THE BEING WHO FIRST SINNED

With whom did sin originate?

          "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning." 1 John 3:8.

          Note.---Without the Bible, the question of the origin of evil would remain unexplained. 

From what time has the devil been a murderer?

          "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lust of your father e will do.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him." John 8:44.

What is the devil's relationship to lying?

          "When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."  Verse 44.

Was Satan created sinful?

          "Thou wast perfect in the ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee." Ezekiel 28:15. 

          Note.--- Ezekiel here refers to Satan under the figure "king of Tyrus," (See verse 12).  This, and the statement in John 8;44, that he "abode not in the truth," show that Satan was once perfect, and in the truth.   Peter speaks of "the angels that sinned" (2 Peter 2:4); and Jude refers to "the angels which kept not their first estate" (Jude 6), Thee angels were once in a state of sinlessness.  

What further statement of Christ seems to lay the responsibility for the origin of sin upon Stan and his angels?

          "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."  Matthew 25:41.

SATAN AND CHRIST CONTRASTED 

What led to Stan's sin, rebellion, and downfall?

          "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." Ezekiel 28:17. "Thou has said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the nort:... I will be like he mot High." Isaiah 24:13, 14. 

          Note.---In a word, pride and self - exaltation led to Satan's downfall, and for these there is no justification or adequate excuse. "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."  Proverbs 16:18.  Hence, while sufficient reason or excuse can be given for it.  To excuse it is a to justify it; and the moment it is justified, it cease to be sin.  All sin is a manifestation of selfishness in some form, an its results are the opposite of those prompted by love.  The experiment of sin will result are the opposite of those prompted by love.  The experiment of sin will result finally in its utter abandonment and banishment forever, by all created intelligences, throughout the entire universe of God.  Only those who stubbornly cling to sin will be destroyed with it.  The wicked will then be destroyed, root and branch (Malachi 4:1), and the righteous shall "shine as the brightness of the firmament," and "as the stars for ever and ever" (Daniel 12:3). 

In contrast with the pride and self-exaltation exhibited bye Satan, what spirit did Christ manifest?

          "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbles himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."  Philippians 2:6-8.

After man had sinned, how did God show His love and His willingness to forgive?

          "For God so love the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

The Fall and Redemption of Man

DEFINITION AND NATURE OF SIN

What is sin declared to be?

          "Whosever committeth sin thransgresseth aslo the law: for sin is transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.

What precedes the manifestation of sin? 

          "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth for the sin."  James 1: 25.

THE RESULTS OF SIN

What is the final result, or fruit, of sin?

         "And sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." Verse 15. "The wages of sin is death." Romance 6:23.

Upon how many of the human race did death pass as the result of Adam's transgression? 

          "By one man  sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned,  Romance 5:12 "In Adam all die." 1 Corinthians 15:22.

How were the earth itself and its vegetation affected by Adam's sin?

          "Cursed is the ground for the sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of all the days of thy life;  thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth i\to thee." 

What additional curse came as the result of the first murderer?

          "And the Lord said unto Cain... And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood form thy hand; when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength."  Genesis 4:9-12. 

What terrible judgment came in consequence of continued sin and transgression against God?

          "And the Lord said,  I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of  the earth." The end of all flesh is come before me; for thee arth is filled with violence."  "And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth."  "The same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened." Geneses 6:7, 3, 7:6, 11.

After the Flood, what came in consequence of further apostasy from God?

           "And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.  And the Lord said,  Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained form them, which they have imagined to do.  Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city." Genesis 11:5-8. 

Into what condition has sin brought the entire creation? 

          "For we know that the whole creation groanet and travaileth in pain together until now."  Romans 8:22. 

GOD'S DELAY IN DESTROYING SIN 

What explains God's apparent delay in dealing with sin?

          "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us -ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.

What is God's attitude toward the sinner?

         "For I have no pleasure in the death of him that death, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and lie ye." Ezekiel 18:32.  

Can man free himself from the dominion of sin?

         "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." Jeremiah 13:23. 

What place has the will in determining whether man shall have life?

          "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come.  And whosever will, let him take the water of life freely.  Revelation 22:17.

CHRIST, THE SINNER, AND SATAN 

To what extent has Christ suffered for sinners? 

          "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5.

For what purpose was Christ manifested?

          "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.... He that committed sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.   For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:5-8.

What was one direct purpose of the incarnation of Christ? 

          "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him tht had the power of death, that is, the devil." Hebrews 2:14. 

THE END OF SIN AND SORROW

What triumphant chorus will mark the end of the reign of sin? 

          "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." Revelation 5:13.

What and by what means will the effects of sin be removed?

          "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the nigh, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10.

How thoroughly will the effects of sin be removed?

          "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4.  "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it [the Holy City]; and his servants shall serve him," Revelation 22:3.

Will sin and its evil results ever appear again?

        "There shall be no more death." "And there shall b no more curse," Revelation 21:4; 22:3.

Creation and Redemption

CHRIST IN CREATION    

What is revealed in the first verse of the Bible?