- Definition: any
failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature
- Sin isn’t just our actions; it includes our thoughts and
attitudes.
- Exodus 20:17 - You shall not
covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or
his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your
neighbor.”
-
Coveting is an attitude, a consideration, or a desire
- Before we were redeemed, we were sinners by our very
nature. It’s in our DNA.
- Ephesians 2:1-4 - As for you, you
were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in
which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and
of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in
those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived
among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and
following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving
of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for
us, God, who is rich in mercy.
- Even when a person is not
committing a sinful act or having a sinful thought, they are still sinning by
their very nature. It’s like a game of shirts vs. skins. Either you have on a
shirt or you don’t. Either you have been saved in Christ and become a new
creation, or you are still an unredeemed sinner.
- Sin is the opposite of all that is good. It contradicts
all that is good, so God must hate it.
- Origin of sin:
- God never
sinned. He should not be blamed for sin.
- Angels
and men chose to sin by themselves.
- Deuteronomy 32:4 - He is the
Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful
God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.
- James 1:13 - When tempted, no one
should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does
he tempt anyone.
- Sin was never a surprise to God.
- God is eternally greater than
sin.
- Isaiah 14:12-15 - How you have
fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast
down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I
will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost
heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of
the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought
down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.
- All sin is irrational. It doesn’t
make any sense to go against what is good.
- Romans 7:15 - I do not
understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
- Only the
foolish choose sin over God.
- Psalm 14:1 - The fool says
in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there
is no one who does good.
- How does sin affect
us?
- It
affects our intellect, emotions, and physical bodies.
- Romans 8:8 – Those who are in the
realm of the flesh cannot please God.
- Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith
it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must
believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
- Nothing we can do is good
without faith. We are capable of nothing good apart from God.
- What happens with
Christians sin?
- Romans
8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ
Jesus.
- Romans
6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal
life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
-
Salvation is a gift. It isn’t earned by our merit, and it isn’t lost by our
sin.
- Our
fellowship with God is disrupted. For example, you can love someone
and still
be hurt by him.
- Ephesians
4:30 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you
were
sealed for the day of redemption.
- Sin
affects our effectiveness in ministry.
- Sin = death.
- If God didn’t punish sin, He wouldn’t be just.
Understanding sin gives us a greater
understanding of grace.
These notes were taken from
Wayne Grudem’s Bible Doctrines and
the NIV Bible.
