Sin
Many Christians believe that God gave humans free willThe idea that humans are free to make their own moral choices. so it is up to each person to decide for themselves whether to do good or evil. Only God can rectify the problem of humans often choosing to sin. To do this, he offered salvationThe healing of a broken relationship between people and God. through the sacrifice of ChristA title given to Jesus meaning Messiah or Anointed One..
Original sin – Genesis 3
In the Bible, chapter 3 of the Book of Genesis tells the story of how sin first entered the world. Adam and EveThe first human beings according to Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions. were tempted by the DevilA figure used to represent evil and who refuses to follow God. in the Garden of EdenAccording to the Bible, the perfect place that God made for man and woman at the start of creation.. They ate an apple from the Tree of KnowledgeA tree in the garden of Eden that Adam and Eve ate from despite being forbidden by God. after God had warned them not to, and as a result they were banishedTo send someone away and refuse to let them return. from the garden.
Evil had now entered the world – this is known as the Fall. The sinfulness of Adam and Eve caused a separation from God that could have resulted in humanity’s eternal punishment.
For Christians, all humans are descendants of Adam and Eve. This means everybody is connected to this first act of disobedience against God, the first or original sinThe tendency to sin in all human beings, believed to be inherited from Adam, 'the first man'.. Therefore, every person has the ability, and even an urge, to disobey God. St Paul wrote: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
Question
According to Christian belief, what separates people from God?
Sin. Humans have free will and can choose to do things that go against God’s will. These actions are called ‘sin’.