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Commentary on "Nature as a Source of Health"
Day 3: Monday, March 14, 2011 - Sin and Nature
OVERVIEW
This lesson looks at Genesis 3—The Fall. It suggests three ways that sin has caused devastating effects:
- The ground was cursed (hardship in working the soil)
- Humans experienced significant changes (implying physical/emotional, such as pain in childbirth, fatigue/pain, relationship changes between man and woman, awareness of their impending death, etc.)
- Human and animal behavior (hatred, jealousy, selfishness, arrogance—leading to aggression against fellow humans and animals).
It ends with a couple of questions: “Look around at the wonders of nature wherever you are. What echoes of the original creation seem to remain? What hope can you draw from those echoes that point you to the promise of a better world?”
OBSERVATIONS
The Bible is clear about the consequences of sin in Genesis 3:7-24. First, I want to emphasize that there are varied consequences of sin. I don’t know that the above three categories are an accurate or comprehensive representation of all of sin. While Adam and Eve didn’t physically die immediately (by God’s grace), their expulsion from the Garden show that the Word of God was fulfilled as an immediate consequence of (and protection from) their disobedience. They were cut off from the Tree of Life, which symbolized the source of life (Gen. 2:9; Rev. 2:7; 22:2, 14, 19). The human couple’s expulsion signaled their spiritual death (Eph. 2:1). While physical death is, indeed, the result of disobedience in the Garden (Rom. 5:12-21; 6-23), humans are now born spiritually dead, needing restoration to our original state as God intended (John 5:24; 2 Cor. 5:17).
Regarding the closing questions about the “echoes” of the original creation, the second question is important to address: “What hope can you draw from those echoes that point you to the promises of a better world?” While looking and enjoying creation can be inspiring and help us feel closer to our Creator, our real hope is secure in who we worship and what He has promised us.
“For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.” (Romans 8:20-22)
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband….Then the One seated on the throne said, ‘Look! I am making everything new.’ He also said, ‘Write, because these words are faithful and true.’” (Revelation 21:1, 5)
CONCLUSIONS
- The Bible clearly explains the effects of sin in Genesis 3.
- While physical death was delayed, spiritual death was immediate (Eph. 2:1, 4)
- God made a way for restoration of fallen man (John 5:24; 2 Cor. 5:17).
- Viewing fallen creation isn’t what gives us hope or the promise of a better world—Christ does, as He promises it in His Word (Rom. 8:20-22; Rev. 21:1, 5)
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised March 13, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.
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