FALL and RESTORATION of MAN
Lesson 1
The Apostasy of Satan
Where did sin originate? Could it have been prohibited? Why does sin exist today? Each of these questions can be answered. There need be no perplexity. What does the Bible say?
1. Did God create the devil?
There is no scripture to indicate God created a devil. All that God created was good and perfect.
2. Whom did God create?
"Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." Ezeliel 28:15.
Note: In this chapter the Prince of Tyrus represents Lucifer. This is a prophecy of the literal King of Tyre, but a careful reading shows it has this wider meaning because of certain inferences such as "thou has been in Eden the garden of God." verse 13.
3. What was Lucifer's position before he sinned?
"Thou art the anointed cherub [angel] that covereth." Ezekiel 28:14. He is called the "covering cherub" in verse 16. Because of his position near to God's throne he seems to have been the leader of the angels.
4. How did Lucifer become the devil?
"Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thous has corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." Ezekiel 28:17.
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars (angels) of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." Isaiah 14:12-14.
Note: Here Satan is presented under the figure of the King of Babylon. Just as God was the king behind Israel's thone, so Satan was king behind the pagan thrones of Tyre and Babylon and at times these nations and leaders reflected Satan's characteristics.
5. What did Satan's apostasy lead him to do?
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon (Satan); and the dragon fought and his angels." Revelation 12:7
6. What was the result of this battle in heaven?
"And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels wer cast out with him." Revelation 12:8,9. This corresponds with what Jesus said, " I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Luke 10:18.
7. Where is the devil now?
"Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Revelation 12:12
Note: The short time spoken of here is the amount of time Satan has to destroy the people of God and to make them turn from God, before Jesus comes again to claim His own. The question has also been brought up to me as to who controls the earth now? They think it is God, but they fail to realize that it is Satan who controls the earth and all the destructive elements that happen to it.
8. What is Satan doing on earth?
"Be sober, be figilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8.
Please note that Satan is the king of the earth, meaning that when He caused Adam and Eve to sin they turned over the lease of this earth that was given to them by God and gave it over to Satan. Adam and Eve were to be the protectors and caretakers of the earth and their offspring, they were to be the good stewards of the land, to care for it and the animals. But when they sinned, they lost it to Satan and he now controls the world and all that is on it, therefore making him king of the earth.
Conclusion to Lesson 1
The controvers between Christ and Satan continues on earth. The devil is especially angry with a person who endeavors to keep God's commandments (Revelation 12:17). The reason for this is clear because commandment keepers will enter God's kingdom and live forever (Revelation 22:14). Since Satan is a "liar" and a "murderer" (John 8:44) it is unsafe to follow his suggestions. Therefore let us determine to heed Christ's injunction: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15.
Lesson 2
How Man Sinned
Sin originated when Lucifer and his angels forsook their allegiance to God. When they were cast out of heaven (Revelation 12:9) Satan devised a plan to get man to follow him. This is what the controversy between Christ and Satan is all about. Both are seeking converts.
1. What did the serpent do in the Garden of Eden where man was?
"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yes, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die." Genesis 3:1-4.
Note: The serpent was the medium by which Satan attracted Eve's attention. He handled truth loosely. He knew they could eat of the trees but he tried to make it appear God had forbidden this. When Eve told him that it was only the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden they were not to eat or touch lest they die, then Satan contradicted God and told a lie, "Ye shall not surely die."
(Now a thought has crossed my mind, if Satan had not interferred and Adam and Eve did eat of the tree, would it have been immediate death if they ate from the tree? Or would it have meant the banishment from the garden and the slow death of aging and illness of the body that has happened with the interferrence of Satan?)
2. Whom did Adam and Eve believe, God or the serpent?
"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat." Genesis 3:6
3. Because Adam sinned how did this affect the human race?
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."Romans 5:12. Read also Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Romans 6:23.
4. What is sin?
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. Sin is the breaking of the commandments of God. Also read Romans 4:15. God's law helps us to know what sin is (Romans 3:20).
Conclusion of Lesson 2
Disobedience to God's command was sin in the Garden of Eden. That same principle hlds true today. However, a person need not continue to disobey and sin. Whenever a person sins he makes that choice. "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15.
The Amorites were a pagan and heathen race who worshipped many false gods. Are we not now living in the land of the Amorites today? Choose rightly, the wrong choice will lose you heaven.
Lesson 3
Why Did God Permit Sin?
Many have been perplexed because sin and its author, Satan, still exist. Some even charge God with the responsiblilty for it since He permitted sin. God is good, merciful, and all powerful but He is also love. Each created being was endowed with freedom of choice. God wants people to serve Him because they choose to do so. Our God is a God of love, not fear. He wants us to come to Him with loving obedience, not fearful obligation.He will not force us to serve Him.
1. Why didn't God kill the devil when he first sinned and prevent sin from entering the world?
"God is love" 1 John 4:8
Note that the government of God is based on love. If God had destroyed Satan immediately, heavenly beings would have served Him through fear. Free moral agents were given time to judge the nature of Satan's rebellion. Read Hebrews 2:14 and 1 John 3:8.
Note: Christ's life and death exposed Satan's true nature and the results of sin. Thus in the proper time God will be able to destroy Satan and sin with the consent of the universe. All of heaven will judge Satan, not just God.
2. Will the devil be destroyed?
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Hebrews 2:14.
Note: Since Christ has not yet returned, the time has not come for Satan's destruction. God is permitting Satan to run his course. Furthermore, the destruction of the devil will not take place until everyone has had the opportunity to choose to accept Christ and live forever. Satan's destruction will take place before the earth is recreated after the second coming of Jesus.
3. Can we be successful inthe battle against the devil, if so, how?
"Finally, my brethern, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:10,11.
Note: Read Ephesians 6:12-18 where the apostle talks of the necessity of putting on the entire armor of God. It is made up of seven parts and is the assurance of victory. It consists of truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Bible, and prayer.
4. How can we overcme the devil's temptations?
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7. "I will can do al lthings through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13.
Note: You can live right even though the devil is constantly around to tempt. But how? You can be victorious by surrending your will to Christ. Take courage, Christ was tempted in all points, yet He never sinned. There is victory over the devil by following the instruction found in Isaiah. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." Isaiah 45:22.
Conclusion to Lesson 3
God's original purpose will one day be fulfilled. There will be a sinless world. God's hand has been placed upon the nations as the Bible says "This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For the LORD of hosts hath purposed and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? Isaiah 14:26,27. As the conflict between Christ and Satan continues God's purpose and plan for man is being developed. Read John 3:16,17. Put your will on God's side for victory over sin "because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4.
Lesson 4
God's Plan for the Restoration of Man
The Creator made man upright (Ecclesiastes 7:29). However, Satan, when cast to this earth, was successful in his deception. Through the mediumship of the beautiful serpent in Eden the devil led Adam and Eve to disbelieve God's Word and then into disobedience of God's commandments. Man was thus brought into bondage to the devil (2 Peter 2:19). "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned." Romans 5:12.
1. In Adam's darkest hour, when he realized what he had lost, what statement did god make to the serpent that would encourage Adam?
"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel." Genesis 3:15.
Note: When man sinned Christ who created all things (John 1;3) offered to die for him. christ offered to pay the wages of sin and in this sense He was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Revelation 13:8. Read also 1 Peter 1:18-20.
(Also note here that in prophecy and symbols the woman represents a church. A chaste pure woman is the true church and a harlot woman is the apostate church. So when God is placing emnity between Adams seed and the woman, it could also mean between the true church and the apostate church. Between the church of God and the church of Satan. Just a thought that came to my mind as I was typing this up.But check out the next question).
2. Of whose seed was man's deliverer to come?
The seed of the woman was to bruise the serpents head (Genesis 3:15). Christ had to be of the seed of the woman and made of a woman in order to meet the serpent on his own ground at the point where sin entered the human race.
3. Was Christ made of a woman?
"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Galatians 4:4,5.
"In all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren." Hebrews 2:17.
4. When Christ was born of Mary did he partake of Mary's nature?
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blod, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Hebrews 2:14.
Note: The Bible plainly states He took upon Himself human nature "yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15. He became weary (John 4:6). He became hungry (Matthew 4:2). He became thirsty (John 19:28) These show that Jesus was a human being, yet He never sinned even to satisfy His needs.
5. What is Christ's relationship to both God and man?
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:5-8.
6. What was Christ made?
He was made flesh (John 1:14). He was "made under the law" (Galatians 4:4). Christ "was made a curse" (Galatians 3:13). The iniquity of all was laid on Him (Isaiah 53:6). He was made to be sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).
7. What prompted Christ's entrance into the human family?
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
Note: When Jesus died on the cross He paid the death penalty for our sins. This makes forgiveness and eternal life possible for those who by faith accept His blood. Read Romans 3:23; 1 Peter 2:24; romans 3:24,25.
8. What assurance is there that Christ can help me t omeet temptations successfully?
"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethern, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." Hebrews 2:17,18.
Conclusion to Lesson 4
Christ came to seek after and then to save lost men and women (Luke 19:10). He is represented as the shepherd seeking the one lost sheep. He came to restore in man the image of God. He put Himself among the lost. He was made to be sin. Read Isaiah 1:18. God's plan is to make man perfect. Read Matthew 5:48 and 2 Peter 1:2-8.