Chapter Three - Man from fall to faith
Primary Message: “And God said, let us make man in our image after our likenss." Genesis 1:26
Worldview: The claim to fame is to be a “Self-Made man”
Evangelistic Emphasis: God can restore us to his image and likeness. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." John 1:9
We have seen up to this point that man has a nature of sin. We can ask ourselves if this disqualifies us from service. Can man be restored and made whole again? Jesus never wastes anything. When we come to him we become his workmanship that he creates unto good works, Ephesians 2:10. So man has fallen, now what? Many of the greatest heroes of the bible fell hard. Moses committed murder, David committed Adultery, and Paul struggled with doing the right thing. We all fall short, but Jesus can pick us up, dust us off, and start using us again. This chapter is about getting back up and walking after you have fallen. Jesus never intends for us to stay where we are, but he always desires that we stand up, get up, and walk by faith towards all that he promises. Stand up, praise God, and walk in the original condition that God created you to live in, live by faith in Jesus!
Genesis 5:22-6:8
22. “Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
23. And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
25. And Methuselah lived a hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech.
26. And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred and eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters.
27. And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years.
28. And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:
29. And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.
30. And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:
31. And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years; and he died.
32. And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
2. That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all that they chose.
3. And the Lord said, my spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he is also flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.
4. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart
was only evil continually.
6. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air, for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Is it possible that we can hurt God? He is the Almighty!
When we talk about falling it’s not to say that we have stumbled off of our feet and have fallen onto the ground below, nor is it to say that we have lost our balance and are now lying on the ground, instead when we talk about falling we are talking about a moving away from God, a falling away from God’s ways. When we fall away from God it hurts, it hurts us and it hurts him! To think that we have the ability to hurt God is intense, God has a heart, a heart that is grieved, and a heart that hurts because we have chosen to listen and follow another. Man’s fall started in the garden and has continued ever since. Since the time of Adam and Eve there has been actions that we have taken that hurt God because of the choice to listen and follow someone else. These actions are called SIN. Our sin(s) hurt God and cause us to be separated from God to live in a fallen state.
We are all guilty, and we all have fallen. Behold all we like sheep have gone astray! What can be done about this?
After reading these verses what questions do you have?
Answer the following questions:
What was the condition of man’s heart at this time?
How did God feel?
Do you see any similarities between today’s events and those
described in this reading?
What can be done to repair this situation?
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Confession is the key. God’s relationship to man is not to be taken lightly, nor can a repair to a severed relationship be quickly sewn back together except through Christ, our relationship to God must be examined carefully and God’s relationship to us requires the same. There is no quick fix, and apart from a broken and contrite heart there is none. Repentance is an absolute! Repentance begins with the heart felt and sincere confession of the man who has fallen. As with any surgery there are procedural steps that must be taken to prepare for the operation, so it is with Christ. Confession is a vital step to begin to sew together our hearts again unto the Lord. When this step has been taken, immediately God begins his restoration process of forgiveness.
After reading these verses what questions do you have?
Answer the following questions:
Can man come back after the fall?
What happens to the heart of God when one comes back to him
in confession and repentance? And man?
Romans 5:12-6:8
12 “Where as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have
sinned:
13. For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed
when there is no law.
14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s
transgressions, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15. But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God,
and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16. Not as it was by one that sinned so is the gift for the
judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17. For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which received abundance of grace and of the gift of
righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
18. Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men unto condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the
free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20. Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
21. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ
our Lord.
6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2. God forbid, how shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer?
3. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5. For if we had been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not
serve sin.
7. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we should also live with him.”
How many times should God forgive us when he has told us through scripture that we should forgive others, seven times
seventy? That’s a whopping four hundred and ninety times and more!! Wow! I’m absolutely certain that God has every right to
forgive us as many times as he likes, but is he telling us that we can continue to sin even if we take him literally and believe that we have 490 chances to sin? Listen, the truth is, we are likely to sin that many times in a day just by the words we speak. What then? Have we used up all our chances? I’m being a bit ridiculous because this is NOT what God is talking about. First of all, we are not supposed to sin, but if we do he will forgive us our sins when we rightfully confess them to him. Secondly, just because God forgives us our sins, it does not give us the right to keep sinning.
Thus the scripture; “God forbid, how shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer in it?” I have spoken to several who would comment, that if we are to hold someone accountable for their actions we are bringing them back under the law failing to teach them that Christ redeemed them from the curse of the law. It is true that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, as it is written “cursed is any man that hangeth on a tree” but just because Jesus took our sins and took the curse of our sins, that does not mean that we can continue to sin as we please, thinking he will continue to do so, nor does it mean that if we are holding ourselves or others accountable that we are bringing them back under the law that Jesus set us free from, in fact Jesus said, “I have not come to take away the law, but to fulfill it.” We must all realize that grace is a gift from God, a gift that is free, but also a gift that cost Jesus greatly and therefore should not be taken for granted and abused. We are never
instructed to continue in sin. We are fully expected to walk in
newness of life.
After reading these verses what questions do you have?
Answer the following questions:
What was the free gift to man?
Did he deserve it?
Can we continue to sin because Jesus promises to forgive us?
How can we stop?
Romans 10:8-17
8 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.
9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved.
10. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shalt not be ashamed.
12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:
for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not
believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have
not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15. And how shall they preach except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things.
16. But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Isaiah sayeth,
Lord, who hath believed our report?
17. So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”
After reading these verses what questions do you have?
This is where the rubber meets the road! This is where man gets back up and walks again! Saved by grace and forgiven by grace. Man coming from fall to faith is right here, not focusing on his sin anymore, but instead looking to God, not hiding his face anymore, but instead reaching out to God for grace and mercy. What keeps a man in a fallen state? When he continues to focus on and commit his sin and when he refuses to go to Jesus and ask for forgiveness!
How can a fallen person walk with Christ again? The answer is faith. We must have faith in Jesus to restore us. A man can get back up if he has faith in God.
Answer the following questions:
How does a person get saved?
How does faith come?
What is the mission of the disciple?
What is the likely difference for one who hears the words of
God, and those who don’t?
What is the mission of the disciple of Christ?
Hebrews 11:1
1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
What are your hopes and dreams in life? Did you know the Bible refers to Jesus as “the hope of glory?” This is a favorite
passage of mine: Colossians 1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory!” Faith is the substance of things hoped for, we hope for the
Glory of God in our life. Why do we hope for this glory? For us it is a hope to see his glory, for others a hope for a miracle, and for others still, it is a hope for happiness, but why does any of us hope for anything? Because we have heard that it
was possible, thus hope comes from an expectation that has
been built upon hearing something about the possibility that it could be and God has said “With God all things are possible.”
So now that it is possible we have hope! Our faith is increased when we hear the word of God because the word of God gives
us hope! Even though we cannot see it yet, we believe that it is because we believe God at his word!
After reading these verses what questions do you have?
Answer the following questions:
What is faith?
What is the difference between faith and knowledge?
Hebrews 11:6
6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him.”
How is it that man goes from fall unto faith? He seeks God!
When we seek God he rewards us with faith. He is the author and the finisher of our faith. This means he writes our faith into our heart and mind. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing the word of God and faith gives us hope for a new day. When we have hope for a new day all of our troubles flee away. We are then strengthened to rise again just as Jesus rose from the grave!
Jesus is the ultimate “Good Samaritan” In Luke 10:30 there was a man who travelled on the road to Jericho and he fell. You might say, it says he fell among thieves, you are right!
Let’s read it together;
Luke 10:30 “And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed leaving him half dead.”
This is what the devil our adversary does! In John 10:10 we read “the thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” This verse is describing the devil. It’s the devil that leaves us stripped of righteousness, wounded, and half dead whenever we allow him to deceive us to commit sin(s) against God. If we read further we see how the man was lifted up and restored by a good Samaritan that was passing by the way. After reading these verses what questions do you have?
Answer the following questions:
How can we please God?
When we come to God what must we believe?
Mark 11:20-26
20 “And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21. And peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold the fig tree which thou cursed is withered away.
22. And Jesus answering saith unto them, “Have faith in God.”
23. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the
sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them.
25. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you
your trespasses.
26. But is ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Have faith in God, it is impossible to please God without faith in him and impossible to receive from him what you hope for unless you believe that he is and that he is able to do all that he says he can do! Man must move from his fall and return unto faith in God. He does this by seeking God and God’s word. So with that we find in conclusion that it is absolutely possible to recover from our fall and return back unto God and once again walk with him in his light.
After reading these verses what questions do you have?
Answer the following questions:
Is Jesus saying we can have the desires of our heart? If so, how?
What are the prerequisites if any?
How important is it for man to have faith in God?
The following message was prepared and delivered at Grace Temple Church and at The Warren Family Mission. These
seven steps will allow us to walk again after falling. The message was given to bring hope to the down trodden who were homeless and in need to know that there is hope in Jesus to live again a life new and full of promise. It gives us the seven steps that we need to take towards restoration and reconciliation.
THE SEVEN STEPS OF REPENTANCE AND LIFE
Charles Haden Spurgeon once said:
“Do not fall under the notion that the necessity for repentance is over. I have heard it said that repentance is “merely a change of mind.” I wish that those who so speak had undergone that change.” “He who looks sin ward has his back to God—he who looks God ward has his back to sin.”
Jesus said in John Chapter 10: “The thief comes not but for to kill,
steal, and destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they
might have it more abundantly.” Jesus loves us! He wants us to have a good life and even more to have
an eternal life! Therefore, our topic of discussion today is repentance, the 7 steps that
lead to life.
Turn with me to James chapter 4:1-10 as it reads: “From whence come wars and fighting’s among you? Come they not hence, even of the lusts that war in your members? Ye lust and ye have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; yet ye have not because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not because ye ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts. You Adulterers and Adulteresses know ye not that the friendship of the world is the enemy of God? Do you think that the scripture says in
vain, the spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy? But he gives more grace. Wherefore he says, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.”
Herein we see our biggest problem in life: the fallen spirit of man! The fallen spirit in man lusts, it lusts towards envy. Envy is the desire to have all for you. The fallen spirit of man is prideful and selfish! We desire, yet we ask not or we desire and we ask according to the world’s ways instead of what God has determined to be good and healthy for us.
Verse 5 clears it all up for us:
“The spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy.” Before Christ and sometimes even after, we decide for ourselves to ask of God things that are of this world, things that would do absolutely no good purpose in our lives or in the lives of others, yet we want them for ourselves. We ask amiss! But thank God for his wisdom because he resists us as it reads in verse 6; “But he gives more grace.” Hasn’t he already given enough? Yet he gives more because he realizes how foolish we are when we ask amiss. But he gives more grace:
Wherefore he says, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble!” Now here is the secret, pride or humility. If you are walking in your pride he will resist you, but if you humble yourself he will assist you!
Beloved God has never intended to resist us but in our pride is sin and he cannot and will not look upon it. Ok so here is what he tells us to do if we have fallen into the distresses of life caused by our lust, our envy, and our pride.
These seven steps are as follows:
1. Submit yourselves therefore to God
Romans 12:1 reads: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect
will of God.” It is reasonable for us to give ourselves over to God, to submit our will to him, to take up our cross and follow him after that he has given all for you! It is reasonable for us to give up the lies of this world in
exchange for the truth of God! God has compassion on the broken and hurting heart that turns from the errors of their ways.
2. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you
1 Peter 5:8,9 reads: “Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
The Devil is as a roaring lion, he is NOT a lion in fact he is a wormy serpent that is on his belly! Genesis 3 God says be sober so that takes away all dependence on alcohol and drugs!
God says resist the devil STEADFAST, be steady at resistance, continue always to resist his ways and the ways of this world which are but lies from the devil. Resist in the faith. In the faith is in Gods word and his teachings. Resist the devil with Gods words of truth!
3. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you
Hebrews 10:22 reads: “Let us draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Isaiah 12:3 reads: “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Beloved God has given a great mystery here. Pure water is Gods word! The wells of salvation are Jesus, his words, and his love! Draw near to his love and his words!
4. Cleanse your hands ye sinners
Free yourself from filth! What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of JESUS! Hebrews 9: 13,14 reads: “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience from dead works.” Friends when you draw near to Jesus and ask him into your heart to take over your life he cleanses you completely removing all filth! The blood of Jesus washes our minds and frees us from all unrighteousness. Ye were bought with a price. While ye were still yet sinners Christ died for YOU!
5. Purify your hearts ye double minded
Commit your heart to Jesus only!
James 1:8 reads “A double minded man is unstable in all his
ways.” A doubting person is unstable you never know which way they will turn or what they will do next and they cannot be trusted. Brothers and Sisters doubt and unbelief are from the devil, which we are to resist steadfast!
Proverbs 3:5,6 reads: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean NOT to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Jesus, and he shall direct your path.”
Are you unsure about something? Cast it on the Lord and trust
only him and his counsel!
6. Be afflicted and mourn and weep, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness
Beloved God can see all things! God can see your heart! He knows when we are serious. He wants to see that you grieve over the things that can cost you or anyone eternal life. Show him that you hate sin! Show him that
you see the price that he had to pay for our souls and to the cost of redemption. John 3:16 reads: “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.” For your sin God gave his life!
Be afflicted; be sad over your sin and his pain, his hurt that he takes when you sin! Psalm 34:18 reads: “The Lord is near unto them that are of a broken heart.” Does your heart feel the pain over your sinful ways: God is near to you!
7. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up
The last step tells us to come to him as a child that needs a Fathers love. Jesus loves us and the sooner we really look deeply into this the sooner we can come to him with love and the more we too can love others.
Mathew 23:12 reads: “Whosoever exalts himself shall be abased, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted.” If you have the right heart he will lift you up. Proverbs 29:23 reads “A mans pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.”
Love God enough to hate sin, love the brethren enough to serve them. Jesus is love! He gave his all. He teaches us to repent and live!
Today, there may be among us today one that is wavering, one that is struggling with this faith, or even one that hasn’t received Jesus into their heart. God has called us to believe on his son Jesus, to repent of our sins and receive his son into our hearts and lives to live with him from this time forth and forever in eternity. God has given us 7 steps to follow to get our hearts right with Him and to live life more abundantly.
Again they are:
1. Submit yourselves to God
2. Resist the Devil
3. Draw near to God
4. Cleanse your hands
5. Purify your hearts
6. Be sorry for your sin
7. Humble yourself as a child needing their Father
Man from fall to faith requires a commitment to these seven steps. God always gives us everything that we need to walk with him in peace. What a mighty Savior we serve!
Memory Verses: Read and complete and memorize the following verses:
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful…”
Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing…”
Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the substance of things…”
Hebrews 11:6 “Without faith…”
Mark 9:23 “If thou can believe all…”
Mark 11:22 “Jesus said unto them have…”
Chapter Four These Three Are One!
