The Doctrine Of Sin

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Category: Doctrines

Published on Saturday, 28 March 2009 07:38

Written by Ryan Hicks

THE DOCTRINE OF SIN

By Ryan Hicks

[Note: This is taken from part of a course from Faith of God Bible University.]

1. HAMARTIOLOGY

The study or doctrine of sin is called hamartiology. Hamartiology comes from the two Greek words hamartia, meaning sin and logos, meaning the study of, doctrine. In this course we will study the doctrine of sin.

Sin is the root of all of man's problems. Sin was authored by the anointed angel Lucifer who sinned and became Satan (the devil). The Scriptural account of Lucifer's being created perfect and later being found with sin in his heart is found in Ezekiel 28:11-19.

The Bible makes it clear that those who sin are servants of sin and its author (John 8:34; Romans 6:16). It also states that "He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning..." (1 John 3:8); "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin..." (1 John 3:9); and "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not..." (1 John 5:18).

Isaiah 14:12-14
12   How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13   For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14   I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

As a free moral agent, Lucifer decided to overthrow God's kingdom and be like the most High. He said in his heart five different things, each on the basis of his own will. His rebellion against God and God's law caused his downfall, and God pronounced that he will "be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit" (Isaiah 14:15). So it is the same with all who choose to follow Lucifer in rebellion against God by committing sin, for they will also make their eternal home in hell (Isaiah 66:24; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 7:21-23; 13:37-50; 25:41-46; Revelation 14:9-11; 21:8).

Before the devil sinned there was no sin. Sin came when the devil transgressed the law of God. There was always the possibility of sin on the parts of free moral agents, because there was a law for them to choose to follow or rebel against. If they so desired to act against God's law they could. The angel Lucifer decided to act against God's law and thus became the author of sin. He now propagates sin in man today, trying to cause the saved to transgress God's law and die spiritually and keep the unsaved in sin.

When one commits sin they are showing that they are children of the devil, for the Bible says, "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither him that loveth not his brother" (1 John 3:10). Sin is the lifestyle of the devil and his children, and holiness is the lifestyle of God and His children. You will live one way or the other, but you cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).

2. WHAT IS SIN?

1 John 3:4
4   Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

For the believer today sin is breaking one of God's New Testament commandments (not the ten commandments and the Old Testament laws which were not incorporated into the New Covenant, but which were done away with, see Acts 15:24; Galatians 5:18; Colossians 2:14-17; etc). If there was no law, there would be no sin, because sin is transgressing the law (Romans 4:15). Adam and Eve were only given one command to obey in the garden (Genesis 2:17). They could have done anything they wanted to, with the exception of eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and they would have not sinned.

It is the same with believers today. God has given us specific commands on certain things not to do. If we choose to disobey some of these commands we will die spiritually. The sins that God tells us will damn the soul I will call death-penalty or mortal sins, and God forbids us to commit them.

3. ARE ALL SINS EQUAL?

Jesus plainly taught that there are degrees in sin and that some sins are greater than others.

John 19:11
11   Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

4. 91 EXAMPLES OF SIN

1. Evil Thoughts
2. Adultery
3. Fornication
4. Murder
5. Covetousness
6. Wickedness
7. Deceit
8. Lasciviousness
9. An Evil Eye
10. Blasphemy
11. Pride
12. Foolishness
13. Being Filled With All Ungodliness
14. Being Filled With All Unrighteousness
15. Uncleanness
16. Vile Affections
17. Homosexuality
18. Maliciousness
19. Envy
20. Debate (Strife)
21. Malignity
22. Gossipers
23. Backbiters
24. Hating God
25. Despiteful
26. Boasters
27. Originators Of Evil Things
28. Disobedient To Parents
29. Willfully Ignorant
30. All Sexual Sin
31. Implacable
32. Unmerciful
33. Idolatry
34. Effeminate
35. Thieves
36. Drunkards
37. Revilers (Abusers Of Others)
38. Extortioners
39. Witchcraft
40. Hatred
41. Variance (Discord)
42. Wrath
43. Seditions
44. Heresy
45. Emulation
46. Revelling (Rioting)
47. Filthy Communication Out Of Your Mouth
48. Lying And Loving Lies
49. Walking In The Vanity Of Your Mind
50. Darkened Understanding
51. Blindness Of Heart
52. Being Past Feeling
53. Greed
54. Deceitful Lusts
55. Filthiness
56. Foolish Talking
57. Jesting (Ungodly Joking)
58. Whoremongering
59. Walking As A Fool
60. Being Unwise
61. Being Fearful
62. Sorcery
63. Being A Unbeliever
64. Rebellion
65. Stubbornness
66. Despise Government and Law
67. Speaking Evil Of Rulers
68. Speaking Evil Of Things You Don't Know About
69. Practicing Sexual Perversion
70. Corrupt Yourself
71. Error In Religious Lives
72. Serving God For Gain
73. Ungodly Deeds
74. Blasphemy
75. Murmerers
76. Complainers
77. Walking After Their Own Lusts
78. Boasting And Bragging
79. Mocking The Truth
80. Separating From The True And Holy Body Of Christ
81. Being Sensual
82. Damnable Heresies
83. Denying The Lord
84. Having Pernicious Ways
85. Selling The Gospel
86. Being Presumptuous
87. Selfwilled
88. Eyes Full Of Adultery
89. Not Being Able To Cease From Sin
90. Forsaking The Right Way
91. Alluring The Saved Into Sin

5. ERRORS, FAULTS, AND MISTAKES?

There are flaws, mistakes, and errors any human makes that are not sinful that people sometimes try to lump together with true sins like adultery, fornication, etc. These things may be ignorantly done and rather than reaping spiritual death they reap chastening and the loss of reward at the judgment seat of Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15
11   For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12   Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13   Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14   If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15   If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so by fire.

2 Corinthians 5:9-10
9   Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10   For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

A believer may have made mistakes or errors in his life, but he will not be damned to hell, rather he will loose their reward for that work. As we grow in Christ and recognize these flaws in our lives we will seek the grace of God to help us in removing them. Otherwise we are in rebellion by refusing to grow and conform to Christ's image and in such a state we could incur the full punishment of the broken law.

6. EXAMPLES OF MISTAKES, FAULTS, AND FLAWS

Five examples of non-death-penalty sins are:

1.  Doing good before men to be noticed by them (Matthew 6:1-2)
2.  Praying to be noticed by men (Matthew 6:5)
3.  Fasting to be noticed by men (Matthew 6:18)
4.  Failing to give a cup of cold water (Matthew 10:42; Mark 9:41)
5.  Lending in hope to receive something back (Luke 6:35)

Such acts generally have to do with one's motives in doing something. As long as one walks without committing sin the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ cleanses them and they remain in Christ (1 John 1:7). When one willfully commits a sin they MUST confess and forsake their sin or they will not be forgiven and upon death will spend eternity in hell (Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 66:24; Matthew 25:41, 46; Mark 9:43-49; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 21:7-8).

7. FREEDOM TO COMMIT SIN? GOD FORBID!

The apostle Paul explained the grace of God and our obedience this way:

Romans 6:1-2
1   What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
2   God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

When one is born-again they are made totally free from the old man (what some call a supposed sin nature), the spirit and nature of the devil. While they may may mistakes and have faults they still remain in Christ. Mistakes do not separate one from being a servant and child of God, but sin can and will separate the one who commits such a sin from God's grace.

When one is born-again they are made free from all sin (Galatians 5:24; Romans 6:6-7; 1 Peter 4:1; 1 John 1:9), just as they were originally made in the womb (Ecclesiastes 7:29). They become new creatures in Christ and all of the old sinful habits and lusts are done away with (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:24). While one may have experienced the New Birth and been made free from sin they may have made certain mistakes and still remained in Christ. These mistakes can incur the death-penalty if, as one gains more light into God's Will, they refuse to get these things out of their life (1 John 1:7; James 4:17). Such a one would be damned as a sinner who knows the truth but holds the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).

7. DEGREES OF PENALTIES IN GOD'S GOVERNMENT

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