Godliness Is A Lifelong Learning Journey. Series

According to the Bible, humanity's first parents, Adam and Eve, committed the original sin, which has been passed down to every generation since. In this article, we will explore the biblical basis for this belief.As the apostle Paul writes, "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more" (Romans 5:20).

The Origin of Sin: Adam and Eve's Rebellion

* Genesis 3:6-7: "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate."The Bible teaches that sin entered the world through Adam's disobedience and has been inherited by every human being since.

The Consequences of Adam's Sin

* Genesis 3:17-19: "And to Adam he said, 'Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, "You shall not eat of it," cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.'"

The Inheritance of Sin

* Psalm 51:5: "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."

* Romans 5:12: "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned..."

* 1 Corinthians 15:22: "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."

B. We Learn the Immediate Pleasure Sin Brings, and Sin Rules Us as We Practice It (Hebrews 11:25; 2 Thessalonians 2:12)

* Sin teaches us to return to it through immediate rewards (Genesis 3:6)

* Sin's addiction is learned by constantly choosing its temptations (James 1:15)

+ Examples: Pornography, sensuality, covetousness, lies, evil addictions etc

* Sin brings death (James 1:15-16)

* This is how sin rules over us (Romans 6:12)

C. God Always Warns Us Against Learning Sin (Jeremiah 10:1-2)

* Not to follow the ways of the angry man (Proverbs 22:24-25)

* Not to engage in war (Isaiah 2:4; James 4:1-3)

* Not to be idle (1 Timothy 5:13)

* Not to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:20)

Through various scriptural passages, we are encouraged to learn and adopt godly habits, thoughts, and actions. In this article, we will explore the biblical perspective on godliness as a learned behavior and how we can cultivate it in our daily lives.

D. God's Judgments and Teachings Provide Opportunities for Growth

* Isaiah 1:16-17 and Matthew 9:13 highlight the importance of learning from God's judgments and teachings

* The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and Jesus' drawing of sinners (John 6:44-45) demonstrate how God uses teaching and learning to bring people to Christ

E. God Encourages Us to Learn What is Good

* Through scripture (Romans 15:4, 2 Timothy 3:14-17)

* God's doctrine (Isaiah 29:22-24, Acts 2:42, 2 Timothy 2:2)

* Piety at home (1 Timothy 5:4) and honor/respect

* Maintaining good works (Titus 3:14, Hebrews 13:21)

* Contentment (Philippians 4:11-13)

* Obedience through suffering (Hebrews 5:8-9)

* Quietness and submission (1 Timothy 2:11-12)

* Learning Christ (Ephesians 4:20-21)

F. The Necessity of Practicing What We Learn

* Ezekiel 18:26 and Hebrews 5:12-14 emphasize the importance of choosing to practice what we learn

* Learning without application is fruitless, leading to spiritual stagnation.

G. Unlearning Sin and Embracing Righteousness

* Ezekiel 18:27-28, 30-31 show that sin can be "unlearned" through different choices and a new heart

* Romans 6:17-18 highlights the possibility of becoming slaves of righteousness, rather than sin

Godliness is a lifelong pursuit, and we must intentionally learn and adopt godly behaviors, thoughts, and actions. By studying scripture, learning from God's teachings and judgments, and cultivating godly habits, we can grow in our faith and become more like Christ. May we embrace this journey of learning and growth, and may our lives reflect the beauty and glory of God.

Let us commit to applying what we learn, allowing our knowledge to transform us into the image of Christ. As we put our learning into practice, we will experience spiritual growth, and the God of peace will be with us. Amen.