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THE CHURCH ON HIGHER GROUND |
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HOMEPAGE |
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OTHER STUDIES |
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SERMON NETS short messages |
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WHAT IS IN THE NEWS?.. a Christian response |
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THE PLAN...... BIBLE STUDY |
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GREETINGS AND GUIDANCE |
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LESSON OUTLINES |
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ADAM TO BABEL |
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PAGE 1 ADAM TO SETH (1-6) |
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PAGE 2 ENOCH TO JOB ( 5-11) |
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SHORT STUDY FALSE RELIGION |
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PAGE 3 S.S./ORIGIN OF FALSE RELIGIONS #1&2 |
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ABRAHAM'S LIFE |
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PAGE 4 ABRAM/ CALL TO FALL ( 12) |
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PAGE 5 ABRAM'S RETURN/ LOT IN SODOM/ABRAM BUILDS ALTER (13) |
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PAGE 6 LOT'S RESCUE/ABRAM'S VISION/HAGAR (14-16) |
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PAGE 7 ABRAM'S NAME CHANGED/SS-PERFECTION/CUTTING THE COVENANT(17) |
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PAGE 8 ANGELS VISIT ABRAHAM (18) |
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LOT'S LIFE |
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PAGE 9 THE DAYS OF LOT (19) |
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PAGE 10 LOT'S WAY (19) |
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ABRAHAM |
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PAGE 11 ABIMELECH/ISAAC BORN/COST OF SIN (20-21) |
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PAGE 12 (21) |
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PAGE 13 (22) |
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PAGE 14 (22-23) |
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PAGE 15 (23) |
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PAGE 16 (24- |
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PAGE 17 ( |
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PAGE 18 ( |
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PAGE 20 |
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PAGE 1 ADAM TO SETH (1-6)
LESSON INTRODUCTION
LESSON #1 BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW part 1
LESSON #2 BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW part 2
LESSON #3 SS SONS/GOD & DAUGHTERS/MEN part 1 (Ge. 6:1-8)
LESSON #4 SONS/GOD & DAUGHTERS/MEN part 2 (Ge.6:1-8)
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LESSON INTRODUCTION
Before we actually get into our study of Genesis, we should set the stage for this great drama of human beginnings.
The first Person mentioned in the Bible is God. Genesis 1:1 plainly states,
"In the beginning God..."
There is no argument offered, to prove His existence, there is no explanation for His origin. This is because God has always been; since the beginning. Throughout the Scriptures we read that God is without beginning and without end; there was not anyone or anything before God. God is the all powerful and intelligent One who created all things.
Obviously, we will be studying more about God. In this first chapter of the Bible we are actually introduced to the Tri-une nature of God. The Bible is clear that there is only one God, but it also begins to allude to the fact that this one God exists as three distinct Persons. The Old Testament gives us some hints and evidences which lead us to that understanding, but it is the New Testament, which makes it totally clear that there is One God in Three Persons. The revelation of the New Testament clearly shows us the deity of God, as Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
We are introduced to Adam, the first man of the human race and his wife, Eve. By way of recorded history, we are present for their creation in the garden.
But there is another person mentioned in these first chapters of the Bible, who pre-existed the creation of the world as we know it, and the creation of Adam and Eve.
This person is satan. (I usually do not capitalize his names and titles.) However, there are other portions of Scripture which do give witness to his origin and nature.
satan was created prior to the creation of the world we live in, and prior to the creation of Adam. he was created as an angel and he was appointed as a leading angel among the others angels. Though he had been specially honored by God, with position, he tried to overthrow God. In his attempt to overthrow God, he, along with one third of the angel population who followed him, was cast down from his place of authority and service. he also lost his access to God. From that point on, satan has been seeking to overthrow the rule of God as it is manifested in God's people. he still seeks to have a kingdom of his own.
Whatever satan's nature was before he was cast down, he has only been a spirit creature in this world. satan has authority over the angels who followed him and those fallen angels are called demons.
There are other portions of Scripture from which we glean more information on satan and his forces. The reason there are no Bible books focused on the origin and nature of lucifer (satan), is because the Bible is not about satan. The Bible is about God and mankind and our relationship with God. We are told about satan, only as it has anything to do with our lives and eternal choices.
As we open this first book of the Bible we are introduced to God, Adam, Eve and satan. With this little background, we are now able to study the book of Genesis.
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LESSON #1 BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW part 1
THE CONFLICT FOR MAN'S SOUL BEGINS
The plan to overthrow the authority of God has always been satan's drive. Before his fall from a high position among the angels, satan (he was lucifer), would lead the worship of God, he would bring God's message to the other angels and he had authority over other angels. When he decided to "move up" to overthrow God, he led 1/3 of the angels in a rebellion which ended their right standing with God.
When God placed man on the earth, He gave to man the rule over all the earth. satan was jealous. Man retained this position of rulership as long as he remained under God's authority.
satan realized he could steal away man's position if he could just get Adam to come from under God's authority. When that was accomplished, man no longer had uncontested rule over the earth, but had allowed satan to become the "god of this world." satan's first attempt at usurpation had failed miserably but now he seemed to be onto something. But just as his first attempt at a coup hand run into the counter measures of God, so this second attempt had run into the counter measures of God. After Adam sinned, God promised to send a deliverer. The Seed of the woman (Jesus), would bruise the head of satan, even though the serpent (satan) would bruise the heel of Jesus (the Seed of the woman) Genesis 3:15. The battle for "Mansoul" (as Bunyan called it in "The Holy War") had begun.
However, God's counter measure of sending Jesus to conquer
satan was not an after thought to satan's attack and Adam's failure. God knew what would transpire (though He did not cause it to happen, He did allow it to happen) and He had planned to send His Son as the "last Adam", the "second man" Who would give mankind an escape from the snare of satan and the opportunity to be saved from sin (it's penalty, power and pollution.) Not knowing which of Eve's sons would be the Seed who would destroy satan, satan set out to destroy the Seed anyway. Eve said at the birth of Cain, "I have gotten a man child from the Lord" in hopes that he would be the deliverer. Later in Cain's life, satan stirs up Cain to kill Abel. Abel had found acceptance with God because of his sacrifice given in faith and obedience, whereas Cain was not pleasing to God.
Obviously Cain was not the "Seed." Neither was Abel. After Cain killed Abel, Eve became pregnant with Seth and declared that God had appointed her another seed instead of Abel whom Cain slew. Apparently, she had lost hope for Cain being the promised deliverer and had started to hope for Abel. With his death, she still looked for the promised Seed and hoped it was Seth. It was not to be. And so satan has tried to do away with the Seed (Jesus) from the beginning until today.
Neither has God abandoned His promise. satan still wants to remove Jesus from our society. He has not been able to thwart God's plan, but he has been able to remove Jesus from people's live's and society at large. As His children we pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." God's plan is still active and we must fulfill His will.
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LESSON #2- BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW part 2
As the human family grew, so did satan's use of his forces. Cain's family continued in the way of sin, to the extent of bigamy and multiple murders (satan was the original murderer Jn. 8:44.) With Seth's coming on the scene, men began to call on the name of the Lord (Ge.4:26.)
For a period of time there was a godly portion of society and a worldly portion of society. The scheme which satan chose to employ was to get the godly to intermarry with the ungodly. This brought mankind to such a state of corruption that God destroyed the whole world with a flood, except for Noah and his family.
This idea of getting the righteous to intermarry with the unrighteous was so effective that satan would use it time and again in the story of mankind. In the book of Numbers (22), we are told about the travels of Israel in the wilderness, after they escaped Egypt. One of the local kings, Balak, feared the Israelites so much that he engaged the services of a "prophet" to defeat the Israelites. Though the prophet could not curse Israel, he pointed out that Israel would lose it's power and standing with God if they mixed with the pagan society of the area (25:1-5.) This action was successful to such an extent that it is mentioned again and again in the Bible record. God continually warned Israel to not intermarry with those who did not worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Whenever Israel did not listen there was defeat in store.
Solomon, the wisest man in the world and a king beyond description, fell for this same trick and not only married pagan women, he provided temples to their false gods. We then see a breakdown in Solomon's rule and a division in the entire kingdom. The people of God cannot compromise with the ungodly without suffering eternal loss.
In the New Testament we are told that we should not be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (II Co 6:14-18) and that bad company corrupts good morals (I Co. 15:33). A good principle for developing relationships is IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO MARRY THEM, DON'T ALLOW A RELATIONSHIP TO DEVELOP. If you have already entered into a relationship with some one who is not saved or does not mean business with God, GET OUT OF IT NOW. I didn't say it would be fun or easy, but it is essential. satan wants to remove the power and person of God from our lives, and he still uses unholy alliances. As the Scripture says, "choose this day whom you will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh.24:15.)
The plan of satan is to destroy your life, your family and your soul. The plan of God is to save and bless your life, your family and your soul.
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LESSON #3 SHORT STUDY "SONS OF GOD AND DAUGHTERS OF MEN." part 1 (Ge. 6:1-8)
There are men and women today, who teach that the sons of God and the daughters of men represents the cohabitation of humans with demons. There is not a shred of evidence in the entire Bible which teaches any such thing. Passages must be added to, and twisted to make the Bible teach such a doctrine. The concept is an old one found in ancient Christian and pagan writings. There are learned Christian scholars who have written books on it. But as with all doctrines, we really don't care what men say about it, we only care what God says about it. Let's examine the divine record.
The Background: Genesis 4 and 5 give the lineages of Cain and Seth. Cain, the proud, rebellious, jealous, angry, murderous son is the patriarch of a family which goes from one level of sin to another. One of Cain's descendants was named Lamech (4:19). This particular Lamech was both a bigamist and a double murderer. Rather than showing remorse for his sins, he claimed that he should be protected by God (4:24). In the days of Seth, men began to call on the name of the LORD. From Seth's family (ch.5) comes Enoch, who walked with God, and Noah, who was a righteous man and perfect in his generation.
The narrative thus far is strictly concerned with the development of the human family. The Bible account has not concerned itself with demons up to this point.
The Passage: Genesis 6:1-8 Vs.1 "...when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born unto them" This passage is refering to growth in the HUMAN population. "...when MEN began to multiply..." The word, "men" is used in reference to RACE, not GENDER. Consider the rest of the verse, "...and daughters were born to them..." Certainly not to "males" only, but to people, human beings. Vs.2 "That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."
God informed us in chapter 5 that men began to call on the name of the LORD. It is reasonable to think of those who called on God as being "the sons of God." According to the Scriptures, the phrase "Son(s) of God can" have different
applications.
1. A human being who is a son of God by creation; Adam, "...which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God" Luke 3:38
2. Angels or celestial creatures who are sons of God by appointment; "...sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD..." Job 1:6
3. Christians who are sons of God by redemption; "But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." Jn.1:12
4. Jesus who is the Son of God by nature; "...the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father..." (Jn. 1:18.)
In the context of this passage, "sons of God" is in reference to the part of the human family which sought God. Remember, there is nothing in this passage which has anything to do with angels or demons. It is strictly dealing with the corruption of the human family. The sons of the righteous intermarried with the daughters of the unrighteous and were therefore turned from following God. This is what satan would try to do later when Balaam gave counsel to Israel in Numbers 22. It was such an effective plan that it is mentioned in Revelation 2:14. It was also the downfall of the worlds "wisest" man, Solomon. He intermarried with the daughters of pagan kings and he moved away from God. Though Job calls the angels "sons of God", that is a different time, different author, different situation altogther and cannot be used here without confusion. The context of Job's passage is dealing with "angels", whereas this Genesis passage is focused on the downfall and corruption of the human race, and angels are not part of the discussion, at all. (continued...)
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LESSON #4 Sons/God & Daughters/men part 2 (Ge.6:1-8
Vs.3 "And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years." God said that His Spirit would not always strive with MAN. God is speaking about men, not demons or angels. God said His Spirit would not always strive with MAN. This has nothing to do with angels or demons. God referred to these rebellious ones as FLESH. Angels did appear as people on occasions, but angels are "ministering spirits", not "flesh." As judgment for this intermarrying and corrupting the ways of their children, God said "his" days (man's days) would only be 120 years. This must be in reference to man, since angels were not, nor could be limited to 120 years. Remember the terms used in this verse; "strive with", "man", "flesh", "his days...120 years."
Vs.4 "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown."
Though unusual words can be construed to mean what they don't actually mean, the word "giants" is in the context of a particular group of men who were living in the days before the flood.
Whatever their tribal identification, there is nothing in this passage to cause us to think they were anything other than human beings of great physical stature. There Were "giants" in the land of Canaan in the days of Moses and there was a tribe of giants in the days of David. Though we should not think of them as "Godzilla" size,they were at least larger and more powerful than the average man in that day. Even today we have Watutsis of Africa. These giants lived in the land before the "sons of God" came into the "daughters of men" and they lived in the land after that also.
The "mightiness" may actually refer to their warring nature and power. It would appear that at least part of the intermarrying took place with these "giants" and resulted in a tribe of "supermen." But still, they were "men" of "renown". This could be in reference to their greatness in war or their loftiness of position.
One other thought on this verse. They had children. There is nothing in the word to make us think that angels or demons can reproduce, even with humans. As a matter of fact, Jesus said that angels do not marry and the implication is that they do not co-habit. It is not mere speculation, it is glaring fantasy to say that this Passage reports on a human-demon/angel union.
Vs 5. "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts was only evil continually." This verse says that the wickedness of MAN was great. The thoughts of HIS heart were only evil continually. This is not a comment on the wickedness of "angels or demons". Fallen angels or demons obviously have nothing but wicked thoughts all of the time. This is commentary on man's corruption.
Vs. 6 "And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart." God was displeased with the way MAN was living on the earth. With all that God had done for MAN, it was saddening for MAN to misuse and abuse it. God had not made the angels for this earth.
Vs. 7 "And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both men and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air, for it repenteth me that I have mad them." When God pronounced His judgment on this situation, He said He would destroy MAN, from the face of the earth. God goes on to include beast, fowl and creeping things, but angels and demons are absent. This passage goes from beginning to end without once saying, implying or alluding to demons/fallen angels. If they are to be found in this event, it must be found recorded elsewhere. It is not...because it is not.
Vs. 8 "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." The record is complete. The human race continued to pull away from God until there was only one man who was in a right relationship with God. From beginning to end, this account is saturated with human involvement, but totally lacking any evidence of angels and or demons.
Though some will claim that there are passages which "prove" the idea of angels or demons in this historic scenario, the fact is that they must read into it that which is not there. The actual origin of such an unsound interpretation is found in ancient writings which are not Biblical at all. For some reason, modern day believers have chosen to be influenced by ancient pagan beliefs which have angels and gods cohabiting with humans.
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