SIN & SALVATION

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made...All things have been created through him and for him 

- Genesis 1:1, John 1:3, Colossians 1:16

The earth, humanity -- all that we see around us -- had a beginning. 

God declared each phase of creation "good" -- until he created the first man, Adam, and said that it was "not good" for him to be alone.

So Eve, the first woman, was created, and the original couple was given everything to enjoy. They were only forbidden to eat the fruit of one tree: the "tree of knowledge of good and evil."

The fatal decision that followed and its tragic results have affected all of human history. Humanity would pass down this fatal flaw, this inner corruption, from generation to generation. The power of evil and darkness would have prevailed -- except for God's intervention. His plan of salvation, deliverance from evil's power, began to unfold in that very Garden of Eden. This is the primary story of the entire Bible.

The Original Story

1. What was creation like in the beginning? Genesis 1

    v. 10 - Land & Seas
    v. 12 - Seed-bearing plants & trees
    v. 18 - Lights (to separate day/night)
    v. 21 - Sea creatures & Birds
    v. 25 - Wild animals & livestock, to reproduce

2. How many commands did God give Adam and Eve? Genesis 2:17 -- one
3. What was God's command to the first human beings? Genesis 2:16-17 -- Do not eat from the tree of knowledge
4. How did Adam and Eve respond to God's command? Genesis 3:6-7 -- They disobeyed
5. In light of this, do you think you would have responded differently? -- My curiosity may have provoked the thought to do it but I normally follow the rules regardless of who's telling them so I don't think I would have done it.

Think about what God attempted to shield Adam and Eve from: the knowledge of evil. What loving parents today don't do everything possible to protect their children from dangerous material -- on TV, on the internet or anywhere else?

6. Who tempted Eve? Genesis 3:1 -- The serpent

Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit -- in essence saying to God, "We don't need you or your rules." They disobeyed God. They sinned.

7. How did Adam and Eve react after their eyes were opened and they realized they were naked? Genesis 3
    v. 7 - They covered their nakedness
    v. 8 - They hid from the Lord
    v. 10 - They were naked and hid because of that and since they were afraid

8. Why do you think they reacted this way? -- Their eyes were uncovered and now they were ashamed.
9. How did God respond to Adam and Eve's sin? Genesis 3:8-9 -- God went looking for them to ask what they've done and why they're hiding

Notice the two very different responses to humanity's sin:
    1 - Humanity covered up and hid from God
    2 - God sought humanity
Things have not changed much since the beginning. After thousands of years and billions of people, human beings still hide from God -- and God still seeks.

This is the starting point for understanding salvation.

(The Purple Book by Rice Broocks and Steve Murrell - Chapter 1 - Lesson 1 - P.11)