Sin and The Fall

Work through pages 6-9

Exam Question Extension:Outline the creation stories of human beings in Genesis 1 and 2. 8 marks.The FallLesson AimTo read Genesis Ch3 and explore what is known as The Fall'.

2Free Will - reminder What is free will?

According to Genesis, humans are made in the Image of God. One aspect of this is that they have free will to choose how to act. Humans are not robots or creatures ruled entirely by instinct.3Activity Read Genesis Chapter 3P10 of source booklet.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God .Student A: Tell your partner what happened in the story of the FallStudent B: Is this story scientific? Why/why not?The Story of the Fall

What is our evidence?The Fall

The Fall of ManIf this is called the Fall of Man, where have we fallen from?

What was the original sin?

What do Christians mean when they talk about original sin?

Read Genesis 3:1-7

What did God tell Adam and Eve not to do?What did God warn them would happen if they did? What did the Serpent promise them if they did? Why would the serpents promise be tempting?What were the 4 consequences for Adam and Eve (NOT the snake) of disobeying God and taking the fruit read Gen 3:16-19.

The FallCopy: Genesis Ch3 tells the story of man's broken relationship with God and the beginning of disharmony within creation.

11Sin and The FallYou will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed. You were made from soil, and you will become soil again." (Genesis 3: 19)

Genesis 3: 119 is an account of how sin and death entered the world. Adam and Eve, as the first humans, lost their life in paradise as a result of their disobedience to Gods commands. Readings of this passage led Christian thinkers to believe that the sin of Adam and Eve meant the rest of humanity also lost perfection and innocence. It brought suffering and decay into Gods perfect creation. Others have seen the account as a way of explaining disorder and evil in the world as a result of human failure. The world as we know it, with disease and death, was not the world that God created, or intended. Human failings have brought sin and death into creation.The theological truthsThe story explains that there is a place called Eden which has been lost in time.The story explains that human being are born into with the sin of Adam & Eve: Original SinThe story explains that human beings have a good relationship with God when they are born.The story explains that there is a force of evil that tries to separate us from loving and following GodThe story explains that the devil takes the form of animals who can talk.The story explains that human beings are greedy for power and independence, even over God.The story explains that humans must work hard, men lord it over women, and there is suffering, because of Original Sin. Which 4 theological truths does the story of the Fall teach us? Identify the 4 correct ones.

Write them out. **Which is the most important to know? Why?

Are these theological Truths true, in your opinion?In your groups, choose one theological truth.

Argue the case why it is true.

Argue the case why the other ones might not be true.

Be ready to present and be challenged !We are all born sinful against God

There is a force of evil

Humans are greedy for power they want to be God

The world is not perfect, and hard work must restore itWhat do we mean by Original Sin?

Adam and Eve preferred to listen to the serpentAdam and Eve hid from God after they sinnedAdam and Eve wanted to be God for themselves and make their own rules Adam & Eve both tried to blame someone else for their part in the sinAdam and Eve found being happy in the world, and with each other, much harder.We are dishonest about our own guiltWe are at odds with each other and with the earthWe get easily tempted by evilMatch up Adam and Eves Original Sin with what it means for us today.What do you think is the biggest problem about having original sin?

We are proud: we dont like obeying God, or anyone. We are not that comfortable with GodOriginal Sin

Due to Adam and Eves failures in the Garden of Eden, the whole of humanity carries the same stain of sin and suffers and dies. Humanity needs Gods grace (undeserved good will and love) in order to be rescued from their situation.

St Augustine saw that human free will was weakened, though not totally destroyed, by sin. Like a pair of unbalanced scales, evil intentions and choices often would, under the influence of Original Sin, outweigh good intentions and choices.

Original Sin

The Protestant reformer John Calvin, agreed with Augustine. Calvin emphasised the belief that sin had changed humanity and that the image of God had been completely and utterly destroyed.Original SinThe Orthodox Church rejects the idea of inherited sin.

Their view is that human history, culture and society have created a moral climate which teaches human beings to behave sinfully

As a result, all people need Gods help to get out of the mess caused by sin.

Biblical Words for Sin

HamartiaThe term can simply be seen as a characters flaw or error.

It includes accident and mistake, as well as wrongdoing, error, or sin

Paraptoma

"to go off a path, fall or slip aside." When it is applied to moral and ethical issues it means to deviate from the right way, to wander.

AdikiaLiterally unrighteousWarped, deviated, not what was intended to be

AnomiaThe state of lawlessnessIgnorance and disobedience to Gods law

Way to GodOriginal Sin makes us veer away from God, & attracted to evil

Original sin

Draw your own version of the diagram & label it.

25SinTo sum it up, to sin is to: -

Consistently fall short of Gods standardsBreak Gods divine lawLive an unrighteous lifeWalk on the wrong path

CopyFor Catholic and Protestants, Original Sin describes the condition of spiritual sickness into which we are all born. As a result of the Fall of Man, we have inherited sin from Adam and Eve.

Orthodox Christians dont accept the idea that we are born sinful. Sin is something we learn to do as we grow up in the fallen world.The Human Condition - The consequences of The FallAlienation from God

If you are alienated from someone, you are like a stranger to him or her. At the fall, humanity was alienated from God. They could only hope for reconciliation brought about by God. Without that move, humanity could not fulfill their purpose to be in relationship with God.(b) Alienation from each otherAdam tries to blame Eve for his disobedience. Eve then blames the serpent. Neither wants to take responsibility for their actions. Humans are set against each other and all of creation.

The Effect of SinYou will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed. You were made from soil, and you will become soil again." (Genesis 3: 19)

The source reveals that humanitys disobedience will lead to death.

In the source from Genesis we have seen that humanity sinned when it disobeyed God and acted from self-interest. The breaking of Gods laws is also a result of humanitys sin. Sin in the Bible

30Whether they believe the historical account of the Genesis story or not, the story of The Fall does serve to provide some Christians with a framework to try and understand human free choice and the connection of all humanity with sin.

The root of sin, suffering and death is humanitys wrong moral choices and disobedience.

Genesis Chapters 13 (Christian belief: the fallen nature of human beings)

Genesis Chapters 13 (Christian belief: the fallen nature of human beings)

JesusThe crossAdamAnimals (created beings)EveThe snakeThe treeThe fruitGenesis Chapters 13 (Christian belief: the fallen nature of human beings)JesusThe crossAdamAnimals (created beings)EveThe snakeThe treeThe appleWhat does it say about how Christians see the world? What does it suggest about whether God creates humanity different from the rest of the animals?Is it significant that the snake is separate as well?Do Christians today see the same significance?Is it coincidental for Christians that they believe the Fall came from a fruit from a tree and that Salvation comes from a man dying on a cross of wood?

What is happening in this image?

The agony and despair upon Adam and Eves faces shows the shame they felt after betraying the Lord, giving into the temptation of the Serpent and eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and EvilBehind them, an angel(within the bible it is cherubim, meaning more than one) holds a sword and points into the desert where Adam and Eve would live our their lives until their death, away from Paradise. Adam covers his face as Eve cries out in sadness, covering herself in modesty. The Human Condition - Summary

Copy into jotter: So the human condition isA state of alienation (being hostile or estranged / separated)

from Godfrom other humansfrom ourselves from creation / natureWhy are we in this state of alienation?

Christians say: because of SIN

What is sin?Sin.An inner tendency to go our own way rather than Gods.Activity 5Read the two views on original sin from the worksheet and answer the questions in your jotter.

What is the Human Condition?Human beings are created good by God but they suffer and die.

God one creator, Gods relationship with human beings, humans created good, imago dei stewards of creation, moral conscience, Gods gift of freewillSource: Gen 1: 1-2, 25What is the cause of the human condition?The Fall suffering and death are a result of human disobedience, disobedience is the result of the misuse of freewill.Sin the nature and effects of sin; alienation through sin can be overcome because of the fulfilment of Gods promise of salvation.2 different understandings of the Fall literal / mythical etc.Source: Gen 3 1-24Trust in Jesus His power to keep you rightPray to God even if you dont feel like itServe others be humbleSacrament of Reconciliation be truthful about yourself

The Cure

Original sin

Exam QuestionAccording to Christians, how did sin come into the world and what are its effects? (10 marks)

Remember PEE

HOMEWORK TASK You have until August.

Design a piece of artwork entitled Sin. A collage of images might work have a look at paintings by Salvador Dali or Hieronymus Bosch for ideas.