Is Sin Still A Thing?

 

Romans 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God….

This is a much needed study; an article laying out the various teachings about sin is long overdue. A simple survey of our friends and associates would quickly confirm the fact that people have lost their sense of right and wrong. These days matters like good and bad are difficult to distinguish and definitions of morality seem to be up to the individual. Furthermore, many post-modernist see no need for a moral framework. It is tragic…but the subject of sin is hardly dealt with from a theological perspective anymore. Certainly our society does not cherish any idea of clarity regarding sin, but it seems God’s people have little appreciation for the subject also. Perhaps this is why we do not value the cross of our Lord as we should. In this study my goal is to define and express these timeless Bible teachings with forthright clarity.

Though it is often difficult in this post-modern age to tackle the subject of sin, still we really need to understand this topic. So, “What is sin? Where did it come from? Do we inherit a sinful nature from Adam? Do we inherit guilt from Adam?” Grudem gives the following definition for sin, “Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.”  Clearly sin includes acts of adultery, stealing, and lying. It also includes sinful attitudes like anger (Matt. 5:22) and lust (Matt. 5:28). Then sin involves the very nature of humanity—we are sinners according to God’s Word (Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:3). Some have erroneously concluded that sin is merely selfishness, but this is misleading because not all self-interests are wrong. It is better to define sin in terms of God’s Law and moral character (1Jn. 3:4; Rom. 2:15, 17-29).

To the question where did sin come from? It is vitally important to first affirm that God is in no way responsible for sin—He cannot be blamed for sin. He always does what is just and right (Deut. 32:4; Gen. 18:25; Job. 34:10). It is also correct to say that God permitted the entrance of sin through the voluntary choices of moral creatures. Was the origin of sin something “ordained” by God? Again I have great difficulty embracing this idea of God ordaining sin to come about. Again a better way of understanding this is that a sovereign God permitted sin (Gen. 50:20). As a holy God he cannot produce or promote sin (Hab. 1:13). He is absolutely perfect (Deut. 32:4; 2Sam. 22:31; Ps. 18:30). But it is true that God can produce greater good by allowing sin in the universe (Rom. 5:3-5; James 1:2-4). This fact alone demonstrates that sin is not His equal and refutes any idea of dualism. This is perhaps why He continues to tolerate sin in the universe.   

Before Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, sin had already invaded the angelic realm with the result of the fall of Satan and a third of the angelic host (Gen. 3:1-19). Satan introduced sin to the human race through the temptation in the Garden. In the fall of man sin struck at the basis for knowledge by questioning God’s Word (Gen. 3:4). Then sin struck at the very foundation of moral standards (Gen. 2:17). In addition, sin also loosed human identity from its God-provided moorings (Gen. 3:5). Lastly, sin proved to be completely irrational; it never makes sense to rebel against our Creator-God (Prov. 10:23; 12:15; 14:7).

We should also explore two realities regarding the doctrine of inherited sin. In these two observations we discover how Adam’s sin affected the rest of humanity. First is inherited guilt: we are counted guilty because of Adam’s sin. This truth is relayed to us in Romans 5:12-21. Even though there was no Law from Adam’s time to Moses’, people were still guilty of sin because they died. Physical, spiritual and eternal death are direct consequences of sin. By Adam’s disobedience we all were made sinners.

Some reject this idea believing it to be unfair. There are three things; however, that should always be remembered in this connection. First everyone has voluntarily committed many actual sins themselves and are indeed guilty (Rom. 2:6; Col. 3:25). Secondly, if we were in Adam’s place, we would have sinned also and our subsequent behavior demonstrates this. Then thirdly, if we think it is unfair to be represented by Adam in the Fall, then it is equally unfair to be represented by Christ in justification and righteousness (Rom. 5:19).

The second reality related to the doctrine of inherited sin is inherited corruption: we have a sinful nature because of Adam’s sin. The concept is freely expressed in numerous passages of the Bible (Ps. 51:1-5; Eph. 2:3).  A result of Adam’s sin is a disposition and a propensity to sin in him and all his descendants. Two particulars in this connection should be kept in mind. First, in our natures we totally lack good before God. Every part of our being is affected by sin—our intellect, emotions, desires, heart, goals, motives, and physical bodies (Titus 1:15; Rom. 7:18; Jer. 17:9).  Secondly, in our actions we are totally unable to do spiritual good before God. We lack the ability to do anything that will in itself be pleasing to God (Rom. 8:8). Without Jesus Christ we can do absolutely nothing to be fruitful (Jn. 15:5; Heb. 11:6). It is not that we cannot do things that are good and pleasing in the eyes of people. Certainly we all can, but people are not God.

At this juncture it is vital that we turn our attention to actual sins in our lives. There are about six areas where this is important to explore. First all people are sinful before God (Ps. 14:3; 143:2; 1Kings 8:46).  Secondly, we are responsible before God for each of our sins. Not according to our ability, but the absolute perfection of God’s moral law and His own holy character (Matt. 5:48). Thirdly, infants are guilty before they commit an act of sin because sin is welded to their nature. However, God in mercy and grace keeps them safe from wrath until they can exercise faith in Him (Ps. 51:5; 58:3; 1Sam 12:23). Fourthly, is the issue of degrees of sin. With regard to legal guilt before God, one single sin is worthy of eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire (Gen. 2:17; Gal. 3:10; James 2:10-11). With regards to the results in life and our relationship with God there are varying degrees of sin.  The consequences of some actions are weightier than others. The Bible even speaks of greater sins (John 19:11; Ezek. 8:6, 13, 15; Matt. 5:19; 23:23; Lev. 4:2, 13, 22; 5:17; James 3:1; Luke 12:48).

Now entertain the question “What happens when a Christian sins?” the answer is that our legal standing before God remains unchanged (Rom. 6:23; 8:1; 1Cor. 15:3; 1Jn. 1:8; 3:2).  It is true that our fellowship with God is disrupted and our Christian life is damaged (Eph. 4:30; Heb. 12:6, 9, 10; Prov. 3:11-12; Rev. 3:19). When we bring God displeasure because of our non-compliance with His will He will correct and chasten us because He loves us and desires that we share in His holiness.

Finally, it must be observed that God will deal with and punish sin. Those who refuse God and die in their sin can expect to be dealt with in severe wrath. This is not merely a deterrent to sinning, but the realization of the primary reason God punishes sin. His righteous nature demands punishment! God is righteous and just (Jer. 9:24), and Christ is the propitiation for all sin (Rom. 3:25). This means that the Lord Jesus was the Sacrifice that bore the wrath of God against sin and thereby turned God’s wrath away that He might deal with humanity in grace (Rom. 3:25, 26). However, if an individual refused that grace, God will confront them in the full force of His righteous wrath and eternal condemnation.

I realize that many people feel they are 'good people,' but the problem with that is we cannot do only good. We do not even live up to our own expectations on a daily basis. Can we manipulate ourselves into believing we have lived up to the PERFECT requirements of a holy God? We have a sin nature that is anti-God. It is not so much the individual sins that we commit, (though these are awful!) but the fact that we have a sinful orientation that drives us to indulge in the wrongs that so violently offend a holy God! 

In short we cannot embrace an eternal relationship with a righteous and perfect God in our natural fallen and sinful condition because our sin mars everything about us. Unless God undertakes to change us, we are condemned forever to the Lake of Fire without any other recourse or hope for all eternity. This is why the new birth through faith in Jesus Christ is so vital to our spiritual welfare. Again, the Lord Jesus insisted that we must be born again.

How may we experience the spiritual birth? The answer is by consciously opting to place our faith/trust in Jesus Christ—His death, burial, and resurrection as the full payment for our sins. We acknowledge that God indicated His acceptance of Christ’s redemptive work by raising Him from the dead. Therefore, we accept what God accepts as the fair and complete payment for our sins.

We must believe on Christ Jesus with a heart of repentance! This is exactly what Paul outlines in Romans 10:9-10, writing, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. We cannot simply believe anything about Jesus, we must believe that the Son of God, died for our sins, was buried, and God raise Him up again the third day for our justification before the Father. It is crucial that we understand that it is faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel that is the power of God that saves us (Rom. 1:14-17).

Christ’s suffering at Calvary was God providing payment for our sins. This is what Calvary was about—justice was served and sin was paid for in full. Now sinners can be saved—born again to enter a relationship with God. It is the Spirit who regenerates us and gives us new life when we trust Christ. We cannot save ourselves no matter how good, sincere, or diligent we are. Being born again means we become a part of a new family, God is our Father who shares with us His very own divine nature. All of this is realized the moment we humble ourselves before God acknowledging our sins while trusting Christ and His payment for them. We must accept this payment personally. Beloved, we must exercise faith in the Person and Work of Christ to experience the spiritual birth. What about you? Have you been born again?