New City Catechism, Week 14

Q: Did God create us unable to keep his law?

A: No, but because of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, all of creation is fallen; we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God’s law.

In the beginning, God created man in the image of himself. Man was good and in perfect communion with God. So where does our self-centered nature come from?

Satan lied and told Adam and Eve that God couldn’t be trusted to provide. When man acted upon that lie, sin entered the world like a virus entering the body. In Romans 5, we are reminded that sin came into the world through one man and infected all of mankind.  Sin has tainted our ability to honor and glorify God above all else.  It has polluted our hearts, our minds and our souls.

God is love, even in the wake of our rebellion. He gave us hope through Christ, the second Adam. As David Bisgrove says in this week’s video, where the first Adam failed, the second succeeded. Where the first Adam brought death, disobedience and selfishness into the world, Jesus Christ brought life through his obedience and sacrifice on the cross. Romans 5:18-19 says:

“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

As we continually celebrate the Resurrection, let us also be reminded of Jesus’ obedience and of what he did for us on the cross!

This is week 14 of 52 catechism readings from New City Catechism. Christ Community is reciting an entry from the catechism each Sunday in 2013. To read commentaries and view a concise video teaching on each week, visit newcitycatechsim.com.