Genesis 3, verse 21, a picture of our Salvation

 

Genesis 3:21 ¶  Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Death is introduced by God into the world, as a response to man and woman’s sin, to cover man and woman’s nakedness as there is no covering for our sin apart from God’s direct action. This directly relates to one of, what Paul said in Hebrews, the doctrines of Christ. The first foundation is repentance from dead works, which while to many modern fundamentalists means whatever you were justifying yourself with other than Christ, to earlier commentators like John Gill and Matthew Henry it was a reference to sin. This is clearly reflected by cross-referencing.

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

            Here is a cross-reference to dead works in the same Hebrews that agrees with Gill and Henry.

Hebrews 9:13  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Just as God Himself will shut the door on Noah’s salvation, preserving mankind…

Genesis 7:16  And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

…with the Ark representing a type of our salvation as baptism does today, a picture of God’s salvation.

1Peter 3:21  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

So, we must understand that it is only by God’s will and by His direct action that we are saved. You hear, read, or perceive that it is God alone who justifies and how He accomplished it and you believe and He saves you from Hell, the consequence of rebellion against Him.

John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

At that moment also He gives you faith to believe the truth about Him and to live in Him.

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 ¶  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

This is the only covering for our sin. Jesus Christ made peace between rebellious mankind and the God who created them male and female.

Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Understand that you, upon your ability to discern between good and evil against God, are accountable for your sins against Him and being a sinner. From that point on there is no covering for your sin that is not provided by God Himself. Apart from His direct action through the sacrifice of His physical body, the Lord Jesus Christ, as a propitiation for our sins, as a sacrifice to appease His wrath for our rebellion, and our acceptance of that sacrifice there is nothing we can do to justify ourselves.

Genesis 22:8  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

God justifies us. God delivers us. God saves us. Bible salvation is given and never earned and is predicated upon belief.

John 6:28 ¶  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Christ is the only covering for our sin as God clothed fallen man and woman here.