SIN Lesson 6 for May 9, 2009

THE ORIGIN OF SIN “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,till iniquity was found in you… Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you.” (Ezekiel 28:15, 17)

THE ORIGIN OF SIN “For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ ” (Isaiah 14:13-14)

THE WAR BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL BEGINS

Humanity joined the ranks of evil. “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.” Ellen G. White, Education, p. 25 Humanity joined the ranks of evil.

INDIVIDUAL SIN COLLECTIVE Acting against God’s law. Sinful thoughts. Neglect of duty. Unconscious sin. INDIVIDUAL SIN We are born in with a fallen nature. Wars, hunger, violence… Ecological disasters, epidemics... Crime, terrorism… Moral decline. COLLECTIVE

Acting against God’s law INDIVIDUAL “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” 1 John 3:4, NIV “The transgression of God’s law in a single instance, in the smallest particular, is sin.” Ellen G. White, The Upward Look, December 30)

Sinful thoughts INDIVIDUAL “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28 “When the thought of evil is loved and cherished, however secretly, said Jesus, it shows that sin still reigns in the heart.” Ellen G. White, Sons and Daughters of God, February 25

Neglect of duty INDIVIDUAL “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ ” Matthew 25:45 “The law of God condemns not only what we have done but what we have not done.” Ellen G. White, Manuscript releases, Ms30-1889.65

“But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.” Unconscious sin INDIVIDUAL “But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.” Psalm 19:12, NIV

We are born in with a fallen nature COLLECTIVE “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12

Ecological disasters, epidemics… Crime, terrorism… Moral decline. Wars, hunger, violence… Ecological disasters, epidemics… Crime, terrorism… Moral decline. COLLECTIVE As a Christian, what can I do to alleviate the results of collective sin?

If Christians... Were poor in spirit. Mourned. Were meek. Hungered and thirsted for righteousness. Were merciful. Were pure of heart. Were peacemakers. Were righteous. Decided to follow Jesus at any circumstance. …both active and pasively, they would greatly alleviate the effects of collective sin.

THE ONLY SOLUTION

“ ‘Truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel “ ‘Truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.’ Jeremiah 3:23. Men have sold themselves to the enemy of all righteousness. They cannot redeem themselves. Only by accepting Christ as a personal Saviour can human beings be delivered from the power of the enemy. Man’s pride would lead him to seek for salvation in some other way than that devised by God. He is unwilling to be accounted as nothing, unwilling to recognize Christ as the only one who can save to the uttermost. But of Christ it is written, ‘There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ ” Ellen G. White, Review & Herald, December 4 1913)