5//8/14- The Image Scarred

By this transgression, generally known as original sin, the image of God was utterly defaced in man, and he and his children became by nature, hostile to God, slaves to Satan, and servants to sin.  And thus everlasting death has had, and shall have, power and dominion over all who have not been, are not, or shall not be reborn from above. (Scots Confession IIIa- written primarily by John Knox 1560).

Scripture: Romans 3:23- For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 5:12: Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned--

Thoughts: This part of the creed answers the question, "What did sin do to us?"  The image was defaced, like a beautiful painting can be defaced.  The beauty was taken away.  This sin effected all people- the one who did it first and all those who followed them. Kind of like one leader's decision to enter a war could mean that his whole land was devastated with destruction.  Death casts a shadow over us because of sin.  Sometimes sin leads directly to death- through murder or war.  Sometimes sin leads indirectly through the worries of life, or the bad decisions of life (like smoking or overindulging in alcohol).  But the creed ends with a negative way of hope- those who are not reborn have death empowered over them.  But this implies that there is a way of hope- a rebirth.

Prayer:  Forgive me Lord, for all the times I scare your image, and dull your glory through my sin.

2/26/12- In Adam's Fall We Sinned All

5- 2/26- 1^st Sunday in Lent- WSC- 16

Q. 16- Did all human beings fall in our first parents’ sin?
A. Since the covenant was made not only with our first parents but also for those who naturally descended from them; all human beings, fell with them in their first sin.

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)

¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— ¹⁷ For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!  ¹⁸ Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:12, 17-19)

Thoughts: In many ways we are all in this together.  We are all in the same boat, and we are all effected by what is done before us.  The sins of our parents are visited upon us.  If our parents decide to waste their lives in alcohol, that effects their children.  We know that the diet of a mother clearly effects the development of the child in utero.   While we may say it is unfair that we have to pay for what our parents did before us, it is often a fact in life.  What the first man of our country (the president) does affects all of us as well.  The first human beings (protoplasts is the technical term) were made innocent, but chose to defile their innocence because something forbidden seemed okay to them.  They listened to their heart’s cry instead of the voice of God.  If their heart was attuned to God and yearned for Him, they would have escaped the consequences of their sin, and life would be vastly different.  Romans 5 speaks of the “federal” idea that while one person can bring us down (our first parent), it is also possible that one person can bring us up (Christ).  We have the opportunity for life again through the one man, Jesus Christ, if we put our hope in Him.  We should care about the sin and misery of others in part because it eventually affects us as well.

Prayer: Though my heart is corrupt, help me to desire what is right, O Lord.  Give me grace and strength to love and serve you with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. 

(Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil- Lucas Cranach 1475-1553)

1986 Q. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first disobedience?

A. Since the covenant was made not only for Adam but also for his natural descendants, all mankind

sinned in him and fell with him in his first disobedience.

1647 Q. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?
A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.

2/25/12- The first sin

4- 2/25- WSC- 15- Q. 15 What sin caused our first parents to fall from how they were created?
A. Eating the forbidden fruit.

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. (Genesis 3:6)

Thoughts: The first sin was the drop of poison in the well that diffused throughout the world and time.  God, as the Creator, has the right to define what is right or wrong.  The Maker and designer not only has the right to give directions for best use, but knows best about what will work for what is made.  It is not a matter of bullying with His power, but He commands us out of love.  We are designed to live a certain way, and we choose to not live in that way.  When we choose to go the way we are not designed, it is no wonder we make our lives miserable.  The basic sin here is not the sin of pride but the sin of unbelief.  They took part in what was forbidden because they thought they knew better than God.  They lacked trust and belief in what God had said.   The joy of the Lord and the abundant life and blessing of God are found in obedience to our Maker who loves us.  There is a part of us that is attracted to what is forbidden, and we should be careful to believe God over our experience or own wisdom. 

Prayer: Help me, O God, to resist what you have forbidden.  Help me to listen to what you tell me about what is right and wrong for me. 

(The Fall- Sistine Chapel- Michelangelo 1508-1512)

1986 Q. 15. By what sin did our first parents fall from their original condition?

A. Our first parents’ sin was eating the forbidden fruit.

1647- Q. 15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?
A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit