The purpose of the Law is to reveal a holy God to humanity and to train humanity for a life of faith. We have looked at the Law multiple times now and I think we recognize the importance it plays in our faith today. Before we move forward in the Bible there are a couple of very important concepts that have been introduced in the Pentateuch that need to be addressed. As the Law has shown us the holiness of God, it has also shown us something else; sin.
Sin is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Christianity. We aren't all that clear on what sin is, primarily because we don't really talk about it. Sure we talk about various types of sin (gossip, lust, greed, etc.,) but rarely do we actually talk about sin itself. One of the primary purposes of the Law was to teach Israel what sin is (Romans 3:20), so it is fitting that we talk about sin now.
First a very important distinction needs to be made; one that we haven't always recognized. Temptation does NOT equal sin. Just because you are tempted to do wrong does not mean you have actually done wrong. I think most of us would agree, but do our actions always line up with our words? Sadly, no.
Perhaps the area where we have blurred the distinction between temptation and sin the most is sexual sins (pornography, lust, homosexuality, etc.) Let me give you an example. What if next Sunday a person came forward and admitted they were tempted by homosexuality. How would you react? Be honest. Most of us would probably not react kindly. The issue here is that this person has come forward asking for help in RESISTING the temptation. There is a distinct possibility that this person has not sinned at all. We simply assume that because they are tempted they must be in sin.
That is just one example. It can happen with any sin. The point is this; being tempted does not mean you have committed a sin. What we have done is pour the guilt of sin onto being tempted. People feel guilty about being tempted to do wrong, even when they resist and choose God! That should be a cause for celebration, not shame. I think we have inadvertently confused to the two. Remember, Jesus was tempted in every way yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
Sin is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Christianity. We aren't all that clear on what sin is, primarily because we don't really talk about it. Sure we talk about various types of sin (gossip, lust, greed, etc.,) but rarely do we actually talk about sin itself. One of the primary purposes of the Law was to teach Israel what sin is (Romans 3:20), so it is fitting that we talk about sin now.
First a very important distinction needs to be made; one that we haven't always recognized. Temptation does NOT equal sin. Just because you are tempted to do wrong does not mean you have actually done wrong. I think most of us would agree, but do our actions always line up with our words? Sadly, no.
Perhaps the area where we have blurred the distinction between temptation and sin the most is sexual sins (pornography, lust, homosexuality, etc.) Let me give you an example. What if next Sunday a person came forward and admitted they were tempted by homosexuality. How would you react? Be honest. Most of us would probably not react kindly. The issue here is that this person has come forward asking for help in RESISTING the temptation. There is a distinct possibility that this person has not sinned at all. We simply assume that because they are tempted they must be in sin.
That is just one example. It can happen with any sin. The point is this; being tempted does not mean you have committed a sin. What we have done is pour the guilt of sin onto being tempted. People feel guilty about being tempted to do wrong, even when they resist and choose God! That should be a cause for celebration, not shame. I think we have inadvertently confused to the two. Remember, Jesus was tempted in every way yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
What is Sin? How it Started
Now that we have reaffirmed the fact that temptation does not equal sin, we can ask the central question. What is sin? I think we have done ourselves a disservice by focusing mainly on the various types of sin. Sin has become all about individual acts that we have committed that are contrary to God's nature. While what we do is certainly an important part of the equation it is not all that sin is.
It all starts with rebellion. In Genesis 3 we see the very first sins being committed. Adam and Eve are in the Garden when the serpent comes to tempt them. The serpent lies to Eve and promises her that if she but eats of the one tree that God has forbidden them to eat from, then she will become like God.
Now I think this is an often misunderstood passage. The tree is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. I think this is confusing as to why eating of this tree is a sin, besides the fact that God said not to. After all the rest of Scripture seems pretty intent on teaching us the difference between good and evil. When it says "knowledge" it isn't simply a matter of being able to identify good from evil, it means the authority to decide what is good and evil.
With this clarification I think the passage makes much more sense. The serpent is telling Eve that eating of the fruit, a direct rebellion against God, will give her the same authority that God has. She will be able to choose what is good and what is evil, just like God. In essence she will take the place of God.
Not only do we see a sin of action here, but we also see one of inaction. James 4:17 is clear that those who know what is right but don't do it, they have sinned. In Genesis 3:6 we learn that Adam, Eve's husband, has been right there with her the whole time and has said nothing! He just stood there silently as the serpent tried to tempt Eve. He didn't say anything when his wife reached for the fruit. Adam just stood there and ate of the fruit when it was handed to him.
Sin changes you. It isn't simply something bad that you do but has no effect on you whatsoever. The moment Adam and Eve chose to rebel they changed. Immediately their gaze turned inwards; they noticed they were naked. Before their focus was so selfless and other centered that they didn't even notice they were naked. Now they are ashamed because their focus has become selfish.
Not only has their focus changed, they now feel something new; fear. God arrives on the scene and they are so terrified they try to hide. It's like children who know they have done wrong and are trying to hide from their parents. When God confronts them about what they have done, both Adam and Eve try to shift the blame away from themselves. They are concerned not for each other, but only for themselves.
The next thing we learn is that sin doesn't just affect Adam and Eve. God announces that because of what they have done everything has changed. Giving birth will be an extremely painful process now. Men and women will be in a sort of conflict with each other. The very earth will fight back against humanity, making it difficult to work and grow things. And perhaps most importantly of all, Adam and Eve will die.
Conclusion
The first sin as shown in Genesis reveals the core nature of what sin is; sin is looking away from God and at ourselves. We will look more at what sin is later. For now I pray that we begin looking away from ourselves and focus our hearts towards God. That is the only way to resist temptation and avoid falling into sin.
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