We can never truly appreciate the depths of Mercy, Grace and Love it required for God to pay the way for our salvation unless we first understand original sin. Not just that which entered the world by Adam, but that which resides in our own heart today. For that reason, this first week of reading through the scripture helps us to understand the depths of depravity that is ours as it is the whole human race. So, quickly we want to blame society, the world, Satan, or even God for our predicament. But I fear it is much closer and deeply embedded in our own hearts and minds.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil,[o] and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. 15 Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death. James 1 (NET)
Although, it was Adam who first presented sin into the world, we must realize the depth of sin born within each heart from the moment of birth. Does not even a baby arch his/her back in anger the moment its immediate desires are not met? With screeching sounds and flailing arms, it demands its needs to be met immediately. Ah, but are we not each much like that flailing, screaming baby as we demand our way through this earth. As we begin this journey through scripture, I do think we will see our own depravity. And thereby, also see the magnificence of God’s grace toward us.
Ephesians 2: (NKJV)
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Creation—Genesis 1 and 2
God created the world and all that was in it. As he completed each step, He declared that it was good. When all was finished, He declared it as very good. There was no sin. For God is righteous and good, there is no essence of sin in Him. He cannot and did not create evil. Indeed, evil is the absence of God. Just as darkness of its own does not exist, rather it is the absence of light. So, it is, evil is not a created being or thing, it is the absence of God’s perfect Holiness.
John McArthur said it this way:
When God created angels and God created humans, He gave them intelligence, He gave them reason, and He gave them choice. And there is a sequence. I put those words in that order for a purpose.
Intelligence gave them the ability to understand things. Reason gave them the ability to process that understanding toward behavior. And choice gave them the freedom to determine that behavior. Intelligence, reason, and choice. Bottom line: with what they knew, and with the ability they had to process that information, they would be brought to a choice. And whether angels or men, they would have the choice either to obey God or not to obey God.
Listen to this, to disobey God was to initiate evil. Evil is not the presence of something, evil is the absence of righteousness. You can’t create evil because evil doesn’t exist as a created entity. It doesn’t exist as a created reality. Evil is a negative. Evil is the absence of perfection. It’s the absence of holiness. It’s the absence of goodness. It’s the absence of righteousness. Evil became a reality only when creatures chose to disobey. Evil came into existence initially then in the fall of angels and then next, in the fall of Adam and Eve.[1]
John McArthur
Original Sin First Appeared in Genesis 3:
Now, first of all we know from Genesis 2:15-17 (NKJV) that God had commanded the man, saying
Of every tree of the garden, you may freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
This is an important detail, so that the responsibility of the original sin lay directly on Adam for the human race; even though, the woman was the first to doubt God (sin) and to disobey God’s command. There would have not been a way of redemption had God not made certain of this detail to allow for the virgin birth later. And so, we reach Genesis 3.
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” Genesis 3:1 NKJV
Well the first clue should have been that this animal was talking to her. But he most likely did not look like snakes do now. Instead, his curse was to crawl upon the earth, so more likely this creature was more like the mystical serpents described in Job. This serpent was possessed by Satan, who had been the most beautiful angel who rebelled against God, desiring His throne. When Satan was cast out, his anger was to destroy any good plan of God. After all, men and women were given all of God’s love, care, and were given the ability to procreate. Angels can’t have children.
First step to sin is to doubt God’s Goodness and His Sovereign Will
without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
Yet, think of this, God walked in the Garden with them. They had experienced His goodness, His love, and His kindness. Yet, when Satan suggested to Eve that perhaps God was holding out the best from her, she doubted God’s goodness. She had never seen anything but His goodness. And certainly, knew nothing of evil, but still she listened, reasoned, and chose to eat of the tree. Hers we can say was deception; but Adam chose knowing he was responsible for not only himself but for all the creation God had placed under his care.
Immediately, they had shame, guilt, and feelings which they had never known. They hid themselves from the only one who could save them. Sound familiar? Then each one tried to blame God for their failure to follow this one command.
Yet, God dealt with them with grace and a plan of redemption. He killed an innocent animal to cloak their shame with a promise of redemption to one day come by grace through faith. Adam demonstrated his faith, by naming his wife EVE (meaning life). Before then she was known as woman, now it would be through her that the Savior would one day come, born of a Virgen. It would be Him who would crush Satan’s head. So, at the Origin of Sin, Redemption was promised. Adam demonstrated his first act of humility, repentance, and faith by naming his wife life.
Another Act of Grace concerning Original Sin
Then so they would not be stuck forever in this state of living death, He kept them from the tree of life. Only by doing this was there the chance for them to be spiritually made alive again in a relationship with Him through faith by grace. Had they eaten of the tree of life, they would have plunged the world into an eternal state of living death.
Original Sin and God’s Plan
God was not the author of sin; yet God could take all the sin that his creatures committed from free will and turn it around to use it for the ultimate good to all who would be saved. And so, the story of human depravity and God’s grace began to be written on our slates of time. His wrath for sin, cannot ever be forgotten in this story. Afterall, it is sin that deprives humans from knowing His absolute righteousness, glory, love, and goodness. Let us look next at Cain. Adam and Eve must have told Cain and Abel the story; but Cain wanted to worship God his way. He wanted God to accept his donations of fruits and vegetables. When God did not accept His sacrifice, God told Cain,
“Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” Genesis 4:6 (NLT)
Lack of Repentance in Original Sin Leads to Destruction
Instead of taking heed, he killed his brother and then tried to pretend to God, he knew nothing. So, God sent him away. He never repented. His prodigy continued on in choosing evil. Just as Adam, his was a willful act of disobeying God. However, unlike Adam, Cain did not repent or seek God’s Grace.
However, God’s plan of redemption marched on through Seth. Yet, by 10 generations from Adam, evil reigned supreme. Each living long lives. After all, the earth needed to be filled as God commanded. But humanity had choice and despite all that God did that was good, they chose evil more often than not. The descendants of Seth were lured by the beauty of the women from Cain’s descendants and forgot about God. Only a few remained faithful, such as Enoch, Methuselah, and then Noah.
God’s Redemptive Plan Marches on In Spite of Flawed Humanity
Then, God saw the utter depravity of the earth and determined, He must destroy it all. Yet, for His redemptive plan to move on, He chose the one man and His family who did still worship God. So, Noah built the boat, the flood came and everyone else was destroyed apart from Noah and his family. Despite all this, once this was over. Noah sacrificed to God and then he got drunk. One of his sons entered the room to find his father naked and looked upon him with lust. Original sin still lay in the hearts of humans.
As time went on, through all the corridors of time, men and women were born that chose to follow their own fleshly desires rather than God. Still God continues His plan.
There were some who decided they were strong enough to build a city to heaven, so God confounded the languages. Many went off to worship idols, yet God called Abraham out from idol worship to follow Him. Despite all his flaws, God step by step guided Abraham to a place of deep faith. Abraham was willing to humble, repent, and follow God’s guidance. He made many mistakes along the way, but through him would come the Messiah one day.
Original Sin and Why we must understand it before we know of grace
All too often we want to say that sin is because of circumstances, society, or even that “Satan made me do it”. But it is much more than that. It is a desire deep within to prove my worth. Or to rise up to declare, I have the rights to better or more. That displays how little I understand. Much like the newborn baby demanding his needs be met, I demand what I want. Never remembering the goodness of God. So, quickly I forget the times He held steadfast in His love while I chased after foolish things I thought would satisfy. He has been all I ever needed and only in Him am I made complete.
I can never know the depths of sin that were placed upon Him, until I am willing to look honestly at my own heart. How often do I fall short of His righteousness? Or doubt His plan for me? These are those moments when I, like Eve fail to shout to Satan, “I know my Heavenly Father is good. His love is perfect, and I rejoice in Him, whatever else may come. I stand in awe of His love and grace toward me.” One day I will look like Him, He will finish all that He has planned in me. I will stand upon His promises in Romans 8 and Ephesians to tell me who I am in Him.
Romans 8: (NKJV)
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. …9you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you….
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 1 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. 4 Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. That we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. 5 Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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DISCLOSURES
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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[1] C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, (New York: HarperCollins, 1952), 47-48
[1] https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-235/the-origin-of-evil