Generational Sin

Introduction:

Missing Announcements: The rest of Sunday Night Schedules

I hope you guys had an excellent weekend and I’m sure you guys are ready for this semester to be done with… Let me encourage you, you are almost to the finish line

Last week we started a series on “Family” and addressed what it means and looks like to honor your Father and Mother

What looked at the Biblical command and not suggestion that it is, but we anchored this under a statement that again is going to drive our time together

“Family is the God-given divine blueprint for ALL relationships”

We have to remember that God’s Kingdom is often described with similar if not identical names that we use within our family units

Father, brothers and sisters, etc.

For the second week of this series we are going to be looking at yet another heavy topic but this one needs to be talked about as you understand your family background and where you are situation today… that topic is GENERATIONAL SIN

Let’s Pray before we jump in

Heavy TOPIC Warning…

In 2014, there was a study done on understanding the generational styles of addictions..

This study indicated that genetics represent 50% of the risk for drugs and alcohol addiction, while the other 50% is made up of environmental influence, learned behavior, and personality traits

So half are genetic, and the majority of the other half is out of a child’s control… you don’t get much say what gets handed to you

This is why this topic is so important to talk about, because we need to know how to navigate generational sins and things that you will struggle with

The study further goes on to mention that trauma growing up can often lead to a greater likelihood of addiction to drugs and alcohol

And the last bit of the study which a majority of us might relate to in this room is… mental health disorders are often hereditary including but not limited to: anxiety, ADHD, depression, etc.

My tendency towards anxiety (family struggles with it)

Not only does statistics and studies point to this though, Scripture is very clear on this topic...

The first place we see this is Exodus 20:4–5 “4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,”

We also see this in Jer 32:18-25 and I won’t read all of this for you, but let’s start in v. 18

Jeremiah 32:18–25 ESV

18 You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts, 19 great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. 20 You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day. 21 You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror. 22 And you gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 And they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or walk in your law. They did nothing of all you commanded them to do. Therefore you have made all this disaster come upon them. 24 Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you spoke has come to pass, and behold, you see it. 25 Yet you, O Lord God, have said to me, “Buy the field for money and get witnesses”—though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.’ ”

Generational sin refers to patterns of sinful behavior, attitudes, or choices that get passed down from one generation to the next. It’s not necessarily about direct punishment for the sins of our ancestors, but rather about the way certain behaviors, mindsets, or curses can shape the environment we grow up in, influencing how we live, think, and interact with others.

Think about it: how many times have we heard phrases like, “Your grandfather was like this” or “This is just how our family is”? There are traits—both good and bad—that get handed down in families, and sometimes, they’re toxic. It could be cycles of addiction, anger, divorce, unforgiveness, or bitterness that keep repeating themselves. Maybe you’ve seen or felt this in your own family.

The Bible acknowledges this reality, especially in Exodus 34:6-7, where God describes Himself as merciful and forgiving, but also says that He “visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me” (Exodus 34:7). There is a sense that sin’s consequences can linger, affecting more than just the person who sins.

But notice how the focal point of this passage is God’s character and that’s the imperative part of this entire topic as we talk about generational sin

And so 1, I want you to see that generational sin is real, but secondly what I want us to see is “Your not condemned for your family's sin, but you will feel the consequence of it”

Ezekiel 18:20 ESV

20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

What God is saying here is that we are responsible for our own choices. Yes, the past affects us, but we have the freedom in Christ to choose a different path. Our parents' failures do not have to define our future.

We are responsible for our own sins and our own choices that we make in this life

The Bible is clear that there are going to be some things that you struggle with in this lifetime that are inherited and out of your control, but know that your condemnation due to sin is a result of your own choices and disobedience.. but here is also something that will break your brain

Romans 5:12–21 ESV

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This seemingly goes against what I have said earlier, but this is pointing to the human tendency and ultimately their inevitability to sin…

So in theory, all of our sin is generational sin going all the way back to Adam

But this leads us to our 3rd realization, generational chains are only broken through the power of Christ and the Gospel. (Explain Gospel)

Power of God breaking generational curse through anxiety and alcohol in my own life

As, we close I want you to see the large picture, and take home a couple things before I break you off into small groups to discuss…

There’s two generational groups you can be associated with… the generational trespassers that lead to condemnation… (Adam)… or with the generational righteousness that leads to justification before God and relationship with Him (Jesus)

As you go back home, you are going to see the sinful tendencies of your family and it’s going to be easy to feel bitterness towards them in that, but here are a couple take-homes I want you to run with…

Acknowledge the reality of generational patterns. It’s important to recognize where there are unhealthy cycles in your family. It could be that anger runs in the family, or that addiction is a constant struggle, or that relational distance is common. Maybe there’s a pattern of unresolved conflict, or a tendency to sweep things under the rug. Recognizing these patterns doesn’t mean you’re condemning your family; it just means you’re opening your eyes to the reality that these things exist—and that you don’t have to keep living in them.

Choose to live differently. If you’re going to break the chain, you have to make the choice to not let the past dictate your present. You might not be able to change your family, but you can change how you respond. When conflict arises, choose peace. When hurt comes your way, choose forgiveness. When you're tempted to fall back into old patterns, remember the freedom you have in Christ. It’s hard—sometimes you’ll feel like you’re swimming against the current. But remember, you have the power to choose a different way.

Pray for healing. Some things can only be healed through prayer. It’s not easy, but praying for your family, for your parents, and for yourself can break down walls that seem impossible to overcome. Ask God to heal the wounds of the past. Ask Him to remove bitterness and resentment. Ask Him to restore broken relationships. And trust that He can do it, even if it doesn’t happen overnight.

Set boundaries if needed. Sometimes, breaking the chain means stepping back or creating space for your own health and well-being. This might mean setting healthy emotional boundaries with family members who bring toxic dynamics into your life. This is a way of protecting your peace while still loving them well.

The Power of the Gospel:

At the end of the day, the hope of breaking generational sin is found in the gospel. Jesus died to set us free from sin—whether it's our own sin or the patterns we’ve inherited. And while you might feel overwhelmed going back to your family’s environment, remember that the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11).

You don’t have to go back to being a prisoner of past dysfunctions. You don’t have to repeat the mistakes of those who came before you. Jesus has broken the power of sin, and that includes generational sin.