Am I Sentenced to an Eternal Existence Apart From God?

Through original sin (the sin of Adam, my representative in Paradise) I became guilty and subject to condemnation. 

• Every child that is born, shares in original sin. 
• That means that every child is conceived and born in sin and is therefore subject to condemnation.
• There is no such thing as an innocent child (except the Child born in Bethlehem). 
• Original sin is sufficient to condemn even a tiny infant.  

The second effect of man’s fall into sin was that man became depraved (corrupt) and a slave to sin.

• Original sin affected not only my legal standing before God, but also my nature, my character. 

As a result of original sin, I have lost all but some small traces of the excellent qualities that God gave me at man's creation. 

• My mind becomes infected with the lie, so that I cannot think properly any more. 
• My heart becomes hardened so that I cannot love any more. 

In the beginning, man was able to conform his will to God’s will. 

• Yet after the fall into sin, my will has become inclined to all evil. 
• I can no longer will to do what is good. 
• I am no longer able to fulfill the glorious position of representing God. 

Instead, I represent the devil. 

• The “original sin” of Adam brought upon man a corrupt nature, which in turn induces man to commit further sin. 
• The sins that I commit as a result of my depraved nature are called “actual sins.”

My sin puts me under the curse. 

• Since I cannot do the good that God demands, God punishes me by withholding His blessings. 
• This was portrayed to man in the curse that was pronounced over him after the fall. 
• Man was expelled from the Garden of Eden. 
• Man would have to work very hard, but his work would no be blessed. 
• The ground would bring forth thorns and thistles. 

I would not have a pleasant life on earth. 

• No, I would have a miserable life. 
• To the woman came the curse of bearing children in pain. 
• Illness, disease and death have entered the world through sin 
• and the earth itself was subjected to the curse, as can be seen in earthquakes, storms, droughts and floods, etc.

Furthermore, I became subject to eternal death. 

• That does not mean that I would cease to exist forever. That is not what eternal death is. 
• Eternal death is the eternal separation from God. 

Having fellowship with God is life and the source of joy. 

• Nevertheless, as a fallen woman, I no longer deserved to enjoy fellowship with God. 
• I do not deserve to enjoy the blessings of God. 
• I am sentenced to an eternal existence apart from God, an eternal existence of suffering.

Adapted Excerpt From Van Delden's  Only By True Faith