The principal effects of sin are alienation from God, from others, from oneself, and from creation.

Why would the first couple, sinless and without inclination toward sin, choose to rebel? Why would any creature presume to know more or know better than its creator?Īdam and Eve become sinners by a historical act. It flows from decisions to reject God's way, and to steal, curse, and lie simply because that seems more attractive or reasonable. Sin involves the refusal of humankind to accept its God-given position between the Creator and lower creation. Here too the first sins disclose the essence of later sins. Will Adam and Eve heed their impressions or God's instructions? Will they listen to a creature or the Creator? Will they serve God or themselves? Who will judge what is right, God or humans? Who will see to the results? Ultimately, by taking the position of arbiter between the conflicting counsel of God and the serpent, Eve and Adam have already elevated themselves over God and rebelled against him. But behind the appeal to something good, sin ultimately involves a raw confrontation between obedience and rebellion. Throughout the Bible almost every sin reaches for things with some intrinsic value, such as security, knowledge, peace, pleasure, or a good name. We see the tendency of sin to begin with a subtle appeal to something attractive and good in itself, to an act that is somehow plausible and directed toward some good end.

He invites Eve to consider how the fruit of the tree of knowledge is good for food and for knowledge. 'Did God really say, You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?' ( Gen 3:1 ). First, Satan introduces doubts about God's authority and goodness. Satan uses a serpent to tempt Eve and Adam, first to question God, then to rebel against him.

They are without flaw, yet capable of marring themselves. Created in God's image, Adam and Eve are good but immature, fine but breakable, like glass dishes. It is tragic because it represents a fall from the high original status of humankind. In the biblical world sin is, from its first appearance, tragic and mysterious. The concept of sin is complex, and the terminology large and varied so that it may be best to look at the reality of sin in the Pentateuch first, then reflect theologically. Further, the Bible teaches that sin involves a condition in which the heart is corrupted and inclined toward evil. But sin also offends people it is violence and lovelessness toward other people, and ultimately, rebellion against God. Sin includes a failure to do what is right. Perhaps we most often think of sin as wrongdoing or transgression of God's law. Sin is a riddle, a mystery, a reality that eludes definition and comprehension. Bible Dictionaries - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Sin Sin

7 sins defined