WHAT WE BELIEVE: SIN || GENESIS 3:1-9
ORIGIN AND REALITY OF SIN
“The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?’
‘Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,’ the woman replied. ‘It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, “You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.”’
‘You won’t die!’ the serpent replied to the woman. ‘God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.’
The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So theyfrom the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God to the man, ‘Where are you?’” —Genesis 3:1-9 (NLT)
CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought
, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” —Romans 5:12 (NLT)
“Nothing is
than sinning.” —Martin Luther
GOD’S SOLUTION FOR SIN
“Yes, Adam’s one sin brings
for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.” —Romans 5:18-19 (NLT)
“How splendid the cross of Christ!
It brings, not ;
light, not darkness;
Paradise, not its loss.
It is the wood on which
the Lord, like a great warrior,
was wounded in hands and feet and side,
but healed thereby our wounds.
A tree had destroyed us;
a tree now brought us life.” —Saint Theodore the Studite