On September 18th in Confirmation Small Group, you studied the Human Condition from the Old Testament. Since you missed class, we ask you to take time to read the scripture, the key words and the highlights of the session. We then want you to click on the comment button and place a comment down there for our communication and record keeping. Thank-you.
Bible Text:
Genesis 3–4
Lesson Focus:
We rebel against God when we sin, but God consistently comes to us with mercy and forgiveness.
Big Question:
Am I a bad person when I make a poor choice or break a rule (even if I think it's not a good rule)?
Key Words:
SIN, JUDGMENT, SEPARATION, MERCY
Definition of Key Words
SIN: An action that causes a breakdown of relationships—human relationships, divine-human relationships, or relationships with creation. Sin leads to separation and alienation in our lives.
JUDGMENT: the act of deciding what action or punishment results when someone rebels and does something wrong.
SEPARATION: division, end of a relationship, and the consequence of one's actions. Separation is distancing oneself from another person.
MERCY: compassionate treatment and lovingkindness. God's mercy is evident in the forgiveness we receive daily.
Six Major Points
• Sin is not mentioned by name in these stories, but we recognize it in the breakdown of relationships and the complexities that follow.
• The serpent suggests that Adam and Eve can rise above their status as dependent creatures and become autonomous. They can be like God and in charge of themselves!
• Adam and Eve are banished from paradise (judgment and separation), but God goes with them (mercy). The rest of the Bible is about God's activity in the outside-of-paradise world.
• The story of Cain and Abel shows that the deepest ties do not prevent hatred and violence.
• Our choices and our deeds have consequences. God did not create puppets.
• God consistently comes to us in our sin and does not leave us in the ensuing disasters of our own making.
We are not bad people for sinning it's what we do after we sin. Do we act like nothing happened or do we ask good for forgiveness and try with all our might to not make the same mistake again. We are humans and God made us to sin, nobody is perfect except for God's first and only son, Jesus.
ReplyDeleteSin is a way for us to rebel against God. Just because we sin, doesn't make us bad people. There will also be many things that tempt us to sin, but we just have to not give in to the temptation, and trust in God. That is what these verses tell me.
ReplyDelete-Matt VanOsdol
I think that we are not bad people when we sin or make a bad decision if we understand that what we did was wrong. I believe that sin isn't bad, it is just a way that makes us human. At first Adam and Eve obeyed God then they made a mistake, God was able to forgive them for what they did so that shows us making a bad decision isn't bad.
ReplyDelete~Sedona Valdez