Lesson 2, October 1-7
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Genesis 2:16, 17; 3:1-7; Psalms 115:17; John 5:28, 29; Romans 5:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Memory Text: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” Romans 5:12
Christ was the Divine Agent through whom God brought the universe and the world into existence (John 1:1-3, 10; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2). But when God the Father conferred special honor on Christ and announced that They together would create this world, “Lucifer was envious and jealous of Jesus Christ” (The Story of Redemption, p. 14) and plotted against Him.
Having been cast out of heaven, Satan decided “to destroy the happiness of Adam and Eve” on earth and thereby “cause grief in heaven.” He imagined that “if he could in any way beguile them [Adam and Eve] to disobedience, God would make some provision whereby they might be pardoned, and then himself and all the fallen angels would be in a fair way to share with them of God’s mercy.” (The Story of Redemption, p. 27). Fully aware of Satan’s strategy, God warned Adam and Eve not to expose themselves to temptation (Genesis 2:16, 17). This means that even when the world was still perfect and blameless, there were already clear restrictions for human beings to obey.
This week we will reflect on the fall of Adam and Eve, on how sin and death took over our world, and on how God planted a seed of hope for humanity even back in Eden.
