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"You and Your Beliefs"—The Doctrine of Sin (Harmartiology), part 2
Guess what it is…
There’s a subject we all know about.
In fact, you could say we are all experts in this subject.
We never went to school to learn about it.
Our parents didn’t have to teach us about it, although they did teach
us a lot about it. In fact, they
modeled it for us. We actually knew
about this subject from birth. Even
before we could talk we knew about it. We
even experienced it. The subject?
The subject is…sin.
What is sin? What do we believe about sin? The Bible has a lot to say about it. To address this subject, however, we must discuss related subjects, beginning with the doctrine of man.
In our previous lessons we have explored…
--What the Bible teaches about Man (two lessons ago)
--What the Bible teaches about Sin (last lesson—see highlights)
Tonight: The Doctrine of Sin, part 2
Q: Why did God create man in the first place?
Isaiah 43:21 (speaking of
God created Mankind for Himself, for His honor, for His praise. God created us for a purpose. Romans 11:36 indicates, “All things are from Him, through Him, and to Him. To Him be the glory forever.”
That leads to the question… What happened? What went wrong? Why do we not naturally do what we were created to do, live for God and His honor? The answer is…sin.
In this study we’re going to draw some conclusions concerning what we’ve seen in the previous three lessons concerning "Man and Sin." We’re also going to identify the solution for sin and the purpose of that solution.
Outline:
I. The Problem of Man: Sin
A. The Entrance of Sin into the Universe (I John 3:8)
B. The Entrance of Sin into Humanity (Rom 5:12)
C. The Consequences of Sin: Death
1. Spiritual Death (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:1-3)
2. Physical Death (Gen 3:19; Rom 8:20-23; II Cor 5:1-4
3. Eternal Death (Rev 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8)
II. The Provision of God: Redemption in Jesus Christ (II Cor 5:19)
III. The Purpose of God for Man
Q: What does God expect of Man now?
1. Humility (Micah 6:8)
2. Worship (Jn 4:23-24)
3. Praise (Ps 150)
4. To know Him (Jn 17:3)
5. Reflect His Character (Mt 5:18)
6. Enjoy Him (Isa 61:10; Hab 3:18; Ph 4:4)
I.
The Problem of Man: Sin
Q: Where did sin originate?
A: It was brought into the world by Satan (we'll see later in "Angelology").
A. The Entrance of Sin into the Universe
Gen 3:1ff "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast..."
2 Cor 11:3 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning…”
I John 3:8 "He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning."
Isaiah 14:12-14 "How are thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning..."
B. The Entrance of Sin into Humanity
Rom 5:12 "Wherefore as by one man sin entered the world..." [see also verses 15-17]
Theologians refer to Adam as our “federal head.” He acted in behalf of the human race, for he is the father (progenitor) of the human race. His sin is called “original” sin.
Think about it: We sin because we are sinners. We are sinners because we sin. Explain those two statements. Which is true, or are both true?
C. The Consequences of Sin: Death
Note: Sin is disobedience. But sin is not merely breaking an impersonal rule. Sin is a transgression against a Personal God (Gen 39:9). That's why the consequences are so severe...
1. Spiritual Death
Rom 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death..."
That was true for Adam and Eve. That is true for us.
Eph 2:1-3 "...who were dead in trespasses and sins..."
In reality, we are dead the moment we receive life. We are dead spiritually even though we are alive physically. We are cut dead to God and His purposes even though our hearts are pumping blood. The day Adam ate that fruit he died, even though he would not die physically for another 900 or so years.
Discuss: Define spiritual death… “Death is a separation. A person dies physically when the spirit is separated from the body. Spiritual death is to be separated from God.”
2. Physical Death
God created Mankind to enjoy a life of physical and mental well-being. But because of sin, man experiences weakness, sickness, and suffering, and ultimately death.
Gen 3:19 "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; ... for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
See also: Rom 8:20-23; 2 Cor 5:1-4
3. Eternal Death
Rev 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8
Rev 20:14 "And death and hades were cast into the lake of fire...second death."
Discuss: Does the Bible say that God "saves souls"?
Key: He saves the whole person!
That's Man's problem. Sin.
Q: How bad is man's condition, as the result of sin?
A: Here are several terms which describe what the Bible says about man's condition (adapted from Doctrinal Statement of Larry Green):
1. Depravity (Rom 7:18ff)
2. Disability (Rom 5:6; Eph 4:18)
3. Enslavement (Jn 8:34)
4. Fear (Gen 3:10; Rom 8:15)
5. Guilt (Ps 51:4-6)
6. Vain (Rom 1:21)
7. Meaninglessness (Ecclesiastes)
8. Enmity (Eph 2)
9. Alienated from God, others, self (Gen 3)
10. Blindness of heart and mind (Eph 4:18)
11. Hopelessness (Eph 2:12)
What a horrid description! Yet
it's true. We'll never fully
appreciate the love of God until we fathom the lostness of
But look what God did...
II.
The Provision of God: Redemption
in Jesus Christ (II Cor 5:19)
2 Cor 5:19 "To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them..."
As the old hymn put it: "Man of sorrows, what a name, for the Son of God who came; Ruined sinners to reclaim, Hallelujah! What a Savior!"
We'll delve into this great topic next time, in the Doctrine of Salvation.
Discuss: How does Christ’s redemption solve our sin problem? Explain in your own words…
Q: What is God's purpose for saving man?
III.
The Purpose of God for Man
Q: What does God expect of Man now?
Here are some of the responsibilities He mentions in His Word…
1. Humility (Micah 6:8)
2. Worship (Jn 4:23-24)
3. Praise (Ps 150)
4. To know Him (Jn 17:3)
5. Reflect His Character (Mt 5:18)
6. Enjoy Him (Is 61:10; Hab 3:18; Ph 4:4)
Application Questions:
1. If
Christ’s redemption is sufficient for our sin problem, why do we still
struggle with sin?
2. What are some reasons we struggle with sin?
3. Is God’s purpose for your life being accomplished in your life?
[1]
These unedited notes were prepared for use in a Wednesday evening,
discussion-oriented Bible study at