The Doctrine of Sin

Definition
God defines sin as the transgression of the law (1 Jn. 3:4). God's moral law is an expression of His holiness, His fundamental attribute, which in turn creates a demand for perfect conformity to His holiness.

Nature
I believe that sin is the failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, disposition, or state. Sin is the result of a moral creature's choice of self as the object of his affection and the supreme end of his existence in the place of God.

  1. Sin is the failure to conform to the moral law of God in act (Mt. 5:21,27; Jn. 8:4), disposition (Ro. 7:17), or state (Ps. 51:2,5).
  2. The basic nature of sin is selfishness (Ge. 3:1-6; Is. 14:12-14).

Origin
I believe that the origin of sin in the universe hails from Satan's desire to be like the most high God, and that the origin of sin in the human race is by the first man, Adam. Adam, by God's decree, served as representative of the entire human race, therefore the first sin of Adam was immediately imputed to every human being.

  1. Satan was cast out of heaven (Lu. 10:18), because of his selfish desire to usurp the position of God (Is. 14:13).
  2. Sin in the human race originates from the first sin of Adam (Ro. 5:12 Cf. Ge. 3:1-6). Adam thereby becomes the representative of the entire human race by decree (Ro. 5:12-21; 1 Cor 15:22), resulting in the immediate conjunction between Adam and all men in sin (Ro. 5:12), death (Ro. 5:15,17), and condemnation (Ro. 5:16).

Consequences
I believe that all of mankind is totally depraved and that every individual is responsible for his own sins. The consequences of sin are physical death, spiritual death, and eternal damnation.

  1. Man is totally depraved (Eph. 4:17-19). Every aspect of his being (both material and non-material) has been penetrated and affected by sin: body (Ro. 8:10), mind (Ro. 8:5,6,7,15), will (Jn. 8:34; Jer. 13:23), heart (Jer.17:9; Mk 7:21-23).
  2. Every individual is responsible for his own sins and will stand before the judgment seat of God (Ro 14:10). Because of sin, all men die physically (Ge. 2:17; He. 9:27), are spiritually dead (Is. 59:2; Ro. 5:15), and must suffer the penalty of eternal damnation in the lake of fire forever (Re. 20:12-15).