Ministerial Ethics Course; Part 3

(You will need to place your responses in the comment portion directly following this post to receive the HCI certificate at the end of the course. Participation is vital. It allows you to engage in the lesson and consider the truths presented.)

Read: Genesis 3:7-24

There are always consequences for rebellion. When Adam and Eve failed to obey God's simple command and chose to eat the forbidden fruit, several things happened:

1. Man suddenly knew his nakedness. He felt exposed. He experienced shame for the first time. He felt a need to cover himself; to hide from others. His view of himself was damaged and changed forever.

2. Man experienced separation from God. He couldn't enter His Presence. He couldn't communicate with God as he had before. He found himself avoiding intimacy with God. He felt fear for the first time.

3. The man and his wife were divided from one another. Their view of one another was altered. They weren't "on the same team" anymore. They hid their bodies from one another. Shame entered their relationship.

4. The man and woman became irresponsible, blaming one another for their sin. They refused to take responsibility for their personal decisions. Therefore they did not seek forgiveness - for they could not repent without claiming ownership of their sin.

5. What was simple before sin, became difficult afterward. Reaping a harvest from the earth would now require sweat and great effort. Man would have to work harder than he did before. Though he could continue to reap a harvest, it would be more difficult than before.

6. Mankind would have greater pain and difficulty in reproducing others like themselves. They would be unable to reproduce others reflecting the pure image of God now that sin had entered their lives. They would instead reproduce with pain others like themselves, in disobedience and sin.

Thank God for His mercy! He immediately put a plan into effect that would eventually remedy the suffering created by man's disobedience. One day the Seed of the woman would come, born of the Spirit, and walk in perfect obedience to God. This Son of Adam, Son of God would pay the ultimate price for man's sin and restore original holiness and freedom once again. Christ would come as Savior to redeem mankind with His sacrifice. What a wonderful Savior!

In conclusion,we should remember the following truths presented by the Ministerial Ethics course thus far:

1. Biblical authority places God's Word above ALL else...God's Word IS His authority.

2. Satan is behind every act of rebellion against the authority of God.

3. Satan will challenge and contradict God's word.

4. Man must choose either to submit or to rebel against God's Word/authority.

5. Disobedience to God's Word (rebellion) produces negative consequences.

Discussion Questions:

What did you learn from this lesson? How will this lesson impact your life?

Read Genesis, Chapters 6 - 9.

Why did God send the flood to destroy the whole earth?

What do you think obedience to God cost Noah?

What was the result of Noah's obedience?