ORIGINS: Small Group Bible Study

Creation & Morality

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat. (Genesis 2:16 KJV)

Lesson Five

One simple act in the Garden of Eden caused humanitys fall.

Photo credits: Hannah Goldstein

Creation & Morality

Sharing Studying Praying Witnessing

Intro...
1. Welcome God's presence. 2. Share the BEST and WORST thing that happened to you this week. If a need for prayer is expressed take time to pray for that individual and need on the spot.

Key text...

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat. (Genesis 2:16 KJV).

Scripture Passages...

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:6; 9:6; Psalm 95:6-7; 100; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Malachi 3:6; Matthew 5:44; 25:31-46; Luke 10:25-37; John 14:6; Galatians 5:13-26; Philippians 2:1-8; 1 John 4:7-8.

Todays World...
Along with our origin comes a set of standards that shape our lives on earth. Conflicts over religious beliefs often involve what people eat, wear, or their overall lifestyles. However, as Christians, we believe that we all come from one God who created us in His image. That makes us unique from all else that God created.

Lesson Impact...
Briefly share what points stood out for you in the lesson or how the lesson study has influenced you.

Quotes...

The immutability of Gods holy character is itself the absolute and the final court of morality.
Os Guinness

No mans religion ever survives his morals.

Robert South

The acceptance of a scientific [i.e. evolutionary] view of mans origin does, as Darwin as well as many of his critics feared, have real implications for moral beliefs.
Jonathan Kelley

A friend of mine, over lunch one day, spoke of the sinking feeling he inevitably gets when each new idea lessening the worth of individuals is put forth. He spoke of the fact that, like abortion, no matter how inhuman or even inane an idea, he gets the sinking feeling because he knows that once it is being espoused by the elite, it is only a matter of time before it is accepted. The reason for this is, of course, that in the absence of a firm moral standard each idea, however implausible, gains credence. It is a case of the morally incompetent leading the morally blind.
Franky Schaeffer, (son of Dr. Francis Schaeffer) A Time for Anger

Reflection...

In the beginning, God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. But sin has almost obliterated the moral image of God in man. Jesus came down to our world that

He might give man a living example, that he might know how to live and how to keep the way of the Lord. He was the image of the Father. His beautiful and spotless character is before man as an example for him to imitate. We must study the copy and follow Jesus Christ, then we shall bring His loveliness and beauty into our character. In doing this we are standing before God through faith, winning back by conflict with the powers of darkness the power of self-control, the love of God that Adam lost.
Ellen G. White, Sermons & Talks (1990), Vol.1, Preparation for Judgement, p. 33.1

Questions...

Why is the story of how human beings were formed important for our moral perspective? How would we view ourselves without the data in Genesis? How does God come across in the account of the creation of human beings?

God Given Rights...

Prayerfully read Psalm 95:6-7; 100; and, Malachi 3:6. Think about your present life circumstance. Are you in any form of bondage? How free do you feel? Depending on your familiarity with the Egypt to Canaan account, can you draw any parallels? Read carefully Genesis 1:26-28; 9:6; and, 1 John 4:7-8. Compare Gods original design against the current modus

operandi of society's. How do they compare? Read Philippians 2:1-8. Is it possible for us to walk in the shoes of Christ today? If yes, why? If no, why not? If we live for each other, we can make a big difference in our communities, especially in difficult times. The love and help we extend to fellow humans in need go a long way in teaching them about the love their Creator has for them. Indeed, such love and service to others are pillars of Gods character. They are what sent Him to earth as Christ to save everyone, not just a select few, from sin. The criterion of judgement involves how we live out Gods principles of morality and accountability. Read Matthew 5:44; Luke 10:25-37; and, Matthew 25:3146. What practical lessons can we learn from these passages? In the story of the Good Samaritan, Christ illustrates the nature of true religion. He shows that it consists not in systems, creed, or rites, but in the performance of loving deeds, in bringing the greatest good to others, in genuine goodness. The angels of heaven look upon the distress of Gods family upon the earth, and they are prepared to co-operate with men in relieving oppression and suffering. God in His providence had brought the priest and the Levite along the road where the wounded sufferer lay, that they might see his need of mercy and help. did not question whether the stranger was a Jew or a Gentile. If a

Jew, the Samaritan well knew that, were their conditions reversed, the man would spit in his face, and pass him by with contempt. But he did not hesitate on account of this. It was enough that there was before him a human being in need and suffering. In the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus gave a picture of Himself and His mission. Man had been deceived, bruised, robbed, and ruined by Satan, and left to perish; but the Saviour had compassion on our helpless condition. He left His glory to come to our rescue. He found us ready to die, and He undertook our case. He healed our wounds. He covered us with His robe of righteousness. He opened to us a refuge of safety, and made complete provision for us at His own charges. He died to redeem us.
Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 497, 500, 503, 504.

Read Ecclesiastes 12:14 and Galatians 5:13-26. What is Gods message to us? Carefully analyse John 14:6. What is Gods message to us?

Recommended Reading...
Chapter 7, The Test of Discipleship, Steps to Christ,
Ellen G. White. Chapter 8, Growing Up into Christ, Steps to Christ, Ellen G. White. pp. 76-78, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, Ellen G. White. https://egwwritings.org/

Break into twos or threes and pray for one anothers needs, as well as for your friends and family...

LESSONS ON FAITH
LESSON #5: CULTIVATING FAITH (Living by Faith)

Living by Faith

LESSONS ON FAITH
LESSON #5: CULTIVATING FAITH (Living by Faith)
"The knowledge of what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith is more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired." Notice that it is the knowledge of what the Scripture means as to the "necessity of cultivating faith"--not particularly having faith but cultivating it. There is not much said in the Scriptures about any necessity of our having faith, while very, very much is said about our cultivating faith. The reason of this is that to all people there is given faith to begin with, and all they need to do is to cultivate faith. Nobody can have more faith than is already given him without cultivating the faith that is already given. And there is nothing known to man that will grow so fast as faith, when it is cultivated--"faith groweth exceedingly." Faith is the expecting that the word of God itself will accomplish what that word says, and the depending upon "the word only" to accomplish what the word says. To cultivate dependence on the word of God, "the word only," itself to do what the word says is to cultivate faith. Faith is "the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8), and that it is given to everybody is plainly stated in the Scriptures. "God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Rom. 12:3. This measure of faith which "God hath dealt to every man" is the capital with which God endows and starts "every man that cometh into the world," and every man is expected to trade upon this capitalcultivate

it--to the salvation of his soul. There is no danger of ever lessening this capital when it is used; as certainly as it is used at all, it will increase. It will grow exceedingly. And as certainly as it grows, the righteousness, the peace, the joy, of the Lord, are assured to the full salvation of the soul. Again, faith comes by the word of God. Therefore, it is written, "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach." Rom. 10:8. Thus faith, the very word of faith, is in the mouth and in the heart of every man. How is this? Thus: When the first pair sinned in the garden, they wholly believed Satan. They gave themselves wholly to Satan. They were taken completely captive by him. Then there was perfect agreement and peace between them and Satan. But God did not leave it so. He broke up this agreement; He spoiled this peace. And He did it by His word, saying to Satan, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed." Gen. 3:15. "It is God alone that can continually put enmity between the seed of the woman and the serpent's seed. After the transgression of man, his nature became evil. Then was peace between Satan and fallen man. Had there been no interference on the part of God, men would have formed an alliance against heaven, and in the place of warfare among themselves, carried on nothing but warfare against God. There is no native enmity between fallen angels and fallen men. Both are evil and that through apostasy, and evil, wherever it exists, will always league against good. Fallen angels and fallen men join in companionship. The wise general of fallen angels calculated that if he could induce men, as he had angels, to join in rebellion,

they would stand as his agents of communication with men to league in rebellion against heaven. Just as soon as one separates from God, he has no power of enmity against Satan. The enmity on earth between man and Satan is supernaturally put there. Unless the converting power of God is brought daily to bear upon the human heart, there will be no inclination to be religiously inclined, but men will choose to be the captives of Satan rather than to be free men in Jesus Christ. I say God will put enmity. Man cannot put it. When the will is brought into subject to the will of God, it must be through man's inclining his heart and will to be on the Lord's side." This enmity against Satan, this hatred of evil, which God puts in every person by His word, causes each soul to long for deliverance, and the deliverance is found alone in Jesus Christ. Rom. 7:14-25. Thus this word of God, which plants in each soul enmity against Satan, this hatred of evil that calls for deliverance which is found alone in Jesus Christ, this is the gift of faith to men. This is "the measure of faith" which God has dealt to every man. This is the "word of faith," which is in the mouth and in the heart of every person in the world. This "is the word of faith, which we preach: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Rom. 10:810. Therefore say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven, to bring faith to us? Neither say, Who shall descend into the

deep, or, Who shall go far off to find faith and bring it to us? For "the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith, which we preach." Deut. 30:11-14; Rom. 10:6-8. Say that--and exercise the faith which God has given to you, as to every other person in the world, for "understanding how to exercise faith, this is the science of the gospel."

First published in the Review & Herald, Jan. 10, 1899 By A. T. Jones & E. J. Waggoner