THE NATURE OF SIN

THE NATURE OF SIN

By Sister Florence Imobhio

Text: Romans 6:1-8,13

Our topic for discussion today is so broad and scary! If there is any word that mankind dreads, I guess it is SIN. Yet, mankind has not come to grips with how subtle it acts and makes itself to be served by man very readily? We shall briefly look at this topic under these headings: 

1. What is sin?

2. Where is sin?

3. Where did sin come from? 

4. Who is responsible for sin?

5. Is man by nature a sinner or by the transgression of the law?

It is important that we read the passage for our studies, it is only 61 verses in all.

1. WHAT IS SIN?

Sin is the transgression of the law (1 Jn.3:4). 

The word “transgression.” The Hebrew and Greek words translated “transgression” mean “moral, religious and national rebellion, revolt, violation, “breaking the law.” 

Sin is an immoral act considered to be a transgression of divine law. The doctrine of sin is central to Christianity, since its basic message is about redemption in Christ.

Sin is when we don’t meet God’s standard. It is a word, deed, or desire in opposition to the eternal law of God. Sin is going against God and His perfect ways.

Sin is twofold: Outward sin and inbred sin. The outward sin is made up of transgressing the law (Rom.4:15). 

By the law is the knowledge of sin (Rom.3:20; 7:7). This means the law exposes me to know there is sin. Sin is not imputed when there is no law (Rom.5:13.) “The thought of foolishness is in sin”. (Prov.24:9, 2 Cor. 10: 4-5). “Every idle word that men shall speak” is sin (Matt.12:36-37). “All unrighteousness is sin” (1 Jn.5:17). “Whatever is not of faith is sin."(Rom.14:23). “If you have the respect of persons you commit sin (James 2:9). This stated biblical fact describes outward acts of something far more sinister and powerful than it appears on the surface, and that is the second meaning of sin. 

INBRED

This is “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience” (Eph.2:1-3’ 1 Jn.3:8; Jn.8:41-44). This singular statement by Paul to the Ephesian Christians defines the “Old man” and inbred sin. It is the devil himself working in men of disobedience in contrast with “the new Man” which is the Spirit and the Nature of God working in the sons of obedience. Other terms used in scripture for the “old man” is the devil working in men -  “the sin (Jn.1:29; 8:24; Rom.6:4-22; 8:2); “the body of sin” (Rom.6:6); “Darkness” (Acts 3:9); “the lust of the flesh” (Eph.2:3);  “the Pride of life”, “the world” (1 Jn.2:15-17); “all ungodliness and unrighteousness” (Rom.1:18); “a reprobate mind (Rom.1:28); “the power of Satan” (Acts 26:18).

These statements of Scripture plainly state the fact that sin is something more than “the transgression of the law” or outward sin, but something separate from man himself. Every one of these expressions (and  there are much more in the Scripture) proves that there is a real law of Sin and death, backing this law, executing it, a real power from a real nature and a real person who is stronger than man himself. 

It is the “lusts”, “desires”, and “motions of sin” from the devil in a man's body, soul and spirit that are destroyed, put to death and “put off”, and not any part of the created body, soul, spirit of man. These “lusts” are plainly stated as being “of the devil” and “of the world's system” which will finally pass away and will not then operate in man. (Jn.8:44; Eph.2:1-3; 1 Jn.2:15-17; Rom.6:11-22).

2. WHERE IS SIN? AND

 3.WHERE DID SIN COME FROM?

To answer these questions, we have to put in mind our definition of sin as both the transgression of the law and inbred sin, which is the very spirit and nature of the devil working in man, the lusts of Satan.

So, sin is something real and living and entirely separate from man’s body, soul, and spirit as originally created of God. We shall examine some statements from scriptures that explain and illuminate where is sin from.

a) Statements like “taketh away the sin of the world” (Jn.1:29) “under sin” (Rom.3:9”, “by one man sin entered into the world” (Rom.5:12), “dead to sin”, “not serve sin”, “freed from sin”, “let not sin therefore reign’, “sin shall not have dominion over you”, “servants of sin” (Rom.6 :1-20). All these statements imply that sin is a slave master and a tyrant over man, making him die by forcing him to transgress the law of God (Rom. 7:7-25; 8:2). Sin is a real person apart from man or it could not reign, dominate, enslave, deceive, slay, be present with, control man, dwell in a man or dictate to him in any sense.

b) Sin is also a law. If sin is a law, then someone made that law and enforces it. No law exists by itself, whether physical or moral laws. Such laws will be of no value if they are not enforced according to the purpose for which it was made. The devil made and enforced the law of sin and death by demons and spirit forces, and it can only be annulled by a greater law enforced by a greater power (Heb.2:14-15). This proves that sin is a real spirit and nature in man separate from man’s own body, soul, and spirit. When a man is “freed from sin”, he is cut loose from the body of sin and needs no longer to be chained again to it, if he walks and lives in the Spirit of God (Gal.5:16-26; Rom.8:1-13).

c) The phrase “by the law is the knowledge of sin” proves that sin was not in man at one time and therefore was not originally created in him. Sin came later, having entered the world by the malice of the devil. Sin is so closely allied to the devil that the Scripture says “He that commits sin is of the devil.” (1 Jn.3:4-10). Sin, then is something apart from both man and the law of God.

d) Sin is “in the mortal body” but is not the mortal body, or any part of it, and this sin has its own lust. (Rom.6:12, 16-17; 7:5, Jn.8:44). Men are commanded not to yield to these lusts, or to be the spirit and nature to whom these lusts belong; but they are to yield to God and to the lusts of His Spirit and nature (Rom.6:16-22). This contrast proves that the sins and lusts in men are from the spirit and nature of the devil, just as new lusts and desires of a newborn soul are from the Spirit and nature of God. (2 Cor.5:17). Both the devil and God have desires of their own, of which men become partakers when they serve one or the other (Jn.8:44; 1 Jn.3:8; 2 Pt.1:4). If the old lusts are from Satan and the new lusts are from God, then this fact proves that sin is the spirit and nature of the devil working in sons of disobedience and that righteousness is the Spirit and nature of God working in the sons of obedience.

4. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SIN? 

A thorough study of Rom.6:1-8:13 reveals that sin is the spirit and nature of the devil working in sons of disobedience. The “old” relates to the devil by obedience to the law of sin and death, and “the new” relates to God by obedience to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. By Paul’s own experience (Rom.7:7-8, 13) Paul gives his own experience of being bound to the law of sin and death, and his deliverance from it to prove his arguments that sin is something separate from man himself, which dominates him and makes him transgress the law of God.

Sin itself is the thing in me that is sinful, working in me all evil desires, and asserts its mastership and refuses to permit me to obey the law of God as I desire (Rom.7:7-8). Sin is more powerful in me than the law. (Rom.7:13-14). It was just as sinful in me before the law came afterward, only it was not imputed before the law came. That which was good was not the thing that killed me, but sin did it. The commandments merely showed my sin. The blame is on sin and not on the holy law (Rom.7:13-14). Sin was more powerful than I was (Rom.7:15-25). I consented to the holy law but sin would not let me obey it. I never was successful in obeying the law as long as sin was in control. I was not a willing slave, for inwardly, I wanted to do the will of God, but sin would not let me. I was a wretched creature, being killed by sin, which would not let me obey the law.

Finally, I was delivered by the law of the Spirit of life (Rom.8:1-3, Acts 9:8-18, Gal.5:16-26). The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is more powerful than the law of sin and death that works by the devil. Thus, it is clear that sin is a fixed principle operated by Satan. It is called the law of sin and death in man’s members and works to bring man to full defeat and eternal hell. This work was annulled in the believer by Christ.

We ask ourselves: 

5. Is man by nature a sinner or by the transgression of the law?

God was not the author of sin and death. It would be inconsistent with His divine holiness and purity to create man with sin in him. God warned sinless man against sin and now condemns sin in every form in the human race. He would not be just in doing this if He were responsible for sin. Sin, entered man from an outside source, by malice of the devil (Rom.5:12-21; 1 Jn.3:8). When the Bible says of God “I create evil”, it has reference to the reaping of sin which has been sown. This is the consequence of sinning. God created Satan and all creatures perfect and sinless (Ezk.28:11-17; Gen. 1:31). Sin came in by sinless creatures rebelling against God. Sin is the old man that must be “put off” and righteousness is the new man that must be “put on.”

Man is “by nature children of wrath” and not by choice and practice only. The Scriptures speak of men as being of their father the devil (Jn.8:44; 1 Jn.3:8) "of being by nature children of wrath, walking according to the course of this world, and having the spirit and nature of the devil working in them" (Eph.2:1-3); "of being born in sin and iniquity (Ps.51:5); "of not being able to produce sinless offspring"; (Job14:4) "of going astray as soon as they are born" (Ps.58:3); "of having sins issuing from their hearts" (Mk.7:19-21); "of being wicked and deceitful in their hearts (Jer.17:9-10) "of having the lusts of sin" (Rom.6:11-12), "and having sin dwell in them" (Rom.7:5-25). Satan is responsible for original sin before man. (Isa.14: 12-14; Ezk.28:11-17; 1 Tim.3:6; Matt.24:41; Lk.10:18. Adam is responsible for the original sin in man by yielding to Satan. Adam’s sons are personally responsible for continued sin and rebellion by yielding to the same spirit and power of Satan.

When the first man was created, he was formed sinless, but by choosing to disobey God he became a sinner. (Gen.3; Rom.5:12-21; 1 Tim.2:14). After man had sinned, Satan and his rebel spirits were the stronger of the two sets of rebels. Before sinning, man had power over Satan and his rebels by being united with God and co-operating with Him; but after man sinned, he was cut off from the divine help and authority and lost that power over Satan. Lucifer and the spirit rebels usurped man’s dominion and gained control of the world and man. Adam, after the Fall, was helpless to prevent this control, so yielded to Satan, sold out to him, and became an habitual sinner and a child of the devil by choice and life (Jn.8:44; Eph.2:1-3; 1 Jn.3:8; 5:19). But HALLELUYAH!!!! “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Lk.19:10.