God’s Opposition Session V

The Fall ‘And out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.’ Genesis 2.9

The Fall “And the Lord God commanded the man saying ‘From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.’” Genesis

Tree of Knowledge God gave humanity freedom with responsibility. Does it make you wonder why God placed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden? Was it for a test to see if humanity would respect and obey Him?

The Snake said … ‘… the day you eat from the tree you will be like God knowing good and evil.’ Implications: 1.Good and evil/bad must exist. 2.If Adam and Eve were innocent while naked, they may have only known of good, but when eating the fruit they became aware of bad/evil. 3.They did receive wisdom; a full understanding of what God knew. It made humanity think they are self-reliant, self-sufficient, thus, fully autonomous.

The Fall The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1.7

The Consequences Tree of Life … denied. Mortal life ends in death. Expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Man must toil for sustenance. Childbirth now painful. Safe refuge of the garden denied. Adam & Eve would live in a dangerous world.

The Consequences Even the earth suffered consequences of the fall being cursed and bringing forth thorns and thistles. The BIGGEST consequence of the fall, though, was: that mankind became separated from fellowship with God.

The Fall ‘… just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, …’ Romans 5.12

Sin Transgression, iniquity; Webster’s definition: ‘transgression of divine law, any deliberate or willful act in violation to a religious or moral principle, or a fault.’

Sin Separates us from God – the source of life; Separates us from the promise and gift of immortality; Robs us from the history of our being in community with God; Corrupts humanity; Entangles us; Becomes a slave driver; Injures community; is anti-God and a defection from His grace!

Activity Share your understanding of sin and how sin is demonstrated in everyday lives. Also what is your understanding of the concept of the transmission to all humanity of Adam and Eve’s ‘original sin’? Use Psalm 14:1-3 to assist in your explanation.

Is Temptation a Sin? ‘No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.’ 1 Corinthians 10:13

Martin Luther “You cannot stop the birds from flying over your head but you can stop them from making a nest in your hair.”

Satan

Satan "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.‘” Isaiah 14:12-14

Humanity Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! Psalm 8:5

Hierarchy Before Creation Genesis 1 Just After Creation Psalm 8:5 After the Fall Luke 4:6, Hebrews 2: God 2. Archangels2. Human beings2. Satan (archangel) 3. Angels3. Archangels (including Satan) 3. Human beings 4. Angels4. Archangels 5. Angels

Activity How is Satan described in Scripture? Work with your neighbor on the worksheet provided.

Satan’s Authority & Power “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19

Satan’s Authority & Power ‘No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.’ 1 Corinthians 10:13

Satan - Overestimation ‘The vitality of the devil is parasitic and his strength substantially drawn from humanity … The power that the devil has in himself is far less than we might imagine and far more dependent on that which mankind gives him.’ (Nigel Wright) ‘…Resist the devil and he will flee from you.’ James 4:7

Satan - Underestimation A real being, not just a force. Luke 4 – Jesus tempted by Satan.

Demons ‘Every city has an angel who broods over it. These angels infuse and dominate the principalities and powers, systems and structures, people groups and individuals of that city. There is that spiritual presence – either angelic or demonic (or displaying elements of both).’ Robert Linthicum

Brainstorm Identify some of the work of Satan and demons within our society today so that we can stay away.

Cosmic Battle ‘We are not fighting against human being but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.’ Ephesians 6:12