Lesson 6: Ancestral Sin

Man was created in the image and likeness of God. He was given free will so He could love God as God loved him. Knowing that he needed perfection, God tested Him. He gave him the commandment not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that stood in the center of the garden. But Eve was tempted by the devil, assuring her that there would not be any harm if she disobeyed God. She and Adam ate of the fruit. God had told them that this would have the consequence of death. They did not repent, but tried to justify their actions. They were expelled from Paradise, taking on mortality and the toils and troubles of a material life. Through the passing of generations, this is the condition that we inherit. Our challenge now is to overcome this condition. For thousands of years, God tried to lead man back to obedience out of love. When the time was right, He sent His Son to take on flesh, to become like us. Jesus Christ is the image we aspire to become, to be reunited with God, and to return to Paradise with Him forever and ever. This story is foundational to the doctrine of salvation. This original sin of Adam and Eve is known by Orthodox Christians as ancestral sin. We do not inherit guilt for their actions because we have free will, but we do inherit the nature they received.

A couple of key lessons. First, we have the free will to choose to follow God or to disobey Him. Second, it is necessary for us to learn obedience to His commandments if we want to have eternal life in Paradise. Third, Christ came to show us the path to salvation. Fourth, with the help of the Holy Spirit He sent us, we must work in cooperation with grace to purify our hearts of the passions we inherited that lead to actions that make us disobedient to God. Fifth, all our efforts must be based on faith and an unlimited love for God that results from this faith.

Orthodox Christians know that God is Love, all-merciful, and wants us to live a life of repentance. We are to strive in cooperation with grace, always with humility and love, to become like Christ. He is not seeking to punish us for our disobedience, but wants us to be joined with him in love by repentance, just like the three persons of the Holy Trinity are united in love. Christ came to heal and established the Church as a spiritual hospital for our healing. This process is one we call Theosis. Our aim is to become one with Him, with Him within us, and our will united with His.

Assignment:

‍ ‍Read chapter 5 in Orthodox Way: A Catechism for Seekers

‍ ‍Read Genesis Chapter 3

‍ ‍View the Video below.

 Optional video: Be the Bee #66 | Creation and Fall https://youtu.be/9NZ_iBRP33w

 After you have viewed the video, answer briefly these questions: