The Nature of Sin

Genesis 1-10 “the nature of sin”

Introduction: genesis 1&2 establish the ownership of the earth and the human race. It establishes god’s right to govern that which belongs to him. Chapter 3 establishes the nature of sin. Chapters 3 through 9 show the progression of sin and punishment from simple disobedience to murder to every thought being evil. It’s also interesting to compare genesis 1-3 the creation and loss of the garden, to rev 20-22 the new creation and restoration of the garden. But we are going to focus on genesis 2:15 through 3:6

Many churches including the Presbyterian Church find themselves locked in great turmoil, fractures and even destruction over topics like abortion, gay rights, personal freedom, personal and social conduct and human rights. A time will soon come when our own church will have to make a decision on where it will stand. All of these issues come back to this passage. We alto often think that all the issues have nothing basic in common but they do and it is found here. And yet very few if any realize the need to go back to this place.

This is a 4 part series that I pray you will make every effort to be here for.

1. GOD MAKES THE RULES

A. BY HIS WISDOM AND WITH HIS POWER GOD MAKES RULES

B. HUMANS ARE NOT CONSULTED

C. THEY ARE NOT COLLECTIVELY AGREED ON, POLITICALLY DECIDED, ARBITRATED, CONTRACTUAL, OR NEGOTIATED.

D. MANKIND IS GIVEN NO VETO OR EDITORIAL POWERS.

E. THE CHURCHES FIRST MISTAKE IS TO FORGET WHO IS IN CHARGE

2. THE DEFINITION OF SIN

A. SIN IS A BREAKING OF GOD’S COMMANDS

B. SIN INVOKES A DEBT TO GOD

C. SIN VS. SOCIAL NORMS AND VALUES

D. SIN VS. LEGAL OR GOVERNMENTAL LAWS

3. THE FIRST QUESTION OF LIFE

A. WILL YOU AS A PERSON ACCEPT GOD’S RULE AND SUPREMACY OVER YOUR WILL AND LIFE?

B. WILL WE AS A CHURCH ACCEPT GOD’S RULE AND SUPREMACY OVER OUR WILL AND LIFE?

C. WILL WE SUBMIT TO GOD’S STANDARD FOR OUR LIFE?

Conclusion: Adam and eve in the garden had a choice and each of us have a choice of who will set the standard for our lives.

Bible Study of Genesis 1-10

There are a great deal of exhaustive commentaries on Genesis and no end to debate of days verses eons for the time of creation but to me the fundamental question of why something is written is often more important. If we ask that question of Genesis chapters 1&2 in relation to chapters 3- 9, we realize that chapters 1&2 establish ownership of both the world and humans God created. Without this deed to humanity God would have no rights of ownership. There would be no right for God to issue commands such as do not eat the fruit of this tree. Without rights of ownership there would be no just cause for the punishments handed out for the rules and limits which God had not right to place upon the human race. On the other hand if God did create the world and the people in it, then He has sole ownership and rights to this world and the people in it.

When God makes the first demand of humans in Genesis 2:16&17 it justly His right to make and enforce, just as we have rights to control things we own.

Genesis 1-3 can be compared to Rev 20-22

As we go through chapters 3-9 we find an escalation in the disobedience of humans from simple disobedience to jealousy, to murder, to every thought being evil. There also is a progression in the punishments God imposes from banished out of the garden, toil and labor for food, then to being cursed and unable to produce food, to the limits of lifespans and finally destruction of the population and the world they lived in.

At the end of Chapter two God gives the command to not eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This command is not formed on consensus, political agreement, any human ideal or norm, it is a command given independent of humans. The breaking of this command is sin, and it incurs a debt not to society or to other humans but a debt to God. This is a very important point that should not be lost. Actions or inactions are sinful not because people agree they are, but because God says they are, and God has that right. While people establish legal and moral codes, which may or may not agree with God, people do not get to determine what a sin is nor it's punishment. Today we find many churches rejecting Gods' determination of sin found in the Bible and replacing with their own moral code. This does not in fact change what God has called sin nor does it absolve the sinner, it only deludes the church member into the false belief that they are safe in their relationship with God when they are actually in Pearle. As a result many churchgoers who are living lives in disobedience to God feel they are righteous and even spiritual when they are actually lost and even worse kept from ever understanding their need for forgiveness and redemption.

Forgiveness and redemption are possible because Jesus paid the price for our sin not because He changed or overlooks law. "If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9