LESSON SIX - Mankind is Sinful
GOD CREATED EVERYTHING GOOD, SO HOW DID IT BECOME BAD?
As you read this lesson, be sure to hover over the the Bible verses to read them or look them up in your own Bible. When the Bible passage is longer, you need to click on “more” in the bottom right corner of the pop-up window.
How do we compare to the holiness of God?
God created everything and everyone all good. In the beginning, there was no sin, death, or pain in all creation. Genesis 1:31 (KJV) Compare translations and the original language
God did not create us to be evil. There was no death before Adam sinned. Praise God for His goodness!
“Sin” means to miss the mark of being holy like God. Romans 3:23 (KJV) Compare translations and the original language
Like a rock thrown toward the moon, we all fall pathetically short of being holy like God.
We sin when we break God’s law. 1 John 3:4 (NKJV) Compare translations and the original language
Can you count how many times you have disobeyed God?
We sin when we fail to do the right thing. James 4:17 (NASB) Compare translations and the original language
How many times have you tried to do the right thing, but failed to do it?
Some angels sinned in heaven after creation. Revelation 12:9 (NKJV) Compare translations and the original language
Satan is evil, but God didn’t create him that way.
Satan (a sinful angel) tricked Eve (the first woman) into disobeying God. Adam (the first man) and Eve disobeyed God. Genesis 3:16 (ESV) Compare translations and the original language
Women experience pain and some have even died during childbirth because of Eve’s sin.
Adam brought sin and death into the world. Romans 5:12 (NKJV) Compare translations and the original language
Adam ruined everything. Sin seems normal to us now, but it wasn’t like this in the beginning.
Adam’s rebellion cursed all creation with pain, suffering, and death. Romans 8:22 (NASB) Compare translations and the original language
Terminal illnesses, death, violence, and natural disasters all occur because of Adam’s rebellion.
Now all humans are conceived in sin and are born sinners.
Romans 5:19 (KJV) Compare translations and the original languageWe are sinners even in the womb. We don’t have to be taught to do wrong; we are born with a bent towards evil.
All humans are born with sinful hearts. Ecclesiastes 9:3 (NASB) Compare translations and the original language
We blame God, people, and circumstances for our sin, but the truth is that our hearts are the problem.
All humans continually sin. Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NASB) Compare translations and the original language
It seems some days like all we do is sin. We need a Savior!
No human is righteous or does good. Romans 3:9-20 (ESV) Compare translations and the original language
We are sinful!
Even the righteous things we do for God are tainted with sin in His sight, because He is holy and we are sinful. Isaiah 64:6-7 (NASB) Compare translations and the original language
Even our righteous deeds condemn us before God!
All humans are willing slaves to the desires of their hearts and bodies. Titus 3:3 (NASB) Compare translations and the original language
Even those who say they don’t believe in God or the Bible are slaves to their own sinful thoughts.
All humans are born as willing slaves to sin. John 8:34 (NKJV) Compare translations and the original language
Have you ever tried to do the right thing and kept failing? Have you ever tried to avoid doing wrong, but kept doing it? That is because we are slaves to sin!
All humans are born as willing slaves to Satan. 2 Timothy 2:26 (NASB) Compare translations and the original language
Satan promises us freedom to do what we want but what we naturally want is not what God wants.
All humans are born as children of the Devil. 1 John 3:10 (NASB) Compare translations and the original language
Our very nature demonstrates that we don’t belong to God.
None can change themselves, because they can’t set themselves free from being enslaved to sin and Satan. Proverbs 20:9 (KJV) Compare translations and the original language
There is nothing we can say or do, and nowhere we can go, to change the fact that we have sinned against God. We need Jesus!
Consider memorizing one of the following passages (in whichever translation you prefer) as a summary of this lesson: Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NASB) or Romans 3:10-12 (NKJV) or Romans 3:23 (KJV).
When sharing the Gospel, it is important to emphasize that the main problem is that we are sinners by nature. We sin because we are sinners. It is not that we are sinners because we sin.
When sharing the Gospel, it is important to explain that God’s holiness contrasted with our sinfulness make it impossible for us to offer to God anything that would make us worthy of His acceptance.
The more we help others understand the holiness of God, the more they will understand their sinfulness.
It is important to open the Bible and let them see the verses for themselves so God can convict and convince them of their sin.
As we show them the Bible verses, we must pause after each verse and ask them a question to make sure they understand.
Bible References
Read the Bible in your own language here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the Authorized King James Version (AKJV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the King James Version (KJV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the New King James Version (NKJV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the New American Standard Bible (NASB) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the English Standard Version (ESV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read the Bible in its original Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek languages or Septuagint couresty of BLB www.blueletterbible.org.
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