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The Bible Doctrine of Sin From the Purpose of God for Humankind
In
getting a sane, simple understanding of sin we must first take up a study of
moral law and moral government. 1.
LAW MEANS A RULE OF ACTION established by recognized authority
to enforce justice and prescribe duties and obligations to those governed.
Physical law is the rule governing the action of the material universe, whereby
all things are kept perpetually in their own courses and work in harmony
according to the divine plan. Moral law is the rule of action for free moral
agents to direct them in their moral action and their own creative powers
according to the divine plan. It is the rule of free and intelligent action
and liberty as opposed to the law of bondage and unintelligent action. 2.
THE PURPOSE OF MORAL LAW. It is to reveal and declare the rule of
moral action of free wills concerning the highest good of being and of the
universe; and to govern the acts and intents of free wills in their relation
to God and the universe. It lies in the reason and declares that a moral
agent ought to choose, will, and intend. 3.
THE IMMUTABILITY OF MORAL LAW. It can never change or vary in its
requirements that all free wills consecrate themselves to the same end to
which God is consecrated—the highest good of the universe and all things therein.
Rebellion of free wills will never change God's plan concerning the good of
His creation. Because of this, moral law can never change. 4.
THE OBLIGATION OF MORAL LAW. Because it governs the best good of
being, it is naturally obligatory for all. What is contrary to the good of
being is plainly illegal and unwise and must be prohibited. Free moral agents
must cooperate to bring about the greatest public good. They must be against that
which brings misery and hardships to society. It is a mutual plan for the
good of each person and of the universe as a whole, and
all are obligated to keep the moral law on every occasion according to the
light received. 5.
THE REQUIREMENT OF MORAL GOVERNMENT. To have moral law,
there must be moral government to direct, guide, and control moral agents. It
must include rewards for good and punishments for evil, or no society of free
wills can function. There must be in every community some standard of living
to which all must conform to prove themselves worthy of being part of that society. There must be some means of dealing with
rebels who disturb such a society. Law without penalties and rewards is no
law at all. It is merely advice that free wills can
freely accept or reject without fear of punishment
or hope of reward. Moral government is under obligation to execute the moral
law justly and faithfully. 6. REQUIREMENT
OF A MORAL GOVERNOR. Since it is necessary to have moral law and
moral government to execute this law, there must also be a moral governor
whose will and decisions are considered infallible by all the subjects of
government. He should be authoritative, not merely advisory. He must be able
to maintain the respect of
his subjects by faithful and unselfish execution of his duties. He must be
able to execute penalties and mete out rewards.
Naturally, the one whose attributes and character best qualify him to rule
and secure the highest good of all should be the one to rule. It is both his
right and duty to be the one to rule. There can be no other person to meet
these requirements but God. His natural attributes, His perfect moral
character, His relation to the universe as Creator, and His history of
absolute justice to all, qualify Him to be the Supreme Moral Governor. As our
good and His glory depend upon mutual conformity to the same end, He is under
obligation to require of us to be holy and consecrated to help Him secure the
highest good of being. And He promises to compassionately teach, train, and
help us to be holy and consecrated (i.e., Ps. 121:1-8; Isaiah 41:10-13; Matt.
11:28-30; John 14:26; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:6; Jas. 1:5; 1 John 1:9). 7.
FREE MORAL AGENCY DEFINED. It consists of intellect, rationale, prudence,
sensibility, and free will, and these form the foundation of moral obligation
to moral government. Intellect includes reason and self-determination.
Rationale includes acting in conformity to reason; wise; judicious. Prudence
includes caution in the most suitable means to accomplish valuable purposes
and involves discerning evil. Sensibility includes self-consciousness, all
sensation, desire, emotion, passion, and all feeling. Free will is the power
of choice concerning moral law. It is humankind's faculty of choosing good or
evil without compulsion or necessity. It was originally created in humankind,
and humankind will have it in all eternity. 8.
THE BASIS OF RIGHT CHOICE. Moral obligation to act for the best
good of all is the basis of moral action. Nothing can happen in life except
what someone chooses. It is all-important that right choices be made that will
affect the greatest public and private good. Moral obligation extends to the
ultimate acts of the will or the intention. As a result of God’s
compassionate teaching, training, and helping the moral agent to be holy and
consecrated, he or she is under obligation to choose holiness as the means to
the best good and happiness of being. 9.
THE BASIS OF JUSTICE. Judgment based on intention is the right basis
of justice under moral government. This is also the basis of justice in civil
governments. If choices are made with good intentions but do not turn out
well, or if choices are made with bad intentions but turn out well, the one
making the choice should be held responsible for the intention and should not
be judged on the basis of accomplishments. The Bible
respects the intention more than the results of the outward actions (2 Cor.
8:12; Mark 7:15-23; Jas. 1:13-15; 3:9-14). All vice and virtue are considered
as coming from the heart. Where the heart is right, all is considered right, and
where the heart is bad, all is considered bad (Matt. 7:15-21). Even sinners
do some things outwardly that are required by God, but the heart is not
right. The intention is generally selfish, and the acts themselves do not
change the heart. Virtue consists of consecration to the same end to which
God is consecrated. Vice consists of consecration to the end to which Satan
is consecrated—self-gratification, contrary to the moral law and the highest
good of the universe. 10. THE
EXTENT OF OBEDIENCE TO THE MORAL LAW. The foundation of
moral obligation is the highest good of all. Since this is true, the entire
consecration of free wills to secure this end must
constitute obedience to moral law. Obedience must be whole and entire. One
cannot choose the good of others while also choosing self-gratification. God
cannot tolerate continued half-heartedness in choice and service (Rev. 3:15-16;
Matt. 22:36-40). He cannot justify one who renders continued, partial obedience
according to his light. If a person continues coming short of full obedience
to known duty, then they will, in due course, be under the curse of a broken
law (Gal. 3:10-14; Jas. 2:10; 4:17). Eventually, God cannot dispense with the
execution of the penalty until repentance, forgiveness, and full obedience
are realized (Rom. 8:1-13; Gal. 5:16-26; Rom. 6:16-23; John 8:34; 1 John
3:8-10). 11.
OF WHAT DOES DISOBEDIENCE TO THE MORAL LAW CONSIST? It consists
of the choice and life of self-gratification as the end in life instead of
the greatest good of the universe. It consists of the continued commitment of
the will and the consecration of the life to continue to serve sin and Satan
and the senses instead of the moral law of the intelligence. It continues to
seek to be governed by impulses and passions instead of by rational reason.
Self-gratification is the root of all sin.
Humankind's selfishness is closely allied to the self-interests of Satan. The
will is always free to oppose desire and lust contrary to law, but when it
continues not to, sin is committed. The mind knows its obligation; so, when
it continues to choose contrary to law, it is not a choice of ignorance. In
due course, it becomes a free action and incurs condemnation under the law.
Selfishness is always unreasonable. It is the continued denial of authentic
maturity and rational nature. It is contempt of the law of God in humankind's
reason. No sinner chooses the way of reason and common sense. He or she
seldom consults reason for their actions. He or she continues to obey lust
and is in stubborn rebellion against the moral law and reason. He or she
continues to be lustful at heart, whether they can obey all lusts or not. If
he or she continues, they are condemned before God and need regeneration to
bring them to obedience to law. 12.
THE BASIS OF DEGREES OF GUILT AND VIRTUE. Both reason and revelation
affirm that there are degrees of guilt and virtue; that some are more guilty
or more virtuous than others; and that one may be more guilty or more
virtuous at one time than at another, whether they are a saint or a sinner.
All guilt and virtue are dependent on the exercise of moral obligation, and
this depends upon the light and knowledge concerning moral law. Degrees of
guilt and virtue are measured by the knowledge of the value of the end chosen
in life. The sinner's guilt is equal to his knowledge of the value of the
interests they reject. They are held more responsible today than of old, because they know more (Acts 17:30; Jas.
4:17). A person's guilt or virtue, then, is equal to the knowledge they have
of the subject and their continued conformity to it (Rom. 2:12-16; John 9:41;
15:22-24; Matt. 13:11-12; Luke 12:47-48). Selfishness
is the continued rejection of all moral obligation, regardless
of light. Sin lies in the intention, and this can be measured only by the
knowledge under which the intention is formed and maintained. Thus, if a
selfish person should preach the gospel, it would be for
the reason that it is the most gratifying thing they could do for
themselves. They might even preach for the good of others and yet have
personal benefits as their chief motive. Take away personal gain, financially
or socially, and they would cease to preach. If the same person became a robber,
it would be to the same end: not to do evil, but to gratify self. If a
sinner abstains from some evil for the sake of loved ones, their reputation,
for fear of judgment or disgrace, or for any reason, it is not because they
are good at heart, or because they think it is wicked to do that thing, but
merely for selfish reasons and personal gain. So it
is with every phase of life in which the heart is not right. Natural people
look for gain or advantage in everything. It is only when the sinner consecrates
themself to the end of the highest good of being that they cease being a
sinner by nature and practice and begin to do things from an unselfish
standpoint instead of for self-gratification as the end in life. The
Bible Definition of ‘Sin,’ and the ‘Old Self’ - Ego Now that you’ve got a solid understanding of moral government and moral law, be strongly encouraged to continue with the Bible Doctrine of Sin - page 4 entitled “The Bible Definition of 'Sin’ and 'The Old Self’” Links Sowing Financial Seed If this website is helpful and the Holy
Spirit is prompting you to give—sow financial seed, please proceed here “For His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and goodness. And by that same mighty power, He has given to us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these you all might be partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter1:3-4) There are 750 promises in the New Testament alone. The Key
That Unlocks all promises Link to the list of 250 separate benefits
of the 750 New Testament promises “The Lord leads with unfailing love and
faithfulness all those who keep his covenant and obey his decrees.” (Ps.
25:10) The benefits of God’s promises are conditional. Understand our need to appropriate, or
take possession of, God's new covenant, or new testament, promises “If you love me [Jesus], keep My commandments.” (John 14:15; 1 John 5:2-3; 2 John 1:6) And the very God of peace sanctify you
wholly, and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body
be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess.
5:23). See the tri-unity of
humans. “This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Habakkuk 2:4) “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8) Understand God’s grace “So we see that they could
not enter in because of unbelief.”
(Hebrews 3:19) See
Doubt and Unbelief concerning
God’s Word “Beloved, I pray above all things that you may prosper and be in health,
even as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2) “For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood [people], but against unseen principalities, against powers, against
the [invisible] rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) See the reality of evil, Satan, or the devil
“Be careful for nothing; but in every
thing by prayer
and supplication [prayer as from neediness] with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6) See The Art of Prayer In Psalm 25:14, David says, “The
secret of the LORD is for those who reverently fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant." Understand scriptural covenant “This covenant will not be like the one I made with
their ancestors “…The eternal purpose which He [God]
purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:11). “…Rightly dividing the
word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Link to God's Plan for Mankind “…For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged [by the Lord]. But when we are judged, we are chastened [taught] by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:31-32) “…Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of Messiah (Christ).” (Romans 2:1-16; 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10-11) Understand the Seven Judgments in Scripture – currently under construction Thank you Finis Jennings Dake and Dake Publishing |
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