© John Stevenson, 2012

Humanity and Sin

Genesis 1:26-27Genesis 1:26-27The God said, “Let Us make man

in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26-27).

In what ways is man made in In what ways is man made in the image of God?the image of God?

Genesis 1:28Genesis 1:28God blessed them; and God

said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Psalm 8:4-5Psalm 8:4-5What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God,And You crown him with glory and majesty!

Psalm 8:6-9Psalm 8:6-9You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;You have put all things under his feet,7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field,8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.9 O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

In likeness of In likeness of GodGod

God’s image God’s image distorteddistorted

The Sacred The Sacred RomanceRomance

Drawing Closer to Drawing Closer to the Heart of Godthe Heart of God

bybyBrent Curtis & Brent Curtis & John EldredgeJohn Eldredge

Why is it that thousands of Why is it that thousands of years later, Helen’s story still years later, Helen’s story still has the power to haunt us? has the power to haunt us? Isn’t it that we long to believe Isn’t it that we long to believe beauty really could do that -- beauty really could do that --

there really might be someone there really might be someone worth launching a thousand worth launching a thousand

ships to regain and someone ships to regain and someone willing, out of passionate love, willing, out of passionate love, to launch those ships? God to launch those ships? God

has launched the ships for us. has launched the ships for us. (Eldredge & Curtis Pg 94).(Eldredge & Curtis Pg 94).

Genesis 3:7Genesis 3:7Then the eyes of both of

them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

Like Helen, we Like Helen, we participated in our participated in our capture, although capture, although we were duped we were duped into it. And like into it. And like Helen, our king Helen, our king

has come for us, in has come for us, in spite of our spite of our

unfaithfulness. unfaithfulness. (95).(95).

Genesis 3:8Genesis 3:8They heard the sound of the

LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:9Genesis 3:9Then the LORD God called

to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:10-12Genesis 3:10-12He said, “I heard the sound

of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:13Genesis 3:13Then the LORD God said to

the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

The man

The woman

The serpent

Blames Blames

Genesis 3:14Genesis 3:14The LORD God said to the

serpent, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life…”

Genesis 3:15Genesis 3:15“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

Seed of the WomanSeed of the Serpent

Satan Jesus Christ

His head bruised His head bruised on the crosson the cross

(A fatal wound)(A fatal wound)

His heel bruised His heel bruised on the crosson the cross

(Humanity)(Humanity)

Seed of the WomanSeed of the Serpent

Satan Jesus Christ

His head bruised His head bruised on the crosson the cross

His heel bruised His heel bruised on the crosson the cross

Genesis 3:16Genesis 3:16To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you.”

Genesis 3:16Genesis 3:16To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you.”

Genesis 3:17Genesis 3:17Then to Adam He said,

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life….”

Genesis 3:18-19Genesis 3:18-19“Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field;19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”

Examples of Retributive IronyMore crafty than any beast of the

field...

The Serpent

...is now made lower than all of the

other animals.

Bruises Christ on the heel...

Satan ...is bruised on the head.

Desires to rule her husband...

The Woman

...finds that he shall rule over her.

Made of dust who would rise to

be like God...

Man ...is returned to dust again.

Warren GageWarren Gage

For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who

subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of

the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

(Romans 8:20-21).

Genesis 3:20Genesis 3:20Now the man called his

wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.

Examples of Redemptive IronyWho was

tempted to sin...The

woman...becomes the mother of all

living.

Will die on a cross...

The God-man

...to bring life to many.

Genesis 3:21Genesis 3:21The LORD God made

garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.

• Taken by the shedding of bloodTaken by the shedding of blood

• Innocent substitutesInnocent substitutes

• Replaced fig leave of human righteousnessReplaced fig leave of human righteousness

God has pursued us from God has pursued us from further than space and longer further than space and longer than time. Our romance is far than time. Our romance is far more ancient than the story of more ancient than the story of Helen of Troy. God had us in Helen of Troy. God had us in

mind since before the mind since before the Foundation of the World. He Foundation of the World. He loved us before the beginning loved us before the beginning of time, has come for us, and of time, has come for us, and now calls us to journey toward now calls us to journey toward

him, with him, for the him, with him, for the consummation of our love consummation of our love (Eldredge & Curtis Pg 97).(Eldredge & Curtis Pg 97).

In likeness of In likeness of GodGod

God’s image God’s image distorteddistorted

Progressive Progressive recovering recovering of God’s of God’s imageimage

Completely restored Completely restored to God’s imageto God’s image

What are the practical What are the practical implications of man implications of man being created in the being created in the

image of God?image of God?

What are the effects of sin What are the effects of sin as they relate to man?as they relate to man?

What are the effects of sin What are the effects of sin as they relate to man?as they relate to man?

And you were dead in your trespasses And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, and sins, 22 in which you formerly walked in which you formerly walked

according to the course of this world, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:1-2).sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:1-2).

What are the effects of sin What are the effects of sin as they relate to man?as they relate to man?

……it is appointed for men to die once and it is appointed for men to die once and after this after this comes comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27).judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

What are the effects of sin What are the effects of sin as they relate to man?as they relate to man?

Therefore, just as through one man sin Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through entered into the world, and death through

sin, and so death spread to all men, sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned– (Romans 5:12).because all sinned– (Romans 5:12).

……for until the Law sin was in the world, but for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. sin is not imputed when there is no law.

(Romans 5:13).(Romans 5:13).

SinSin DeathDeathLawLaw ++ ==

Major Premise

Minor Premise

Conclusion

Sin is imputed to the one Sin is imputed to the one who breaks God’s Lawwho breaks God’s Law

There was a time when sin There was a time when sin was in the world butwas in the world but

when the Law had not been when the Law had not been given.given.

Sin was imputed some Sin was imputed some other way besides theother way besides the

breaking of God’s Law - breaking of God’s Law - i.e., through the sin ofi.e., through the sin of

Adam.Adam.

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not until Moses, even over those who had not

sinned in the likeness of the offense of sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to Adam, who is a type of Him who was to

come. (Romans 5:14).come. (Romans 5:14).

Death reignedDeath reigned

Example View

Seminal View

Federal View

Adam’s descendants followed the example of

his sin.

All mankind was

physically and genetically affected by Adam’s fall

Adam was the representative

head of the human race

and his sin was reckoned to all

• BodyBody

• SoulSoul

• SpiritSpirit

• WillWill

• MindMind

““To be a human is to To be a human is to have a body, mind, have a body, mind, heart, soul, and will. heart, soul, and will. These are indivisible These are indivisible aspects of a human aspects of a human

self, and none of self, and none of them can exist them can exist

without the others. without the others. The distinction The distinction between these between these

things is categorical, things is categorical, not ontological.”not ontological.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace

Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 22:37 Matthew 22:37 And He said to him, “You shall

love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

““And you shall love the Lord your God And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your with all your heart, and with all your

soul, and with all your mind, and with soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30).all your strength.” (Mark 12:30).

Hebrews 4:12Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and

active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Discuss the following Discuss the following questionsquestions

• Are there degrees of sin?Are there degrees of sin?

• What happens when a Christian sins?What happens when a Christian sins?

• What is the unpardonable sin?What is the unpardonable sin?