Q: What is sin?

A: Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, rebelling against him by living without reference to him, not being or doing what he requires in his law—resulting in our death and the disintegration of all creation.

In the video this week, John Lin gives a vivid example of what breaking God’s law looks like. He describes a cliff and a commandment to “not walk off it”. Why do we not walk off of it? Because it would lead to death and destruction. Why would walking off a cliff lead to death? Because of the law of gravity. Gravity is something that simply is. We have to live in reference to it because it exists. The command to not walk off the cliff is a loving boundary that requires us to respect gravity. It is the same in our personal relationships with God. He gives us commands and guidelines that respect who He is.  They were given to us so that we could live our lives to their fullest capacity.  God’s character is revealed through the law, and when we sin we go against His nature.

Sin is rebelling against the law and not living in reference to God. Sin came into this world through one man and sentenced all men to death. But Jesus came so that eternal life could be obtained. He was destroyed on the cross for our sin, so that we might be reunited with God and be given the ability to follow his commands, however imperfectly, with joy. Romans 6:7-11 says:

“For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

This is week 16 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.

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.