MEMORY VERSE: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” – Psalms 51:5 (KJV)

BIBLE PASSAGE: Ezekiel 28:13-15 (KJV) 

13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down amid the stones of fire.

15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

LESSON INTRODUCTION

Sin and evil are words often used interchangeably because both are similar in meaning. The age-old question of where and how sin began has been explored and debated by some of the greatest minds in history, and their findings have helped a great deal in improving our understanding.

However, there is no better place to discover the truth about this subject than in the authoritative manual of God – the Bible. In this lesson, we shall attempt to debunk the myths about sin and probe its origin.

LESSON OUTLINES:

1. Debunking The Myths About Sin
2. Sin Is A ‘Deficiency’

1. DEBUNKING THE MYTHS ABOUT SIN

Some, quoting Isaiah 45:7, seek to make God the author of sin: I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. However, the KJV’s word ‘evil,’ from the original Hebrew ‘rah’ is better translated as “calamity.”

The context of this passage concerns God’s sovereignty over natural disasters. God is sovereign over all things (Colossians 1:16), but He is not the author of sin (1 John 1:5; James 1:13). Moral evil originated with the creature, not the Creator. In other words, sin was not part of the original creation, nor was it decreed by the Creator’s will.

The first man, Adam, sinned, and his transgression spiralled mankind into sin, but this was not sin’s origin. Ezekiel 28:13-15 speaks figuratively of Satan, who was created without flaws, as all things created by God were. Verse 15 gives us a hint as to the origin of sin:

“You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till iniquity was found in you.” Isaiah 14:12-14 further indicates that Satan (Lucifer) sinned in his pride and his coveting of God’s throne.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Are there other scriptures that make God the originator of sin?

2. SIN IS A ‘DEFICIENCY

Evil is not a created thing-it is not a creature and has no independent being. Also, evil has no standard as goodness does; it is a lack, a deficiency, and a falling short of the standard of God’s perfect goodness. All sins, no matter how trivial they may seem, fall short of moral perfection (Romans 3:23).

God is always consistent with His perfect nature (Deuteronomy 32:4). All sins, therefore, must come from the creature, and the desire for evil comes from within the creature (James 1:14-15). Sin was “found” in Lucifer because of a choice he made to seek something other than what God had chosen for him. Any time we seek “other” than God’s choice, we sin.

To say sin originated within God’s creatures does not mean God was surprised or caught unawares by it. Although God did not bring about sin, He certainly allowed it or it would not exist, since God is sovereign over all things (Psalms 115:3).

He could have prevented sin, but that would have meant stripping His creation of their free will (Daniel 4:17).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Just like a robot, would you have preferred God to switch you on and off to take every action?

CONCLUSION: God is not the author of Sin but His creatures. You can overcome sin by giving your life to Jesus Christ and choosing to be holy (Romans 6:14; 1 John 3:9).

QUESTIONS:

1. Explain the origin of sin.
2. What is sin?

ASSIGNMENT: Using Ezekiel 28:15-18, identify five things Lucifer did to be found guilty of sin. (2×5=10 marks).

RCCG Sunday School HYMN

1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
   O how I love Thee well,
   I am happy, it makes me glad
   To rejoice at Thy birth.
2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
   Thy friendship suits me well,
   Both young and old will sing Thy song,
   We long for Sunday School.
3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
   Christ was Thy first teacher,
   The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
   Does manifest in thee.
4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
   This testimony is sure,
   That God, the Father Almighty,
   Poured His blessing on Thee.
5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
   Though the sun be so bright,
   Or if the clouds black with rain,
   I’ll be in Sunday School.
6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
   I rejoice to see Thee,
   Will thou pass over me today?
   Without my being blest?