Read Genesis 2:7 and Ecclesiastes 12:1-7. What contrast can you see between these two biblical passages? How can they help us to understand better the human condition in death? See also Genesis 7:22. As already seen, the Bible teaches that the human being is a soul (Genesis 2:7), and the soul ceases to exist when the body dies (Ezekiel 18:4, Ezekiel 18:20). … Continue reading –>
Read Ezekiel 18:4, Ezekiel 18:20 and Matthew 10:28. How can these verses help us understand the nature of the human soul? Human life in this sinful world is fragile and transitory (Isaiah 40:1-8). Nothing infected by sin can be eternal by nature. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 1:24-27 and Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2:19. What similarities and differences can you see between the way God created the animals and humanity? What does Genesis 2:7 tell us about human nature? The Genesis account declares that on the sixth day of Creation week the Lord God brought to life land animals and the first human beings, a couple (Genesis 1:24-27). … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Genesis 1:24-27; Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2:19; Matthew 10:28; Ecclesiastes 12:1-7; 1 Kings 2:10; 1 Kings 22:40. Memory Text: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). The tension between God’s word, “You shall die” (Genesis 2:16-17, , NRSV) and … Continue reading –>
Signs and Wonders By Dimitry Bagal While studying Isaiah in the Adult Bible Study Guide a few quarters ago, one verse particularly caught my attention: “Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 8:18, NKJV). The verse seemed … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Temptation and Fall,” Pages 52-62 and “The Plan of Redemption,” Pages 63-70, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “The Knowledge of Good and Evil,” Pages 23-27, in Education. In recent years, studies have been done on what is called Near Death Experiences (NDEs). What happens is that people “die,” in that their hearts stop beating, and … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 3:15, Genesis 3:21. What hope can be found in these passages for all humanity? Genesis chapter 3 describes the dreadful tragedy that took over the world after the Fall. Everything changed, and Adam and Eve could see the contrast between what the world used to be and what it had become. But in the midst … Continue reading –>
Based on Genesis 3:7-19 and Romans 5:12, what were the main consequences of sin? Captivated by the persuasive speech of the serpent, Eve did not anticipate the far-reaching consequences of the road that she was following. In itself, the act of eating from the forbidden fruit was not as significant as what it actually represented. By such an act … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 3:4. What are the many different ways this lie has been repeated through the ages? One powerful manifestation of this lie is seen in the common belief in the immortality of the soul. This notion was the basis of many ancient religions and philosophies. In ancient Egypt, it motivated the mummification practices and the … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 3:1-7. What criteria did Eve use to choose between God’s Word and that of the serpent? Genesis chapter 3 is one of the clearest examples of the psychology of temptation. God had warned Adam and Eve that if they ate from the forbidden fruit, they would certainly die (Genesis 2:16-17). Assuming the form of … Continue reading –>
