THE FALL INTO SIN

1. THE FALL INTO SIN Lesson 3 for the 18th of October, 2008

2. REBELLION

3. EVE’S REBELLION She THOUGHT about what reasons God had for prohibiting their eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil “Eve, unconsciously at first, separated from her husband in her employment. When she became aware of the fact she felt that there might be danger, but again she thought herself secure, even if she did not remain close by the side of her husband. She had wisdom and strength to know if evil came, and to meet it. This the angels had cautioned her not to do. Eve found herself gazing with mingled curiosity and admiration upon the fruit of the forbidden tree. She saw it was very lovely, and was reasoning with herself why God had so decidedly prohibited their eating or touching it” E.G.W. (Story of Redemption, chapter 4, page 33)

4. She TALKED to the tempter and ran the risk of being beaten by him “He addressed her as though he was able to divine her thought: "Ye, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Thus, with soft and pleasant words, and with musical voice, he addressed the wondering Eve. She was startled to hear a serpent speak. He extolled her beauty and exceeding loveliness, which was not displeasing to Eve… Eve's curiosity was aroused. Instead of fleeing from the spot, she listened to hear a serpent talk… Eve was beguiled, flattered, infatuated… she entered into a controversy with the serpent” E.G.W. (Story of Redemption, chapter 4, pages 33-34)

5. He ATE the forbidden fruit and welcomed sin to this world. “The tempter plucked the fruit and passed it to Eve. She took it in her hand. Now, said the tempter, you were prohibited from even touching it lest you die. He told her that she would realize no more sense of evil and death in eating than in touching or handling the fruit. Eve was emboldened because she felt not the immediate signs of God's displeasure. She thought the words of the tempter all wise and correct. She ate, and was delighted with the fruit. It seemed delicious to her taste, and she imagined that she realized in herself the wonderful effects of the fruit” E.G.W. (Story of Redemption, chapter 4, page 36)

6. Eve followed the steps of Lucifer when she extended the area of her rebellion to her husband (who actually was all humanity at that time) ADAM’S REBELLION “She was in a strange and unnatural excitement as she sought her husband with her hands filled with the forbidden fruit. She related to him the wise discourse of the serpent and wished to conduct him at once to the tree of knowledge. She told him she had eaten of the fruit, and instead of her feeling any sense of death, she realized a pleasing, exhilarating influence. As soon as Eve had disobeyed she became a powerful medium through which to occasion the fall of her husband” E.G.W. (Story of Redemption, chapter 4, page 36)

7. Adam wasn’t misled by the serpent’s words. He knew that Eve had disobeyed and she was going to die “A sadness came over the countenance of Adam. He appeared afraid and astonished. A struggle appeared to be going on in his mind. He told Eve he was quite certain that this was the foe that they had been warned against, and if so, that she must die. She assured him she felt no ill effects but rather a very pleasant influence, and entreated him to eat” E.G.W. (Story of Redemption, chapter 4, pages 36-37)

8. Adam took part in Eve’s sin knowing what he was doing “Adam quite well understood that his companion had transgressed the only prohibition laid upon them as a test of their fidelity and love … Adam regretted that Eve had left his side, but now the deed was done. He must be separated from her whose society he had loved so well. How could he have it thus? His love for Eve was strong. And in utter discouragement he resolved to share her fate…

9. Adam took part in Eve’s sin knowing what he was doing ... He reasoned that Eve was a part of himself, and if she must die, he would die with her, for he could not bear the thought of separation from her. He lacked faith in his merciful and benevolent Creator. He did not think that God, who had formed him out of the dust of the ground into a living, beautiful form, and had created Eve to be his companion, could supply her place” E.G.W. (Story of Redemption, chapter 4, page 37)

10. As Satan had to be banned from heaven, Adam and Eve had to be banned from Eden

11. How did God react with Adam’s and Eve’s sin? • He looked for the man. • He invited them to accept their guilt. • He helped them to understand the consequences of their conduct. • He showed them the plan he prepared for their restoration.

12. How does God act with the sinner nowadays? “Men hate the sinner, while they love the sin. Christ hates the sin, but loves the sinner” E.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, chapter 50, page 462) • He looks for the man through the Holy Spirit. • He shows him his guilt. • He helps him to understand the consequences of his conduct. • He invites him to accept the atonement.

13. THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN SPIRITUAL DEATH PHYSICAL DEATH ETERNAL DEATH

14. PHYSICAL DEATH • It spread to all humanity. • It covered all animal worlds. • It included plant world. • It covered the Earth and the closest universe.

15. PHYSICAL DEATH God CURSED the land, not the man. Physical death was a curse for the animal, plant and mineral kingdoms. Is it a curse for the man, too? Curse or blessing? Do you know any elderly man/woman affected by degenerative illnesses? Imagine he continues living in this condition, getting worse gradually for 200, 500, 3,000 years and eternally

16. SPIRITUAL DEATH Since Adam, we all move away from God and we are spiritually dead. There is nothing good in us. This shows in our sinful acts “Awake thou that sleepest, And arise from the dead, And Christ shall give thee light” Ephesians, 5: 14 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body … but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead” Romans, 6: 12-13

17. ETERNAL DEATH As we have all sinned, we are all destined for eternal death; but, through the atonement of Jesus, God gives us ETERNAL LIFE. “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath EVERLASTING LIFE” (Juan, 5: 24) “that believeth on me hath EVERLASTING LIFE” (Juan, 6: 47) “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have ETERNAL LIFE” (Juan, 3: 14-15)

18. FREE OR SLAVE? When we rejected God we became slaves of sin Before sin, we were free serving our God Through atonement, God provides us with the solution If we accept it, we’ll be free again and we’ll have eternal life If we reject it, we’ll continue being slaves of sin and we’ll stop existing permanently

19. OR SLAVE? FREE WHAT IS YOUR DECISION?