ORIGINS: Small Group Bible Study

Creation & the Fall

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. (Genesis 3:15 KJV)

Lesson Six

Sin is what made humans, as well as angels, fall from a perfect existence.

Photo credits: Hannah Goldstein

Creation & the Fall

Sharing Studying Praying Witnessing

Intro...
1. Welcome God's presence. 2. Share the BEST and WORST thing that happened to you this week. If a need for prayer is expressed take time to pray for that individual and need on the spot.

Key text...

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. (Genesis 3:15 KJV)

Scripture Passages...
Genesis 3:1-17; Ezekiel 18:32; Matthew 4:4; 15:3-9; Luke 4:1-13; John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8, 12-21; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 2:16; Revelation 22:18-19.

Todays World...
Weve heard the story more times than we can count. Satan insinuates that God isnt trustworthy, that Hes withholding something desirable. The woman is deceived and eats the forbidden fruit. Adam is not deceived but impetuously chooses to eat the fruit too. Then they know what it is to be fallen, to feel guilt and shame. In terror,

they hide from their beloved Creator. Thankfully, Adam and Eves story doesnt end with them forever separated from God. Rather, God comes walking in the Garden, calling His friends, and something about His appeal brings them out of hiding despite their terror. And although they immediately begin making excuses and pointing the finger of blame, God makes His position clear. They are not forsaken. They are worth redeeming. Though there will be drastic, unavoidable consequences for their actions, God demonstrates that He is not seeking vengeance. Rather, He wants to save them from sin and its effects. On the very day they fall, God reveals His plan to take the guilt of humanity upon Himself. He will come to this earth, and in human form, suffer the penalty of humanitys sins Himself. In the process, He will be bruised, bloodied, and killed. But He will also crush the serpents head. No matter what weve done, we are not forsaken. We are worth redeeming. God seeks for us, not to condemn us, but to heal and restore us. Quickly read Genesis 3:1-15. How does the plan of salvation give you value and build up your esteem?

Lesson Impact...

Briefly share what points stood out for you in the lesson or how the lesson study has influenced you.

Decisions...
When was the last time you had to make an important decision? What process did you go through in doing so? Its likely that you evaluated the evidence you were aware of. This is critical, but sometimes evidence isnt always what it seems. Carefully read Genesis 3:4-6. Eve was the first person who was deceived by faulty evidence. So what is evidence? Evidence is that which is used to determine or demonstrate the truth of an assertion. Read 1 John 2:16. The devil appealed to Eve in three areas: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Eve based her decision on how things appeared. Her desire for wisdom and beauty reflect present-day pursuits. The desire for self-aggrandizement is evident in popular culture in general and the entertainment industry in particular. Satan tempts us today in ways similar to the methods he used to tempt Eve. What safeguards found in the Bible can we apply in these instances? What can we learn and apply practically from Luke 4:1-13 in relation to the last question above? In Jesus victory, we also discover the depth of Gods grace. Satan came to tempt Jesus at His weakest moment, but Jesus did not let him win. By conquering Satan, Jesus gained the victory for us.

Spiritual Warfare...
Prayerfully read 1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 4:4; and, Hebrews 4:12. Through Jesus experience with Satan, we learn that when faced with temptation, the Bible is the most powerful weapon at our disposal. Memorization and the use of such a powerful weapon will allow us to conquer any foe that comes our way. Not only must we be on guard, we must look at situations carefully and realize that things are not always as they seem. Lies are mixed with truth to give them credibility. Poor decisions are made because they have perceived outcomes we find attractive. Take a second look before you act. Read carefully John 3:16-17 and Romans 5:12-21. Compare Gods original design against the current modus operandi of society's. How do they compare?

Reflection...

What do we learn from Romans 5:8 and Ezekiel 18:32? The life of toil and care . . . was appointed in love. It was a discipline rendered needful by his sin, to place a check upon the indulgence of appetite and passion, to develop habits of self-control. It was a part of Gods great plan for mans recovery from the ruin and degradation of sin. The fall of man filled all heaven with sorrow. . . . The Son of God . . . was touched with pity for the fallen race. . . . But divine love had conceived a plan whereby man might be

redeemed. The broken law of God demanded the life of the sinner. . . . Since the divine law is as sacred as God Himself, only one equal with God could make atonement for its transgression. . . . Christ would reach to the depths of misery to rescue the ruined race. Immediately as sin entered the human family, Christ stood as Intercessor on our behalf. The plan of salvation had been laid before the creation of the earth. . . . Oh, the mystery of redemption! the love of God for a world that did not love Him! Who can know the depths of that love which passeth knowledge? Through endless ages immortal minds, seeking to comprehend the mystery of that incomprehensible love, will wonder and adore.
Ellen G. White, Patriarchs & Prophets, p.63-64.

Read again John 3:16. What was the cost of Gods love? How can we, through Gods example, seek to love others? What practical things can we learn from these passages Matthew 15:3-9 and Revelation 22:18-19?

The Challenge...
Find powerful Bible verses that testify to Gods love and power and make the effort to memorise them.

Recommended Reading...
Chapter 3-5, Steps to Christ, Ellen G. White.
https://egwwritings.org/

Break into twos or threes and pray for one anothers needs, as well as for your friends and family...

LESSONS ON FAITH
LESSON #6: DEPENDING ON THE WORD (Living by Faith)

Living by Faith

LESSONS ON FAITH
LESSON #6: DEPENDING ON THE WORD (Living by Faith)
Faith is the depending upon the word of God only, and expecting that word only to do what the word says. Justification by faith, then, is justification by depending upon the word of God only and expecting that word only to accomplish it. Justification by faith is righteousness by faith, for justification is the being declared righteous. Faith comes by the word of God. Justification by faith, then, is justification that comes by the word of God. Righteousness by faith is righteousness that comes by the word of God. The word of God is self-fulfilling, for in creating all things, "he spake and it was." And when He was on earth, He stilled the raging sea, cleansed the lepers, healed the sick, raised the dead, and forgave sins, all by His word: there, too, "he spake, and it was." Now the same One who, in creating, "spake, and it was", the same One who said, "Let there be light, and there was light," the same One who on earth spoke "the word only," and the sick were healed, the lepers were cleansed, and the dead lived--this same One speaks the righteousness of God unto and upon all that believe. For though all have sinned and come short of the righteousness of God, yet we are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth . . . to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." In creating all things in the beginning, God set forth Christ to declare the word which should cause all things to exist. Christ did speak the word

only, and all things were. And in redemption, which is creation over again, God set forth Christ to declare the word of righteousness. And when Christ speaks the word only, it is so. His word, whether in creating or in redeeming, is the same. "The worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Once there were no worlds, nor was there any of the material which now composes the worlds. God set forth Christ to declare the word which should produce the worlds, and the very material of which they should be composed. "He spake, and it was." Before He spoke, there were no worlds; after He spoke, the worlds were there. Thus the word of God spoken by Jesus Christ is able to cause that to exist which has no existence before the word is spoken, and which, except for that word, never could have existence. In this same way precisely it is in man's life. In man's life there is no righteousness. In man there is no righteousness from which righteousness can appear in his life. But God has set forth Christ to declare righteousness unto and upon man. Christ has spoken the word only, and in the darkened void of man's life there is righteousness to everyone who will receive it. Where, before the word is received, there was neither righteousness nor anything which could possibly produce righteousness, after the word is received, there is perfect righteousness and the very Fountain from which it springs. The word of God received by faith--that is, the word of God expected to do what that word says and depended upon to do what it says--produces righteousness in the man and in the life where there never was any before; precisely as, in the original creation, the word of God produced worlds where there never were any worlds before. He has spoken, and it is so to everyone that believeth: that is, to every one that receiveth. The word itself produces it.

"Therefore being justified (made righteous) by faith (by expecting and depending upon the word of God only) we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1. That is so, bless the Lord! And feeding upon this blessed thing is cultivating faith.

First published in the Review & Herald, Jan. 17, 1899 By A. T. Jones & E. J. Waggoner