Stranger on the Road to Emmaus lesson 2 (c. 3-5)

[disciple]

Session 2 The Fall of Man - Result of the Fall

Lucifer’s position in Heaven - His fall from Heaven
Adam and Eve’s sin -- The curse -- Noah and the Ark
Tower of Babel -- Sodom & Gomorrah

The Stranger On The Road To Emmaus
Chapters 3, 4, & 5

Scripture
Ezekiel 28, Isaiah 14, Revelation 20, Genesis 3, 4, 6

Perspective for the Teacher
As Christians, we talk about “being saved”. But saved from what? This lesson shows what man is truly like and what God thinks of sin and disobedience. God is holy and righteous and has decreed that the punishment for sin is death. That is what each of us deserves.
The purpose of this lesson is to show how helpless we are and to give just a glimpse at the hope that God has given us. Later, we will be able to expand on that hope - to show God’s grace to all mankind.

LESSON OUTLINE:

I. Satan - Lucifer (Ezekiel 28:11-15)
a. He was created perfect by God.
More beautiful, intelligent, and wise than the others.
God gave Lucifer a very important position in Heaven.
b. He became proud (Isaiah 14:12-14)
Five times, Lucifer talked about himself by saying “I will”.
He didn’t want to be under God’s authority. He wanted to be over Him.
c. God threw him out of heaven (Isaiah 14:16-17)
God knew the thoughts of Lucifer.
God is perfect so he couldn’t tolerate the sin of Lucifer
d. Many angels followed Lucifer as he left heaven (Revelation 12:3-4, 7-9)
They were determined to help Lucifer (now called Satan) with his plan.
They were now called “demons” or “evil spirits”.
e. God prepared a Lake of Fire for Satan and the spirits who followed him (Matthew 25:41)
God does not tolerate disobedience.
At the end of the world, Satan and his followers will be cast into this lake of fire (Rev 20:10)
f. Lucifer and his angels hate God.
They are still determined to take God’s position of man.
They began a line of deception that continues today.

II. Satan came to Adam and Eve! (Gen 3:1-5)
a. Cunning & wise - asked a sneaky question (3:1)
b. Responded to Eve’s answer with lies and truth (3:4-5)
Won’t die (a lie)
Know good from evil (truth - but left off the consequences)
Be like God. (Implied that the creation is as important as the creator.)
Creating doubt, downplaying the authority of God.
SATAN STILL DECEIVES PEOPLE.

III. Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s simple rules (Gen 3:6-13)
a. Even though Adam knew that God had said not to eat the fruit, he deliberately disobeyed God’s command.
b. He was no longer perfect.

IV. Sin had its consequences (Gen 3:14-19)
a. God placed a curse on the serpent, Eve, and Adam.
b. Adam and Eve’s sin separated them from God.
God is holy and righteous. He demands death as a payment for sin.
Man is a sinner. He needs God and is helpless to save himself.
c. There were several signs of separation from God that became obvious.
Their attitudes toward their bodies changed immediately. (know that they were naked)
They tried to provide their own needs. (covered themselves with fig leaves)
Tried to hide from God. (But God is everywhere. He knows everything)

V. An animal had to be killed (Gen 3:21)
a. God wouldn’t accept the fig leaf covering.
Man’s way of covering sin.
God only accepts things done HIS way.
b. God covered them with animal skin.
Death was necessary because of sin.
Picture of Christ’s atonement

VI. Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:22-24)
a. Physical death began.
They were away from the Tree of Life.
Would not live forever.
b. Spiritual death also began.
God is perfect.
They weren’t perfect.
They could no longer walk and talk with God on earth
They wouldn’t be able to live with God in heaven after death.

VII. But God loves his creation. He had a plan. (Gen 3:15)
a. In the curse of the serpent, God gave the first of many illustrations of how he would deliver man from Satan.
There would be a male child.
Satan would “bruise his heel” (cause temporary pain and harm).
The male child would crush Satan’s head (permanent damage)
b. God’s judgment and wrath are obvious. But He also shows his love and compassion for people. He wants to be with people so offers a way.

VIII. Cain and Abel were born outside of the Garden of Eden (Gen 4:1-2)
a. They were born as sinners, separated from God.
b. Away from the tree of life (wouldn’t live forever)
c. Required to work.

IX. Cain and Abel had to follow God’s plan to worship Him (Gen 4:3-15)
a. Cain tried his own way of coming to God. (4:3, 5)
Sacrifice from the earth.
No body was sacrificed; no blood was shed.
His offering was rejected by God.
We can only come to God according to HIS plan.
b. Abel gave an offering according to God’s plan. (4:4)
Death was necessary. Blood must be shed.
His offering was accepted by God.
Because of the sacrifice of the lamb, God was able to overlook the sins of Abel.
c. God gave Cain another opportunity to do the right thing. (4:6-7)
Explained that if he did it right, the result would be good.
But if wrong, there would be consequences.
d. Cain refused to change. He killed Abel. (4:8)
Man’s true nature (without God) was demonstrated.
Man is a sinner and is helpless to save himself.
e. God’s judgment on Cain (Gen 4:9-15)
Gen 4:13-14 “My punishment is greater than I can bear…”
Men have continued to try to get to God by following their own ideas instead of the way God tells us.
The results are always the same….disaster, more than we can bear.

X. From Adam to Noah (Gen 6:1-7)
a. Ten generations of men believed God and continued to look for the coming Deliverer who was promised in the Garden of Eden.
By the time of Noah, the population had grown to a large number.
But most of the people gave no thought as to how they should please God.
b. God the Holy Spirit was striving with the people (6:3)
To change their minds
To admit that they were wrong
To believe in Him
c. But the wickedness increased (6:5)
Sin leads to more sin.
God’s spirit may quit striving.
d. God saw the unbelieving world and the sin (6:5-7)
God was “grieved”.
He is grieved when WE disobey Him.
e. God decided to destroy the world (6:6)
The entire population needed to be wiped out.
God is perfect and He can’t stand imperfection.
He demands death as the payment for sin.

XI. The Story of Noah and the Flood
a. God noticed Noah - There was something special about him (Gen 6:8-12)
A perfect person - blameless (Gen 6:9)
1. Was he born a sinner?
2. Was he truly sinless?
3. What made him perfect?
He “walked with God”. (Gen 6:9)
1. God didn’t see his sin.
2. He had faith in God.
Gen 8:20 tells of his sacrifices of animals and blood. This shows that he had an understanding of what God demanded for sin.
3. A good example of grace (God’s kindness to undeserving sinners)
b. God gave instruction to Noah. Noah obeyed.
God told Noah to build a boat that would protect those who trusted God (Gen 6:13-21). The boat had to be built exactly as God wanted. He was the boss! It had ONLY ONE DOOR. Only one way to safety. Only one way to escape God’s wrath.
Noah did exactly what God wanted done (Gen 6:22)
c. God told Noah to bring his family, the animals, and the birds into the ark (Gen 7:1-5)
They had to believe and trust God in order to live.
They all entered by ONE door (Gen 7:15-16)
God shut them in (Gen 7:16)
1. It was too late for anyone else to come in.
2. God had made the final decision.
d. God destroyed all who were outside the ark (Gen 7:17-23)
God hates sin. Sin must be destroyed.
God had been patient with men. He had waited 120 years for men to repent and turn to Him.
e. God remembered Noah and all who were inside the ark (Gen 8:1-4, 14-17)
Did they deserve it?
Their faith in God is what allowed them to survive.
f. God gave His commands and promises to Noah
He told Noah to “multiply, and fill the earth (Gen 9:1-2)
He gave mankind a fresh start. Another opportunity to obey Him.
But it still had to be on God’s terms, not man’s.
g. God gave the rainbow as His sign (Gen 9:12-16)
He made a promise to never destroy the entire world again by flood.
He always keeps His promises

XII. The Tower of Babel
The people were again rebellious and proud (Gen 11:1-4)
Thinking of themselves
Disobedient to God’s command to populate the entire earth.
a. God saw them (Gen 11:5)
He knew exactly what they were doing.
He knows all about His creation.
b. God scattered them (11:6-9)
They had to do what God had originally told them to do, to populate the entire world.
Languages and communication became a problem.
God gave them another opportunity to follow and obey Him.

XIII. Sodom & Gomorrah
(This story isn’t in the book, but it’s a good example of what God thinks of sin. God’s provision for Lot is an example of God’s grace. Lot didn’t deserve grace but he received it anyway. )
a. God’s attitude toward Sodom & Gomorrah (Gen 18:20, 21)
Penalty of sin is death
Except for God’s grace, there is no way to prevent death.
b. Lot’s story continues.
Lot had made his choice and “dwelt in the cities of the plain” (Gen 13:12)
He saw the sins of Sodom but pitched his tent near Sodom
The next thing recorded was that “…Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom.” (Gen 19:1)
By this time, he wasn’t just observing sin, he was involved in it.
It’s a great picture of mankind. Sinners - easily tempted - yield to Satan instead of God