New City Catechism, Week 14 (Question 14)

Q: Did God create us unable to keep his law?

Children’s answer

A: No, but because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve we are all born in sin and guilt, unable to keep God’s law.

Adult/older children’s answer

A: No, but because of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, all of creation is fallen; we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God’s law.

Video explanation:

Song to assist with memorization:

Relevant Scripture to read:

Romans 5:12

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.

Children’s Activity (printable pdfs)

Younger Kids (pages 28 and 29)

Older Kids (pages 28 and 29)

Special thanks to Del Rey Church for sharing their New City Catechism kid resources with us!

Devotional questions for individual/family/group discussion:

  1. How does this question and answer help us with our understanding of God’s creation?

  2. Is there anything about this question and answer that feels “unfair” to you? Why might this feeling be especially prevalent in our context?

  3. What are a few of the things that were lost to humanity in Eden? Which one of those losses do you long to see God redeem and make new?

  4. How does our understanding of creation and the fall help us to understand re-creation? How do you see that Jesus came to inaugurate this re-creation?

For an additional “deeper” dive into this question and answer, check out this video from Dr. Michael Allen (which a few of the above questions are based on):