July 16, 2023 – Bible Doctrine 7 – Man and His Problem With Sin

Lesson Date: July 16, 2023

Focal Scripture Passage: Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7-8, 18-25; 3:1-21; 9:1-6; Romans 5:12; 6:23; James 3:9

AIM: To lead students to better understand the origin and nature of man and how sin entered the world causing all humans to be born under sin’s curse, and to thank God for providing mankind with a Savior.

Before class: Read the chapters containing the focal passages several times during the week.  Get enough copies of the Lesson Outline handout for your anticipated attendance.  Write the following questions on the marker board or chalkboard: “Where did man come from?”  “Is man merely a higher form of animal?”  “Why is there so much evil and hurt in the world?”  “What is the answer to man’s evil tendencies?”

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct the students’ attention to the questions written on the board.  After reading each question, ask the following two questions: “How does our modern world answer that question?” and “How would YOU answer that question?”

Read all four of the questions written on the board and ask the students to suggest the world’s answer and give their answer.  Tell them these are very important questions, the answers to which impact how we live and relate to each other.  For example, if man is merely an accident of evolution, then he is not subject to God or to God’s laws; but if man was created by God, then he is subject to God and to God’s rules.

Tell the students the title of today’s lesson is Man and His Problem With Sin.  Tell them as we study several Bible passages, we will learn about the origin of man, the nature of man, and why we have so much trouble with sin.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the class that we are involved in a survey of Bible doctrine.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit; we learned who the Holy Spirit is and what He does).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (1 Cor. 6:19).
2. The Origin of Man.
   • Direct the students’ attention once again to the first question written on the board: “Where did man come from?”
   • Tell the class that the Bible says God created everything, including man.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Genesis 2, and then ask a volunteer to read Genesis 2:7-8.
   • Ask: “What raw material did God use to create man?” (the dust of the earth).
   • Tell the class God did one thing to man that He did not do to any other creature.
   • Ask: “What was that one unique thing?” (He breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life, causing man to become a living soul).
   • Summarize: God created man from the dust of the earth and made him a living soul.
3. The Nature of Man.
   • Direct the students’ attention once again to the second question written on the board: “Is man merely a higher form of animal?”
   • Tell the students there are four characteristics that make man different from the animals.
   • Man is Made in the Image of God:
     • Ask everyone to turn to Genesis 1, and then read Genesis 1:26-27.
     • Ask: “In whose image did God make man?” (His own).
     • Ask: “How many genders of mankind did God create?” (two: male and female).
     • Tell the students that modern gender confusion is a direct rejection of and assault on God’s creative plan.
     • Ask: “Is God creating man in His image only an Old Testament teaching, or is it found in the New Testament, too?”
     • Ask everyone to keep their finger in Genesis 1, while turning to James 3.
     • Ask a volunteer to read James 3:9.
     • Ask: “In whose image and likeness did God make man?” (His own).
   • Man is Made to Have Dominion Over God’s Creation:
     • Tell the class God created man as the last and crowning element of His creation.
     • Ask everyone to turn back to Genesis 1, and then read Genesis 1:28-31.
     • Ask: “How is man supposed to relate to the rest of God’s creation?” (he is to have dominion over all of the earth and its creatures).
     • Ask: “What did God think about His greatest creation, man?” (He thought it was very good).
   • Man is the Only Creature that Marries:
     • Ask everyone to turn over to Genesis 2, and then read Genesis 2:18-25.
     • Ask: “Previously, God said everything was very good; what did He say in verse 18 was not good?” (that man should be alone).
     • Explain the following:
       • This passage tells about the creation of woman, the institution of marriage, and the place God prepared as a home for Adam and Eve.
     • Man and woman are to be joined together in a sacred, permanent, and intimate relationship. This is not true of any of the animals.
     • When people participate in sex outside of marriage, they are behaving like mere animals.
   • Man’s Life is More Valuable than the Animals:
     • Ask everyone to turn to Genesis 9, and then ask a volunteer to read Genesis 9:1-6.
     • Explain that this passage describes the instructions God gave Noah after the Flood.
     • Tell the class God again told man that he was to have dominion over all the animals.
     • Ask: “What did God say the animals would provide for man?” (food).
     • Tell the students this is the first time God told man to eat the flesh of animals.
     • Note that there is no biblical basis for vegetarianism (see 1 Tim. 4:1-5).
     • Ask: “What did God say should happen to any man or animal that kills a human being?” (he or she should be put to death).
   • Summarize: God created man in His image, to have dominion over His creation, to marry, and made his life more valuable than the animals.
4. The Fall of Man.
   • Direct the students’ attention once again to the third question written on the board: “Why is there so much evil and hurt in the world?”
   • Ask: “What was the one prohibition placed on Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden?” (Gen. 2:17; they were not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil).
   • Ask everyone to turn to Genesis 3, and then read Genesis 3:1-8.
   • Explain the following:
     • The devil (through the serpent) tempted Eve by first causing her to doubt the truth of God’s Word; this is still the devil’s primary tactic today.
     • The devil (who aspired to be God: see Isaiah 14:12-14) told Eve if she ate the fruit she would be like God.
     • Eve saw that the fruit was (a) good for food, (b) beautiful to look at, and (c) desirable to make one wise.
     • Eve took the forbidden fruit and ate of it. She then gave it to Adam, who also ate of it.
     • Adam and Eve realized they were sinners and for the first time they were ashamed.
     • They tried to cover their nakedness and hide from God.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Genesis 3:9-13.
   • Tell the class God questioned Adam and Eve about what they had done. Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent (it’s still human nature to blame others for our sin).
   • Read Genesis 3:14-19.
   • Tell the students because of man’s sin, God cursed the serpent, the woman, the man, and even the earth.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Genesis 3:20-21.
   • Ask: “What did God do to cover their nakedness?” (He killed an innocent animal to make them clothing from its skin).
   • Explain that because of sin, blood had to be shed: an innocent animal died so the shame of man’s sin could be temporarily covered.
   • Summarize: Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, bringing the curse of sin upon them and the earth.
5. Result of Man’s Fall.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Romans 5, and then ask a volunteer to read Romans 5:12.
   • Ask: “What man brought sin death upon humanity?” (Adam).
   • Ask: “What happened as a result of Adam’s sin?” (sin and death have been passed down to all humanity).
   • Tell the class the Bible makes it clear that we are all sinners (Rom. 3:23).
   • Direct the students’ attention once again to the third question written on the board: “Why is there so much evil and hurt in the world?”
   • Explain that the fall of man, which resulted in every person being born with a sin nature, is the reason there is so much evil and hurt in the world.
   • Summarize: The result of man’s fall is that every human being since Adam has been born with a sin nature and under the sentence of death.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the students that the title of today’s lesson is Man and His Problem With Sin.  Give each of them a copy of the Lesson Outline handout.  Review the lesson by reading the main points and subpoints from that outline:

Man and His Problem With Sin

The Origin of Man

• • God created man as a living soul – Genesis 2:7-8

The Nature of Man

• • Man is made in the image of God – Genesis 1:26-27; James 3:9
  • Man is made to have dominion over God’s creation – Genesis 1:28-31
  • Man is the only creature that marries – Genesis 2:18-25
  • Man’s life is more valuable than the animals – Genesis 9:1-6

The Fall of Man

• • Man disobeyed God, bringing the curse of sin – Genesis 3:1-21

Result of Man’s Fall

• • Sin and death were passed down to us – Romans 5:12

Tell the students the reality of sin paints a very grim picture for humanity.  Direct the students’ attention once again to the fourth question written on the board: “What is the answer to man’s evil tendencies?”

Ask a volunteer to read Romans 6:23.  Tell the class that verse again states that sin results in death.  Ask: “What’s the good news found in that verse?” (“the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”).

Explain that sin entered the world through Adam’s sin, causing all mankind to be lost and in need of a Savior.  Jesus Christ is that Savior.  Through Christ, grace and justification are made available to all who want them.  Jesus is the answer to man’s sinfulness.

Ask: “Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior?  Has Jesus forgiven your sins and given you new life?  If not, would you like Him to?”  Briefly explain the plan of salvation and urge any who have never turned from their sins and trusted Jesus to do so in a moment when you pray.

Urge everyone to thank God for providing us a Savior.  Voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Tell them to keep the Lesson Outline handout in their Bibles so they can refer to it again later.  Tell the students that next week’s lesson is about “God’s Plan and Method for Man’s Salvation.”  Tell them we ought to try to get everyone we possibly can to attend Sunday School next Sunday so they can learn about how to be saved.  Urge them to invite lost friends, family members, and class prospects to come to Sunday School next week.