C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR JULY 30, 2023 : LESSON 3: TOPIC – THE UTTER DEPRAVITY OF HUMAN NATURE

July – December, 2023

Theme: UNDERSTANDING OUR APOSTOLIC FOUNDATION

EPHESIANS 2:20

UNIT ONE: THE TRIUNE GOD COMES TO REDEEM US

30TH JULY 2023

LESSON 3

TOPIC: THE UTTER DEPRAVITY OF HUMAN NATURE

MEMORY SCRIPTURE

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5).

The utter depravity of man has unleashed untold wickedness, terror, sorrow and all sort of evil on the world. Redemption through Christ is the only way out!

BRIEF COMMENT:

Humanity that was supposed to promote the will of God had lost its value. God is displeased when everyone becomes wicked and there is no longer any distinction between people on the basis of their values. The increasing wickedness of mankind is summed up in the memory scripture: “… every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually”. Today’s generation of believers should be mindful and challenged to live right and also lead mankind back to God, as intended by God (cf. Matt. 5:13-16).

DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS

Mon. 24: God Intricately Makes Man (Job 10:8)

Tue. 25: God Wonderfully Positions Man (Gen. 2:8-15)

Wed. 26: God Warns Man (Gen. 2:16-17)

Thur. 27: Godless Choice Finishes Man (Gen. 3:4-7)

Fri. 28: Godlessness Dislodges Man From Bliss (Gen. 3:22-24)

Sat. 29: Gullibility Makes Humanity Totally Depraved (Rom. 3:23)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS:

1. No one wanders out of God’s holy standard and remains intact. Sin finishes anyone who allows it a footstool in him.

2. Sin is a sinker; don’t let it sink you!

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Romans 3:23

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: AIM: To highlight man’s debasement as a result of sin of Adam and Eve.

OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, it is expected that the learners should be able to:

i. recount the making of man and the purpose of his existence;

ii explain the process that led to man’s depravity; and

iii. explain the consequences of the depravity.

INTRODUCTION

TEXTUAL SOURCE: GENESIS 1:26-31; 3:1FF; 6:5; JOB 15:16; PSALM 139:13-16; ROMANS 3:23

God has been faithful to us in the previous two lessons as He took us through the first tenet of our Mission, The Unity Of The Godhead And The Trinity Of The Persons Therein. We established the fact of the Unity of the Godhead as well as the biblical doctrine of the Trinity. Indeed, our God is one in essence, yet in three distinct Persons.

This is the third lesson in the series. It borders on the utter depravity of human nature, the necessity for repentance and regeneration and the eternal doom of the finally impenitent. Total depravity is the fallen state of human race as a result of the fall of Adam in the garden of Eden, in such a way that everything about man was affected by sin, and therefore shared in the consequences of the sin thereof. The punishment in Gen. 3 which cuts across the male and female genders, as well as animals and plants is a proof that generations after Adam are affected till today by his fall. God wants us to learn some things from this reality as we better understand our second tenet.

INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION: T This lesson is one-week study, with two distinct divisions (I and II). The first division (MAN WONDERFULLY AND FEARFULLY MADE) discusses man’s unique creation which involves the active participation of the Trinity. The second division (MAN BECOMES UTTERLY DEPRAVED) discusses the fallen state of human race occasioned by the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.

LESSON OUTLINE

1. MAN: WONDERFULLY AND FEARFULLY MADE

II. MAN BECOMES UTTERLY DEPRAVED

LESSON EXPOSITION

1. MAN: WONDERFULLY AND FEARFULLY MADE (Gen. 1:26-31; Psa. 139:13-16)

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well (Psa. 139:14).

a) Psa. 139:13-15: David graphically recalls the wonderful, marvellous and masterful divine creation of man. Job also pleaded same (Job 10:8).

b) Gen. 1:26-31 account for how God called the council of the Trinity (v. 26), made man in His image and likeness from the dust of the earth (vv. 26,27), and blessed man with undeserved dominion (vv.28-30).

c) v. 31: If God says that everything was very good, then man’s creation was indeed perfect-fearfully and wonderfully made (Psa. 139:14).

d) Psa. 139:16: God hasn’t created man purposelessly. He has everything about man written in His book, before eternity, including the days fashioned for him. What a meticulous and organised God!

e) God created man for His glory, to fellowship with Him, and for His service (cf. Eph. 2:10). David knew this, and promised to praise God always (Psa. 139:14). You too should be fully committed to this.

f) Afterall, the fearfully and wonderfully made man is created for His praise and pleasure (Rev. 4:11).

II. MAN BECOMES UTTERLY DEPRAVED (Gen.3:1ff; 6:5; Job 15:16; Rom. 3:23)

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Gen. 6:5).

a) Gen. 6:5: The Omniscient God clearly sees man’s condition great – wickedness, terrible imaginations (cf. 8:21), deceitful above all (Jer. 17:9). Why? How?

b) 3:1ff: Humanity yielded in Adam to Satan’s temptation and that brought depravity and damnation. It was a matter of choice (2:15-17; cf. Deut. 30:11).

c) God expected man to be eternally grateful for the most undeserved divine favour (cf. Psa. 139:14). Instead and most despicable, he doubted God’s truthfulness to his own detriment. Thus, he became utterly depraved (Jer. 17:9), billed for death (Gen.3:19; Rom. 3:23).

d) Job 15:16: To show how much man loves sin, his depth in iniquity is compared to drinking water. The natural man can hardly do without iniquity, just like water is indispensable to existence (cf. Psa. 51:5).

e) Rom. 3:23: The clause all have sinned affirms the universality of man’s sinfulness-that makes man to fall short in the measurement of God’s Glory, necessitating repentance.

f) And, without repentance, forgiveness remains a wild-goose-chase.

LESSONS DERIVED

1. God so wonderfully and intricately made man. If man didn’t mess up, imagine the bliss we would have continued in. What a pain!

2. Man became depraved because of his disobedience and rebellion. Yet, there is still hope for man because of God’s grace.

QUESTIONS

1. Describe how your creation makes you different from other creatures. What is God’s role in this?

2. The sin of the first Adam condemns all. Discuss.

SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:

ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:

* The Council of the Trinity took part in the creation of man. (Gen. 1:26-31).

* Man was made in God’s image and likeness, from the dust of the ground (Gen. 1:26).

* God personally and intimately worked on man’s creation and breathed upon him to become a living soul (Gen. 2:7).

* Man is blessed with dominion over other creatures (Gen. 1:28-30).

* Man is created purposefully for God’s glory, fellowship and service (Eph. 2:10; Rev. 4:11).

God’s Role:

* He desired it, planned it, executed it and still supervises it (Psa. 22:28).

ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:

* The whole of humanity, through in Adam, wilfully yielded to Satan’s temptation, leading to the fall and judgement of all (Gen. 3:1ff; Matt. 1:21; Rom. 3:23; 5:12-21).

LIFE APPLICATION:

Having been wonderfully and fearfully created, and given dominion over other creatures, man disobeyed God and got the hammer. The beauty and dominion of man was altered because he disobeyed God. His disobedience and sinfulness become the nature of generations after him. That is the state of man after the fall. It is only in Christ that man is reconciled to God and made anew. Every man that repents and confesses his sinfulness and embraces Salvation becomes regenerated and recreated in Christ Jesus. Be willing: come to Jesus, today.

CONCLUSION:

We bless God for helping us to conclude this lesson. We are happy, knowing that man does not have to continue in his depraved nature because Jesus has come to make things right. You are encouraged to accept Jesus as your Saviour and Lord, today.