The Original Root of Sin

The Story of Thirsty Ed

What was Ed’s problem? The symptoms?

To fix his symptoms he had to reach the cause of the issue.

With that in mind, I want to consider the topic of…

The Original Sin

What comes to mind when you hear this phrase?

Well, let’s look to the Bible and see what we can learn about the original sin.

Problems in Paradise

Context: God created man and woman and placed them in the garden of Eden—Paradise. (Genesis 2:7–9)

God gave them every tree to “freely” eat from in the garden with one exception: don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:15–17)

Genesis 3:1 (AV 1873)

1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

“God’s words had emphasized freedom—the man could eat of every tree with only one prohibited. The serpent makes the prohibition universal. Instead of ‘You may certainly eat from every tree of the garden’ we have ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’ attributed to God.

Why should the serpent say something which, as the woman duly points out, is clearly not the case? Apart from the fact that the serpent thereby engages the woman in debate, the main point lies presumably in the implication of the serpent’s words.

What matters is not that the serpent’s words are obviously false, but that they imply that a total prohibition is the sort of unreasonable prohibition that one might expect from God, who is to be seen as more interested in restriction than freedom. Such an innuendo is not dismissed simply by pointing out the obvious inaccuracy of the serpent’s words.” R.W.L. Moberly, “Did the Serpent Get It Right?,” Journal of Theological Studies (Oxford University Press, 1988), 39:6.

Genesis 3:2 AV 1873

2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

Did you notice the word she left out from God’s command?

Genesis 2:16 (AV 1873)

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

Eve is already seeing God as being restrictive.

Genesis 3:3–5 (AV 1873)

3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

5 for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Satan’s Implications About Us

The temptation to make ourselves better implies that we aren’t valuable enough already.

Satan said we can make ourselves more valuable through our actions—by doing things to increase our sense of worth and identity.

Satan’s Implications About God

What are the implications about God?

God is a liar who doesn’t have Eve’s best interest at heart

God is withholding something good from Eve

God’s laws are restrictive and arbitrary

God exalts Himself at the expense of others

These are the things that non-Christians believe about the God of the Bible and Christianity today:

Christianity doesn’t have the world’s best interests at heart

Christianity holds us back from knowledge

Christianity imposes restrictive and arbitrary laws

All of this is done by Christians so they can exalt themselves over others via wealth and/or moral superiority

There was nothing poisonous in the fruit itself, and the sin was not merely in yielding to appetite.

It was distrust of God's goodness, disbelief of His word, and rejection of His authority, that made our first parents transgressors, and that brought into the world a knowledge of evil. It was this that opened the door to every species of falsehood and error. Ed 25.2

The “Original Sin” of Mankind was believing the lies of the Serpent.

This misconception of God’s character is the disease, and what symptoms did this cause?

Symptoms of the Original Sin

What happens when we believe lies about ourselves and God?

Genesis 3:6 AV 1873

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The natural result of believing the lies of the Serpent are sinful actions.

Genesis 3:7 (AV 1873)

7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked;

Sin leads to guilt, shame, and vulnerability (nakedness)

and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Guilt, shame, and vulnerability lead the desire to suppress these feelings through our actions (covering nakedness with fig leaves)

CHART:

Lies Believed —> Eating Fruit —> Feeling of Nakedness —> Attempt to Cover Shame

Lies Believed —> Distrust Towards God —> Sinful Actions —> Guilt and Shame —> Attempt to Repress Feelings

The Solution

If the problem was caused by a misunderstanding of God’s character, what will be the solution?

A revelation of God’s true character!

This is why Jesus came to this world:

John 18:37 (AV 1873)

37 Jesus answered… To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth…

The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan's deceptive power was to be broken. DA 22.1

This could not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God's government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. DA 22.1

This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world's dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, “with healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2. DA 22.1

Where was the clearest revelation of God’s character revealed? At the cross.

The cross is the culmination and climax of Christ’s life ministry.

How?

Luke 2:35 AV 1873

35 (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

What the Cross Reveals About Satan

Satan was the one who instigated the crucifixion of Christ (John 13:2).

Thus the cross exposed Satan as a murderer who does not have our best interests at heart.

What the Cross Reveals About Us

The cross reveals the result of believing the lies about God.

Those who crucified Jesus viewed God as a violent warlord who would come and crush their enemies. So when Jesus showed up and taught them to love their enemies, they ended up rejecting Him.

If we continue to be alienated from God by believing lies about Him, our symptoms will continue to grow and grow.

The Cross also Reveals Our Value

In the beginning Satan insinuated that we weren’t enough, and that we need to do things to make ourselves more valuable.

But what did the cross teach us about God’s view of us?

Romans 5:8 AV 1873

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The value of something is demonstrated by the lengths to which someone would go to possess it, and God gave all of heaven to possess us—Just like the man who gave everything he owned for the pearl of great price.

What the Cross Reveals About God

The cross shows us that God is not the person that Satan made Him out to be.

2 Corinthians 5:19 (AV 1873)

19 to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself…

God was with His Son on the cross.

Philippians 2:5–8 AV 1873

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Instead of seeking to exalt Himself at the expense of others, He humbled Himself to death for the sake of others!

With this in mind, it is only through the revelation of Christ’s life that we are reconciled to God.

Colossians 1:19–22 (AV 1873)

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

What is this language about the blood about???

Deuteronomy 12:23 (AV 1873)

23 Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.

So what is the blood of Christ?

Christ’s blood = His life and testimony about His Father.

We are reconciled to God by being washed in the blood (life/testimony) of Christ!

And this is how we are cleansed of our sins:

Revelation 1:5 (AV 1873)

5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

This is what will prepare the final generation for the Second Coming:

Revelation 7:14 AV 1873

14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Just as the blood of the sacrifice would cleanse the sanctuary in the Day of At-One-Ment, so will the blood of Christ cleanse the Church and finish the work of the “At-One-Ment”!

It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth. COL 415.3

This is the work outlined by the prophet Isaiah in the words, “O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.” Isaiah 40:9, 10. COL 415.4

Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, “Behold your God.” The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them. COL 415.5