MEMORY VERSE: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.’ Revelation 22:11.
LESSON AIM: To study the period of probation that God in His mercy has granted to all people and when that period of probation will end.
‘God allows men a period of probation; but there is a point beyond which divine patience is exhausted, and the judgements of God are sure to follow. The Lord bears long with men, and with cities, mercifully giving warnings to save them from divine wrath; but a time will come when pleadings for mercy will no longer be heard, and the rebellious element that continues to reject the light of truth will be blotted out, in mercy to themselves and to those who would otherwise be influenced by their example.’ Prophets & Kings, page 276.
1. What warning did God give to Adam? Genesis 2:16-17.
NOTE: ‘“The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). To Adam before his fall the Lord said, “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17). “If you transgress My law, death will surely be your punishment.” By disobeying God’s command, he forfeited his life.’ Selected Messages, book 3,page 141.
2. Why did Adam not die on the day that he disobeyed God? Consider Genesis 3:21.
NOTE: ‘In the “coats of skins” of the sacrificial animals is the symbolism of the “robe of Christ’s righteousness and the garment of salvation.” The provision of skins had necessitated the death of an animal, so that we have a complete illustration in practice of the fundamental biblical principle that “without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). The death of this animal was the first picture of the death of Christ, in virtue of which alone the believer is justified, clothed, set in his right mind and given access to God. The coats provided by God to clothe the guilty pair are the picture of the robe of Christ’s righteousness and the garment of salvation, won for the people of God by Christ on the cross, applied through the Gospel, and appropriated by faith.’ L. E. Froom: The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, volume 2, page 87.