The Role of the Church in the Community

The "Restoration of All Things”

Lesson #1 for July 2, 2016

Scriptures: [Genesis 1:26-27; 3:8-19; Deuteronomy 6:5; James 4:4; Galatians 4:19; Mark 2:1-12; John 10:10[1]].

1.    When we think about what God created in the beginning and compare that with what we see in the world around us, it is clear that something has gone terribly wrong. What has sin done to us and to our world? How has our rebellion enhanced this great controversy? What things that you see in the world today are the biggest indicators of the existence of the great controversy? Human behavior? Changes in the environment?

2.    Does it seem to you like the world is getting better and better and moving toward a golden age millennium as many Christians believe? Or, does it seem like the world is getting worse and worse as we move nearer to the seven last plagues described in Revelation 15 and 16? Christians might find themselves deteriorating into a complete depression except that we know that a new heaven and new earth are coming. God will restore all things, making them even better than they were when He started!

3.    The good news is that we do not have to wait until the second coming for that restoration to begin. Passages like [2 Corinthians 5:17 and Romans 8:29][2] make it clear that by working with the Holy Spirit and with the help of the angels, our transformation can begin now.

4.    It is very clear from Genesis 1:26-27[3] that we were originally made in the image of God. What does that mean? Read [Genesis 1:31; Deuteronomy 6:5; and 1 Thessalonians 5:23][4]. Would it be correct to say that we were created to be like God in spirit, soul, and body? Could we come to love as God loves? God originally created Adam and Eve, as the first human pair, perfect in every way.

When Adam came from the Creator’s hand, he bore, in his physical, mental, and spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker. “God created man in His own image” (Genesis 1:27), and it was His purpose that the longer man lived the more fully he should reveal this image-the more fully reflect the glory of the Creator. All his faculties were capable of development; their capacity and vigor were continually to increase. Vast was the scope offered for their exercise, glorious the field opened to their research. The mysteries of the visible universe-the “wondrous works of Him which is perfect in knowledge” (Job 37:16)[5]-invited man’s study. Face-to-face, heart-to-heart communion with his Maker was his high privilege. Had he remained loyal to God, all this would have been his forever. Throughout eternal ages he would have continued to gain new treasures of knowledge, to discover fresh springs of happiness, and to obtain clearer and yet clearer conceptions of the wisdom, the power, and the love of God. More and more fully would he have fulfilled the object of his creation, more and more fully have reflected the Creator’s glory.—Ellen G. White, Education 15. [Italic type and bold type are added.]

5.    Wording in the original Hebrew suggests that Adam and Eve were created like God physically (outwardly) and inwardly. Ellen White said:

Man was to bear God’s image, both in outward resemblance and in character. Christ alone is “the express image” (Hebrews 1:3)[6] of the Father; but man was formed in the likeness of God. His nature was in harmony with the will of God. His mind was capable of comprehending divine things. His affections were pure; his appetites and passions were under the control of reason. He was holy and happy in bearing the image of God and in perfect obedience to His will.

As man came forth from the hand of his Creator, he was of lofty stature and perfect symmetry. His countenance bore the ruddy tint of health and glowed with the light of life and joy. Adam’s height was much greater than that of men who now inhabit the earth. Eve was somewhat less in stature; yet her form was noble, and full of beauty. The sinless pair wore no artificial garments; they were clothed with a covering of light and glory, such as the angels wear. So long as they lived in obedience to God, this robe of light continued to enshroud them.—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets 45.2-3. [Bold type is added.]

6.    A complete human being includes body, soul, and spirit—or in more modern terms the physical, mental, social, and spiritual. This is clearly represented by verses like [Deuteronomy 6:5 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23][7].

7.    Adam and Eve were clearly distinct from all the other creatures on this earth. Adam recognized that there was no other like himself-none suitable to be a companion to himself. Evolutionists are clearly trying to erase this essential difference. Understanding what was coming, God created us capable of procreation-of having children like ourselves. Satan cannot do that. If he could, he would fill the universe with little satans! God created only two-Adam and Eve; they had the power to procreate.

8.    But, our sin condemned the world to pain, decay, and death. We were supposed to be rulers over all of nature. That is not how it is now. We have the power to choose and the freedom to make mistakes. No other creature has that.

9.    How long did Adam and Eve live in the garden before sin? We do not know. If it was longer than nine months, don’t you think Eve would have become pregnant and delivered? Or, did God practice birth control? He has done that at other times in history. (See Genesis 20:17-18[8].)

10.    There is a long list of consequences from that first sin. The first thing that Adam and Eve noticed was their nakedness: Their robes of light had disappeared. (PP 57) So, instead of looking forward to intimate contact with God, they were afraid of Him and hid themselves. Like Satan, they were more comfortable with the self-centeredness of evil.

11.    Read Genesis 3:8-19[9]. What were some of the results of their sin? Nakedness, fear, shame, blaming others for their sins, decay, pain with childbirth and with other situations, hard work, a change in diet, weeds, thorns, and death. Sin had terrible consequences almost immediately. But, we have promises that all that has been lost can be restored.

12.    What are the obvious consequences of our own sins that we deal with on a day-by-day basis? All of those mentioned above plus separation from God, sickness, conflicts, and alienation-just to mention a few.

13.    Read Genesis 3:14-15[10]. In what way did God actually place enmity between human beings and Satan? Don’t we seem to be very cozy with him most of the time? In your daily life, do you find yourself at war with evil and the Devil? In Hebrew the word for enmity shares an etymological root with hate and enemy. As a result of sin, we have become enemies of God. (See Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:21; and James 4:4.)[11] But, God has promised to bring us back into “at-one-ment” with Him. Atonement means to be restored to a correct relationship with God. How does sin make us enemies of God? Compare Romans 14:23[12].

14.    What can we learn about the atonement from [Leviticus 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 5:7; and 1 Corinthians 1:9][13]? How do those verses fit with Hebrews 10:1-4,11-13? Those Old Testament sacrifices were offered to remind people that sin leads to death. But, those sacrifices could never take away sin! So, what does take away sin? Paul stated: Romans 8:3[14] (GNB): What the Law could not do, because human nature was weak, God did. He condemned sin in human nature by sending his own Son, who came with a nature like sinful human nature, to do away with sin.

15.    Is the forgiveness of sin, i.e., justification, all that is required? Or, do we need to be changed in some way?

16.    Often, theologians use other terms to describe this atonement. One word that is used is expiation. The Latin root suggests reparation for wrong deeds. Is it possible to repair what sin has done? Do sinners owe a “debt to society”? Is there a legal requirement to be dealt with? If so, what is that legal requirement? Was sin a criminal offense? Or, a civil offense? In the case of a civil offense, someone else can pay the debt; but, in the case of a criminal offense, the offender himself must pay. As sinners, we have all done wrong; but, we can be pardoned, forgiven, and justified through the plan of salvation. That is the first step in the “restoration of all things.” (Acts 3:21, NKJV) So, is sin a civil offense? Or, a crime?

17.    Traditional Christian theology states: Sin leads to death; so, in order for sin to be dealt with, a death must take place. What does that mean to you? Why is that necessary? Is our Father-God demanding a death? Shouldn’t the sinner be the one who dies? How can Jesus actually, fairly, and justly, take our place?

18.    Have we answered Bozo’s/Boso’s question from the writings of Anselm?

For what justice is there in giving up the most just [innocent] man of all to death on behalf of the sinner? What man would not be judged worthy of condemnation if he condemned the innocent in order to free the guilty?... For if he could not save sinners except by condemning the just, where is his omnipotence? But if he could, but would not, how are we to defend his wisdom and justice? Cur Deus Homo?-Anselm (died 1109 A.D.) [Brackets and content in brackets are added.]

Is it really possible to make Jesus guilty for my sins?

19.    Anselm was famous for challenging all the conflicting statements of earlier authorities on basic theological propositions. If God is truly omnipotent (as we believe), shouldn’t He be able to save humans without the necessity of anyone-especially the completely innocent Jesus Christ-having to die? Did the Father demand the death of Jesus before He would be willing to forgive us? What would that say to us about the Father?

20.    Without an understanding of the cosmic conflict as set forth by Ellen White’s explanation of Scripture, it is impossible to answer those questions. But, the cosmic conflict provides wonderful answers to those questions. God has put Himself on trial before the universe. (Romans 3:1-4)[15] He chooses to win our loyalty by providing the evidence that He is the One who has told the truth about sin and its consequences. He not only told the truth, but also He demonstrated it through the life and death of Jesus. The only way to deal with deceit is to tell the truth.

21.    Read Galatians 4:19[16]. What do you think Paul was talking about when he said Christ could be formed in us? Certainly, we should recognize that God’s original plan for us was to be perfect creatures living in a perfect world in the Garden of Eden. Contrast that with the death, violence, suffering, fear, ignorance, etc. that permeates our world today.

In the beginning God created man in His own likeness. He endowed him with noble qualities. His mind was well balanced, and all the powers of his being were harmonious. But the Fall and its effects have perverted these gifts. Sin has marred and well-nigh obliterated the image of God in man. It was to restore this that the plan of salvation was devised, and a life of probation was granted to man. To bring him back to the perfection in which he was first created is the great object of life—the object that underlies every other.—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets 595.2. [Bold type is added.]

22.    Our ultimate goal is to have Christ’s nature formed in us. That process takes place in us through the power of the Holy Spirit as we read the Bible, pray, and witness to others.

23.    Hebrews 1:3[17] presents Christ Himself as the ultimate express image of God’s person. (Compare John 14:9; 2 Corinthians 4:4; and Colossians 1:15.)[18] But, Christ has offered to become a part of our lives, to dwell within us as the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)[19] So, even now the process can begin, and Christ within us causes us to long to bring those in our community to the One who can restore them as well. Would that suggest that if we do not have such a longing, we are not restored?

24.    Are you excited about the possibility that you could begin even now that transformation process which will extend throughout eternity? But, we must never feel that we have achieved the goal of perfection or of being ready for the second coming. The purpose is to begin a process of beholding Christ and being transformed into His image. That process is to begin on this earth; but, it is a process that will continue for eternity.

25.    Why didn’t God just abandon us when we rebelled against Him? Do you think God wept when He saw the perfect world He had created deteriorating into what we now see? But, God knew in advance what was going to happen. (See 1 Peter 1:2, KJV[20].) He recognized that the only way to accomplish what needed to be accomplished was to send His own Self in the form of the Son down to our world to teach us what God is like. And we need to remember that if Jesus is not coming back a second time, there really was no reason for Him to come the first time! Furthermore, at the third coming, everything will be restored to God’s ideal; sin, pain, and death will be eternally destroyed in the lake of fire.

26.    Amazing as it might seem, God calls us as His church to play a role in answering the questions that have been raised in the universe about God’s character and government. Answering those questions will move us toward the restoration for which we long. (See Ephesians 3:8-10.)[21] What could the universe learn about God from us?

27.    Read Mark 2:1-12[22]. Those young men went to considerable trouble to take their diseased and dying friend into the presence of Jesus. What can we do to bring the sick and the suffering of today-those who are suffering physically, mentally, socially, and even spiritually-back to Christ?

28.    Read [John 10:10 and 1 John 3:8][23]. If Jesus came to give us life in all its fullness, shouldn’t that be our goal as well? What could we do today to help mend what the Devil has done?

29.    Read [Acts 10:38 and 1 John 2:6][24]. In what ways can we partner with Christ in moving our friends and acquaintances nearer to God’s ideal for them?

30.    What are we actually doing to bring people back to God? The three essential elements of the Christian life are Bible study, prayer, and witnessing. As practicing Seventh-day Adventists, we may be doing some Bible study and prayer and that is wonderful; but, how much witnessing are we doing? And why is that necessary? Can you think of people in

your circle of influence who need your help getting to know God better?

31.    The Seventh-day Adventist Church has organized itself through various agencies to reach out to a hurting world. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is a worldwide organization designed to help those in greatest need. It reaches out to disaster victims, famine victims, those without a clean water supply, etc. But, local churches have also organized themselves to provide literacy, education, tutoring, mentoring, and psychological counseling along with other services for community members in need. How can we get people who may even come to us for help of one kind or another to recognize their spiritual need? Read Ephesians 4:21-24[25].

It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature that by beholding we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell. It becomes assimilated to that which it is accustomed to love and reverence. Man will never rise higher than his standard of purity or goodness or truth. If self is his loftiest ideal, he will never attain to anything more exalted. Rather, he will constantly sink lower and lower. The grace of God alone has power to exalt man. Left to himself, his course must inevitably be downward.—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy 555.1. [Bold type is added.]

32.    What are we-as individuals, as a Sabbath school class, and as a church-doing to share the good news of the gospel with our communities? Can you give some examples?

33.    We may be able to help people physically and mentally through our institutions such as Seventh-day Adventist hospitals and clinics around the world. But, despite our very best efforts, we know that, eventually, if Christ delays His coming, all of us will die.

34.    Could Jesus come back in our time? Why? Or, why not?

You will not be able to say that He will come in one, two, or five years, neither are you to put off His coming by stating that it may not be for ten or twenty years.... We are not to know the definite time either for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit or for the coming of Christ.—Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, March 22, 1892, par. 10 [Sermon at Lansing, Mich., Sept. 5, 1891]; Ev 221.1; LDE 33.2; Mar 136.2; 1SM 189.2.

35.    In the work of restoration, what needs to be the first step? In order to represent God correctly, don’t we need to have a clear picture of Him and how He runs His government? When we look even at ourselves, what can we do to improve things? While it is not our work to judge even ourselves, we need to develop a constant yearning to reach out to God and to others as Jesus did.

36.    So, how can we show more empathy for those who have fallen in sin? Jesus treated everyone with respect, ministering to their needs and working to restore them. How can we do the same?

37.    What are some of the key aspects of God’s image that He bestowed on Adam and Eve at their creation? In what ways are we like God even now? In what ways could we become more like God by following His plan for our lives?

38.    How do we respond to the brokenness we might see in the world around us? What could we do to heal the brokenness around us?

39.    How do we react as we see war, murder, death, and destruction on television almost every day? Is there anything that we can do about it? Do we just become numb to it?

40.    As we all recognize, God created us with free will or free choice. Can we use our free will to help move mankind at least in the direction of God’s plan for all of us?

41.    As you think about the brokenness of our world, what particular aspects come to mind first? Try to imagine what the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve in that perfect environment must have looked like. Read Genesis 3-6[26] to see how quickly things deteriorated! Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit. (Genesis 3:6-7)[27] Cain murdered his brother, Abel. (Genesis 4:8)[28] More murders followed. (Genesis 4:23-24)[29] And pain, alienation, strife, and war, etc. became the norm. (Genesis 5:29)[30] Things became so bad that God felt it was necessary to start over again by destroying almost the entire world in a flood. But, when that flood was over, God made a covenant with His friend Noah and Noah’s family. See Genesis 9:11[31].

42.    What do you think is implied by Paul’s “ministry of reconciliation”? (2 Corinthians 5:18)[32] How does that relate to restoration? Second Corinthians 5:16-19[33] is one of the most beautiful passages in Scripture. Verse 18 (GNB) states:

All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also.

43.    Are we prepared to do that?

44.    Many scientists in our world today deny the idea of a perfect creation done by God. But, because of scientific evidence, they are being forced to recognize some startling facts. Life on this earth could not exist nor could the universe remain as it is without an incredible degree of precision in the way things were made. Could that have happened just by chance? See Gerald Schroeder, “The Fine Tuning of the Universe,” at http://geraldschroeder.com/wordpress/?page id=49

45. In that article, Dr. Schroeder, a physicist from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, made it very clear that our universe and our world could not have happened by accident. In a world where evolution seems to be the predominant theory about origins, this is a real challenge. How do we respond to those around us who believe in evolution? As we know, that can be a large challenge. For ourselves we must remember that:

Had the Sabbath been universally kept, man’s thoughts and affections would have been led to the Creator as the object of reverence and worship, and there would never have been an idolater, an atheist, or an infidel. The keeping of the Sabbath is a sign of loyalty to the true God, “Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” It follows that the message which commands men to worship God and keep His commandments will especially call upon them to keep the fourth commandment.—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy 437.2.

46.    Aren’t you glad that we have the Sabbath and all the blessings that attend its keeping?

© 2016, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged.    Info@theox. org

1-Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild,[a] large and small.” 27 So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female,

3:8 That evening they heard the LORD God walking in the garden, and they hid from him among the trees. 9 But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?”

10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden; I was afraid and hid from you, because I was naked.”

11 “Who told you that you were naked?” God asked. “Did you eat the fruit that I told you not to eat?”

12 The man answered, “The woman you put here with me gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

13 The LORD God asked the woman, “Why did you do this?”

She replied, “The snake tricked me into eating it.”

God Pronounces Judgment

14 Then the LORD God said to the snake, “You will be punished for this; you alone of all the animals must bear this curse: From now on you will crawl on your belly, and you will have to eat dust as long as you live. 15 I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's[a] heel.”

16 And he said to the woman, “I will increase your trouble in pregnancy and your pain in giving birth. In spite of this, you will still have desire for your husband, yet you will be subject to him.”

17 And he said to the man, “You listened to your wife and ate the fruit which I told you not to eat. Because of what you have done, the ground will be under a curse. You will have to work hard all your life to make it produce enough food for you. 18 It will produce weeds and thorns, and you will have to eat wild plants. 19 You will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed. You were made from soil, and you will become soil again.”

Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

James 4:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Galatians 4:19 My dear children! Once again, just like a mother in childbirth, I feel the same kind of pain for you until Christ's nature is formed in you.

Mark 2:1 A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum, and the news spread that he was at home. 2 So many people came together that there was no room left, not even out in front of the door. Jesus was preaching the message to them 3 when four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man to Jesus. 4 Because of the crowd, however, they could not get the man to him. So they made a hole in the roof right above the place where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they let the man down, lying on his mat. 5 Seeing how much faith they had, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Some teachers of the Law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “How does he dare talk like this? This is blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!”

8 At once Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them, “Why do you think such things? 9 Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

12 While they all watched, the man got up, picked up his mat, and hurried away. They were all completely amazed and praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.

2-2 Corinthians 5:17 Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.

Romans 8:29 Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the first among many believers.

3-Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild,[a] large and small.” 27 So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female,

4-Genesis 1:31 God looked at everything he had made, and he was very pleased. Evening passed and morning came—that was the sixth day.

Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being—spirit, soul, and body—free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

5-Job 37:16 Do you know how clouds float in the sky,

the work of God's amazing skill?

6-Hebrews 1:3 He reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word. After achieving forgiveness for the sins of all human beings, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.

7-Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being—spirit, soul, and body—free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

8-Genesis 20:17-18 Because of what had happened to Sarah, Abraham's wife, the LORD had made it impossible for any woman in Abimelech's palace to have children. So Abraham prayed for Abimelech, and God healed him. He also healed his wife and his slave women, so that they could have children.

9-Genesis 3:8 That evening they heard the LORD God walking in the garden, and they hid from him among the trees. 9 But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?”

10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden; I was afraid and hid from you, because I was naked.”

11 “Who told you that you were naked?” God asked. “Did you eat the fruit that I told you not to eat?”

12 The man answered, “The woman you put here with me gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

13 The LORD God asked the woman, “Why did you do this?”

She replied, “The snake tricked me into eating it.”

God Pronounces Judgment

14 Then the LORD God said to the snake, “You will be punished for this; you alone of all the animals must bear this curse: From now on you will crawl on your belly, and you will have to eat dust as long as you live. 15 I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's[a] heel.”

16 And he said to the woman, “I will increase your trouble in pregnancy and your pain in giving birth. In spite of this, you will still have desire for your husband, yet you will be subject to him.”

17 And he said to the man, “You listened to your wife and ate the fruit which I told you not to eat. Because of what you have done, the ground will be under a curse. You will have to work hard all your life to make it produce enough food for you. 18 It will produce weeds and thorns, and you will have to eat wild plants. 19 You will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed. You were made from soil, and you will become soil again.”

10-Genesis 3:14 Then the LORD God said to the snake, “You will be punished for this; you alone of all the animals must bear this curse: From now on you will crawl on your belly, and you will have to eat dust as long as you live. 15 I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's[a] heel.”

11-Romans 5:10 We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ's life!

Colossians 1:21 At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did and thought.

James 4:4 Unfaithful people! Don't you know that to be the world's friend means to be God's enemy? If you want to be the world's friend, you make yourself God's enemy.

12-Romans 14:23 But if they have doubts about what they eat, God condemns them when they eat it, because their action is not based on faith. And anything that is not based on faith is sin.

13-Leviticus 1:3 If you are offering one of your cattle as a burnt offering, you must bring a bull without any defects. You must present it at the entrance of the Tent of the LORD's presence so that the LORD will accept you. 4 You shall put your hand on its head, and it will be accepted as a sacrifice to take away your sins.

1 Corinthians 5:7 You must remove the old yeast of sin so that you will be entirely pure. Then you will be like a new batch of dough without any yeast, as indeed I know you actually are. For our Passover Festival is ready, now that Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is to be trusted, the God who called you to have fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.

14-Romans 8:3 What the Law could not do, because human nature was weak, God did. He condemned sin in human nature by sending his own Son, who came with a nature like our sinful nature, to do away with sin.

15-Romans 3:1 Do the Jews then have any advantage over the Gentiles? Or is there any value in being circumcised? 2 Much, indeed, in every way! In the first place, God trusted his message to the Jews. 3 But what if some of them were not faithful? Does this mean that God will not be faithful? 4 Certainly not! God must be true, even though all human beings are liars. As the scripture says,

“You must be shown to be right when you speak;

you must win your case when you are being tried.”

16-Galatians 4:19 My dear children! Once again, just like a mother in childbirth, I feel the same kind of pain for you until Christ's nature is formed in you.

17-Hebrews 1:3 He reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word. After achieving forgiveness for the sins of all human beings, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.

18-John 14:9 Jesus answered, “For a long time I have been with you all; yet you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Why, then, do you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

2 Corinthians 4:4 They do not believe, because their minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world. He keeps them from seeing the light shining on them, the light that comes from the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Colossians 1:15 Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the first-born Son, superior to all created things.

19-Colossians 1:27 God's plan is to make known his secret to his people, this rich and glorious secret which he has for all peoples. And the secret is that Christ is in you, which means that you will share in the glory of God.

20-1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

21-Ephesians 3:8 I am less than the least of all God's people; yet God gave me this privilege of taking to the Gentiles the Good News about the infinite riches of Christ, 9 and of making all people see how God's secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages, 10 in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms.

22-Mark 2:1  A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum, and the news spread that he was at home. 2 So many people came together that there was no room left, not even out in front of the door. Jesus was preaching the message to them 3 when four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man to Jesus. 4 Because of the crowd, however, they could not get the man to him. So they made a hole in the roof right above the place where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they let the man down, lying on his mat. 5 Seeing how much faith they had, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Some teachers of the Law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “How does he dare talk like this? This is blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!”

8 At once Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them, “Why do you think such things? 9 Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

12 While they all watched, the man got up, picked up his mat, and hurried away. They were all completely amazed and praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

23-John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.

1 John 3:8 Whoever continues to sin belongs to the Devil, because the Devil has sinned from the very beginning. The Son of God appeared for this very reason, to destroy what the Devil had done.

24-Acts 10:38 You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the Devil, for God was with him.

1 John 2:6 if we say that we remain in union with God, we should live just as Jesus Christ did.

25-Ephesians 4:21 You certainly heard about him, and as his followers you were taught the truth that is in Jesus. 22 So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. 23 Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, 24 and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.

26-Genesis 3:1  Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the LORD God had made. The snake asked the woman, “Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?”

2 “We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden,” the woman answered, 3 “except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die.”

4 The snake replied, “That's not true; you will not die. 5 God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God[a] and know what is good and what is bad.”[b]

6 The woman saw how beautiful the tree was and how good its fruit would be to eat, and she thought how wonderful it would be to become wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it. 7 As soon as they had eaten it, they were given understanding and realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and covered themselves.

8 That evening they heard the LORD God walking in the garden, and they hid from him among the trees. 9 But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?”

10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden; I was afraid and hid from you, because I was naked.”

11 “Who told you that you were naked?” God asked. “Did you eat the fruit that I told you not to eat?”

12 The man answered, “The woman you put here with me gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

13 The LORD God asked the woman, “Why did you do this?”

She replied, “The snake tricked me into eating it.”

God Pronounces Judgment

14 Then the LORD God said to the snake, “You will be punished for this; you alone of all the animals must bear this curse: From now on you will crawl on your belly, and you will have to eat dust as long as you live. 15 I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's[c] heel.”

16 And he said to the woman, “I will increase your trouble in pregnancy and your pain in giving birth. In spite of this, you will still have desire for your husband, yet you will be subject to him.”

17 And he said to the man, “You listened to your wife and ate the fruit which I told you not to eat. Because of what you have done, the ground will be under a curse. You will have to work hard all your life to make it produce enough food for you. 18 It will produce weeds and thorns, and you will have to eat wild plants. 19 You will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed. You were made from soil, and you will become soil again.”

20 Adam[d] named his wife Eve,[e] because she was the mother of all human beings. 21 And the LORD God made clothes out of animal skins for Adam and his wife, and he clothed them.

Adam and Eve Are Sent Out of the Garden

22 Then the LORD God said, “Now these human beings have become like one of us and have knowledge of what is good and what is bad.[f] They must not be allowed to take fruit from the tree that gives life, eat it, and live forever.” 23 So the LORD God sent them out of the Garden of Eden and made them cultivate the soil from which they had been formed. 24 Then at the east side of the garden he put living creatures[g] and a flaming sword which turned in all directions. This was to keep anyone from coming near the tree that gives life.

Cain and Abel

4 Then Adam had intercourse with his wife, and she became pregnant. She bore a son and said, “By the LORD's help I have gotten a son.” So she named him Cain.[h] 2 Later she gave birth to another son, Abel. Abel became a shepherd, but Cain was a farmer. 3 After some time Cain brought some of his harvest and gave it as an offering to the LORD. 4 Then Abel brought the first lamb born to one of his sheep, killed it, and gave the best parts of it as an offering. The LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering, 5 but he rejected Cain and his offering. Cain became furious, and he scowled in anger. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why that scowl on your face? 7 If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling;[i] but because you have done evil, sin is crouching at your door. It wants to rule you, but you must overcome it.”

8 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go out in the fields.”[j] When they were out in the fields, Cain turned on his brother and killed him.

9 The LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

He answered, “I don't know. Am I supposed to take care of my brother?”

10 Then the LORD said, “Why have you done this terrible thing? Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground, like a voice calling for revenge. 11 You are placed under a curse and can no longer farm the soil. It has soaked up your brother's blood as if it had opened its mouth to receive it when you killed him. 12 If you try to grow crops, the soil will not produce anything; you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”

13 And Cain said to the LORD, “This punishment is too hard for me to bear. 14 You are driving me off the land and away from your presence. I will be a homeless wanderer on the earth, and anyone who finds me will kill me.”

15 But the LORD answered, “No. If anyone kills you, seven lives will be taken in revenge.” So the LORD put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who met him not to kill him. 16 And Cain went away from the LORD's presence and lived in a land called “Wandering,” which is east of Eden.

The Descendants of Cain

17 Cain and his wife had a son and named him Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son. 18 Enoch had a son named Irad, who was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael had a son named Methushael, who was the father of Lamech. 19 Lamech had two wives, Adah and Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the ancestor of those who raise livestock and live in tents. 21 His brother was Jubal, the ancestor of all musicians who play the harp and the flute. 22 Zillah gave birth to Tubal Cain, who made all kinds of tools[k] out of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal Cain was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me:

I have killed a young man because he struck me.

24 If seven lives are taken to pay for killing Cain,

Seventy-seven will be taken if anyone kills me.”

Seth and Enosh

25 Adam and his wife had another son. She said, “God has given me a son to replace Abel, whom Cain killed.” So she named him Seth.[l] 26 Seth had a son whom he named Enosh. It was then that people began using the LORD's holy name in worship.

The Descendants of Adam

5 This is the list of the descendants of Adam. (When God created human beings, he made them like himself. 2 He created them male and female, blessed them, and named them “Human Beings.”) 3 When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son who was like him, and he named him Seth. 4 After that, Adam lived another 800 years. He had other children 5 and died at the age of 930.

6 When Seth was 105, he had a son, Enosh, 7 and then lived another 807 years. He had other children 8 and died at the age of 912.

9 When Enosh was 90, he had a son, Kenan, 10 and then lived another 815 years. He had other children 11 and died at the age of 905.

12 When Kenan was 70, he had a son, Mahalalel, 13 and then lived another 840 years. He had other children 14 and died at the age of 910.

15 When Mahalalel was 65, he had a son, Jared, 16 and then lived another 830 years. He had other children 17 and died at the age of 895.

18 When Jared was 162, he had a son, Enoch, 19 and then lived another 800 years. He had other children 20 and died at the age of 962.

21 When Enoch was 65, he had a son, Methuselah. 22 After that, Enoch lived in fellowship with God for 300 years and had other children. 23 He lived to be 365 years old. 24 He spent his life in fellowship with God, and then he disappeared, because God took him away.

25 When Methuselah was 187, he had a son, Lamech, 26 and then lived another 782 years. He had other children 27 and died at the age of 969.

28 When Lamech was 182, he had a son 29 and said, “From the very ground on which the LORD put a curse, this child will bring us relief from all our hard work”; so he named him Noah.[m] 30 Lamech lived another 595 years. He had other children 31 and died at the age of 777.

32 After Noah was 500 years old, he had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Human Wickedness

6 When people had spread all over the world, and daughters were being born, 2 some of the heavenly beings[n] saw that these young women were beautiful, so they took the ones they liked. 3 Then the LORD said, “I will not allow people to live forever; they are mortal. From now on they will live no longer than 120 years.” 4 In those days, and even later, there were giants on the earth who were descendants of human women and the heavenly beings. They were the great heroes and famous men of long ago.

5 When the LORD saw how wicked everyone on earth was and how evil their thoughts were all the time, 6 he was sorry that he had ever made them and put them on the earth. He was so filled with regret 7 that he said, “I will wipe out these people I have created, and also the animals and the birds, because I am sorry that I made any of them.” 8 But the LORD was pleased with Noah.

Noah

9-10 This is the story of Noah. He had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Noah had no faults and was the only good man of his time. He lived in fellowship with God, 11 but everyone else was evil in God's sight, and violence had spread everywhere. 12 God looked at the world and saw that it was evil, for the people were all living evil lives.

13 God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to all people. I will destroy them completely, because the world is full of their violent deeds. 14 Build a boat for yourself out of good timber; make rooms in it and cover it with tar inside and out. 15 Make it 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16 Make a roof[o] for the boat and leave a space of 18 inches between the roof[p] and the sides. Build it with three decks and put a door in the side. 17 I am going to send a flood on the earth to destroy every living being. Everything on the earth will die, 18 but I will make a covenant with you. Go into the boat with your wife, your sons, and their wives. 19-20 Take into the boat with you a male and a female of every kind of animal and of every kind of bird, in order to keep them alive. 21 Take along all kinds of food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did everything that God commanded.

27-Genesis 3:6 The woman saw how beautiful the tree was and how good its fruit would be to eat, and she thought how wonderful it would be to become wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it. 7 As soon as they had eaten it, they were given understanding and realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and covered themselves.

28-Genesis 4:8 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go out in the fields.”[a] When they were out in the fields, Cain turned on his brother and killed him.

29-Genesis 4:23 Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me:

I have killed a young man because he struck me.

24 If seven lives are taken to pay for killing Cain,

Seventy-seven will be taken if anyone kills me.”

30-Genesis 5:29 and said, “From the very ground on which the LORD put a curse, this child will bring us relief from all our hard work”; so he named him Noah.[a]

31-Genesis 9:11 With these words I make my covenant with you: I promise that never again will all living beings be destroyed by a flood; never again will a flood destroy the earth.

32-2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also.

33-2 Corinthians 5:16 No longer, then, do we judge anyone by human standards. Even if at one time we judged Christ according to human standards, we no longer do so. 17 Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. 18 All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also. 19 Our message is that God was making all human beings his friends through Christ.[a] God did not keep an account of their sins, and he has given us the message which tells how he makes them his friends.

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