Sin and Redemption

Catechism

Question: What is sin and redemption?

Response: Sin is both willful and unintentional deviation from God’s plan. It is reflective of deliberate rebellion against virtue, iniquity, and the weakness inherent to the human condition which makes us incapable of resisting sin without divine intervention. Scripture reveals that mankind can choose between rebellion or obedience, righteousness or perversion, but he cannot change his very nature, which is bent with a native weakness toward sin. Christ calls all to repent which serves the purpose of rejecting rebellion, living righteously, and recognizing weakness, but redemption is only obtained through the blood of the cross.

Different “Flavors” of Sin

You’ve heard it said that ‘all sin is sin’ and that is true. It comes from Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 CSB

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

BUT… that doesn’t mean that there aren’t different forms of sin.

Ignoring the nuanced “forms” of sin feeds the various debates over the mechanics of salvation (THEOLOGY) and can make it harder for us to be on guard against sin working in our own life (DISCIPLESHIP).

Sinful Nature (chatta)

Genesis 4:3–7 CSB

3 In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? 7 If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

Chatta —> Literally “Missing the Mark”;

Connects to Greek Hamartia | Used in Romans 3:23

Innate to yourself… a perpetual deficiency you can’t cure.

Perversion and Guilt (avon)

Avon —> Often translated as “Iniquity”

Genesis 4:13–14 CSB

13 But Cain answered the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear! 14 Since you are banishing me today from the face of the earth, and I must hide from your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.”.

A ‘crooked path’ that must be walked… state of guilt and shame

Rebellion (pesha)

Breach of Social Trust (stealing, lying)

Spiritual Rebellion (idolatry)

Injustice (abusing others)

This is often seen in the various heinous acts of many figures in the Bible, especially David when he sinned with Bathsheba.

He starts in 2 Samuel 11 by staying behind in Jerusalem while others went off to war. This was revealing his sinful chatta nature by ‘missing the mark’ of what God expected of the anointed king.

He then gazed upon Bathsheba and is said to have not been able to avert his gaze. This was David acting out the perversion and iniquity (avon).

He then escalates by having Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, killed. This was a great injustice displaying his rebellious pesha tendencies.

Each flavor of sin is different and reveals itself in our life differently. It’s important to understand the totality of sin because only then can we understand the totality of grace.

Totality of God’s Grace

Let’s take a moment to understand David’s cry for God’s forgiveness following these events.

Psalm 51 CSB

For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba. 1 Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. 2 Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge. 5 Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. 10 God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God— God of my salvation— and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God. 18 In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

All types of sin...

PESHA - Psalm 51:1 “1 Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.”

AVON - Psalm 51:2 “2 Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.”

CHATTA - Psalm 51:4 “4 Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.”

HOWEVER.… note David’s inability to fix it all...

Psalm 51:16 “16 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering.”

Sin offerings covered chatta (sinful nature) and the Day of Atonement covered the collective sin… but personal acts of rebellion were left untouched!

Pesha (rebellion) —> Forgiveness only by God’s Will (required repenting and turning away)

THE POINT: There is clearly a difference to God, and if there is a difference to God, then there should be to us!

Then image that starts forming is one where God ordained special mechanisms to handle our sinful nature and iniquities… but forgiveness for rebellion requires a turning away from that which is evil.

It is neither entirely synergistic, nor monergistic!

Christ’s Grace —> Total

Contains the whole package...

Sin offering (chatta)

Offering of atonement (avon)

Pronouncement of clemency (pesha)

Isaiah 53:5 CSB

5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.

Hebrews 10:12 CSB

12 But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.

Our Sin, Forgiven Forever

The Biblica image of sin is one that is more complicated than “doing good” and “doing bad”; it illuminates the entire state of the human heart!

For certain elements, we are monergistically given vehicles through which we seek forgiveness; for others, we must humble our hearts and repent.

Christ’s grace was sufficient for it all; no more temporary sacrifices and no more relying on messengers to hand us feedback on our guilt!

If you have ever been bored by debates over salvific theology, breath a sigh of relief knowing that many of those conversations become little more than God-themed pontification!

The truth of the matter is that we interact with God at the point of salvation, at the feet of the cross. That salvation is total and complete over all forms of sin which competes for our souls. To enjoin with that salvation, all that is required is that we turn from our rebellion, and trust in the totality of Christ’s grace.