Bible Studies for Life Series for January 14: Sin has far-reaching consequences
Posted: 1/10/07
Bible Studies for Life Series for January 14
Sin has far-reaching consequences
• Genesis 3:1-8,15-19,22-24
By Kenneth Lyle
Logsdon School of Theology, Abilene
People always have wondered about the deep and mysterious connection between sin and the state of the world. The question “What’s the big problem?” speaks to the heart of this issue.
There are the obvious questions people raise on a daily basis: Why do people lie, steal, cheat, kill and hate? Beyond the obvious questions, there are persistent and troubling questions asked about the pervasiveness of sin in the world and its connection to our fallen estate.
In John 9, Jesus’ disciples betrayed an understanding of the world that saw sin connected to our individual well-being. Seeing a young blind man, the disciples ask Jesus, “Who sinned that this man was born blind?” Their inquiry leads Jesus to offer healing to the man to demonstrate God’s glory and goodness.
The narrative continues with an inquest by the synagogue rulers about the incident and concludes with the religious leaders dismissing the man born blind who can now see with the claim, “you were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” Their assumption that his personal sin is linked to his blindness matches the assumption of the disciples at the beginning of the story.
This is not an isolated event in the life of Jesus. Repeatedly, Jesus offers forgiveness of sin as a preamble to healing. There is a deep, abiding and mysterious connection between sin, both personal and corporate, and consequence, both individual and collective.
The focal passages from Genesis provide foundational answers to important questions about sin and consequence. What is the origin of sin? What are the consequences of sin? Is there any hope for a sinful fallen world? These inquiries stand at the heart of the Genesis 3:1-8; 15-19; 22-24 passages.
Genesis 2 and 3 continue the story of creation begun in chapter 1. Some scholars suggest two separate accounts of creation stand together, offering slightly different perspectives on the creation account. A careful reading of the account in chapter 1 and 2 proves an interesting comparison. For example, while chapter 1 seems to suggest the earth forms out of a watery chaos, chapter 2 has streams of water coming up from the dry ground covering the whole earth. These kinds of observations do not take away from the veracity of the accounts, but some readers may notice them.
A more fruitful approach to the varied accounts of chapter 1 and 2 is to see them as a continuation of the story of God dealing with humanity. The biblical pattern always seems to focus on God dealing with individuals. This is no less true in the creation account. God sets the broad stage of creation and then begins dealing with humans as individuals. The account of Adam and Eve sets in motion the story of God’s relationship to all of humanity that comes one person a time.
The focal passages tell us about the origin of sin, the consequences of sin and God’s response to sin. The narrative begins with a recollection of God’s command not to eat of the tree in the middle of the garden. Eve’s recollection of God’s command comes because of the probing question from the serpent that “was more crafty than any of the other wild animals the Lord God had made” (Genesis 3:1). That Eve recalls the command suggests she understood God’s command was for her. She, no less than we, cannot claim ignorance as a defense (compare Paul’s argument in Romans 1:18 and following). She understood God’s command was for her own good, and that God had given her and Adam abundance to eat. She and Adam were free to choose from any plant or tree in the garden, but they chose enslavement by yielding to temptation.
Temptation is not sin, but it is a warning sign sin is nearby. More often than not, we are tempted to take something that God intends for good and transform it to an opportunity for sin by our own selfish desires. Scripture tells us plainly that God is not the source of temptation (James 1:13), and that God provides help to resist temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The consequences of sin are temporal and eternal, personal and corporate. Sin affects us individually in our immediate circumstances, but it also affects those around us, both now and for the long term. The curses pronounced on the serpent, the women and the man in Genesis 3:14-19 demonstrate that sin is never an isolated event that only affects one person. There are eternal and far-reaching consequences to sin coming into the world. Paul understood that sin entered the world through one person, but had consequences for all people (Romans 5:12). However, in like manner, the solution for sin comes to the world in the person of Jesus and is available to all people.
The Genesis account anticipates God’s faithful response to human sin. Already here in this creation account we see evidence of God’s faithfulness, God’s provision and God’s plan for redeeming sinful humanity. Human birth will be painful and difficult, but humans will still bring new life into the world (v. 16). Work will require effort and sweat, but sustenance comes (vv. 17-18). Temptation, sin and death always will be present, but God will send one who will deal finally and completely with sin and death (v. 15). Yes, through one man, sin comes into the world, but thanks be to God, through the faithful obedience of one man, Jesus, God frees us from sin and death.
Discussion questions
• How do you understand the connection between sin and consequence? Do our sins affect only ourselves alone?
• What things tempt us most? What would be better than yielding to temptation?