Doctrine of Sin

Doctrine of Sin

Introduction:

Sin is the estrangement from God. Sin could be defined by many people in many ways but it could be best explained by the creator, who alone defines and helps to discern what is right and wrong. Carefully studying the directions from God through the Word of God and taming our attitude as that of the attitude of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ would help us to know the thoughts of God and thereby discern what is right and wrong. Jesus always sets higher standards which is not reflected much. While thinking that Stealing and Adultery are wrong, Jesus told us not to lust, and while murdering was considered wrong, Jesus told us not to hate, Jesus told us even to cut the sources that cause us to sin or hinder us from doing what is right.

“Sin is doing what we should not do and not doing what we should do”.

If the person does not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to him, but he must rule over it (Gen 4: 7).

Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin (Pro 21: 4).

 

1.0.Etymology and Synonyms:

“Sin” is translated primarily from the Hebrew word chata (חָטָא) (Gen 18:20) in the Old Testament. Sin means a failure to fulfill a goal. It could also mean the idea of erring, doing wrong, missing the mark, or going astray.

The other words that are closer to sin in Hebrew are as follows

·         Avon (עָ ווֹן) (Lev 20:17)- Iniquity

·         Pesha (פֶּ֫ שַׁ ע) (Amos 2:4))- Transgression

·         Shagah (שָׁ גָה) (Lev 4:2)- to stray, deceive, err, to mistake

In the New Testament “Sin” is translated primarily from the Greek word hamartia (ἁμαρτία) (Matt 12:31) to describe sin as a power or force that rules humans and compels us to do things we don’t want to do.

The other words that are closer to sin in Greek are as follows

·         Anomos (ἄνομος) (1 Cor 9:21)- iniquity, lawless, illegal

·         Adikia (ἀδικία) (Luke 16:8) - wrongdoing, unrighteousness, injustice

·         Adikema (ἀδίκημα) (Acts 18:14)- unjust deed or wrong, offense

·         Paraphtoma (παράπτωμα) (Matt 6:15)- fall, to sin, trespass, fault, offense

·         Parabasis (parabain) (παράβασις) (Heb 2:2)- violation, breaking, transgression

·         Planao (πλανάω) (Heb 3:10)- go astray, err, deceive, seduce, wander, be out of the way  

 

2.0. Sin and Sinner:

All the people in the world are born in a collapsed world that imparts the wrong choices and influences. While growing, we try out many things within ourselves as well as with the world around us based on our exposures and experiences, and all the things that we do are not positive but leave some scars at times. Everyone falls into something that is not right and we give our control to it, breaking God’s purpose and plan. Sin separates a person from God and makes a person, a sinner. Christ is the only one exemption to keep away from sin which is all human and all divine, becoming a source of redemption for mankind.  

Christ is tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4: 15). For our sake God made Jesus to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corin 5: 21).

Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Rom 14: 23). Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for Him it is sin (James 4: 17). Everyone born of women in flesh and blood is sinner. If anyone says he has no sin, he is a liar (1 John 1:8). Sinning against the brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, is a sin against Christ (1 Corin 8: 12).

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 (Rom 5: 12, 13). All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death (1 John 5; 17).

Whoever despises his neighbour is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor (Pro 14: 21). Jesus said that there would be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance (Luke 15:7). There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15: 10).

2.1. Sin that’s not forgiven:

If a person who has known God and accepted God doesn’t live a worthy life by denying the work of God and the Spirit of God, he has no chance of receiving forgiveness as he had blocked the path to forgiveness by himself.

Jesus said that every sin and blasphemy would be forgiven for people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit would not be forgiven (Matt 12: 31; Mar 3: 29).

 

3.0. Sin Offering:

Since the beginning of the world, man has suffered from sin, because of the disobedience to God and denial of God in the thoughts, emotions, and actions. When man tried to gratify himself or invent something beyond the boundaries of God’s beautiful purpose, they had to face the consequences and could never find lasting joy, peace, and satisfaction. Thereby, the sacrifices and offerings are just shadows to remind the mistakes that need should not be carried out further.

Bull or Goat to turtledoves or pigeons to tenth or ephah of fine flour is offered as a sin offering, according to the capability of different people based on different regulations, given accordingly (Lev 4Ch & 5Ch).

By the works of the law no human being will be justified in his own sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin (Rom 3: 20).

 

4.0. How We Sin:

We sin by our evil desires, violating our morality and intellectuality, and conforming ourselves to worldly lusts. Besides all, sin is within us from the beginning when we choose to lean on our understanding, forsaking the commandments of God through disobedience. Though there are influences because the whole world has fallen, which is also a reason that causes us to sin, we always fail to withstand and give our control to the unfair desires that lead to sin.

Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire, then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin (James 1: 14, 15). If the believers show partiality, they are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors (James 2:9).

4.1. The universality of Sin:

No man had escaped from the temptations and everyone had fallen into the temptations at least at some point in time due to the weaknesses and ignorance or negligence in the physique, emotions, or intellect. Jesus is the only one who had been tempted but not overcome by temptations, because of the divine providence and denial of evil.

Jesus told the Jews that let him who is without sin among them be the first to throw a stone at her, when they brought an adulteress to be stoned. No one dared to do it and left one by one (John 8: 7-9).

All have turned aside and together they have become corrupt, there is none who does good, not even one (Psalms 14: 3; Romans 3: 9, 10).

4.2. Influence by other people to sin:

All have some companions who are with us and whom we choose to be with us, who could impart their thoughts unintentionally or through compulsion which is against the commandments of God.

Adam disobeyed God, with the influence of Eve (Gen 3: 6).

Solomon, king of Israel sinned because of the foreign women (1 Kings 11: 1-4).

 

5.0. Importance of Being Without Sin:

We defile ourselves and we deprive ourselves when we gratify ourselves with selfish desires, thinking we are having control over our life, but actually giving our control to something. Also, we defile others when we Sin by involving others in our lives. The sin causes deep scars in our hearts and mind and because of that, we lose our originality. Sin compels us to gratify ourselves through as many means as possible continuously, without actually getting the satisfaction.  At the raise, it separates us from the Holy God. 

5.1. Consequences of Sin:

A sinner becomes a slave to sin. It destroys long-lasting Joy, peace, and love. It leads us away from God, and the ultimate result of Sin is death.

The glitches of the sins will exist even after a generation, that God would remember (Exo 34: 6, 7). Each one would be put to death for his own sin (Deut 24: 16). Jesus told the Jews that everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin (John 8: 34).  The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). When Sin is fully grown, it brings forth death (James 1: 15).

 

6.0. Confession of Sins:

Unless or until a person knows the absolute standards of the creator and acknowledges that he has committed a mistake, he will not be able to confess it. When a person doesn’t confess their sins, he will never take the necessary steps not to repeat them. The confession of sins with a genuine heart is much necessary for receiving forgiveness and leading the life further by avoiding mistakes.

When a person confesses his transgressions to the Lord, He forgives the iniquity of his sin (Psalms 32: 5).

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask, and God would give him life, to those who commit sins that do not lead to death (1 John 5: 16).

6.1. Conviction of Sins:

Once a person trusts in the redeeming power of Jesus Christ and confesses the mistakes he had made in life, he will be able to receive the Spirit of God in him. The Spirit of God in the believing person convicts the mistakes, when something is not according to the purpose God had actually intended.

Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit comes, he would convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8).

Genuine Believers could not continue to live in sin because grace abounds. The old self is crucified with Jesus for those who believe that they are no longer enslaved to sin, and death no longer has dominion. Believers shall consider dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Believers shall avoid sin not because they are not under the law but under grace. Believers have become slaves to righteousness and God, leaving lawlessness (Rom 6Ch).

 

7.0. Guarding Against Sins:

The Standards are required to measure ourselves and how we ought to be. The perfect standards could be given only by the Sovereign and Almighty being. The Word from the superior being always cautions us to keep away from evilness and gives us directions for leading a just life.

The Psalmist writes that he had stored up His Word in his heart that he might not sin against Him (Psalms 119: 11).

Removing the causative thing or the root cause is necessary to guard against the sins (Matt 5: 29, 30; Matt 18: 8, 9; Mark 9: 43, 45, 47). 

7.1. Forgiving the sins against one another:

A person who has received forgiveness from God, for all his debts, should also be able to forgive others who have made mistakes against him. If a person can’t forgive another, the person is still in the glitches of sin and he has not known God in the way he should know.

A person should forgive his brother, not just seven times but seventy-seven times (Matt 18: 21-22). Stephen fell on his knees and he cried out to the Lord not to hold the sin against them who stoned him to death (Act 7:60).

8.0. Judgment over sins:

It is necessary to guard the self from sins. At the same time, it is also necessary not to cause others to sin. God is compassionate and considerate about everyone, and serious consequence is prescribed, for those who cause others to sin.

Jesus told His disciples that temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come (Luke 17: 1).

Jesus told that whoever causes one of the little ones who believe in Him to sin, it would be better for Him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea (Matt 18: 6; Mar 9: 42).

 

9.0. Misconceptions about Sin:

Some of the most common misconceptions about sin are as follows. The misconceptions may hinder us from following what really pleases God and thereby hinder us from being fruitful. 

• Some people who commit heinous crimes or who are in a certain designation will continue to sin throughout. 
• Nothing is a sin and there are no absolute standards. Following the rules of the land or being relativistic is sufficient.  
• Sin is doing what we should not do and we need not worry about what we actually should be doing. 
• Sickness and suffering happen only because of the sins. 
• Not being associated with a specific church or group is a sin. And not following some norm of the church or group is a sin. 

 

CONCLUSION:

To be without Sin, a man should be pure from birth to death, which is not possible. So the only possible way and solution is Salvation from God. Lord doesn’t have great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices but in obeying His voice. To obey is better than sacrifice and to listen is better than the fat of rams, for rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.

The righteousness of God is manifested for all sinners through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe, by His grace as a gift (Romans 3: 21-26). Blood of Jesus, Son of God cleanses everyone from all Sins. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1: 7, 9). Jesus is the lamp of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1: 29). Jesus did not sin, and neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return, when He suffered, He did not threaten but continued entrusting Himself to God who judges justly. He Himself bore the sins of people in His body on the tree, that they might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds, they have been healed (1 Peter 2: 22-24).  There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life had set the believers free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death (Rom 8: 1, 2). 

The Lord does not desire big sacrifices from man but wants them to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with their God (Micah 6: 7, 8). Everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning but protects himself, and the evil one does not touch him (1 John 5: 18).

If we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that would consume the adversaries (Heb 10: 26, 27).

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. 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 Good, nor is the one who does not love his brother (1 John 3: 9,10).