Lesson 2 for
October 8, 2022
“Therefore, just as
through one man sin
entered the world, and
death through sin, and
thus death spread to all
men, because all sinned.”
Romans 5:12
An unexpected storm was triggered in Heaven when
God decided to create us. The highest-ranking angel—
Lucifer—began to envy God.
God warned the first humans about the rebel and
gave them clear instructions that would test their
loyalty to God or to the enemy.
Free to choose
Is God truthful?
Who should we believe?
The promise
The fall
God created us with free will. That’s why He advised Adam
to choose not to eat the fruit.
Obedience was the only logical choice. However, the tempter
appeared as a serpent and encouraged them to choose disobedience.
The serpent was eating the fruit and it had not died. It insinuated
that God was setting rules capriciously.
Eve forgot that God’s Word is always
trustworthy, even when it might seem
illogical. We’re facing similar situations every
day. We must choose between obeying God
or mistrusting and disobeying Him.
“God knows that if you eat the fruit from that tree you will learn about good and
evil, and then you will be like God!” (Genesis 3:5 ERV)
Satan didn’t begin the conversation with an open temptation.
He made a vague question that Eve could answer (Gn. 3:1-3).
That way he got Eve’s attention.
Then, he openly contradicted God and stated that God’s
motives were not clear (Gn. 3:4-5). Is God truthful? Is He
hiding something? Does He really want your welfare?
Eve had to choose between believing God or not. She
analyzed the issue and doubted God’s Word (Gn. 3:6).
The nutritional aspect: “the tree was good for food”
The esthetic aspect: “it was pleasant to the eyes”
The logical aspect: “a tree desirable to make one wise”
If we doubt God, we may end defending things that result
in death.
[God said:] “in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
[Satan said:] “You will not surely die.” (Genesis 2:17; 3:4)
Satan openly contradicted God’s Word by saying that
Adam and Eve couldn’t die because they were immortal.
Adam and Eve didn’t die in that moment, but they
eventually did (Gn. 3:19). Then, Satan changed his
strategy. He began to convince humans that their bodies
were not immortal, but their souls were.
Almost all civilizations believe in some kind of conscious
existence after death. Even Christianism and secular worldviews
have embraced this lie.
The Word of God is clear enough: our souls also die
(Ps. 115:17; 146:4; Eccl: 9:5; Mt. 10:28). Who should we believe?
“And He said, ‘Who told you that you
were naked? Have you eaten from the
tree of which I commanded you that
you should not eat?’” (Genesis 3:11)
Adam and Eve thought that the fruit would bring them superior knowledge. They left God’s
side and joined Satan’s by eating it. This brought tragic consequences:
Theological Social Physical Ecological
They were They accused They would feel Nature would
afraid of God one another pain and die deteriorate
and hid from (Gn. 3:12) (Gn. 3:16-17, (Gn. 3:18)
Him (Gn. 3:10) 19)
Their disobedience was a death sentence for all humankind: “For the living know that they
will die” (Eccl. 9:5; see Rom. 5:12).
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise
your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
The word “enmity” (Hebrew ’eybah) implies not only a long-
lasting cosmic controversy between good and evil, but also
a personal repulsion to sin, which has been implanted by
God’s grace in the human mind.
This repulsion moves us to desiring to be free of Satan’s
yoke, but we’re unable to do so. Then, God comes to our
rescue: the Messiah—the woman’s Seed—has overcome
and has saved us from eternal death.
God made the first animal sacrifice, a symbol of Jesus’
redeeming death. He clothed Adam and Eve with the skin of
the animal, covering them with His protective justice. He
didn’t leave us to our fate but gave us hope that we’ll return
to His loving arms eventually.
E. G. W. (The Great Controversy, cp. 32, p. 530)
