Further Study: Creation and the Fall
“God gave our first parents the food He designed that the race should eat. It was 
contrary to His plan to have the life of any creature taken. There was to be no death in Eden. . . .”-Ellen G. White, Counsels for the Church, p. 228.
“Satan represents God’s law of love as a law of selfishness. He declares that it is impossible for us to obey its precepts. The fall of our first parents, with all the woe that has resulted, he charges upon the Creator, leading men to look upon God as the author of sin, and suffering, and death. Jesus was to unveil this deception.”-Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 24.
“But man was not abandoned to the results of the evil he had chosen. In the sentence pronounced upon Satan was given an intimation of redemption. . . . This sentence, spoken in the hearing of our first parents, was to them a promise. Before they heard of the thorn and the thistle, of the toil and sorrow that must be their portion, or of the dust to which they must return, they listened to words that could not fail of giving them hope. All that had been lost by yielding to Satan could be regained through Christ.”-Ellen G. White, Education, p. 27.
Discussion Questions
- In class, go over your answer to Monday’s final question. What kind of rules do we make that could turn us into the very people Jesus condemned? At the same time, how can we make commitments that might help us better to follow the principles of truth as revealed in the Bible?
- Eve trusted her senses instead of a very clear command from God. Why do we find it so easy to do the same thing?
- Dwell on the obvious contrast between the Creation story and the various evolutionary ideas that depict natural evil as part of God’s original creative process. Why is it impossible to harmonize such conflicting views of our origins without ultimately destroying the plain meaning of the Bible? Why is a correct understanding of Creation important in order to gain a correct understanding of the Fall?
- Some cultures find the idea of a literal devil nothing but foolishness; others, in contrast, can be obsessed with the power of evil and evil spirits. What about your culture? What’s the tendency, and how can you learn to strike the right balance when dealing with the reality of the supernatural battles in which we find ourselves?
(1)
when we are baptized we sometimes face temptations that sometimes can be notice or you realize letter that you have wrong.what is the best action one can take(a brethren told me that that there is no forgive for that,this was based on what Jesus said that when you wronged him you will be forgiven but when you wronged the Holy spirit you will not)
Jairus - Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit as a special gift to be our comforter and guide when He returned to Heaven. He is with us as our counselor. The ball is in our court because God is always doing everything to heal us and bring us Home. When we resist the leading into truth and healing, the Holy Spirit does not force us, only tries to persuade. When we do not listen, the time comes when we do not hear Him anymore because we have backed away.
As for question 2 above, we need to be much in the Word (Bible) and pray for the discernment that only the Holy Spirit can give. We want to rely on our experience, on what we feel. However if those feelings are contrary to the truth of the Word of God, we must pray and cling to God by faith no matter what our feelings and sences tell us.
Jairus
I like the part that you brought into this discussion when you said later on you realise what you have done is wrong. they are blessed who realise their faults and seek repetence. some of us realise and do nothing about it. this is where we begin to fail to hear the still small voice talking to us to repent. we eventually stay away from our conscience and grieve the Holy Spirit.
the Lord desires us to listen to Him and react accordingly.that is what makes us enjoy the relationship that He has put up for us.
God the father, Jesus his son and the Holy spirit are at-one. Jesus explained that He and the Father are One and that when He Jesus left, we would get another comforter - meaning Jesus and the Holy Spirit are also One. They do not works at odd with each other. regarding our temptations:-
"We cannot know how much we owe to Christ for the peace and protection which we enjoy. It is the restraining power of God that prevents mankind from passing fully under the control of Satan. The disobedient and unthankful have great reason for gratitude for God’s mercy and long-suffering in holding in check the cruel, malignant power of the evil one. But when men pass the limits of divine forbearance, that restraint is removed. God does not stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against transgression; but He leaves the rejectors of His mercy to themselves, to reap that which they have sown. Every ray of light rejected, every warning despised or unheeded, every passion indulged, every transgression of the law of God, is a seed sown which yields its unfailing harvest. The Spirit of God, persistently resisted, is at last withdrawn from the sinner, and then there is left no power to control the evil passions of the soul, and no protection from the malice and enmity of Satan" Great Controversy page56.
Our best action is to TRUST GOD. The Godhead is faithful to help us in our needs.
We are living in a time where people compromise the word of God, for He(GOD) said "there's no sin greater than the other." We simplify sin, we commit presumptiously sins but what we ought to know is that Satan is very serious when tempting us regardless of size of a sin. Lets make no fun with any sin
It is very evident that Satan is cunning and a liar. He uses the scripture to plant doubt. My question though is how do you know when God is leading you in a certain direction and it is not the devil deceiving you. I am making a big decision and would want it to be spirit led.....
Hi Joy; It is certainly difficult sometimes to determine whether God is leading you. Part of the problem is that we are sometimes very good at deceiving ourselves into doing what we want to do. I find that when it comes to really big decisions it is important to listen to your community of believers. They are not infallible but a loving supporting church membership is of tremendous value. And sometimes, if they are wise, they will recognize their limitations and suggest that you go to experts for help in your decision making.
Interesting question and comments Joy and Maurice. One thing for which I am thankful as I have made good and poor decisions in life is that God is always there and on my side. I can always look to Him. Even when I have stepped out and the decision later seems to have been a poor one, God is still there. He was not surprised by my choices or the outcome. I can still trust Him. He is there, making my way before me and working all things out for the good.
Seeking guidance and good advice from others is so wise. Proceeding cautiously is so good when making decisions, but we can press on knowing that God is there for us and we can trust Him!
Our need nowadays is prayer and studying the bible, if we pray to God with faith He will never let us go astray and he who seek Him will find the divine truth. Lets not depend on man's advice but God's