SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
Essential Doctrines of Christianity
Essential Doctrines of Christianity
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SIN:
sin
SIN - Missing the mark by falling short of God’s perfection (Rom 3:23).
- There are three main types of sin. There are sins of commission, which means doing what God has asked us not to do, like lying, stealing, murdering, coveting, lusting (Ex 20:1-17; Matt 5:28). There are sins of omission, which means not doing what God has asked us to do, like when Jonah fled from preaching to the Ninevites (Jonah 1:1-4), or when the Pharisees failed to care for the people (Matt 23:23). There is original sin, which means that humans are sinful by nature (Eph 2:1-3; Rom 7:18; Jer 13:23), and therefore corrupt even from conception (Ps 51:5), the womb (Ps 58:3), birth (Ps 58:3), and childhood (Gen 8:21; Prov 22:15). This has been the case since the fall of Adam (Gen 3:1-19; Rom 5). This is why we must be born again to be saved (John 3:3-6).
- There are three main types of sin. There are sins of commission, which means doing what God has asked us not to do, like lying, stealing, murdering, coveting, lusting (Ex 20:1-17; Matt 5:28). There are sins of omission, which means not doing what God has asked us to do, like when Jonah fled from preaching to the Ninevites (Jonah 1:1-4), or when the Pharisees failed to care for the people (Matt 23:23). There is original sin, which means that humans are sinful by nature (Eph 2:1-3; Rom 7:18; Jer 13:23), and therefore corrupt even from conception (Ps 51:5), the womb (Ps 58:3), birth (Ps 58:3), and childhood (Gen 8:21; Prov 22:15). This has been the case since the fall of Adam (Gen 3:1-19; Rom 5). This is why we must be born again to be saved (John 3:3-6).
extent of sin
EXTENT OF SIN - All are sinful (1 Kings 8:46; Prov 20:9: Rom 3:9-10, 23; 1 John 1:8-10).
- The one exception to all humans being sinful is Jesus, who was born without original sin because the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and cleansed the process such that “the child to be born will be called holy” (Luke 1:35 NIV footnote). Jesus also never committed sin (Heb 4:15; 1 John 3:5; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; John 8:28-29). However, he did take sin upon himself so that he could pay for it (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24).
- The one exception to all humans being sinful is Jesus, who was born without original sin because the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and cleansed the process such that “the child to be born will be called holy” (Luke 1:35 NIV footnote). Jesus also never committed sin (Heb 4:15; 1 John 3:5; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; John 8:28-29). However, he did take sin upon himself so that he could pay for it (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24).
consequences of sin
CONSEQUENCES OF SIN - All sin must be dealt with and punished (Rom 2:5-6; 3:23-26; John 8:24).
- The main consequences for sin are mortality, which is the decay and death of the physical body (Gen 3:19; James 2:26); spiritual death, which is separation from God (Gen 2:17; Is 59:1-2; Rom 6:23; Eph 2:1-7); and eternal death, which is when those who reject the salvation offered by God through Jesus Christ are eternally separated from God and punished for their sin (John 3:18; Matt 25:41-46: Rev 14:11; 20:11-15). There are also natural consequences like going to prison for a crime or getting an STD from promiscuous sex.
- For the believer, Jesus removes the consequences of spiritual and eternal death. However, believers still face mortality and natural consequences as well as discipline from a loving and Holy Father God (Prov 3:12; Heb 12:4-11: Matt 18:15-17; 1 Tim 1:20), and the pain of grieving the Holy Spirit (Is 63:10; Eph 4:30).
- The world had its nature changed/fallen because of sin (Rom 8:18-25).
- The main consequences for sin are mortality, which is the decay and death of the physical body (Gen 3:19; James 2:26); spiritual death, which is separation from God (Gen 2:17; Is 59:1-2; Rom 6:23; Eph 2:1-7); and eternal death, which is when those who reject the salvation offered by God through Jesus Christ are eternally separated from God and punished for their sin (John 3:18; Matt 25:41-46: Rev 14:11; 20:11-15). There are also natural consequences like going to prison for a crime or getting an STD from promiscuous sex.
- For the believer, Jesus removes the consequences of spiritual and eternal death. However, believers still face mortality and natural consequences as well as discipline from a loving and Holy Father God (Prov 3:12; Heb 12:4-11: Matt 18:15-17; 1 Tim 1:20), and the pain of grieving the Holy Spirit (Is 63:10; Eph 4:30).
- The world had its nature changed/fallen because of sin (Rom 8:18-25).
WHAT HAPPENS TO CHILDREN WHO DIE BEFORE REACHING AN AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY?
- 2 Samuel 12:23 suggests that even though humans are all born with sin, babies or children who die prematurely will not be punished for their fallen nature.
ARE THERE DEGREES OF SIN OR IS ALL SIN THE SAME?
While any one sin leads to death (Gen 2:17; Rom 5:16), there does seem to be biblical evidence for greater or lesser sin (John 19:11; Ezek 8:15; Matt 7:3-5), and greater or lesser judgment (Matt 10:15; Rev 20:12-13). Some sins call for discipline by the church (1 Cor 5:1-13).
WHAT IS THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN?
- The unforgivable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit seems to be openly rejecting Jesus after being convinced by the Spirit of the truth of the gospel. It is possible to be forgiven for blaspheming Jesus if it was done in ignorance, perhaps knowing the gospel, but not yet having been convinced of its truthfulness (Matt 12:31-32; Mark 3:29-30; Heb 6:4-6; 10:26-31).
The Bible God Works of God Angels Humans Sin Salvation Christ Holy Spirit Church End Times Afterlife