Doctrine of Sin Pt. 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCRV-xdMN0o

Lecture Notes:

 I. Sin

·      Hamartiology means the study of sin. From the Greek word hamartia meaning “missing the mark”

Sin originates with our choice to consider ungodly behavior; thus, sin is the ungodly product of our free will. Sin is personal or corporate rejection of who God is, his nature, and his ways.

Many people define sin as something that is relative, not having an absolute definition. Some may tell you that sin is based on culture or an opinion of what is right and wrong, some tell you that sin is categorized into positive and negatives actions, some believe sin is circumstantial and based upon any given situation and personal decision. Although these definitions may sound right, they are all wrong. The problem with these and other definitions of sin is that they are all based on man's finite thinking. (Proverbs 14:12- There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death). It is impossible to discern what sin is without consulting God.

Definition of Sin

Sin is as followed, according to God, 1 John 3:4 reads, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law " Sin is lawlessness or the breaking of God's laws. Sin is personal or corporate rejection of who God is, his nature, and his ways.

·      Personal refers to individual effects of sin.

·      Corporate refers to the group effects of sin.

This can be done can be done in two ways:

1. Omission- is not preforming what God commands. James 4:17 (ESV), "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

An example is when God commands us to love our neighborhoods and we fail to. We fail to, not because we don't want to but because we knowingly leave it out or rationalize it as something that is not as important. Omission does not have anything to do with not knowing what to do and not doing it nor does it have to do with forgetting to repent for a sin. When you omit to follow God, it is based on a passive attitude towards the Word of God.

Matthew 23:23

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

2. Commission- doing what God forbids. This is an intentional breaking of God’s laws.

As an example, if Gods forbids lying and you lie that makes you a liar; thus, you have committed a lie. There would be no way to avoid this, as there is no such thing as a Godly or holy lie.

Sin is not just limited to the Ten Commandments and whether or not you keep them or break them. Sin is rooted in our very genes and abounds in our hearts; Job 15:16 reads. "How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water. " Also,Jeremiah 17: 9 reads. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? "

Sin also manifests in our thoughts, words and actions.

1. Thoughts- Psalm 10:4- "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts."

Job 21:27- Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

 2. Words- Matthew 5:22- "But 1 say unto you. That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca [Stupid], shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say. Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. "

3. Actions- James 1:22- "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

     1 Corinthians 13:6- "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. "

Romans 1:32- "Who knowing the judgment of God. that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." These scriptures qualify taking pleasure in sin, as a sin in itself. Therefore, be conscious in what you take pleasure in.

II. Original Sin

Satan and Sin

The very first sin recorded in scripture was committed by Satan, meaning Adversary. Before Satan became who he is presently, he was known as Lucifer, meaning Morning Star. Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:11-19 and Revelation 12:3, 4, 7-9 gives the account of Satan's original state and the sin he committed. When God created the angles, in which Satan was, God created them with a free will. The only known beings that God created with free will are Seraphim, Cherubim, Living Creatures (all angelic beings) and Man. It was through an act of Satan's free will that he decided to sin. In Ezekiel 28:17 we learn that his sin started in his mind and took root in his heart then he acted out what was is his heart through his actions. This is the first biblical record of sin, also John 8:44 tells us Satan had hate in his heart from the beginning and that he is the father of lies. Though Satan was the first one to commit sin, sin does not intrinsically come from Satan.

As stated in the prior teaching, sin originates with our choice to consider ungodly behavior, thus sin is the ungodly product of our free will.

Adam and Sin

Another person comes into consideration when exploring the origin of sin and that is, Adam. In Genesis, chapters two and three, we read the about the original state of man and his fall into a sinful state. Adam is the primary reason we are sinful creatures, we inherited sin from Adam (Roman 5:12). Just as dogs bark by nature, we sin by nature; although, this nature does remain once regeneration happens. It is through Adam that sin entered the world. As a result of this sin, disease and death also entered the world, which explains why death and disease exists today.

When Eve was propositioned by Satan and Adam propositioned by Eve, a choice whether to sin or not to sin was at hand. A decision made with their free will determined the result of their answer to sin. Let us take a closer look at the process of how sin originates according to scripture.

James 1:13-15 reads, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: Bat every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. "

Notice God does not tempt, therefore sin never originates from God. Below is a breakdown the scripture.

1. We are tempted when we entertain ungodly desires in our minds- Conception

2. The thought becomes a desire in our hearts- Birth

3. We then act out the sin in our hearts- Maturity

4. The final result of sin if left unrepented causes death- Death

The course of sin is: Conception -> Birth -> Maturity -> Death

This process repeats itself over and over until it has claimed as many victims as possible.

III. Dynamics of Sin

The question of how sin works can be answered thoroughly and quickly according to scripture, which is death, Romans 6:23 reads, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" Let us consider that the end result of sin is death, with that in mind we must understand that every stage of sin will led to a more destructive stage until total death is achieved. The clearest and most comprehensive example of how sin works is in the book of Genesis, more specifically chapters 1-10.

At the very beginning of creation everything was perfect and without any fault. The moment Adam sinned was the moment sin entered the earth. Prior to Adam's sin, God had given all authority on earth to Adam and the only way Adam could lose it was if he sinned, thus at the point of contact of his sin he lost all authority on earth. So where did the authority go? When sin is committed it is not committed forcefully but rather willingly, so in order to sin you must give up your rights or will, in exchange for what is being offered. Adam gave up his authority and Satan gained it, in exchange for death; sin offers death! God warned Adam that if he sinned, he will die that very day. Did Adam die that very day? Indeed, Adam did die that very day! Adam's sin started the decay process which ends in death. Adam was now susceptible to disease, ailments and bodily decay, not just Adam but all that came after him. Everything that God gave to Adam he yielded to Satan by succumbing to sin, all creation was thrown into a decaying process.

This is why we have disease, death and bloodshed today; it is all a result of sin. Sin is a parasite that will take advantage until death. Sin can also be passed on from generation to generation, just as we inherited sin from Adam. For example: Why do you suppose sins such as, adultery, molestation, hatred, rape, alcoholism and other sins seem to be common in some families, even when it is kept secret? Sin is a disease that can be passed on, killing whomever it comes in contact with. John 9:1, 2 reads, "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying. Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind. " from this we understand that sin can have immediate and generational effects.

How sin has played out Historically:

The Fall of Adam (Sin) > All of creation (all affected) everything under Adams authority > Disease, bloodshed and Death/Suffering enter human history as a consequence.

How sin plays out Individually:

Yield your will to sin > Everything under your authority is affected > Death and suffering are the consequences.

James 1:13-15 reads, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: Bat every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. "

1. Conception- We are tempted when we entertain ungodly desires in our minds.

2. Birth- The thought becomes a desire in our hearts.

3. Maturity- We then act out what is in our hearts, sin.

4. Death- The final result of sin if left unrepented causes death.

The course of sin is: Conception > Birth > Maturity > Death

Sin originates with our choice to consider ungodly behavior; thus, sin is the ungodly product of our free will. Sin is personal or corporate rejection of who God is, his nature, and his ways. It is a decaying process which only leads to death. This process repeats itself over and over until it has claimed as many victims as possible.

IV. God and Sin

God is absolutely holy and cannot sin in any way (James 1:13). When God became flesh he still was found without sin. Speaking of Jesus, Hebrews 4:15 reads, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. " The only one to ever conquer sin was Jesus, which is why he is the only one able to deliver us from sin. It is essential that we understand God's relationship to sin.

I. Demand for holiness: God requires holiness

God demands holiness both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. What some may not realize is that God never changed. He has never lowered his standard of complete holiness. He is still the same God who requires a sacrifice and repentance for every sin. This may be the most horrible and frightening thing to realize in scripture. However, this is why the Gospel is Good News! Jesus made a way for all of humanity's amnesty, by simply accepting the pardon. You are saved by this grace and by no means of anything you have done. This alone is the Gospel nothing more and nothing less.

1 Kings 8:61- "Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day."

Leviticus 20:7- "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God."

Romans 12:1- "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God. that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

1 Peter 1:16- "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

II. Separation: The sin of man separates him from God

The natural result of a holy God and a filthy man is separation. It is like oil and water, by nature the two simply do not mix.

Job 15:16- "How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?"

1 John 1:8- "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

Ecclesiastes 7: 29- "Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions."

III. Reconciliation: Only through Jesus can we defeat sin and dwell with God

God and man being reunited in peace is what reconciliation is. This reconciliation was a result and intention of Jesus’ death and resurrection; man had no part in reconciling himself with God. At this present time in history God still demands perfection, and this will never change because God does not change, however we have Jesus who stands before us. Therefore, when God looks at us, looking for us to be holy and sinless, he sees Jesus and we are then instantly declared righteous and holy.

Colossians 1:13,14,22 "(13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins... (22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight."

1 John 2:1,2- "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

Romans 5:1, 9-11- "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."

God cannot and will not allow you into Heaven unless you are holy! His relationship to sin has not changed; the only thing that is different is that God now sees Jesus when he looks at you and not your sins. Therefore, the only way to escape the penalty of sin is through Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. We can't, but with grace which is what Jesus is to us, we can! Jesus is your bridge of grace to a Holy God.

Galatians 3:13: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.

We are no longer held to the curses of the law nor are we subject to law of sin, which is death. This means that every single curse you have ever read in the Old Testament has become void and inapplicable all because of Jesus. There is no need to worry about not being good enough for God or trying to impress God with how long you can pray or fast, or how long you can go without sinning, because you cannot impress God, all he sees when he looks at you is Jesus!  Paul said it best in Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” and “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Roman 5:1). To be justified is to be accepted by God through the actions of Jesus. Only faith in these actions of Jesus is required, thus, by faith alone.