231220 BITES: Q17 Why is humanity's condition considered sinful

Q17 Why is humanity's condition considered sinful? A17 Our sinfulness consists of Adam’s guilt, lack of original righteousness, complete corruption, also called original sin, as well as actual transgressions which come from it. (Rom. 5:19)

Attention grabbing introduction about representation: You can summarize if they know the narrative

1 Samuel 17:4–9 “Then a champion came out from the camps of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor, and the weight of that scale-armor was five thousand shekels of bronze. He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him. And he stood and called out to the battle lines of Israel and said to them, “Why do you come out to arrange yourselves for battle? Am I not the Philistine and you slaves of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. “If he is able to fight with me and strike me down, then we will become your slaves; but if I prevail against him and strike him down, then you shall become our slaves and serve us.””

Goliath was a representative of the Philistines and demanded a representative of Israel so that they could fight. Whoever won got to enslave the other’s family and nation. What??? If someone loses a fight I am a slave???

Let’s relate that to our next question, and remember, we are still digging out details about what sin involves and how it affects others. Here is Question 16

Question:

Q16 Who was impacted by our first parents sin?

A16 All of Adam’s descendants fell with him because he was our representative in the covenant of life given by God REPEAT

We know this because Scripture tells us: ASK IF ANYONE KNOW WHERE THEY CAN FIND PROOF - EXPECT THEM TO REFERENCE GENESIS 3 AFFIRM THAT BUT ALSO POINT THEM TO Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—”

Lay Out the Problem So They Can See the Scope

Because of Adam’s sin all of his descendants are destined to die, not just physically but also spiritually, eternally. SAY ANOTHER WAY. All humanity must die forever and be separated from God. (May be a good opportunity to emphasize how bad sin really is)

Personalize:

Because we, You and I, inherited a sin nature from Adam we are unable to live perfectly, we sin… constantly. Have we ever lied, stolen, have we ever dishonored our parents, have we ever coveted, committed blasphemy?

Did you know that we must be punished for that sin. That’s tough!!! God must punish our sins or He is not good or just and His very holiness is in question.

If a judge doesn’t punish criminals is he good or bad? He’s terrible, worse than the criminals! God must punish sin and we are sinners. Even if we had never sinned we would still have a sin nature.

We have a very big problem - DON’T HESITATE TO DRAG THIS OUT THE KIDS NEED TO KNOW THEIR NEED

Question:

Q16 Who was impacted by our first parents sin?

A16 All of Adam’s descendants fell with him because he was our representative in the covenant of life given by God

Romans 5:12“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—”

Explanation of the Second Adam’s Headship

Because of sin I am in bondage to it and must die. I cannot even complain just as Adam rebelled I have also rebelled. I have my own sins not just Adam’s to deal with.

But I also know this, God is very good! He is loving, He is compassionate and merciful isn’t He. He sent another representative. A second Adam. His own only Son, perfect, beloved, precious, obedient, to die for the sins of mankind. To carry a cross I was supposed to carry. To die a death I earned. He came before I was even born and paid every debt, every transgression, iniquity, sin. Jesus satisfied God’s righteous wrath against my sin. Why do I love Jesus - He is my representative and has brought about a new covenant. A one way covenant where He did everything to make me right with God.

It says so in

Romans 5:18–21 “So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were appointed sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be appointed righteous. Now the Law came in so that the transgression would increase, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Definitions:

Descendant: A descendant is the child, or grandchild, or great grand child or great great great grand child of a person. A descendant is one who comes from another. We are the descendants of Adam

Fall: To be cut off or removed from relationship. Because Adam fell, we fell.

Representative: standing in or acting for another especially through delegated authority. A senator represents his state. A congressman represents his district. A lawyer represents her client. They are the one who speaks on behalf of or stands in place of. Adam was our representative

Covenant: An agreement entered into between 2 or more groups. There are two basic types. One way and two way covenants.

One way covenants look like God’s covenant with Noah after the flood. God promised never to destroy the earth again by a flood Genesis 9:9–11““As for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your seed after you; and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. “Indeed I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, and there shall never again be a flood to destroy the earth.””

A two way agreement looks like a husband and wife taking vows Proverbs 2:17“Who forsakes the close companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God;”

The covenant of life: The agreement placed upon Adam by God as humanities representative. The one requirement was not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If Adam kept the covenant he would live, if he broke it he would die Genesis 2:16–17“And Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may surely eat; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat from it; for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.””

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WSC Original Draft:

Q16 Did all mankind fall in Adam’ s first transgression?

A16 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. (Gen. 2:16–17, Rom. 5:12, 1 Cor. 15:21–22)