T1L7 The Fall and Sin [Discipleship Class]

THE HOUSE OF FAITH CHURCH | REPLUM DISCIPLESHIP COURSE

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7 – The Fall and Sin

Scripture Focus: Genesis 3:1–19; Romans 5:12

Opening Question: Where do you most clearly see the effects of sin in everyday life, and how does that shape your need for Christ?

Background

In the beginning, God created humanity upright, at peace with Him and with one another. The harmony of Eden was real, yet fragile under one clear command. Through the serpent’s deception and the human choice to distrust God, sin entered, death followed, and creation suffers still. Today’s discussion traces what sin is, how it spread to all, and why the gospel must be more than advice.

Key Points

1. Humanity’s Original State

   
   

   • Perfect and innocent before God. “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31

• Unashamed, at peace. “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” Genesis 2:25

• One command established loving trust. “From any tree of the garden you may surely eat, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:16–17

 

2. The Temptation and the Fall

   
   

   • Satan questioned and twisted God’s word. “Indeed, has God said…?” Genesis 3:1

• The lie promised wisdom apart from God. “You surely will not die…you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4–5

Little-god doctrine is taught today by Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, and others. Satan’s same lie, repackaged.

• Desire triumphed over trust. “The woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise…she took…and she gave also to her husband…and he ate.” Genesis 3:6; compare 1 John 2:16.

3. What Sin Is

   
   

   • Lawlessness, rebellion. “Everyone who does sin also does lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” 1 John 3:4

• Falling short of God’s glory. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

• A condition as well as acts. “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” Psalm 51:5. Original sin and the effects thereof.

4. Consequences of Sin

   
   

   • Spiritual separation. “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God.” Isaiah 59:2

• Physical death (before sin, man had life everlasting). “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23; see Romans 5:12.

• Corrupted nature. “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick.” Jeremiah 17:9; “The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God.” Romans 8:7

·         Resisting submission to God (James 4:4)

·         Making pleasure, comfort, or desire a goal in life (Philippians 3:19; 2 Corinthians 4:18)

·         Normalizing sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, adultery, and calling it freedom (Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:19)

·         Chasing status, wealth, praise, or validation from others, and neglecting righteousness, virtuousness, and gratitude (1 John 2:16; Luke 12:15)

·         Treating God’s Word as optional, showing disinterest in reading it (Colossians 3:2; Psalm 1:1-2)

·         Harboring envy, outbursts or anger, fracturing relationships to preserve self (Galatians 5:20; Titus 3:3)

·         Justifying sinful behavior, words, actions to sooth conscience (Isaiah 5:20; Titus 1:15)

• Fractured relationships and cursed ground. Genesis 3:12, 17–19

5. Sin’s Universality and Our Inability

   
   

   • Adam’s sin affected all. “So death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12; “In Adam all die.” 1 Corinthians 15:22

• No one is exempt. “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves.” 1 John 1:8

• We cannot save ourselves. “By grace you have been saved through faith…not of works.” Ephesians 2:8–9

Application – How to be set free from the bondage of sin and receive forgiveness from the Lord

1. Acknowledge Sin Honestly (confession)

   
   

   Confess specific sins without excuse, seeking God’s mercy in Christ. See 1 John 1:9.

2. Resist Temptation Wisely (repent)

   
   

   Answer doubts with Scripture, refuse to entertain lies about God’s character, and flee settings that bait your desires. See Matthew 4:1–11; 1 Corinthians 10:13.

3. Look to the Remedy (call on the Name of the Lord)

   
   

   Jesus said, “repent, and put your trust in the gospel…” in Mark 1:15. When we read the Word of God we find the scriptures that give us hope and direction. Trusting in the Word (the gospel) over the flesh and its desires, and things this world tempts us with is putting God first in our lives. 

Discussion Questions

1. When have you felt the pull of the serpent’s strategy, questioning, distorting, or denying God’s word? What guarded you, or what failed you, in that moment?

   
   

2. Which aspect of sin do you tend to minimize: lawless rebellion, falling short of glory, or sinful nature? How does that shape your spiritual habits?

   
   

3. How does the truth that death spread to all through Adam change the way you see news, history, and your own family story, and why does that make the gospel urgent?

   
   

4. What concrete practices help you confront temptation before it blooms: Scripture memory, accountable friendships, changed routines, or something else?

   
   

5. Where is God inviting you to show compassion to someone trapped in sin while keeping faithfulness to Scripture?

   
   

Memory Verse“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12 

3. Humanity’s Original Purpose

• To enjoy a relationship with God (Genesis 3:9).

• To rule and care for creation responsibly (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 8:6).

• To reflect God’s character in life (Ephesians 5:1; Matthew 5:48).

• To multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 1:28).

4. The Significance of God’s Image

• Every person has inherent worth (Acts 17:26).

• Human life is sacred and must be protected (Genesis 9:6).

• All are accountable to God for their actions (Romans 14:12).

Application

• Value Every Person: Treat others with dignity, regardless of status or background.

• Care for Creation: Steward the environment wisely while prioritizing care for people.

• Reflect God’s Character: Show His love, justice, and mercy in daily life.

• Appreciate Your Design: Thank God for your gifts and use them for His purposes.

• Defend Human Life: Uphold the sanctity of life from conception to natural death.

Discussion Questions

1. How does knowing you are made in God’s image affect how you see yourself?

2. Which aspect of God’s image do you most struggle to reflect, and how can you grow in that area?

3. How should your understanding of the image of God shape the way you treat others?

4. What does it look like in practical terms to be a faithful steward of God’s creation?

Memory Verse

Genesis 1:27“God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

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