Genesis 1-3 (Bible-365.1): Rethinking Original Sin

Genesis 1-3 (Bible-365.1): Rethinking Original Sin

I’ll use the following listing conventions for the daily Bible reading plan:
Book Chapters (Bible-365.Day#).

Genesis 1-3

This area is Scripture is a literal theological goldmine. Whole sermons, series, and books have been written on just these three chapters alone. Therefore, there is far too much to briefly mention in a short post below, so I’ll just pull out the most relevant bits that I’ve discovered over the years.

Chapter 1: Creation of the universe

1. Day and Night
2. Heavens
3. Earth and Seas, all vegetation
4. Sun, Moon, Stars, days and seasons
5. Birds and sea creatures
6. Land animals and Man
7. (Chapter 2) God rested

The seven days of Creation may not in fact be seven literal days as we think of them (24-hours). Science has done much to help us understand the origins of the universe, and has not yet been able to disprove God’s hand in Creation. Science and the Bible may in fact be talking about the same things, just in different terms.

We would do well to remember Psalm 90:4 “For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” And 2 Peter 3:8 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”

As for me (Aaron), I do not think that Science and the Bible contradict each other. Rather, I find more evidence of God’s divine nature and planning through the support of Scientific evidence that attempts to explain the origins of the universe.

Chapter 2: Creation of Man

Beginning in Chapter 1, we find many “firsts” continuing through Genesis 2.

1. The first creature created in God’s image (1:26-27)
2. The first divine command “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it…” (1:28)
3. The first blessing of God to man (1:29-30)
4. The first Sabbath rest (2:2-3)
5. The origin of man (dust) and the breath of life (2:6-7)
6. The first paradise (Eden – 2:10-14)
7. The first restriction (for man’s own protection – 2:16-17)
8. The first woman (2:22-23)
9. The first marriage, the establishment of the institution of marriage (2:24-25)

Chapter 3: Original Sin(s)

The Fall of Man is the most infamous chapter in the Bible – when Paradise was lost and Mankind was condemned to death and pain on the earth for their whole lives. The snake gained a fairly poor reputation from this chapter. Eve’s reputation possibly suffered more significantly. Yet, Adam’s reputation wasn’t tarnished nearly as much as the others. Why not? Here is a breakdown of the Original Sin(s) as I (Aaron) see them:

1. The Snake: Leading Eve into sin (while being tempted is not a sin (Eve), actually doing the tempting is a sin).
2. Eve: Disobeying God’s command and eating of the fruit she was told not to eat of (listening to the snake was not in itself a sin, but it was a bad idea – listening to temptation, being tempted, is not a sin, but it is always a bad idea).
3. Adam: Being absent; not protecting his wife; not leading her well. Where was Adam when the snake was tempting his wife? Why did he not step in and put an end to it? Why did he not protect her?
4. Adam: Disobeying God’s command and eating of the fruit he was told not to eat of.
5. Adam: Not taking responsibility for his actions; passing the blame off on his wife. God gave the Man specific headship and ultimate responsibility for his family. If something goes wrong in the family, God comes to the man – not the woman – and asks what happened. It is the man’s duty to lead his family well because he is responsible for them before God.