The below Bible study on the fall takes a verse by verse look at Genesis three. These free inductive notes are intended as supplement to your own study, not a replacement. Feel free to copy, print, or share them. These notes can be helpful for individual study of the Word or for small group Bible studies.

The Fall of Adam and Eve – Genesis Three – Sermon Part 3

See part 1 of this inductive study on the fall.

See part 2 of this inductive study on the fall. 

1.      Did God have to change His plan when Satan successfully led them into sin?

Ps 33:11

11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,

the purposes of his heart through all generations.

1 Sam 15:29

29 He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.”

Ps 18:30a

30 As for God, his way is perfect ;

the word of the LORD is flawless.

When Plan A is perfect, there is no need for a plan B!

Rev 13:8

8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast — all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

2.     Why is there evil in the world? Surely, most of us, believers and unbelievers alike have asked this question at least once in our life. If God is all powerful and loving, why didn’t He make a world without evil and suffering?

He could have certainly done it that way, but He did it this way because it is the best plan. It is the perfect plan. If He had made the world without evil and suffering, many of God’s wonderful attributes, like His mercy, forgiveness, justice, wrath, righteousness, and His love could not be fully manifested. The purpose of the universe’s existence (and that includes you and me) is to glorify God. God receives greater glory because in His sovereignty, He planned everything just the way He did – Plan A!

3.     I thought God said that they would die if they ate the forbidden fruit, but they ate it and lived for hundreds of years after that.

·        There are three different meanings for “death” in the Bible

1.      Spiritual separation: the moment they ate the fruit, they were spiritually separated from God.

Isa 59:2a

2 But your iniquities have separated

you from your God;

2.     Physical separation:

Gen 5:5

5 Altogether, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.

Heb 9:27

27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

3.     Eternal Separation:

2 Thess 1:9

9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power

4.     Sure Adam and Eve sinned, but I’m not like that. I really don’t have a problem with sin in my life.

God says you do!

Rom 3:23

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

5.     What is the solution to the problem of sin?

A.   Sin in my life

In His infinite grace, God most certainly provides a solution to our problem of sin. It’s interesting that God’s first promise of providing a solution to our sin problem is made to Satan!

Gen 3:15

15 And I will put enmity

between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and hers;

he will crush your head,

and you will strike his heel.”

1 Peter 3:18

18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

B.    Sin in the world

Rev 21:1-4

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

6.     I’m a Christian, but I’ll admit that I often struggle with giving into temptation. What are some practical steps I can take to avoid yielding to sin? Below are a few principles and Scriptures where we can find them.

Avoid Seeing

a.      Though it’s impossible to completely avoid seeing things that will lead to temptation, it is possible to avoid the vast majority of this kind of input. That might mean shopping at a different store, stop subscribing to the internet, choosing new friends, throwing away some DVD’s and/or magazines. It could even mean changing jobs or moving to a different city.

b.      Maybe you’re thinking, “Hey wait a minute, some of these ideas are really drastic. Is it really necessary to go to such extremes simply to avoid seeing something that would be tempting to me? Just look at the advice Jesus gave.

Matt 5:29

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

c.      Let me tell you the number one best way to avoid looking at the wrong things that will lead you into temptation.

Phil 4:8

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute — if there is excellence or if anything worthy of praise dwell on these things.

d.      Well, suppose you don’t take steps to avoid seeing things that will tempt you, what can you expect?

Instead of Gazing “Bounce”

This is a simple concept. When you inadvertently see something that might lead to impure thoughts, simply make your eyes “bounce” off of it and onto something that doesn’t present this problem. It’s simple yet effective if you will commit yourself to do it.

Don’t Covet – Be Content

Phil 4:12

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Don’t Take – Instead Resist

James 4:7

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Do Feel Guilty

We feel guilty when we violate our conscience. This is a good thing and if we will respond correctly, it will be instrumental in leading us to victory.

Don’t Hide – Instead Expose

Sin loves secrecy. It thrives under the cover of darkness, so you want to be free from the chains of sin, expose it and it will lose its hold over you.

John 3:19-21

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

Stop hiding your sin, expose it to the light and observe how quickly you’ll be liberated.

Don’t Justify – Instead Confess

Prov 28:13

13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper,

but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Of course we want to obtain the mercy of God, if we will simply confess and turn from our sin, we’ll find it!

Don’t Despair – Instead Hope

Heb 6:19

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

Prov 24:16

16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,

Want to walk in victory? By avoiding seeing things that will lead us into temptation, training our eyes to “bounce” off of them, practicing contentment, resisting temptation and the devil, having the right response to guilt, exposing our sin to the light, confessing it to the Lord and others, and turning to the Lord and putting our hope completely in Him you can walk in victory.

In short, have true repentance. Turn from your sin, turn to the Lord and live your life completely for His glory!

See part 1 of this inductive study on the fall.

See part 2 of this inductive study on the fall. 

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