Absolute #11 Sin Part 2

Sin Part 2

Absolute Curriculum

Year 1, Lesson 11

Into:

We spent our last session discussing the question, “what is sin?” If you will remember, we relied on a definition from Wayne Grudem,

“Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.”¹

We looked at the account of the Fall in Genesis three and evaluated it in light of this definition, seeing that in man's fall, a failure to comply with God's law in both attitude and action were at play. Today we will see how this affects our nature.

The effects of sin:

If you recall our discussion of image, we looked at three specific areas where we are to reflect God; namely, our relationships with creation, with other humans, and with God Himself.

creation: Genesis 3:17-18, Romans 8:19-22

relationships: Genesis 3:16b, Genesis 4

The implications of Philippians 2, Ephesians 2 & 4, John 17, 1 John 3-4

God: Genesis 3:7-10, 19, 22-24 Paradise Lost

2:17, this was not immediate, demonstrating God's mercy, but it is certain (cf 3:19)

Life as it was meant to be is shattered by the effects of sin.

Where are we now?

We are now under the curse of sin and the wrath of God—by our very nature as human beings. Our identity is as children of wrath. Ephesians 2:1-3

This is true for every single one of us. Romans 3:9-18

We have inherited this nature from our first father, our original representative, Adam. Romans 5:12-20

“Surely corruption is ingrained in our hearts, interwoven with our very natures, has sunk deep into our souls, and will never be cured but by a miracle of grace.”² Thomas Boston

So here we are. Dead in our sins, desperate for a Savior. we need grace, for apart from the intervention of God, we are damned in our sins. But there is hope, a hope which we will begin to see unfolding over our next several sessions. We see it opened up for us initially in Genesis 3:15.

1Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (1994, Grand Rapids: Zondervan) 490

2 Ritzema, E., & Vince, E. (Eds.). (2013). 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Puritans. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.