The Temptation Process

God created all things, and every creation was good (Genesis 1:31; Romans 11:36). God also created Satan (Revelation 12:9). The first sin was not Eve’s sin. It was Satan’s sinful rebellion against God (1 John 3:8). Satan was created in the period between Genesis 1:31 and Genesis 3. Just as Satan rebelled, Eve rebelled, Adam rebelled—as perfectly created beings—we all rebel. Satan seeks to tempt us to rebel just as he tempted Eve (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Beware of his tactics!

1. Doubt (Genesis 3:1, 4-5)
- We doubt God’s Word and His promise of death. 
- We doubt God’s goodness. 
- We believe the lie that God is withholding something we need for true happiness. 

2. Deception (Genesis 3:1, 4-5, 13)
- We think there is another way other than God’s way. 
- We think there is a better way other than God’s way. 

3. Desire (Genesis 3:6; 1 John 2:15-17)
- We fall prey to the 3 forms of our lust:
• The Lust of the Flesh (“good for food”)
• The Lust of the Eyes (“delight to the eyes”)
• The Pride of Life (“desire to make one wise”)

4. Disobedience (Genesis 3:6; 1 John 3:4)
- The definition of sin is breaking God’s laws anytime. 

5. Disgrace (Genesis 3:7-10)
- Sin causes shame, regret, and guilt. 

6. Disguise (Genesis 3:7-8, 10, 12-13)
- They hid from God. 
- They blamed someone else.  

7. Death (Genesis 3:14-24)
- Spiritual Death = Separation from God 

8. Deliverance (Genesis 3:15)
- Theologians call this promise protoevangelium or first Gospel. 
- On the cross, Christ crushed the head of the serpent, Satan. 

How do we handle the temptation process? (Ephesians 6:22; 1 Peter 5:8) With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can have victory!

• The opposite of doubt is faith.
- Claim God’s promises.  
• The opposite of deception is God’s Truth.
• The opposite of desire/lust is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). 
• The opposite of disobedience is obedience. 
• The opposite of disgrace/guilt is peace and joy. 
- Confess your sin to God.
• The opposite of death is eternal life. 
• The opposite of disguise is transparency.