The Brinkley argus., 1919-05-09
LESSON FOR MAY II.
SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
LESSON TExT-Genesis s:1-24.

LESSON TEXT-Genesis 3l-A ,-
 GOLDEN TEXT-The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal lire through Jesus Christ our Lord.-RoHl- 6:23
 DEVOTIONAL READING-Psalms 51: 1-13
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Rom. 1:lS- g: James 1:15.
 Heavenly Father.
 JUNIOR TOPIC-How Disobedience Separates Us From God
 Power of Sin.
 SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-The Ma ture and Results of Sin.
 An outlook upon the world proves that man is not what he should De. Then, too, apart from gospel influence there is no sign of improvement. The only way of accounting for the discrep- ancy between what man is and what he should be is by the Fall. This is the way that the Bible accounts for it.. The introduction of sin is the answer.
 I. The Temptation (Gen 3:1-6).
 Man possessed free will, in the ex- ercise of which he turned away from God and his commandment. This was done at the instance of the devil working through the serpent He did not appear as he really was, but in dis guise. The method employed was CD finding the woman while alone; CD in- sinuating doubt into ! CT mind as to Gods word and love. At his sugges- tion she began to believe that God did not mean what he said, and that he was unkind in placing restrictions upon them. In this the devil slandered God, even accusing the Almighty of jeal- ousy and fraud. (3) Appeal to inno-. cent appetite. (4) She gazed upon the fruit which God had forbidden. Looking soon begat lust. (5) She lusted after that which God had for hidden That which God has forbid den should not be looked at lest the flesh should lust for it.
 II. The Fall (3:6-S).
 From lusting to indulgence was a short step. This act of disObediencc has brought on all the worlds woe and misery. Eve not only dsobeyed, but involved Adam in her sin. Aspiring to be gods, they became the slaves of sin. They came to know good and evil, but by sad experience. They knew sin without the power to free themselves from it.
 III. The Consequences of the Fall (3:9-24).
 l. The disturbed relationship with God (vv. 9, 10). The familiar inter- course which man enjoyed with the Al mighty was marred and broken by sin. Sin makes life intolerable in the divine presence. Adam and Eve not only hid from Gods presence, but Adam began to make excuses and even laid the blame on God. -sss.
 2. The serpent was degraded and hencefOrth became a type of sin and Satan (v. IA; cf. Mum. 21 @: John 8 IA Rev. :9). This doom was pro- nounced without trial. In the case of man it was not so.
 3. The undying enmity between the two seeds (v. 15; cf John 8 .40-45; Matt. 23 :33). The antagonism thus begun reached its climax in the cruci- fixion of Christ. Satan's seed has been ever since endeavoring to destroy the Lords work and his workers.
 1. The ultimate victory of the wom- an's seed (v. 15). Satan harassed the womans seed; bruised his hecl, but finally the stroke was made which c,.rchad tba cornaDt'c t,oo1 (Jo,., no. 31; Heb. 2:14; John 3 :S). This was the first gleam of the glorious light of the gospel of Christ. The victory was marvellous, but the cost was infinite (Isa. 53; Cor. 5:21).
 ,. Judgment upon the woman (v. 16). This relates to her as a wife and mother; also to her subordination to man. This is Gods decree, and all ef- forts of freeing one's self from it are fightings against God.
 6. Mans new relationship to the earth (vv. 17-19). The earth was cursed on his account. Because of the rank growth of thorns and thistles man must make an increased effort to exist. Man with his sinful nature would be in bad state without the neces- sity of toll (Rom. S:19-22).
 '. Death (v. 19). This includes physical and spiritual death-both the result of sin.
 8. Expulsion from the garden (v. 24). This was an act of great mercy. To have partaken of the tree of life and live forever in sinful state would have been intolerable