158. Sin, What Is

158. Sin, What Is

158

WHAT IS SIN?

INTRODUCTION Intelligent investigation always raises the question: "What is sin1"

Too many superficial, cloudy, conceptions of sin. l. THE NATURE OF THE QUESTION 1. Adam and Eve fell by sinning again st God.

2. Existence of sin an undeniable fact.

3. Existence of God assumed.

4. Man’s responsibi lity assumed.

5. Bible recogn izes these. ll. SIN VIEWED IN TWO ASPECTS 1. Its metaphysical phase.

(a) What is that which we call sin? (b) Is it a substance, princip le, or an act? (c) ls it privation , negation or defect? (d) Is it antagonism between mind and matter? (e) Is it selfishness as a feeling?

2. Its moral phase.

(a) What gives sin its character as moral evil? (b) How is it re lated to law? (c) To what law is it related? (d) How related to God’s justice? (e) How related to his ho liness? (f) ls it a deliberate act?

III. THEORIES OF THE NATURE OF SIN 1. An eternal principle of evil.

(a) This independent of God. (b) Destroys human responsibility .

2. Sin a mere limitation of being .

(a) Destroys moral obligation. (b) At variance with religious nature.

3. Theory of privation.

(a) Makes sin a necessary evil. (b) Makes God the author of sin.

4. Theory of necessary antagonism.

(a) Light opposed to darkness. (b) Good opposed to evil.

5. Sin consists in selfishness.

(a) lt is a part of our nature. (b) Necessary for greatest good.

IV. TRUE NATURE OF SIN 1. It is a specific evil.

2. It is related to law-no law, no sin. (Romans 3:20; Romans 5:13.) 3. This the law of God.

4. A lack of conformity of rational creature to law of God. (1 John 3:4.) 5. It includes moral guilt.

V. NAMES FOR SIN 1. Many Bible names: missing the mark, crooked , wrong, iniquity , disobedience, rebellion, wickedness, evils, passing over, stepping aside, falling aside, trangression, impiety, injustice, unrighteousnes s, debt, lawlessness.

2. These express different phas es of sin .