Keeping Ourselves unspotted from the world (Lesson 100)
Introduction:
1. In order to practice "pure and undefiled religion before God" we must fulfill the responsibilities revealed to us in the Scriptures. 2. One responsibility is "keeping ourselves unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). 3. To help us remain free from the world's stains God has revealed a tremendous amount of information as well as instructions in His Word. 4. In this lesson we are considering some practical matters that relate to Adam and Eve. 5. The Scriptures explain how they became stained, and we need to profit from their mistakes. 6. Let us first observe that . . . Discussion: I. GOD MADE ADAM AND EVE IN A PERFECT STATE
A. After God made Adam and Eve on the 6th day, He saw that everything was "very good" (Genesis 1:26-31). B. Additional details relating to their creation are given in Genesis 2. 1. God's creation of Adam is revealed in vs.7. 2. God placed Adam in Eden (vs.8-9, 15). 3. God gave Adam a law, and He revealed the consequences of breaking it (vs.16-17). 4. God created Eve to be Adam's companion (vs.21-25). II. ADAM AND EVE FELL FROM THEIR PERFECT STATE AND BECAME STAINED (Genesis 3)
A. The serpent tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit (vs.1-5). 1. Satan is called "the tempter" in Matthew 4:3. 2. His mission is to devour God's people (1 Peter 5:8). 3. Satan is to be resisted (James 4:7). 4. One of the keys to resisting Satan is hiding God's Word in the heart (Psalm 119:11). 5. Adam and Eve knew God's law, but they apparently did not have it hidden in their hearts because . . . B. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit (vs.6). C. Adam and Eve lost their innocence before God (vs.7-13). D. God punished everyone involved in this transgression of His will. 1. He punished the serpent (vs.14-15). 2. He punished Eve (vs.16). 3. He punished Adam (vs.17-19). E. God expelled Adam and Eve from Eden, and they lost access to the tree of life (vs.22-24). F. Adam lived 930 years, "and he died" (Genesis 5:5). G. According to Romans 5:12, death entered the world when Adam sinned, and death "passed upon all men." Conclusion:
1. Good news is revealed in Romans 6:3-4 -- when we are baptized into Christ and raised with Him we are able to "walk in newness of life." 2. Walking in newness of life includes keeping ourselves unspotted from the world. 3. Hiding God's Word in the heart will help us accomplish this responsibility. 4. When we give in to temptation and sin, all is not lost -- additional good news is revealed in 1 John 1:7, 9.
