1. In whose image was man made? Genesis 1:26.27 _______________________________

2. Was man made mortal or immortal? Genesis 2:17 _____________________________

When the Lord made man, he was given conditional immortality. If man had obeyed God they would have lived forever.

3. Which tree in the Garden of Eden was man forbidden to eat off? Genesis 2:17 ______

4. What did the Lord tell them would be the result of disobedience? Genesis 2:17 ______

5. Did they obey the Lord? Genesis 3:6 _____________________________________

6. When man disobeyed God that very day they began to die. Why? Romans 6:23_______

7. What is sin? 1 John 3:4 ________________________________________________

8. Who is the author of sin? Ezekiel 28:13-15; 1 John 3:8. ________________________

9. What does the Psalmist say of his nature? Psalm 51:5. _________________________

10. How many have sinned? Romans 3:23. ____________________________________

11. Fill in the blanks: Romans 5:12 Wherefore as by one man ________ ___________ into the world, and death by _______; and so _______ _________ upon all men, for that all have sinned.

By nature we are sinful, subject to death: For the sentence for sin is death.

12. What hope do we have for the future? Romans 5:19: Fill in the blanks: For as by one man's ________ many were made ________, so by the __________ of One shall many be made ___________.

13. Fill in the blanks: John 3:16: For God so loved the ________ that He _______ His only _______ Son that __________ _________ on Him, should not _________, but have __________ life.

14. What promise has God given us? 1 John 1:9: Fill in the blanks: If we confess our ______, He is _________ and just to ________ us our sins, and to _________ us of all __________.

15. Fill in the blanks: Romans 6:12, 13: Let not sin _________ __________ in your _______ ______ that ye should obey it in the _______ thereof. Neither ________ ye your _________ as ________ of _________ unto sin: but ________ _________ unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your ________ as _________ of __________ unto God.

The creation of man was the zenith of all creation. God put man, who was created in His image, in charge of planet earth and all animal life. The genealogies in Genesis, demonstrate that the successive generations of Adam and Eve all descended from this first pair. As humans we all share the same nature that constitutes a genetic or genealogical unity. Paul said, "From one blood God made every man for to dwell upon the face of the earth" Acts 17:26. Furthermore we see other indications of the organic unity of our race in the Biblical assertions that Adam's transgression brought sin and death upon all, and that the righteousness of Christ brought salvation to all who believe (Romans 5:12,19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22).

God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). When God changed the elements of life into a living being, He breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of Adam's lifeless body. This breath of life is the breath of the Almighty that gives life (Job 33:4). We could compare it with the streams of electricity that, when they flow through certain electrical components, it transforms a quiet gray panel of glass in a box into a pulsating splash of color or action - when we flip the switch on a color television. The electricity brings sound and motion where there was nothing. Unlike electricity that flips on and off, at creation man was given immortality, though their possession of it was conditional upon obedience. Having access to the tree of life, they were destined to live forever. The only way they could jeopardize their state of immortality was through transgressing the command that forbade them to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Disobedience would lead to death (Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:22). Though created perfect and in God's image, and placed in a perfect environment, Adam and Eve became transgressors. How did such a radical transformation come about? If God created a perfect world, how could sin develop? Is God the Creator, also the author of sin? Scripture points out that by nature God is holy, "and that there is no unrighteousness in Him." "His work is perfect, for all His ways are just, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He." "Far be it from God to do wickedness and the Almighty to commit iniquity." "God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does He tempt any man." He is the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." Isaiah 6: 3; Deuteronomy 32: 4; Job 34: 10; Psalm 5:4; Genesis 1:1-3; Hebrews 5:9.

God could have prevented sin by making a universe of robots that would do only what they are programmed to do. But God's love demands that He create beings that could respond freely to His love, and such response is possible only from beings that have the power of choice. Providing His creation with this kind of freedom, however, meant that God must take the risk that some created beings would turn from Him. Unfortunately, Lucifer, a high ranking being in the angelic world became proud (Ezekiel 28:17; 1 Timothy 3:6). Dissatisfied with his position in God's government, he began to covet God's own place. In an attempt to take control of the universe, this fallen angel sowed seeds of discontent among his fellow angels, and won the allegiance of many. The resulting heavenly conflict ended when Lucifer - now known as Satan, the adversary and his angels were expelled from heaven. Revelation 12:7-9.

Undeterred by his expulsion from heaven, Satan determined to entice others to join in his rebellion against God's government. Approaching Eve when she was near the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Satan, in the guise of a serpent questioned her about God's prohibition against eating of the forbidden tree. When Eve affirmed that God had said they would die if they ate of the tree, Satan challenged the divine prohibition, saying, "you would not surely die, for God doth know that in the day you eat thereof you will be as god's knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4,5). Eve believed the serpent, she took of the fruit and did eat and gave also to her husband and he ate (Genesis 3:6). In trusting her senses rather than God's word, Eve severed her dependence upon God, fell from her high position and plunged into sin. The fall of the human race, therefore, first and foremost, was characterized by a breakdown in faith in God and His word. This unbelief led to disobedience, which, in turn, resulted in a broken relationship and finally a separation between God and man. Adam and Eve who was used to daily communion with God, now hid themselves from Him. The effects of sin immediately began to take effect. From that very day they began to die. They were driven out of their Eden home to till the ground from whence they were taken.

Before sentencing the fallen pair, God gave them hope of a coming deliverer. He said, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her Seed, It shall bruise thy head and thou shall bruise His heel" (Genesis 3:15). God gave man the gift of enmity, the ability to hate sin. After man sinned, grace immediately took effect, for Adam and Eve repented of their sin and they received grace in the eyes of the Lord.

In spite of the fall, there remain a sense of human dignity. Although marred, the divine likeness was not completely obliterated. Though fallen, corrupt sinful man is still God's representative on earth. His nature is less than divine yet he holds a dignified position as God's caretaker of earthly creation. Through transgression, the first pair had become sinful, no longer able to resist Satan. But before God pronounced the punishment on the fallen pair's sins He gave them hope by introducing the covenant of grace. God's message brought encouragement, because it announced that though Satan had brought humanity under his spell, ultimately he would be defeated. The covenant was made between God and humanity. First, God promised through His grace a bulwark against sin. He would create hatred between the serpent and the woman, between Satan's followers and God's people. This would disrupt man's relationship with Satan and open the way for renewed relationship with God. Through the centuries war was to continue between God's people (church) and Satan. The conflict would reach its culmination in the death of Jesus Christ, who was the prophesied personification of the "Seed of the woman." At Calvary Satan was defeated. Bruised though the "Seed" of the woman (Christ) was, the author of evil was defeated. All who accepts God's offer of grace will have an enmity against sin that will make them successful in the battle with Satan. Through faith they will share in the Saviour's victory at Calvary. God has an overwhelming concern for the salvation of humanity. The members of the Godhead work together to bring us back into a right relationship with God.

Jesus highlighted God's saving love, saying, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. The scriptures declare, "God is love." He reaches out to humanity with a love everlasting (1 John 4:8; Jeremiah 31:3).

When Adam and Eve sinned, God took the initiative in searching for them. Even though they hid from Him, God did not abandon them. God searched for them and found them. With deep sorrow God outlined the consequences of their disobedience, the pain, and the difficulties that they would encounter. Yet in their absolutely hopeless situation He revealed a wonderful plan, promising ultimate victory over sin and death. Though God is merciful, He cannot forgive those who cling to sin. Pardon has a purpose; He wants to change sinners into saints. "Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy, and to our God for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7). The original transgression created in the human mind a disposition of enmity against God. Consequently we deserve the displeasure of God, who is a consuming fire against sin. History reveals that Adam's descendants share the sinfulness of his nature. Paul says, "Through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, thus death spread to all mankind, because all have sinned." In prayer, David said, "In your sight no one living is righteous." "There is no one who does not sin." "Who can say I have made my heart clean, I am pure from sin?" The solemn truth is, "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God," and if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." David said, "I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceived me." Paul states that "the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God." All of us are children of wrath and subject to death "for the wages of sin is death." Romans 5:12; Psalm 143:2; Psalm 14:3; 1 kings 8:46; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8;Psalm 51:5; Romans 8:7,8; Ephesians 2:3; Romans 6:23.

Every effort to achieve a righteous life through one's own strength is doomed. Christ said that everyone who has sinned is a slave of sin. Only divine power can emancipate us from this slavery. But Christ has assured us, "If the Son makes you free, you are free indeed" John 8:36. You can only produce righteousness "If you abide in Me." Because, "without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5. Paul realized he could not achieve righteousness on his own. He said, "The things I want to do is not the things I do, and the things I don't want to do is the things I do." He wondered how he could be delivered from that condition. He finally realized his need of divine power to be victorious. Through Christ he put aside a life according to the flesh and began a new life according to the Spirit (Romans 7:15,19,20,22-24; Romans 7:25; 8:1). This new life in the spirit is the transforming gift of God. Through divine grace, we who are "dead in trespasses and sin" can be victorious (Ephesians 2:1,3,8-10). Paul says, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, all things becomes new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The new life, however, does not mean we would not sin. But if we sin we "have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 2:1; 1 John 1:9.

God wants to change sinners into saints. He says "let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7). "Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: "though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18). His message of salvation clearly sounds throughout the earth, "Look unto Me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth: for I am God and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:22). John 1:12 "says, as many as receive Him, to them He gives power to become the sons of God." "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

My prayer is that you would accept Jesus as your personal Saviour and allow Him to live a successful life through you.