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The Eve in Us All

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,

Romans 5:12
The Eve in Us All Book Cover

A favorite trope of family sitcoms goes something like this: child enters scene, child gets in trouble, mom yells a tried-and-true proverb at child, child storms off, mom’s eyes wide, mom says out loud, “Oh no, I’ve become my mother!” Cue fake audience laughter and cut to commercial. We laugh because we too often experience this very scenario in our own lives or in the lives of our friends. Christians fall into this scenario as well. We blame Eve for cramps during our periods, for disobedient children, for fights with our husbands, for warfare, for poverty, for the brokenness we encounter on a regular basis. Yet, if we take an honest look at ourselves, we would have eaten from the forbidden tree too.

like mothers, like daughters

Yesterday we discussed the brokenness we inherited from our first parents. And, though we could spend time lambasting their mistakes, we should only do so in rooms with no mirrors. Scripture and our own lives testify to us that we, like Eve, choose to listen to the voice of the liar instead of the voice of God. We not only choose to sin—we enjoy it. Sometimes we even celebrate it, or tweet it, or Instagram it. We then look around us and find others to drag with us to participate in it. We rebel often and with gusto.

fallen nature

When Adam and Eve sinned, they created original sin—a term the church has historically defined as the effects of their first sin. We inherited a fallen nature that changes our appetite toward things God has forbidden. As some would say, “We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners.” In other words, we are obedient slaves to sin longing to be set free from this bondage.

are we really that bad?

This truth might be hard to swallow. It seems like a harsh way to view humanity. Yet we scream at those we love the most, we exploit others for our own satisfaction, and we struggle to really love ourselves every day. Instead of thinking this is too low a view of humanity, what if we turned the coin over and realized how great a salvation God offers? Humans who need only a little salvation to stop doing bad things do not need a great God to do so—they need behavior modification. But humans who recognize their utter brokenness know they need a cosmic salvation to not only change their behavior, but to also change their very nature. Eve ate the apple, and now we crave apple pie. We need a gospel that not only helps us put down the apple, but also changes us to no longer desire forbidden fruit.

But humans who recognize their utter brokenness know they need a cosmic salvation to not only change their behavior, but to also change their very nature.

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Daily Question

How have you felt the effects of brokenness in your own life? What do you need God to heal in your life?

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Comments (11)

My brokenness comes from anxiety and sin. I get so upset and devastated about certain things. I hate feeling as thought things are out of control. My brokenness comes from fears of death. I lost my father at a young age to cancer and that pain was so difficult to deal with and process. It haunts me. The thought of death and losing my loved ones can overwhelm me.

I need to be more obedient, structured, and consistent in my own prayer time with God but also in teaching the faith to my children for my family as a whole. We go to church every Sunday. We pray over meals and before bedtime. We talk about God and his blessings, but I need to include him more in our day to day interactions, play, and learning. I need to set time for morning prayer, some bible stories, crafts and kid appropriate hymns and songs. My daughter told me she wants to learn more about Jesus. That right there tells me I’ve planted a seed but we need to do more to make it grow and bloom!

I have felt brokenness in my lack of patience at times of stress, and in my frustrations when I cry and yell and get upset. I can do things and say things that are hurtful. I need God to help me take a step back, to breathe through fear and anger and overwhelming emotions, and to heal my soul from pursuing a negative response pattern that is harmful.

I have experienced the effects of the brokenness sin has caused, throughout my entire life. Growing up I hated God for “allowing” all the bad things to happen in my life. The healing that I am in need of most from God is to heal my hardened heart from all the pain I’ve endured, if possible.

I need God all the time I need him to help me not feel lonely and that in the one who is wrong partially I am but not completely it takes two in most situations I just need God wholly and completely for he is the only one I can truly trust cause he never forskaess me never leaves me he is always there for me always no matter what thank you God for always being there and not making .e feel like I’m all alone I love you Lord always and forever amen.

I have felt brokenness when my marriage was failing apart. I felt so saddened by the behavior my husband and i was chosing over what we knew was the right choice. I feel broken now, desiring normalcy when there is none and its out of my control. I need God to heal my broken heart over this world and my need to want to control when we can regain dome sort of normalcy.

I have definitely felt the effects of brokenness all thru my life, even as a child. Mostly my own doing, some caused by others. I need Him to forgive me and help me turn from my sins.

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