Grade 9 Lesson 2

Grade 9 Lesson 2: In the Beginning

Learning Outcomes

Salvation

• G9.LO15 - Differentiate "Ancestral Sin" vs "Original Sin".
• G9.LO16 - Explore salvation as a relationship with God.

Textbook Lesson

• USA & Canada: Lesson 2 Textbook PDF
• UEA: Lesson 2 Textbook PDF

Expanding Thoughts on Lesson

• The Fall of Man
  • The word “original” may also be seen as a synonym for “ancestral” in the Orthodox Church. The context is important. When the Orthodox Church uses the term “Original Sin”, it is the same as “ancestral sin” or “first sin” which is the condition into which humanity is born. In the Orthodox Church, we teach that as a result of sin, humanity bears the consequences of sin, the chief of which is death. In the West, the teaching is that humanity bears the “consequences” of the “original sin” of Adam and Eve and humanity is also “guilty” of the sin of Adam and Eve.
  • In the Orthodox Church, humanity does bear the consequences of the “original” or “first” or “ancestral” sin; however, humanity does not bear the guilt associated with this sin. Adam and Eve are guilty of their willful action, we bear the consequence - death. Whatever word we use - Christ the Physician heals us - mortality is seen as a sickness in the Orthodox Church and Christ heals us by overcoming death. The confusion arises from using “original” and “ancestral” - not two different concepts - they are synonymous. The Western churches including the Catholic Church prefer to use “original sin” whereas the Orthodox Church prefers to use “ancestral sin”

Lesson Resources

• Bible Verses
  • (2 Corinthians 3:18) "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
  • (St. Matthew 5:48) "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
  • (Galatians 3:26-28) “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Connecting Materials

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