by Andrew Corbett
Chapter 17
THE NATURE OF SIN
The Bible begins by telling us that God had created the entire world perfect. In the first chapter of Genesis alone, it is stated seven times that creation was good. Yet as the story progresses we see the tragic entrance of rebellion into God's world.
When man was originally created he enjoyed peace and harmony. This simply reflected his harmony and peace with God. It was reflected toward a) himself, b) others and c) toward nature. No greater joys, happiness, contentment or love could have been found outside this original state. All was at peace and all were at peace with each other.
1. What form did the Tempting One take in Genesis 3:1?
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2. His lies are still heard today. What did he say to Eve in verse 5 that finally gave her the prompting to rebel?
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We presume that Satan had prior to this point been cast out of heaven for wanting to be God (Isa. 14:13), or that he was about to make his assumption of control over God by showing that he could gain man's devotion by disobeying God. Although his days were numbered anyway, he obviously decided to continue to try and cause havoc and pain to God here on earth. Having failed at taking over the universal headquarters for the Kingdom of God, he launched what he hoped would be a humiliating 'defeat' for God by severing the relationships He had just formed with His newly created love-children.
3. What did God say would happen to Man if they sinned?
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4. Did God fulfil this? Give reasons.
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Satan was the initiator of sin into the world, but he was not responsible for its successful entry into the human race. Note the response of Adam to God's inquiry. He blamed the woman. Eve blamed the Serpent. Both refused to accept the responsibility for their actions.
5. According to Romans 5:12 how did Adam's sin affect us?
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THE NATURE OF SIN
Sin is given specific definitions in the Bible. From these we can tell how God views sin.6. Complete the following. Sin is-
a) Prov. 24:9- ________________________________________
b) 1Jn. 3:4 - _______________________________________
c) 1Jn. 5:17 - ___________________________________________
d) James 4:7 - _______________________________________
e) Prov. 21:4; Isa. 64:4; Mtt. 23:13-33; Phil.3:4-9 - ___________________________
f) Rom. 14:23 - ________________________________________
The Bible uses basically four words to speak of sin:
Sin- To miss the mark.
Transgression- Revolt, offend, break away from just authority.
Iniquity- Make crooked, pervert.
Trespass- To be guilty.
Sin is everything that is directly contrary to God's nature and will. Our consciences play a part in determining what sin is and we are urged to keep them clear at all times (1Jn. 3:20;1Cor. 4:4; James 4:17; Lk. 12:47). But our consciences are not the absolute guide to defining sin.
7. According to these Scriptures, how is sin identified? Rom. 3:20; 7:7-
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SIN DESTROYED HARMONY
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Man enjoyed a four-fold harmony in his original state. When man sinned, the peace and harmony he relished in with God, others, self and nature was broken. Now we have such things as fear, suspicion, natural disasters and alienation from God. The Bible contains bountiful evidence to support this. While these things rage, the world yet offends God further by blaming Him for such things. This is merely a continuation of the effect sin had on Adam and Eve when they too refused to accept responsibility for their actions. |
MAN'S FALLEN STATE
The introduction of sin into our world smashed man's fourfold harmony. Every part of man's relationships with those he was formally at peace with was now fractured. Sin, not the devil, is man's greatest enemy. In fact the Bible calls its immediate fruit, death, the "last enemy" (1Cor. 15:26). Death is separation (cf. James 2:26). When mankind introduced sin into the world, he introduced death. From the moment his offspring were born, they were dying.Even nature now groans under the pangs of death (Rom. 8:19-22). Because mankind was the federal head of this world, his decisions affected the whole world. Interestingly today there is a strong atheistic push within the Greeny movement to "save" nature. While we are called to be good stewards of all things, we can not save nature- and neither are we dependent on nature for our survival. As Romans 8 says, nature is dependent on God and His dealings with mankind.
DEFINITION OF SIN
Charles M. Horne defines sin as-"...not only a failure to obey the law of God and/or a violation of it; it is also- and perhaps even more significantly- a deification of self and a dethronement of God. "
It is the highest insult in the universe. It is the deadliest crime that any being in the universe can commit. This especially applies to mankind. For mankind, created in the image of God, bears the responsibility of displaying to all of creation what the character of God is like. When a member of mankind sins, they are in affect saying to all of creation- "This is what the Creator is like".
SIN'S STAIN
| Like a permanent ink stain, sin has permeated every part of man's being. By virtue of Adam being the Head of the human race, all those descended from him are contaminated by the same stain (Rom. 5:12, 18). The deep yearning within every soul is summed up by Job when he said "Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God?" (Job 9:2; 4:17). The New Testament confirms what man already knows, that there is none who is perfect before God (Rom. 3:10; 3:23). |  |
THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
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Ironically because of sin's devastating affect on us, we may never fully understand the depth of treason we each have committed against God by sinning. Sin replaces God's authority, for the authority of self. Anything other than what God has commanded or approved is a criminal act against the Highest Power in the universe. Let's consider some of the major consequences that sin has wrought : |
-A- FOR MANKIND
1. Estranged from our life Source (spiritually).2. Estranged from each other (hatred, wars, selfishness).
3. Estranged from self (fears, anxieties, guilt, condemnation, worries etc.)
4. Estranged from nature ("acts of nature/God", famines, droughts, weeds)
5. Deserving of punishment for disobedience.
6. Destined for the place reserved and created for all the rebellious.
7. Susceptible to deterioration, ageing, sickness.
8. At the mercy of random injustice (fatal accidents, still-born babies, etc.)
9. Subject to general oppression (work situations, political conditions, etc.)
10. Unable to perform to full potential.
-B- FOR CREATION
1. Denied fullest fruitfulness.2. Subject to deterioration and decay.
3. Robbed of man's created management skill.
4. Infested with alien conditions (weeds, deserts, etc.)
5. Bound for destruction.
-C- FOR SATAN
1. Given permission to control this world.2. Able to successfully tempt man away from God.
3. Permitted to bring destruction.
-D- FOR GOD
1. Obliged to be just, and punish according to the severity of the crime.2. Robbed of His creation's fullest attention.
3. Denied His appropriate glory.
4. Constantly insulted.
5. Misrepresented by His highest creation: man.
Sin deceives us into the following:
THE CHARACTER OF GOD TOWARD SIN
Sin is an insult to all that is just and right. Where there is sin there must be justice and righteousness. Prior to Adam sinning he was warned of the dire consequences of such an action.8. What was the penalty that God said would befall all those who aligned themselves with sin away from God's love?
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9. How is this reinforced in the New Testament? (Rom.6:23)
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10. When Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-3) sinned, what was God's response and what reason did He give?
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We note also that in the New Testament God's character toward sin was most graphically displayed in the death of Christ where God punished Jesus who had become sin for us. Later it was revealed in the incident of Annanias and Saphira (Acts 5:1ff).
11. According to Rev. 21:8, what will be the final outcome for all those who refused God's salvation and remained in sin?
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Amen.