City Life Starter

Written by Stefan Johnsson

5 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. ² Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. ³ When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. ⁴ The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. ⁵ Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

⁶ When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. ⁷ Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. ⁸ Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.

⁹ When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. ¹⁰ Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. ¹¹ Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.

¹² When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. ¹³ Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. ¹⁴ Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died.

¹⁵ When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. ¹⁶ Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. ¹⁷ Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.

¹⁸ When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. ¹⁹ Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. ²⁰ Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.

²¹ When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. ²² Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. ²³ Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. ²⁴ Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

²⁵ When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. ²⁶ Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years and had other sons and daughters. ²⁷ Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.

²⁸ When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son ²⁹ and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” ³⁰ Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters. ³¹ Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.

³² After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 5:1-32 (ESV)

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27 (ESV)

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

Psalm 14:2-3 (ESV)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said this to you, You must be born again.

John 3:6-7 (ESV)

Reflection

The concept of original sin began through Adam and Eve. As they took from the forbidden fruit, they did not become “like God,” because they already were. Instead they were corrupted, wanted more than what they had already been given. Genesis 5 then shows us that Adam and Eve, who were created in the image of God and then corrupted by sin, did not carry on this same image. Instead, Seth, and the rest of his brothers and sisters, were born in the image of Adam. That is not to say that we are all born in the image of Adam, and not God. What the Bible shows is that Adam and Eve, when corrupted by sin, gave birth to children that were similarly corrupted by sin. This is where the doctrine of original sin comes from.

In the end, God looks down on humankind and sees that none are righteous, no one seeks after God. We are all broken in our own ways and need a savior. This is why God had to send His son Jesus to this earth so that He could be an example for us, living a perfect life, and dying a death on a cross that was meant for us. Now we can become a new creation, someone who can seek after God, do good, and glorify God in a way that Adam and Eve should have done. Jesus had to explain this in detail to Nicodemus – a teacher of the law – as he could not understand this basic concept. Once has to be born again. As Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said this to you, You must be born again” (John 3:6-7).

Yes, we still have the sinful flesh, the image of Adam and Eve, that we have to struggle with each day, but soon this life will end and we will be on a new earth with God for eternity.

Application

The concept of original sin is real. We are all dealing with it each day when we wake up. The question you have to ask yourself is, how are you working towards serving God and His kingdom? Are you taking up the fight and withstanding the arrows of Satan? Do you believe that God has given you what you need to conquer any sin in your life?

Prayer

Thank you Father for always being there for me. This life is not easy and I struggle every day to follow you. Yet, I know that through Your Son, You have overcome this world and I will as well. Help me seek You and believe in that I am a new creation, created for good works. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.