“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7
2. Man as a Sinner
a) Man was made in the image of God
b) That image was badly affected because of sin
17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:
“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:17-19
c) Man would have to struggle with the problem of sin and its consequences
d) Man was made from the ground
e) He would return to the ground when he dies
THE PROBLEM OF SIN HAS TO BE RESOLVED
14 So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:14-15
1. The work of the serpent
a) He had caused Eve to sin
b) Eve had caused Adam to sin
c) Sin brought terrible consequences to mankind
2. The work of the Saviour prophesied
a) He would bruise the head of the serpent
b) The serpent would bruise His heel (causing His death)
c) The work of the devil had to be destroyed
THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE
1. God as the Giver of the Fountain of life
“For with You is the fountain of life” Psalm 36:9a
a) A precious knowledge
b) A certain faith
c) A glorious hope
2. God as the Giver of the River of pleasures
“You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures” Psalm 36:8b
a) The word “pleasures”
i) Satisfaction
ii) Joy
b) God gives to everyone who comes to Him in faith
THE FULNESS OF THIS UNDERSTANDING
1. The Lord Jesus as the Giver of a fountain of water
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:13-14
a) This was what the Lord Jesus offers
b) A fountain of water springing up into everlasting life
2. The Holy Spirit as the Giver of Rivers of living water
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-38
THE CHALLENGE FOR US TODAY
1. To appreciate afresh
a) The connectedness of the Scriptures
b) What begins in simple form in the Old Testament
c) Concludes with fulness of blessings in the New Testament