Read: Genesis 3:1-15

Can you think about a time when you did something wrong? Maybe you said something very nasty to your sibling. Maybe you lied to your dad, even after he told you to tell the truth. You can probably clearly remember how you felt after sinning like this.

Sin makes us feel ashamed. We feel like everyone can see what we have done wrong, and we want to hide. Adam and Eve did exactly that. They were ashamed because of their sins and they hid.

Sin also makes us feel afraid. We’re afraid of what will happen to us when Dad or Mum find out what we did wrong. We might even be afraid that the Lord will punish us for what we have done.

So often we try to blame others for the sin that we did. We might blame our sibling for being nasty. We might even blame our sinful nature by saying, “I can’t help it if I get angry.”

Sin also separates us from other people. Because we’ve lied or cheated or said something nasty, the loving relationship that we had with someone might be destroyed.  

Really, our sin is horrible. There’s nothing good about sin at all.

But the Bible has good news for us. God could have destroyed Adam and Eve when they sinned, or chosen never to talk to them again. But God didn’t. Oh no. Instead God came to them and, in great love, gently called out, “Where are you?” God took the time to speak to them and to give them a great promise.

God promised them that he would send Jesus Christ to come and crush sin and Satan. That’s what verse 15 is speaking about when it talks about the Seed of the woman crushing the head of the serpent. And because Satan was totally crushed by Christ, we are forgiven today. That’s the glorious news. Yes, sin is terrible, but when you ask God to forgive you, he will forgive you!

Reflection with your child:

How does sin make you feel?  How does being forgiven by God make you feel?

Source: Sermon by Br. Kelvin Dekker