Genesis 3

One should very carefully note how Adam & Eve were deceived by the serpent (in what you can say as the first recorded act of "spiritual warfare" from Satan), because, we will have attacks of similar nature from Satan as warned in Ephesians 6. We need to learn from it, so that we also do not fall to the lies & temptations of Satan like Adam & Eve did.

Adam and Eve did not take God's Word seriously. Instead the leaned on their own understanding, was warned in Proverbs 3:5-6 (Genesis 3:1-6). And they paid a heavy prices for it. Why? Because God will do what He said, as He is a just & holy. Learning from this, we should take God's Word very seriously. (Note that, quite soon, in the Book of Genesis, we learn that God also makes laws for humans to obey! God is also the ultimate judge. The notions of "right", "wrong", "sin", "judgment" are real and serious. This is the part that many people do not like. They say who is "God" to tell me what is right and what wrong?! )

Still sounds quite harsh, especially from someone who claims to be infinitely loving? Well, laws are for our good.

Jesus lived a life Adam & we should have lived. Here, right towards the beginning of Genesis, Adam failed a very important test of faith. Jesus was also tested at the beginning of his ministry (Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 4:1-11). There also the devil tempted Jesus to disobey God using manipulative words. And, how did Jesus counter the devil? With the Word of God! Remember Ephesians 6 :17 says that the Word of God is our sword against the devil. The devil is the father of lies (John 8:44) and used lies (Genesis 3:4) to deceive Adam & Eve. In Luke 4:1-13, the devil tried to deceive Jesus using the Word itself (Matthew 4:3, 4:6). But Jesus was so well versed with the Word of God that he was able to break through the manipulation & temptations from the devil with the Word of God (aka sword as per Ephesians 6:17). THAT IS WHAT ADAM & EVE SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE GARDEN, to break free from the lies of the devil!

Yes, it is sad that Adam & Eve lost their perfect bodies because of sin, and as a result we also have bodies that are grossly imperfect & perishable. But rejoice, we Christian will have better bodies than Adan & Eve upon resurrection! It will be better in the sense that we will be incapable of sin. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44:- "So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. "

Also, yes Adam & Eve lost A LOT. From the grandiose of the Garden to the perfectness of their bodies. But infinitely more tragic, they lost that direct relationship with God, which is what matters at the end of the day (Mark 9:47).

Potential Discussion Questions:-

In what ways are you tempted to sin? Which ones you believe are resulting from spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6) and which ones are from human heart?
Here the consequence of a sin was quite devastating. (God did warn Adam & Eve that they will die - Genesis 3:3. But there were other severe punishments which I am not sure they were warned of. For example, they were banished from the Garden and lost direct relationship with God. Adam & Eve were cursed in other severe ways (Genesis 3:16-19), apart from the imputed death which was forewarned as per Genesis 3:3). What are the consequences of sins you commit?
Why did / does God allow evil? If the serpent was not allowed to be there in the Garden, then "the Fall" would not have happened?