The Fall of Man – The Covering for Sin
The Fall of Man – The Covering for Sin: A Better Covering
Adam and Eve made a covering of leaves, but they needed a better covering provided by the Lord God. What is the importance of the covering provided by the Lord.
- Genesis 3:20-23, “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the
mother of all living. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever; Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.”
It is evident they knew that Adam and Eve were the beginning of many generations. God told him to multiply and replenish the face of the earth. (Chapter 1 verse 28) Therefore the name of Eve, (the mother of all living), was not only appropriate, but also prophetic.
The Fall of Man – The Covering for Sin: Coat of Skin
The clothes made by Adam and Eve were fig leaves whereas the coats provided by the Lord God were made of skins (in my opinion, lambs skins).
God was demonstrating that the only covering, (the one that covers sin), is by the blood sacrifice. Sin kills. Something had to die to provide the covering for Adam and Eve. This most certainly represents the death of Christ and the righteous covering in his blood.
How do we know?
The Fall of Man – The Covering for Sin: Abel’s Sacrifice
First, Abel offers a blood sacrifice in Genesis. His sacrifice is accepted and Cain’s sacrifice is not.
- Genesis 4:3-5, “And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground and offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”
What was the difference?
Abel’s sacrifice was a blood sacrifice. It was a testimony of God’s redemptive work through Christ. His sacrifice showed that without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Hebrews 12:24 reveals Abels sacrifice.
- Hebrews 12:24, “And to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
The Fall of Man – The Covering for Sin: Cain’s Sacrifice
Cain’s offering demonstrated his own works, the works of his hands, not the redemptive work of God. Man cannot redeem himself.
Only the shed blood of Christ can redeem us from our sins. Man cannot redeem himself because he is sinful. God can only accept a perfect sinless sacrifice.
The Fall of Man – The Covering for Sin: Law and Prophets Witness
The Law and prophets also witness to the blood sacrifice of Christ.
- Hebrews 9:22-28, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
The Fall of Man – The Covering for Sin: Only Covering for Sin
The Only covering for sin is the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
- John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
The Fall of Man – The Covering for Sin: Out of the Garden
Finally, God did not send the man out of the garden of Eden to punish him. He sent him out of the garden to keep him from eating from the tree of life while in an unregenerate state. That would forever separate man from the fellowship and love of God. Separation from God and his goodness is the ultimate death.
Even in chastisement God is merciful.
It is my hope that all will accept the great sacrifice and covering that God himself provided, the shed blood of Christ, for our redemption, salvation, and eternal life.
In Christ
J-me
copyright 2009 J-me
The articles in this series are:
The Fall of Man – Two Special Trees: Part 1
The Fall of Man – The Garden of Eden: Part 2
The Fall of Man – Adam and the Command: Part 3
The Fall of Man – Earth and Names: Part 4
The Fall of Man – The Woman and Marriage: Part 5
The Fall of Man – The Serpent: Part 6
The Fall of Man – Sin: Part 7
The Fall of Man – Death: Part 8
The Fall of Man – Repentance: Part 9
The Fall of Man – Enmity Between Woman and Serpent: Part 10
The Fall of Man – The Curse of Man and Woman and Death: Part 11
The Fall of Man – The Covering for Sin: Part 12
The Fall of Man – Cheribims and the Flaming Sword: Part 13
