Leaves Of Gold
A Call To Return To Biblical Teaching
"…to
contend earnestly for the faith …"
Year Two, number 4 ---- April 2007
MASTER OUTLINE NUMBER FIFTEEN
(These studies are taken
from "The Christian Life Bible", Thomas Nelson Publishers, Porter L. Barrington)
Theme:
The Doctrine of Sin
The
doctrine of sin encompasses the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation. When
the first man and woman sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, their
relationship and fellowship with God was broken. Thus began the suffering of
the race. Mankind will continue to reap the wages of sin, which are physical
and spiritual death (Rom. 6:23, page 1134), until the Lord Jesus Christ returns
to this planet to put an end to sin and death forever (1 Cor. 15:20-26,51-58,
page 1161). The only hope for the sinner to escape the wages of sin-death,
which is eternal separation from God's mercy-is to accept by faith the Lord
Jesus Christ as personal Savior, thus escaping the second death, which includes
the lake of fire (Rev. 21 :8, page 1315). Faith in His atoning death on
Calvary, His burial, and bodily resurrection will robe the believer in the
righteousness of God the Son (2 Cor. 5:21, page 1169). Then the sinner will be
changed because he is in Christ. "Therefore, if anyone [any sinner] is in
Christ, he [or she] is a new creation; old things have passed away [old
beliefs, old desires, old ways, old deeds, old plans]; behold, all things have
become new" (2 Cor. 5:17, page 1169). God longs to make the sinner a new
person in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. All sins of those who believe
will be cleansed by the blood of God the Son (Rev. 1 :5, page 1293; d.
1
Pet. 1 :18, 19, page 1263).
The
question is often asked, "What is
sin?" God answers this question in clear and simple language. According
to the Word of God, sin is
(1) going our own way (doing our will), although
"the LORD has laid on Him [the Messiah-Savior
Jesus Christ] the iniquity of us all" (Is.
53:6, page 693);
(2) transgression, overstepping God's holy law
(1 John 3:4, page 1280); (3) unbelief-calling God a liar (1 John 5:10, page
1282);
(4) falling short of God's glory (Rom. 3:23,
page 1131), when we ought always to glory in the Lord
(1 Cor. 1.:31, page 1148). Paul tells us in
Colossians 3:16, 17 (page 1206) how to glory in the Lord.
Jeremiah also tells us how to glory in the Lord,
but first he lists some things we are not to glory in:
(1) "Let not the wise man glory in his
wisdom:'
(2) "Let not the mighty man glory in his
might:'
(3) "Nor let the rich man glory in his
riches:'
Then
he writes, " 'But let him who glories glory in this;
(1) 'That he understands and knows Me;
(2) 'That I am the LORD, exercising loving
kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth:
II 'For in
these I delight; says the LORD" (Jer. 9:23, 24, page 721). In these things
we should delight also, and not permit sin to have dominion over us (Rom.
6:11-18, page 1134), for when we allow sin to have dominion over us we are
incapable of glorying in the Lord.
15A. The Origin of Sin,
Genesis 2:15-18.
Sin is rebellion against God, doing evil, violating His will, breaking
His law. Many ask how sin first gained
entrance into the world. When God
created Adam and Eve, He gave them t he power of choice. They could choose to obey their holy and
righteous Creator or they could choose to disobey. They both ate of the forbidden fruit, disobeying God’s explicit
instructions and His perfect will for their lives, Genesis 3:6: 1 Tim. 2:14.
(1)
Before the fall of man, Satan and his messengers
had already fallen
Satan’s
fall is described in Isaiah 14:12-17 as the prophet gazed past the wicked king
of Babylon to Satan who indwelt him. He
fell because of pride, and his desire to be equal to God. Later he enticed Eve with the same desire,
Genesis 3:5.
Satan’s
fall is further described in Ezekiel 28:12-19 as the prophet considered the
evil personality who indwelt the wicked king of Tyre. Satan is described as “the anointed cherub” who had been in
Eden,
"the garden of God." He was created as a perfect being, but he fell
into iniquity. Pride in his own .beauty was the source of his fall.
The
book of Revelation indicates that a third of the angels also fell with
Satan-"His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven" (Rev. 12:3,
4, 9, page 1305). Angels are at times
represented by "stars" (Rev. :20, page
1294).
(2) Adam and Eve fell by breaking a clear
command of God:
(a) The clear command (vv.
16,
17). Adam and Eve were commanded by God not to eat of the tree )f
the knowledge of good and evil. They were told that "in the day that you
eat of it you shall surely die" (v. 7).
(b) The tempter's lies (Gen.
3:1-5).
Satan,
the already fallen being, used the body of a serpent to peak to Eve, enticing
her to sin. He denied that she would die for her sin, and he told her that she
would lave a new freedom and knowledge, and thus be like God.
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(c) Lingering with
temptation (Gen. 3:4-6). Eve
listened to Satan's lies and was attracted by the fruit. ;er taste anticipated
that it "was good for food" and she desired to be made wise.
(d) The Fall (Gen.
3:6;
d. 1 Tim. 2:12-14, page 1219).
Eve
ate the forbidden fruit and gave it to Adam, and "he ate.~' It was a test
of-simple obedience. They had the fruit of all of the other trees, and there
was no need for them to eat of the forbidden tree (vv. 15,
16).
There are still many lessons in this account for
us today:
(1)
Satan's lies are the same.
(2) He uses nearby temptations to lure us.
(3) There is danger in lingering or toying with
sin. (4) The Fall has had death-dealing effects.
(5) God had foreknowledge of Adam's fall, and
from the beginning of creation He made provision for it:
(a) Christ’s death was "foreordained before
the foundation of the world" (1 Pet.
1
:20, page 1264).
Before He created the world God had determined
to create mankind and allow the test in Eden (knowing that man would fall), and
He had determined already to send Christ to die for man's sin.
(b) God in no way compelled Adam and Eve to sin,
nor is God ever the chargeable cause of sin. lames, using the word tempt,
meaning to entice to sin, tells us God does this to no one
(James 1 :13-15, page 1256).
15-B. The Effects of Sin: Immediate and lasting
(Genesis 3:7-24)-
5atan's
lie to Adam and Eve encouraged them to rebel against God's goodness by
violating His commandment, suggesting that they would not really suffer for
breaking God's law. No lie was ever farther from the truth. All of this
planet's ills-physical, psychological, political, economic, social, medical,
religious, and spiritual (Eph. 6:12, page 1192)-can be traced to the entrance
of sin into the world (Eph. 2:1-3, page 1187).
(1) Adam and Eve's sin had immediate effects:
(a) They experienced an inner agony of guilt.
"They knew that they were naked" (v. 7).
(b) They made a futile attempt at
self-righteousness. "They sewed fig leaves together and made themselves
coverings" (v. 7).
(c) Fellowship with God was broken. They
"hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God" (v.
8).
(d) They feared sin's punishment. "I was
afraid ... I hid myself" (v. 10).
(e) Fellowship with other humans was broken.
"The woman ... gave me of the tree" (v. 12).
(f)
Harmony with the creatures of the earth was also broken. "The serpent
deceived me" (v. 13).
(g) Part of the animal creation was "cursed
more than all cattle ... on your belly you shall go" (v. 14).
(h) Part
of the animal creation became hostile to mankind. "I will put enmity
between you [the serpent] and the woman" (v. 15).
(i) Physical pain became a part of human life,
especially pain in childbirth. "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and
your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children" (v. 16).
(j) Authority, rank, and tension appeared in
marriage. "Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over
you" (v. 16).
(k) The ground was cursed and became hostile to
mankind in bringing forth weeds. "Cursed is the ground for your sake ....
Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth" (vv. 17, 18).
(I) Human physical death began. "To dust
you shall return" (v. 19).
(m) Mankind was driven out of the garden.
"God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground" (v. 23).
(n) Mankind was denied the Tree of life. God
"placed cherubim ... and a flaming sword" to keep man from eating
from the Tree of life (vv. 22, 24).
(2) Adam and Eve's sin also had wider effects:
(a) Mankind was separated from God. "So He
drove out the man" (v. 24; d. Eph.
2:12, page 1187). (b) Sin was brought into the human race. "Through one
man sin entered the world" (Rom. 5:12, page
1133).
(c) Death was brought into the human race.
"Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin" (Rom. 5:12, page 1133).
(d) All mankind inherited death. "And thus
death spread to all men" (Rom. 5:12, page 1133). (e) All inherited Adam's
guilt. "All sinned" (Rom. 5:12, page 1133).
(f) All became condemned in Adam, and by their
own sins. "For all have sinned [broken God's laws] and fall short of the
glory of God"-fall short of His requirements (Rom. 3:23, page 1131).
(g) All died spiritually. "For to be
carnally minded is death" (Rom. 8;6-9, page 1137).
(h) All bore the penalty. "For the wages of
sin is death"-physical and spiritual (Rom. 6:23, page
1134).
(i) All unbelievers will be judged after death
at the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11-13, page 1313). (j) All unbelievers will
spend eternity, separated from God, in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14, 15, page
1314).
Original sin clearly affected our entire race.
Newborn infants do not start anew as did Adam and Eve in the Garden they enter
with an already formed sin nature and a limited life span. To all this we can
only shout with glad hearts that God has provided a remedy for sin and
death-through Christ.
15-C. The Effects of Sin in Human Character
(Romans 3:9-18)-
Christ
said that "a bad tree bears bad fruit" (Matt. 7:17, page 946).
Certainly this is proven true in the effects of the fall of Adam. Sin entered
the human race and dominated it. The Bible vividly pictures what sinful men
became as a result of the Fall:
(1) murderers
(Gen. 4:8, page 8);
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(2) indifferent 'to God and the welfare of
others (v. 11; d. Gen. 4:9,page 8); (3)
unrighteous (v. 10);
(4) evildoers, turning aside from God's paths
and standards (v. 12); (5) evil speakers, deceivers, gossips, and slanderers
(v. 13);
(6) full of cursing and bitterness (v. 14);
(7) swift to shed blood (v.
15);
(8) destructive and
miserable in their ways (v. 16); (9) warlike and
incapable of being appeased (v. 17);
(10) immoral, prone to false
religion and idols, and self-serving (Rom. 1 :23-25, page
1129);
(11) unrighteous, wicked,
covetous, malicious, envious, deceitful, and injurious (Rom. 1:29,
page
1129);
(12) backbiters, haters of God, spiteful, proud and boastful,
disobedient to parents, and inventors of evil
(Rom. 1:30, page
1129);
(13) covenant breakers,
unaffectionate, not understanding, implacable, and unmerciful (Rom. 1
:31, page 1129);
(14) rejoicing in evil (Rom.
1:32,
page
1129);
(15) kidnappers and
slaveholders (Gen. 37:26-28, page 44);
(16) rapists (2 Sam. 13:8-14,
page
309);
(17) harsh and selfish
rulers (Ex. 5:6-8, page 63);
(18) vengeful (Gen. 34:7-30, page
40);
(19) thieves and cheats (1
Kin.
21:5-16,
page
3'51).
15-D. The Effects of Sin in Human History (James
4:1-5)
-James
made it clear that wars on earth historically stem from sinful desires within
our hearts and bodies, "desires for pleasure that war in your
members" (vv. I, 2). Christians, on the other hand, should seek God in
prayer to have their needs met, rather than having unchecked desires within
their hearts or resorting to violence to obtain these desires.
The following points of human history are
illustrative of the history of sin upon the planet:
(1) Adam and Eve disobeyed God and plunged the
race into sin (Gen. 3:1-24, page 5).
(2) Cain killed Abel, and murder among humans
began (Gen. 4:8-12, page 8).
(3) Mankind, before the Flood, became so
universally wicked that "the LORD was sorry that He had made man:' and God
sent the Flood to destroy humanity, except for the family of righteous Noah
(Gen. 6:5-8, page 12).
(4) Mankind's lifespan began dropping
dramatically after the Flood (Gen. 11:10, 11, 24, 25, page 16; d.
5:27,
page 10).
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(5) By 2700 B.C. Egypt
had fallen into idolatry, and three lone Pharaohs caused an entire nation to
labor for a century to build their burial tombs.
(6) By about 2000 B.C. two
entire cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, had become so evil that God destroyed them
by fire and brimstone (Gen. 19:1-29, page 23) ..
(7) By 1450 B.C. the
Hebrew nation as a whole was under the cruel bondage of slavery to Pharaoh (Ex.
3:7, page 60).
(8) By 1400 B.C. the
Canaanite tribes had become so perverted by evil that God ordered their total
destruction (Lev. 18:21-25, page 126; d. Josh.
6:21-24, page 221).
(9) By 1000 B.C:::. Israel's first king had
become so evil that God ordered him replaced (1 Sam. 15:11,26, page 282).
(10) By 721 B.C. the
northern kingdom, Israel, was scattered by the fierce and cruel Assyrians (2
Kin. 17:5-9, page 372).
(11) By 586 B.C. the
southern kingdom, Judah, was destroyed and taken captive by the wicked
Babylonians (2 Chr. 36:17-20, page 441).
(12) By A.D. 30 Christ predicted "wars and
rumors of wars" for the world (Matt. 24:6-8, 21, page 973). (13) By A.D.
30 the human race crucified the Christ, who came to save it (Luke 23:13-33,
page 1044). (14) In A.D. 70 the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple.
(15) In the second and third centuries the Roman
Empire persecuted and killed Christians.
(16) In the fourth and fifth centuries the
barbarian invader, Attila the Hun, invaded Europe and slaughtered thousands.
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(17) In the seventh and eighth centuries
the Muslims conquered the Middle East and southern Europe. (18) In the
twelfth and thirteenth centuries the Crusaders and Muslims warred against one
another. (19) In the twelfth through the eighteenth centuries the Inquisitors
burned countless Jews and alleged "heretics." (20) In the thirteenth century Cenghis
Khan rode to slaughter great numbers. (21) In the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries the Protestants and Catholics engaged in bloody religious wars. (22) In the eighteenth century the
French Revolution's guillotine killed thousands in the Reign of Terror. (23)
In the twentieth century World War I and World War II claimed almost one
hundred million lives, including those of six million European Jews. (24) In the twentieth century the
satanic Communists rose to slaughter thousands, and revolution reigned for
the supposed "good of the masses" in Russia, China, Africa, Central
and South America, Korea, Cambodia, Afghanistan, and Vietnam. (25) In Iran's revolution of the
twentieth century, thousands were killed. (26) In twentieth-century Ireland,
Central America, Africa, and Israel, struggles continue in "wars and rumors
of wars" (Matt. 24:6, page 973). (27) In the future a satanic world
leader will arise and lead another slaughter (2 Thess. 2:3-10, page 1215), as
world armies gather at Armageddon (Matt. 24:21, page 973; d.
Rev. 16:16, page 1310). Every
age has had its advocates of the false philosophy of "the basic goodness
of man," and its prophets have said that man would end war and live in
peace. Each age has also had its saviors with their humanistic remedies for
world disorder and misery. Hitler's remedy was built on the totalitarian
state and racism, and Marx and Lenin’s on economic theory, atheism, and
revolution. Some have looked to education to deliver this world. All these
have failed. The Bible, through the centuries, has correctly identified the
cause as the sin of man, and cited only Christ's death (for the peace of the
individual) and His second coming (for the peace of the nations) as the
answers to this planet's dilemma. See Revelation 14:13, page 1307, for
Point 15-E: The End of Sin. 15-E. The End of Sin (Revelation 14:13)-
(1) Christ is the "end of sin"
for all believers, both living and dead: (a) Those
who "die in the Lord ... may rest from their labors and their works
follow them" (v. 13). (b) Those believers who are alive at the
second coming of Christ for His church (called the Rapture) will "always
be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:17, page 1212). (c) Believers who are alive at Christ's
judgment of the nations will enter into eternal life (Matt. 25:34, 46, page
976). (d)
All believers have eternal life and cannot be touched by the second death
(Rev. 20:6, page 1313). (e) All ,believers will appear before the
judgment seat of Christ to receive their eternal rewards (2 Cor. 5:10, page
1168). (f)
The church will be united to Christ forever at the marriage of the Lamb (Rev.
19:7, 8, page 1312). (2) At Christ's second coming, all
evildoers will be elih1in~ted: (a)
The Beast and his False Prophet will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev.
19:20, page 1313). (b)
Satan will be bound during the Millennium (a thousand years) and then be cast
forever into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10, page 1313). (c)
The unbelievers who are alive when Christ judges the nations will be cast out
of His kingdom forever (Matt. 25:45, 46, page 977). (d)
After the judgment of the Great White Throne, the lost of the ages (from Old
and New Testament eras) will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15,
page 1313). (e)
The fallen angels will be judged and cast out forever (Jude 6, page 1289). (3) The world of the new heaven, new
earth, and New Jerusalem will be completely free forever from the effects or
traces of sin: (a)
This present world, with its marks of sin, will be burned and dissolved, and
the new heaven and earth will be brought forth (2 Pet. 3:10-13, page 1276). (b)
The new heaven and earth will be marked by "righteousness" .(2 Pet.
3:13, page 1276). (c)
The New Jerusalem will not be man-made but will be God-made, descending from
heaven (Rev. 21:2, page 1315). (d)
God will again dwell with man, as in the Garden of Eden, in eternal, unbroken
fellowship (Rev. 21 :3, 22, page 1315). Believers
will "reign forever and ever" (Rev. 22:5, page 1316). All are
invited to enter this everlasting bliss, by faith in Christ: "And let
him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life
freely" (Rev. 22:17, page 1316). "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31)
(These studies will continue) The Resurrections
From the book: “Rightly Dividing the Word” by Clarence Larkin The Scriptures speak
of three kinds of resurrection. 1.
NATIONAL.
This refers to Israel who are now nationally dead and buried in the
"Graveyard of the Nations," but who are to be revived and restored
to their own land. Hosea 6: 1-2. See the Chapter on "The Jews,"
page 33. 2.
2.
SPIRITUAL. This refers to those who are spiritually dead in "Trespasses
and Sins." Eph. 2: 1-6. Eph. 5: 14. Rom. 6: 11. This is a "Present
Resurrection" and is going on continually. Every time a soul is
"born again" there is a passing from "death" unto
"life," a "Spiritual Resurrection." John 5: 24. 3. PHYSICAL.
This is of the dead body. The "Spirit" of man does not die, it goes
back to God who gave it. All that goes into the grave is the body, and all
that can come out of the grave is the body. See the Chapter on the
"Spirit World." THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY Jesus clearly and distinctly taught a
resurrection "from the grave." "Marvel not at this; for the hour
is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and
shall come forth; they that have done good unto the 'Resurrection of LIFE,'
and they that have done evil unto the 'Resurrection of DAMNATION.''' John 5:
28,29. Here Jesus teaches the resurrection of
both the "Righteous" and the "Wicked." The Apostle Paul
taught the· same thing. "And have hope toward God, which
they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the Dead,
both of the Just (justified), and of the Unjust (unjustified)." Acts 24:
15. "For as in Adam all die (physically),
even so in Christ shall all be made alive (physically)." 1 Cor. 15: 22.
That the Apostle means
"physical" death, and "physical" resurrection here is
clear, for it is the body, and |