Yes — Genesis 3 explains why sin entered the human race and contains God's first promise of a Redeemer.
Genesis chapter 3 records Eve and Adam eating the forbidden fruit, the curse that followed, and God's immediate promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:6, 15, 17). Les Feldick calls this the vortex of the human problem and shows that Adam's rebellion plunged every human being into condemnation. This is why the chapter is foundational for understanding the need for redemption.
Genesis 3:6 — Records the actual act of disobedience — Eve and Adam eating the forbidden fruit — where the human problem begins.
Genesis 3:15 — Contains God's first promise of the Redeemer, the seed of the woman who will bruise the serpent's head.
Genesis 3:17 — Shows the curse on the ground for Adam's sake, explaining why suffering and hardship have entered the world.
Genesis 3:6 records that the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasant to the eyes, so she took its fruit and ate, and gave some to her husband, and he ate. God then pronounced judgment on the serpent, the woman, and the man. In verse 15 God told the serpent that He would put enmity between the serpent and the woman and between their seeds, and that the woman's seed would bruise the serpent's head. In verse 17 God told Adam that the ground was cursed for his sake, and verse 18 says thorns and thistles would be produced. The New Testament draws the same consequence in Romans 5:12, saying that through one man sin entered the world and death passed on all men, and in Romans 3:23, saying all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Les Feldick describes Genesis 3 as the event that all Scripture points back to — the vortex of the human problem. He teaches that Eve partook and then Adam, and that as soon as the curse fell, God came right back with a remedy: the promise in Genesis 3:15 (Clip 2). He also explains that Adam, as the federal head of the whole human race, plunged everyone into condemnation by that one act of disobedience, and that Christ as the second man makes it possible for degenerate sons of Adam to become regenerate sons of God (Clip 4). Les clarifies the order of the sin problem: people are not sinners because they break God's law; they break God's law because they are sinners, and that began with Adam (Clip 3). He teaches that the curse literally ruined the perfect creation, so every problem in the world traces back to it (Clip 5). Most importantly, he identifies Genesis 3:15 as the first prophecy of the coming Redeemer, the scarlet cord of redemption that runs through the whole Bible (Clips 5, 6, 7).
Eve took the fruit, ate it, and gave it to Adam, who also ate (Genesis 3:6). God then judged the serpent, promising that the seed of the woman would bruise his head (Genesis 3:15), and He judged Adam by cursing the ground for his sake (Genesis 3:17-18).
Les Feldick teaches that Adam's simple act of disobedience — eating the forbidden fruit — plunged the whole human race into condemnation, and every human being since Cain has been a fallen creature. He says we are not sinners because we break God's law; we break God's law because we are sinners, and that began with Adam. Scripture confirms that through one man sin entered the world and death passed on all men (Romans 5:12), and that all have sinned (Romans 3:23).
Les teaches that before Adam sinned everything was perfect — no thorns, thistles, or obnoxious insects — but when sin came in, the curse ruined everything. All of our problems go back to the curse. Yet God did not leave the human race there; immediately after the curse fell He responded with the promise of a Redeemer.
Les Feldick says God sovereignly left man with the alternative to obey or not. If Satan had not been permitted to come into the garden and sin had not entered, the human race would have had no choice and would have been like robots. Instead, people are created beings given a choice.
Why the Law Can't Save You — Romans 3:19-20 Explained
We got a good gathering this afternoon, and for those of you on television, we bring these folk in and we do a four -program session and tape four programs, just one right after the other, and we just appreciate so much that these folk come in and become part of our class and our audience.
Adam's Deliberate Choice
Les explains that God gave Adam a real choice; without the possibility of sin the human race would have been like robots. He also connects Adam's fall with the truth that death passed on all men and all have sinned.
The Vortex of the Human Problem
Les identifies the fall of Adam in Genesis 3 as the event all Scripture points back to as the vortex of the human problem, and notes that God immediately responded to the curse with a promise in Genesis 3:15.
Why We're Sinners
Les teaches that the sin problem began with Adam; people are not sinners because they break God's law, but because they are sinners, they break it.
Adam as Federal Head
Les teaches that Adam, as the first man, plunged the whole human race into condemnation, and that Christ as the second man makes it possible for degenerate sons of Adam to become regenerate sons of God.
The Curse on the Ground
Les reads Genesis 3:17 and explains that the curse ruined the perfect creation — thorns, thistles, and every problem in the world trace back to Adam's fall.
First Prophecy of the Redeemer
Les points to Genesis 3:14-15 as the first prophecy of the coming Redeemer, with the Redeemer concept beginning right there in chapter 3.
Immediate Promise of Redemption
Les emphasizes that the moment Adam sinned, God immediately put the plan of redemption into gear with the promise of the seed of the woman — the scarlet cord of redemption running through the Bible.
Genesis 3:6: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
This is the specific act of disobedience that begins the fall of the human race in the garden.
Genesis 3:15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
This is the first promise of the Redeemer — the seed of the woman who will crush the serpent.
Genesis 3:17: And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
This shows the curse that came upon the ground because of Adam's sin, explaining suffering and hardship.
Genesis 3:18: Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
This continues the curse description and shows why thorns and thistles now grow.
Romans 5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
This New Testament verse draws the line from Adam's sin to death passing on all people.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
This confirms that every person has sinned and falls short of God's glory.
Genesis 3 explains why every human being has a sin problem: Adam's disobedience in the garden plunged the whole race into condemnation. It also contains God's first promise of a Redeemer in Genesis 3:15. Les Feldick calls this the event all Scripture points back to as the vortex of the human problem.
Les Feldick teaches that Adam, as the first man, acted as the head of the whole human race. His one act of disobedience plunged every human being into condemnation, which is why every person since Cain has been a fallen creature.
The Redeemer is first promised in Genesis 3:15, when God tells the serpent that the seed of the woman will bruise his head. Les Feldick calls this the first prophecy of the coming Redeemer and the scarlet cord of redemption that runs throughout Scripture.
He means sin is not caused by outward disobedience; rather, inward sinfulness is already there because of Adam. Human beings break God's law because they are born sinners, and that fallen condition began with Adam.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Law Can't Save You — Romans 3:19-20 Explained