On what basis did God have fellowship with Adam and Eve?
(Genesis 2:16-17; 3:6-15; John 1:1-4; 14-16; 1 Peter 1:18-20) Blog Oct 1-Oct 7, 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
INTRODUCTION: The mission of the church is the subject we hope to tackle this quarter.
Pre-creation plan
1. When did God devise the plan of salvation? Before this earth was made God designed a plan of salvation should humanity fall from righteousness (Zech. 6:12-13; 1 Pet. 1:18-20).
2. What was God’s pre-creation plan for the salvation of humanity? The Father & the Son covenanted together that the Son would be surety for humanity & should humanity fall, the Son would give his life as a ransom to buy back the fallen race (Hos. 13:14; Matt. 20:28; Rom. 3:25; Heb. 7:22).
3. For what purpose did God create humanity? God created humanity to show forth his glory, to make known to the created universe the loving character of God (Isa. 43:7; Eph. 3:8-11; Rev. 4:11).
4. When God created Adam and Eve, what defects did they have? Adam & Eve were perfect in the day they were created. They were fully formed & totally righteous within, having no desire for evil (Gen. 1:27, 31; Eccl. 7:29).
5. Did God and the holy angels communicate with Adam and Eve in Eden? Yes, every day God visited them & angels were their constant companions (Gen. 3:8; John 1:1-4, 9; 2 Cor. 4:6).
6. On what basis did God have fellowship with Adam and Eve? Lasting fellowship with God is always based on a covenant. God’s covenant with Adam is recorded in Genesis 2 (Gen. 2:16-17; Hos. 6:7; Amos 3:3).
7. What happened that interrupted God’s plan for humanity? Eve was deceived by the serpent to eat the forbidden fruit & gave the same to Adam & he did eat, thus placing them & all their descendants under the covenant curse (Gen. 3:6; Rom. 5:12, 16; 1 Tim. 2:14).
Edenic Search
8. When Adam broke God’s covenant, placing humanity under condemnation to eternal death, what did God do? God came to the garden looking for the fallen pair & confronted them with their sin (Gen. 3:7-14).
9. What hope of life instead of death did God offer Adam and Eve? God offered the guilty pair the promise of a human Redeemer who would through death defeat Satan & open the door to eternal life (Gen. 3:15; Heb. 2:14-15).
10. How would the curses pronounced upon Adam and Eve help fulfill God’s plan for humanity? The curses would continually warn us of the results of sin. They would help us learn that only though diligent human effort & the resistance of nature could fruit be borne. A life of toil & care would inhibit selfishness (making one hate sin), encourage seeking divine assistance, & make us long for the pain-free life of the redeemed (Gen. 3:16-19; Prov. 22:15; John 15:5; 2 Cor.7:1).
11. How did animal sacrifices form a place in God’s plan for humanity? Animal sacrifices taught the guilty pair that life could come only through death & that a Substitute must provide a covering for them before God (Gen. 3:21; John 1:29; Heb. 9:22).
12. What did humanity not lose as a result of the fall? While we did not lose freedom of choice, our unredeemed natures now choose only evil (Gen. 8:21; Deut. 30:19-20; Josh. 24:15; Eph. 2:2-3).
God’s Nature
13. What becomes obvious about God when we observe the way he prepared for and dealt with the fall of humanity? In his preparation for & in his dealing with sin God demonstrated a supreme love for & desire for fellowship with humanity (John 3:16; 17:24).
14. What could God have done rather than come looking for Adam and Eve? God could have destroyed Adam & Eve & started over with a new human couple (Gen. 2:16-17; Rom. 6:23).
15. On what basis could God forgive and provide a covering for the guilty pair? Only on the basis of the previous covenant promise of being surety for the race (made by the Son to the Father) could God forgive & justify the guilty pair (Heb. 9:22; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; Rev. 13:8).
16. What promises did Jesus make to his disciples that assure us of future success in our mission? Jesus assured his disciples that all power in heaven & earth was given to him & that he would be with them to the end of the world & was preparing a place for them in his Father’s house (Matt. 28:18-20; John 14:1-3).
17. What striking example of God’s desire to be with and restore his human children is given in the Old Testament? When Israel left Egypt God told Moses to build a sanctuary so he could dwell among his people. In it the entire plan of salvation was depicted symbolically (Ex. 25:8; Heb. 8:1-5).
18. In the New Testament what miraculous event overwhelmingly reveals God’s desire to be with and restore his human children? The incarnation of the Son of God was a picture of God with us & the means of our restoration (John 1:14-16; Heb. 1:3; 2:14).