Q: What caused man to sin even though he was created in God’s image? Was sin also part of God’s creation? — Sibaminya, from Uganda
A: Sibaminya, there is nothing or no one that can force a person to commit sin. The Bible explains this clearly, and in the book of James we read this very important passage: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:13-15).
Sin was certainly not part of God’s creation, for the Bible says, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good” (Gen. 1:31, NKJV).
So where did sin originate? With a perfectly created heavenly being who chose to go his own way. The Bible describes it in Ezekiel 28:14-15: “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you” (NKJV).
But praise God, we don’t need to be slaves to sin and Satan! Jesus provides a way of salvation for us!
“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:22, 23, NKJV).