Session 3

Inherited Sin

From The Gospel: Five Words You Need to Know

READ:                
• Romans 5:12–19 
• Psalm 51:3–5
                    
“...by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners...”—Romans 5:19    
“...I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” —Psalm 51:5
            
Sin is not just something we do, it is something that we are. Because one man sinned (Adam) the many (us) are now born into sin. It is the condition of our hearts from the beginning. We are sinful by nature. We (and everyone we know) are born sinful, and without God intervening we continue in our sin day after day. There is nothing we can do to fix ourselves or make ourselves better. Only in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross can we be set free from our sinful condition.
                    
RESPOND:
• What does this say about the love that God has for us? (See Romans 5:8)
• What does this mean for the argument, “I’m going to heaven because I’m a good person”?
• Since everyone was born in sin, do you have a sense of urgency for the people around you that don’t know Jesus? Who are they, specifically?