Sin-General Study

Why Is it important to talk about Sin?

The purpose of this study is to purely discuss sin, its nature, its source and its consequences. We will not be discussing

1. To Expose it ()

2. To Recognize it.

2. To Recognise it.

3. To guard against it

4. To give context to the Atonement, both for believers and unbelievers

5. Because of its Dangerous nature (know thy enemy)

6. To understand how it works so we may avoid it

Biblical Perspectives on the Nature of Sin

Although many people today are ignorant of or uncomfortable with the topic of sin, it is imperative that we discuss this doctrine. The Bible presents a number of perspectives on the nature of sin:

1. Sin is an inward inclination. Sin is not merely wrong acts, but sinfulness as well. It is an inherent inner disposition inclining us to wrong acts. Here motives are virtually as important as actions. So Jesus condemned anger and lust as vehemently as he did murder and adultery. .

2. Sin is rebelliousness and disobedience against the purposes’ plans and law of God. Adam and Eve rejected God’s prerogative to say what was right and wrong for them. They rebelled against God’s authority, and thus disobeyed him.

3. Sin alters our inner condition, our mind and our character and twists and distorts who we are and who we were meant to be as image bearers for God. , Paul defines the process of alteration.

Having refused to acknowledge God, sinners became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened (v. 21). God gave them over to a base mind (v. 28), actually an unqualified or disqualified mind. When left to itself, the human mind is not adequate to properly inform and direct our conduct. The sins listed in 29–31 are a consequence of this distortion.

4. Sin is incomplete fulfillment of God’s standards. Saul failed to follow through on God’s command to destroy the Amalekites and all they possessed. Because Saul spared King Agag and the best livestock, God rejected Saul as king of Israel (). Sometimes we may do the right thing, but for the wrong reason, thus fulfilling the letter of the law, but not its spirit. In , Jesus condemns good acts done primarily out of a desire to obtain the approval of other people rather than to please God (vv. 2, 5, 16).

4. Sin is incomplete fulfilment of God’s standards. Saul failed to follow through on God’s command to destroy the Amalekites and all they possessed. Because Saul spared King Agag and the best livestock, God rejected Saul as king of Israel (). Sometimes we may do the right thing, but for the wrong reason, thus fulfilling the letter of the law, but not its spirit. In , Jesus condemns good acts done primarily out of a desire to obtain the approval of other people rather than to please God (vv. 2, 5, 16).

5. Sin is displacement of God. In other words we are talking about Idolatry.

The Source of Sin

“13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

(ESV)

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

Do Not Love the World

Much to the disappointment of people who do not wish to take responsibility for their own choices in life, when it comes to sin we need to actually take responsibility for our sins that we commit. In order to overcome the sin in us like we need to understand its source and its mechanics, by doing this we can understand how to defeat it through the enablement of Christ. The foundational thing that we need to understand about sin is “what is its source,” by understanding its source, we can cut it off before it has the chance to grow.

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Fundamentally the source of Sin is our own desires. Before I go on we need to clarify some aspects about desire.

Note that whilst the world may be the source of temptation, it is not the source of sin. Take note of the word for desire ἐπιθυμία as seen in both scriptures.

1. As finite creatures, created by God we have certain needs. These are physical needs, emotional needs, Spiritual needs.

“13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

2. These needs bring about desires with us. We do not have, so our desire pulls us in the direction of obtaining what we need to satisfy those needs.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

3. The need to fulfil those needs, in and of itself are not wrong, for example, we need food in order to maintain correct biological functioning of our bodies, therefore it is not sinful to eat in order to satisfy our needs.

Much to the disappointment of people who do not wish to take responsibility for their own choices in life, when it comes to sin we need to actually take responsibility for our sins that we commit. In order to overcome the sin in us like we need to understand its source and its mechanics, by doing this we can understand how to defeat it through the enablement of Christ. The foundational thing that we need to understand about sin is “what is its source,” by understanding its source, we can cut it off before it has the chance to grow.

4. When desire is submitted to the ultimate divine control of God, then those desires are right.

Fundamentally the source of Sin is our own desires. Before I go on we need to clarify some aspects about desire.

5. When the desires we have become the means by which we wrest control of our lives from the sovereignty of God and become the means by which we seek fulfilment and life they become sin.

1. As finite creatures, created by God we have certain needs. These are physical needs, emotional needs, Spiritual needs.

An example of this is in the area of sexuality. As men and women, God has given to us a sex drive. The purpose of this drive is the fulfil a physical need, the need to procreate and “replenish the earth” and the need for emotional connection with our spouse. Those sexual desires are given to us by God for our enjoyment, however, it is given to us by God to be enjoyed in one context and one context alone. That context is the deep and abiding state of commitment to another person also known as Marriage. The minute that we seek to fulfil that desire outside of the context that God has commanded and fulfil it a way and manner of our own choosing, (Adultery, fornication, Masturbation), we have thrown of the submission of God regarding that area of our lives, transgressed His expressed will regarding that area and have fallen into sin.

2. These needs bring about desires with us. We do not have, so our desire pulls us in the direction of obtaining what we need to satisfy those needs.

The bible contrasts this self-desire versus this God desire through the teaching of the Flesh V the Spirit. Fundamentally, in summary, Sin is simply about us wanting our own way, rather than wanting Gods way. Our own selfish desire vs desiring the things that God want for us. It is at this desire level, that the battle is won or lost, not once the desire has been fully conceived. God wants us to want Him, to want what He has for us, and to want His will for our lives (; ; ; ; ; ), rather than seeking those things outside of Him and His will.

3. The need to fulfil those needs, in and of itself are not wrong, for example, we need food in order to maintain correct biological functioning of our bodies, therefore it is not sinful to eat in order to satisfy our needs.

4. When desire is submitted to the ultimate divine control of God, then those desires are right.

5. When the desires we have become the means by which we wrest control of our lives from the sovereignty of God and become the means by which we seek fulfilment and life they become sin.

An example of this is in the area of sexuality. As men and women, God has given to us a sex drive. The purpose of this drive is the fulfil a physical need, the need to procreate and “replenish the earth” and the need for emotional connection with our spouse. Those sexual desires are given to us by God for our enjoyment, however, it is given to us by God to be enjoyed in one context and one context alone. That context is the deep and abiding state of commitment to another person also known as Marriage. The minute that we seek to fulfil that desire outside of the context that God has commanded and fulfil it a way and manner of our own choosing, (Adultery, fornication, Masturbation), we have thrown of the submission of God regarding that area of our lives, transgressed His expressed will regarding that area and have fallen into sin.

i. Gods nature is to oppose sin

The bible contrasts this self-desire versus this God desire through the teaching of the Flesh V the Spirit. Fundamentally, in summary, Sin is simply about us wanting our own way, rather than wanting Gods way. Our own selfish desire vs desiring the things that God want for us. It is at this desire level, that the battle is won or lost, not once the desire has been fully conceived. God wants us to want Him, to want what He has for us, and to want His will for our lives (; ; ; ; ; ), rather than seeking those things outside of Him and His will.

ii. Sin Angers God

The consequences of sin.

iii. Sin brings God’s wrath

1. In Relationship with God

a. Divine disfavour ; ; ; ; ;

i. Guilt means we have violated Gods law and are due punishment for that violation

i. Gods nature is to oppose sin

ii. Romans

ii. Sin Angers God

iii. Sin brings God’s wrath

God must Judge sin

i. Liability to punishment ; ; ; ;

b. Guilt

ii. Punishment may be eternal or temporary ()

i. Guilt means we have violated Gods law and are due punishment for that violation

ii. Romans

i. Physical Death ; ;

c. Punishment

ii. Spiritual Death (There are numerous statements in the Bible to the effect that humans apart from Christ are dead in trespasses and sins) ;

i. Liability to punishment ; ; ; ;

iii. Eternal Death (If one comes to physical death still spiritually dead, separated from God, that condition becomes permanent) ;

ii. Punishment may be eternal or temporary ()

d. Death

a. Enslavement

i. Physical Death ; ;

i. ;

ii. Spiritual Death (There are numerous statements in the Bible to the effect that humans apart from Christ are dead in trespasses and sins) ;

b. Denial

iii. Eternal Death (If one comes to physical death still spiritually dead, separated from God, that condition becomes permanent) ;

c. Self-Deceit ;

2. In relation to the Sinner

d. Insesnsitivity

a. Enslavement

e. Self-Centeredness

i. ;

f. Restlesness

b. Denial

c. Self-Deceit ;

a. Competition

d. Insesnsitivity

b. Inability to Empathize

e. Self-Centeredness

c. Rejection of Authority

f. Restlesness

d. Inability to Love

3. In relation to relationships

a. Competition

b. Inability to Empathize

The Doctrine of original Sin is a central concept, that is widely accepted in protestant theology, and is always useful to look at when discussing the issues of Sin.

c. Rejection of Authority

In short the Doctrine of Original sin is based on

d. Inability to Love

Romans 5:12-19

Romans 5:12–19 ESV

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— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

The Doctrine of Original Sin

It states that the state of death came through the Sin of Adam, and the corruption of that original sin of Adam was transmitted to all of mankind who where born after him, meaning ultimately that all of mankind is born in that same state of sinfulness and therefore we are automatically born into a state of death.

The Doctrine of original Sin is a central concept, that is widely accepted in protestant theology, and is always useful to look at when discussing the issues of Sin.

Now there are counter arguments, or counter positions that are raised against “Original Sin” these are, however outside of the scope of this study. I simply include it in this study because it holds such a central place in the Church’s Theology.

In short the Doctrine of Original sin is based on

ESV

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— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

It states that the state of death came through the Sin of Adam, and the corruption of that original sin of Adam was transmitted to all of mankind who where born after him, meaning ultimately that all of mankind is born in that same state of sinfulness and therefore we are automatically born into a state of death.

Now there are counter arguments, or counter positions that are raised against “Original Sin” these are, however outside of the scope of this study. I simply include it in this study because it holds such a central place in the Church’s Theology.

The Second Adam

(ESV)

3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

(ESV)

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Just as we were born into a sinful nature through Adam, the reason why Jesus Christ came into this world was to become the second Adam so that by being “born again” , in Christ, we are also born into the nature of the Second Adam. In other words, the nature that we were born into, in the first Adam (which is also known as the sinful nature, or the flesh) is done away with the crucifixtion:

(ESV)

2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

And the new nature in the second Adam is given to anyone who is born again into the second Adam.

It is by grasping this essential contrast between the old and the new Adam that you will gain the understanding and come to the conclusion that you are now, no longer under the power of Sin, but that the power of sin, and indeed its source, i.e. the desires that we were dictated to by our “genetic propensity” to sin under the first Adam (the flesh), have been destroyed, in Christ.(read)

(ESV)

6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Sin-General Study

Why Is it important to talk about Sin?

Biblical Perspectives on the Nature of Sin

The Source of Sin

The consequences of sin.

1. In Relationship with God

a. Divine disfavour ; ; ; ; ;

; ; ; ; ;

; ; ; ;

; ; ; ;

b. Guilt

c. Punishment

d. Death

2. In relation to the Sinner

3. In relation to relationships

d. Inability to Love

4. In Relation to the physical world

The Doctrine of Original Sin