What is sin

This is a massive topic but I am giving a concise definition here and might add to it in future posts. The first sin gives us a clue. Adam and Eve were given a huge variety of “food trees” whose fruit they were allowed to eat. However there was one tree in the middle of the garden and God said, “You can eat any fruit from any tree but the fruit of this one tree you may not eat.”

God created man knowing exactly what man requires. God designs a world tailor-made for the crowning glory of His creation. Man is perfect and living in perfect union with God. There are no laws, no rules and regulations, except one: “Do not eat from that one tree. And if you do, the day that you eat from it, you will definitely die.” We read that Adam and Eve did not drop dead the day they ate from the tree, but from that day they became mortal and, worse, they were under a curse and cut off from God.

Adam and Eve ate the fruit that was forbidden and immediately something happened – they became aware of their nakedness and were ashamed and they hid from God. Sin affected them without a word or a pointing finger from God.

What was their sin? It was to disobey God. Instead of embracing the will of God for life they chose rather to live by their own will. It’s not as if God was stingy. People often say that God is a party-pooper because He doesn’t want us to have fun. But God created an incredibly beautiful world with so much to see and do and discover, and God created such a variety of good food, and God provided an environment that was so perfect, etc. Furthermore, God did not create man to be like robots or servants to live to strict laws (as mentioned, there was only one law) and to live in fear of his maker. Man had a will and free choice, man had perfect relationship with the world he lived in, with one another, and with God.

Let me continue on with this tomorrow. So long, until then.