Week 5 Doctrine: Creation and Fall of Mankind Day 1 - Six Day Creation Scripture - Genesis 1, Genesis 2:1-3, Psalm 33:6-8, & John 1:3 Devotional - Look around you. Where did everything that you see come from? Maybe you see some wooden furniture in the room that you are in. Who made that furniture? Perhaps your father did, or maybe your grandfather; but where did the wood come from? A tree! Who made the tree? God did! Genesis tells us the story of creation. Unlike your Dad or Grandpa, the triune God did not create His world out of materials that already existed. He created everything we see from absolutely nothing. He simply spoke and it came into being. Only God can create something from nothing by the power of His word. It took God six days to create His world, and He called it good. On the seventh day, God rested from all the work He had done. Not because He was tired, but because He was satisfied that His work of creation was finished. Questions - 1. How many days did God create? 2. What materials did God use to create the world? 3. Was God tired after He finished creating His World? Day 2 - Imago Dei Scripture- Genesis 1:27, Genesis 9:6, & Romans 8:29 Devotional - Imago Dei is the Latin way of saying “Image of God”. Mankind was created by God to reflect God; this is why human life is important and should be protected and preserved. After Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, the image of God became imperfect. Humans still reflect the image of God but not like we did before sin entered the world. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice for sinners on the cross, we can now say no to sin and yes to righteousness. Remember, this is called, “walking by the Spirit”. The more like Jesus we become, the clearer our Imago Dei becomes. Just like when a puzzle is put back together, each additional piece placed helps to display the intended picture. We, with the Spirit's help, can grow to reflect more of the character of God and the Image He placed on us in creation. Questions - 1. What does Imago Dei mean? 2. Why is it important to protect the Imago Dei? 3. How does the Holy Spirit help us reflect God more accurately? Day 3 - God's Providence Scripture - Nehemiah 9:6, Ephesians 1:11, Matthew 10:29-32, Proverbs 16:33, Romans 8:28, & Genesis 50:20 Devotional - The providence of God is the doctrine that teaches us about Gods plan to sustain, direct and govern His creation. He does this with all wisdom and for His glory. Sometimes God uses ordinary means to accomplish his plans, other times God does not. An ordinary means of providence would be when God uses a rain cloud to produce crops that people can eat; this is very ordinary. He may also choose to work in a more miraculous way, like when He parted the Red Sea so that the Israelites could escape from the Egyptians. He is not bound by His creation, rather, He sovereignly decides how all things will work together for His purposes. At times, we may think or feel like God is not in control or being very fair. Yet, even in hard times, we know that the providence of God is at work for our good and His glory. Questions - 1. What is Providence? 2. What is an example of ordinary Providence? 3. What is an example of an extraordinary Providence? Day 4 - The Fall of Mankind Scripture - Genesis 3:1-19, 1 Corinthians 15:22, Romans 5:12, & Romans 5:18-19 Devotional - After God was finished with His creation of the universe, He proclaims “it is good”. God made everything good and His creation was sinless. Sadly, we know it didn't stay that way for very long. Adam and Eve, our first parents, rebelled against God’s command to not eat from the tree. The sneaky serpent, Satan, lied to Eve, telling her that she could disobey God and still live. At this moment, sin had entered into the world, nothing would ever be the same. The penalty for Adam and Eve's sin was death. Had they obeyed God, they would have lived forever with God. Because of their sin, they and all the people that would be born after them would have to die. Adam and Eve's relationship with God was now broken. Everything about Humanity was fractured and rotten with sin. The mind, desires, and will of every person would now be diseased and corrupted; even the Earth itself was placed under a curse. Thankfully, we know the story of the fall ends with the promise of a rescuer. (Genesis 3:15) Questions - 1. What is the Fall of mankind? 2. Where Adam and Eve created by God to be sinful? 3. Aside from Adam and Eve, what else did God place under a curse? Day 5 - Judgement for all sin/Hell Scripture - Genesis 2:17, Proverbs 14:12, Daniel 12:2, Matthew 10:28, Romans 6:23, & James 1:15 Devotional - Sin separates us from God. Because God is eternal, the punishment for our sin is eternal as well. The payment that we have earned for our actions is eternal death and judgment, called Hell. Mankind was born with the sentence of death already placed upon them. Because we are sinners by birth and by choice, no one can escape the wrath and anger of God. Even if we try our hardest to do good deeds or obey all of the rules, we still have Adam and Eve's sinful, diseased blood running through our veins. The only way to escape the judgment of God is to replace the rotten blood with Jesus’ cleansing blood. This wondrous gift of new life and favor is gifted to all that Jesus has redeemed. Questions - 1. What separates us from God? 2. What is the penalty for our sin? 3. Are we born with sinful blood or clean blood?