Lesson 4 - The Three Rebellions of Humanity

In Lesson 4, we go on a profound journey through three pivotal rebellions in human history that shaped our relationship with God and the spiritual realm. Beginning with Genesis 3's rebellion against God's rule, moving through Genesis 6's rebellion against God's Redeemer, and culminating in Genesis 11's rebellion against God's relationship, we discover a pattern that mirrors our own spiritual struggles. Each rebellion represents a progression: independence leads to immorality, which ultimately results in idolatry. What's remarkable is that after each rebellion, God doesn't abandon His plan but instead promises restoration, redemption, and renewed relationship. The path back to God is beautifully threefold: through the blood of Christ that cleanses us, through the body of Christ that calls us to purity, and through the cross of Christ that demands we die to ourselves daily. This isn't just ancient history—it's the battle we face every day when our flesh wars against our spirit, when we struggle between doing what we want and surrendering to God's will. Understanding these rebellions helps us comprehend why spiritual warfare isn't just about external demons but about the internal rebellion that says 'I want to be my own boss.' The good news is that God's redemptive plan was never thwarted, and His victory is available to us as we choose to walk in His light.

Key Points:

•The First Rebellion (Genesis 3): Rebellion against God's rule, resulting in the sin of independence and the punishment of death

•The Second Rebellion (Genesis 6): Rebellion against God's Redeemer through the corruption of human DNA by fallen angels (sons of God), resulting in the sin of immorality and the punishment of destruction through the flood

•The Third Rebellion (Genesis 11): Rebellion against God's relationship at the Tower of Babel, resulting in the sin of idolatry and the punishment of division and dispersion of nations

•The progression of sin follows a pattern: independence leads to immorality, which leads to idolatry

•God's redemptive plan includes promises of restoration (Genesis 3:15), redemption (preserving Noah), and relationship (calling Abraham)

•The path to victory involves three elements: the blood of Christ (restoring relationship), the body of Christ (overcoming immorality through bodily purity), and the cross of Christ (dying to self daily)

•Western Christianity has been influenced by anti-supernatural scholarship from German universities in the 1800s, leading to a diminished understanding of spiritual warfare

•Understanding Genesis 1-11 is crucial to understanding the entire Bible and the spiritual battles believers face

Scripture Reference:

Genesis 3:4-5, 15 (The Fall and promise of a Redeemer)

Genesis 6:1-8 (Sons of God and daughters of men, Noah finding favor)

Genesis 11:4, 7-8 (Tower of Babel and dispersion)

Deuteronomy 32:8 (Division of nations according to sons of God)

Genesis 12:1-3 (Call of Abraham)

1 John 1:7 (Blood of Jesus cleanses from sin)

Revelation 12:11 (Conquering by the blood of the Lamb)

Romans 12:1 (Present bodies as living sacrifice)

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (Body as temple of Holy Spirit)

Luke 9:23-24 (Take up cross daily)

Galatians 2:20 (Crucified with Christ)

Romans 7 (Law of sin within)

Discussion Questions:

How does understanding the three rebellions in Genesis chapters 3, 6, and 11 change your perspective on the spiritual battles you face in your daily life?

In what ways do you see the progression from independence to immorality to idolatry playing out in contemporary culture or in your own personal struggles?

Why do you think Western Christianity has historically avoided teaching about the supernatural elements described in Genesis 6, and how might this avoidance affect believers' understanding of spiritual warfare?

What does it mean practically to present your body as a living sacrifice in Romans 12:1, and how can this physical act become a spiritual form of worship?

How does the promise in Genesis 3:15 about the seed of woman crushing the serpent's head demonstrate God's long-term redemptive plan despite humanity's repeated rebellions?

In what areas of your life do you struggle most with the desire for independence from God's rule, and how can you actively choose the path of the cross instead?

How does understanding that spiritual beings were assigned to nations in Deuteronomy 32:8 help explain the spiritual dynamics behind different cultures and their religious practices?

What does it reveal about God's character that He continued His redemptive plan even when humanity was reduced to just one faithful family in Noah's time?

How can believers today walk in the victory described in Revelation 12:11 through the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and not loving their lives unto death?

Why is it significant that Jesus had to come in a human body to be our Redeemer, and how does this relate to the enemy's attempt to corrupt human DNA in Genesis 6?