The Biblical Concept Of Sin

BIBLICAL CONCEPT of SIN

(1 John 3:7-10; NKJV)

“Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. [8] He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. [9] Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. [10] In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”

I. Sin is at the very root of all issues and problems we face and personally encounter.

I believe ALL fallacy, heresy, wickedness, and unrighteousness – that plagues each and every single human being ever born into this fallen, sin-filled, and seemingly sin-controlled world – can be traced back to the introduction and origin of sin unto mankind. Sin has infected the very heart and essence and of our natural world. It has also infected the very nature of mankind.

(Psalms 51:5) – “…I was brought forth in iniquity; and, in sin my mother conceived me.”

(Romans 5:12) – “…just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…”

II. A faulty and perverted definition of sin is why we are quite often spiritually defeated.

- (the late) Dr. Richard S. Taylor; Evangelist, Teacher, Pastor in the Nazarene Church and a Conservative within the Orthodox Methodist Tradition [Wesleyan-Arminian] (from his book: The Right Conception of Sin) – “…perhaps most, of the errors which have protruded themselves into Christian theology can be finally traced to a faulty conception of sin. Because someone’s notions of sin were a bit off-color, his entire trend of reasoning was misdirected…”

(Isaiah 59:2) – “…your iniquities have separated you from your God; and, your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”

(Romans 3:23) – “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

(Romans 6:23) – “…the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(James 1:14-15) – “…each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. [15] Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

III. Failure to effectively and entirely understand, eradicate, and defend against sin, can result in our spiritual and eternal destruction.

- (the late) Dr. Richard S. Taylor (from his book: The Right Conception of Sin) – “If we are to end right we must begin right; and, to begin right we must grapple with the question of sin in its doctrinal significance until we have grasped the scriptural facts relating to sin in all of its phases. We need to know exactly what sin is, of what kinds, how it acts, its effects, its relation to man, how it must be dealt with, and God’s provision for it.”

(1 John 1:6) – “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

(1 John 2:4) – “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

John Wesley laid a Biblical cornerstone for the doctrine of sin: “A willful transgression of a known law of God…” Mr. Fletcher followed with his in-depth ‘checks to Antinomianism (a belief or philosophy that doubts the force of laws; especially in Christian doctrine…the belief that Christians are not bound by established moral laws, but should rely on faith and divine grace for salvation).’ Watson, Clarke, and a host of other primitive Methodist/Wesleyan-Arminian thinkers/educators held tenaciously to this concept. These men taught and lived in their own Christian walk that the atonement of Christ dealt squarely and fully with the sin question!

Sir John Newton (his song: I Saw One Hanging on a Tree) –

“I saw One hanging on a tree,

In agony and blood;

He fixed His loving eyes on me,

As near His cross I stood.

[2] Sure, never to my latest breath,

Can I forget that look!

It seemed to charge me with His death,

Though not a word He spoke.

[3] My conscience felt and owned the guilt,

And, plunged me in despair;

I saw my sins His blood had spilt,

And, helped to nail Him there!

[4] A second look He gave, which said,

‘I freely all forgive;

This blood is for your ransom paid,

I die that you may live!’”