The Existence of Sin
NOTE: To obtain a more complete analysis of sin you will need to read Learning Activities # 20, #22, #79 and 79A on this website.
1. Romans 5:12
The verse above is packed with interesting facts about sin. At face value it is saying that: (1) prior to some certain man, there was no sin in the world, (2) that one certain man caused or began sin in the world, (3) sin causes death (the death spoken of here is spiritual death which is separation from God who is holy and sinless), (4) death, or separation from God passed upon ALL men because of this one person because ALL have sinned!
2. Romans 5:14
3. Romans 5:14 identifies the “certain man” that is spoken of in Romans 5:12. Who is he?
Because everyone physically, biologically born is an ancestor of Adam, we are all sinners. This has been termed by theologians as “original sin” but that title does not appear in the Scriptures. At first this might sound as if it is unfair for everyone to suffer because of what one person did back in the Garden of Eden, but the “antidote” for this is equally available and given to us in the Scriptures. Additionally, there is not one person other than Jesus of Nazareth who has not sinned at some point in their lifetime.
4. Romans 5:17
5. Who is the “antidote” for original sin?
When all things are considered, we see that God did not treat mankind unfairly at all because He provided the answer to original sin by sending His Son to die for ALL of mankind (see Learning Activity #14).
6. Romans 5:19
7. Rewrite the above verse in your own words and understanding.
8. Romans 6:23
9. Write your understanding of the verse above in your own words.
We see from the Scriptures that man is not a sinner primarily because he sins, but rather because they were born a sinner! ALL have sinned (Romans 3:23; 5:12) because every human being was born a sinner since they came through the blood line of Adam and is in need of being redeemed (to be saved from a state of sinfulness and its consequences). This is what Christ did when He died on the Cross of Calvary in our place!
The material above may be adequate for most who study this Learning Activity, but there is more that can be added. For a more complete understanding I suggest you continue with the following material.
10. Genesis 2:16, 17
11. If Adam and Eve violated God’s command to not eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil what did God say would happen to them?
But as we continue to read the Genesis account observe what happened.
12. Genesis 4:1, 2
13. What happened to Adam and Eve?
14. Genesis 5:5
15. How long did Adam live?
From #12 and #14 above we can conclude that the death that God had said in #11 was NOT a physical death but rather a spiritual death! We verify this by Genesis 3:24. They were excluded from fellowship with God which they previously had in the Garden that is symbolic of separation from God which is what spiritual death consists of.
Click on Self-Check below to check your understanding.