Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it. 16But the Lord God gave him this warning: "You may freely eat any fruit in the garden 17except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of its fruit, you will surely die." Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the Lord God had made. "Really?" he asked the woman. "Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?" 2"Of course we may eat it," the woman told him. 3"It's only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die." 4"You won't die!" the serpent hissed. 5"God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil." 6The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too. 7At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they strung fig leaves together around their hips to cover themselves. (NLT) Psalm 32 L. Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! C. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! L. When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. C. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. L. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. C. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. L. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the Lord."And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. C. Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. L. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. C. The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. L. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control." C. Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. L. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! (NLT) The second lesson Romans 5:12-19 When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. And though there was no law to break, since it had not yet been given, 14they all died anyway—even though they did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. What a contrast between Adam and Christ, who was yet to come! 15And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift. 16And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God's wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18Yes, Adam's one sin brought condemnation upon everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness makes all people right in God's sight and gives them life. 19Because one person disobeyed God, many people became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many people will be made right in God's sight. (NLT) The Gospel Lesson Matthew 4:1-11 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (NIV)