent him out. of the Garden of Eden. God drove them out of the garden. We see another example of God's matchless grace. God sent Adam and Eve from the garden and guarded the Tree of Life so man would not reach out his hand and take also and eat of the Tree of Life and then live forever. You say, what do you mean? Well, think about it. If we lived forever, we would be forever hurting ourselves, trying to kill each other. We wouldn't kill each other because we couldn't die. We just keep hurting each other. Men like Adolf Hitler. Think about it. Fiercer. Every generation. Charles Manson. Idi Amin. Ivan the Terrible, Joseph Stalin, Pol Pot, Leopold II, Caligula, Genghis Khan, and Vlad the Impaler would still be alive and they'll be maiming people, torturing people, disrupting this world. I mean, where would you go? It would be violence all over the place. You wouldn't barely come out of your homes. Yet the grace of God, the grace of our loving Lord, limits the amount of disaster. So we thank God for His grace and His mercy. Amen? When we are tempted to think that God is not gracious, or when someone says, God was harsh in the Old Testament and gracious in the New Testament, we ought to stop that person and say, look at what God did in the book of Genesis with Adam and Eve. Though Eve sinned and ignored the commandment of God, God gave Eve a second chance. He could have given her the title, the one who started all this mess. Or he could have said, the silly woman who should have listened to her husband. Or he could have said, you know what, I give you a name, Queen of Misery. Instead, he gave her the title and a promise, the mother of all living. and he, her offspring, will bruise the head of the serpent. He gave her a promise. And through her, we all have a promise. Does that sound like a vindictive God to you? Do you think of the last person that did something to you? Did you think of, is your first thought blessing them? Was your second thought blessing them? How about your third thought? Someone cut you off on the freeway. Did you say, Lord, bless them abundantly? Someone threw a rock. A little child threw a rock. A little child threw a rock and burst your window open. Did you say, Lord, bless him? Let him grow up to be the missionary and preach the gospel. Most of us don't think like that. But our God does. Our gracious, heavenly father, he does. He has demonstrated his love for us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Even when Eve did not know the magnitude of her transgression, God covered her and Adam with garments of skin, pointing to a later time when God's people would be covered with the shed blood of Jesus Christ. This is marvelous grace. As if that wasn't enough, God clothed them with garments. It is one thing to exercise mercy and not give to Adam and Eve what they rightfully deserve, but it's another thing to then bless them with perfect clothing to protect them from the elements and to provide a picture for us of his future plans for his people. That was not only marvelous grace, that was marvelous matchless grace. And if that were not enough, But those who are still not convinced that amazing grace is right here in the book of Genesis, look at the last thing that God did in the third chapter of Genesis. God drove them out of the garden. God could have said, I gave you a second chance, and I covered you with perfect garments. You are on your own now. Now I've watched over you when you were younger and protected you from many things. Now I've told you already the dangers of what you are about to do. If you mess up this time, you are on your own. I did my part, and now it's time for you to grow up and be responsible. You can do your part now. How do I know that so well? Don't worry about it. I've heard it multiple times. But this is not our God. Our God could have left us to ourselves, but we know what a disaster that would have been. So he stepped in, drove us out of the garden, or drove them out of the garden, and secured the tree of life with a cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way of the tree of life. Not only that. He didn't just leave our salvation to our own abilities. For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son. And those whom he predestined, he also called. And those he called, he also justified. And those he justified, he also glorified. Let's stop reading the book of Genesis with law lenses or an eye for an eye spectacles. take those off, and put the grace glasses on. Or how about loving lenses? We will get a greater picture of what R. Kent Hughes said in his commentary when he emphasizes that Genesis is about grace and actually breathes the living grace of God. If it were not for grace and mercy of our God, where would we be? As a world, where would we be? As a nation, where would we be? As a society, where would we be? God is so wise and gracious to us. He has limited the amount of violence that can be present on earth at any given time. He has protected us from ruining our opportunity to live with him forever in paradise. He did not leave it up to you, 1%, to make a decision. For our evil hearts would not even take the 199%. We would take the 1%. Sin and despair, like the seaweed waves cold, threaten the souls threatened our souls with infinite loss. But the grace of our wonderful Lord will not let our soul be lost. Our souls will not suffer infinite loss. The marvelous, infinite, matchless grace is freely bestowed on all who believe, all who are longing to see his face. Will you this moment his grace receive? Grace, grace. God's grace. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace. God's grace. Grace that is greater than all our sin. Let's pray. Lord, please forgive us for misjudging your character when we read the book of Genesis. Help us to see that the book of Genesis is saturated in your grace. Open our eyes to the reality that grace is not only a New Testament concept, but Genesis is drenched and steeped in your marvelous grace. Open our ears to the themes of Genesis that have been doused with streams of your grace, and flood all of our senses with a deluge of grace that floods our souls with streams of gratefulness. Lord, I cannot communicate your marvelous, infinite, matchless grace to your people, for I have barely grasped it myself. So please open our understanding and let your grace cascade from your spirit into our souls, that we will be better prepared to receive your grace, better equipped to tell of your grace, and flood this church and our homes with this amazing grace, that grace that teaches our heart to fear, and grace relieves their fears. This grace that has brought us safe thus far and this grace that will lead us home. Christ, for sin atoned, what a wonderful Savior, what a Redeemer. We are redeemed, the price is paid, what a wonderful Savior. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.