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Doctrine of Sin

Nathaniel Parker

Created 8/9/20

Updated 9/29/20

Definition of Doctrine

A combination of Ryrie, MacArthur, Enns, Garrett, Grudem, and BFM 2000:

Sin is disobedience to God, a transgression of the moral law of God. Sin is that which is

contrary to a norm, a failure to conform to the standard of God, a violation of the Creator-

creature relationship, covenant unfaithfulness to God, and any lack of conformity to God’s will,

whether committed actively or passively.

An extended definition of sin includes: missing the mark, badness, rebellion, iniquity,

going astray, wickedness, wandering, ungodliness, crime, lawlessness, transgression, ignorance,

and a falling away.

The center of all sin is autonomy, which is the replacing of God with self. Always closely

associated with sin are its products—pride, selfishness, idolatry, and lack of peace (shalom).

By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through

the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original

innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin

(original sin). Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors

and are under condemnation (actual sins).

Annotated Definition

Sin is disobedience to God1, a transgression of the moral law of God2. Sin is that which is

contrary to a norm3, a failure to conform to the standard of God4, a violation of the Creator-

creature relationship5, covenant unfaithfulness to God6, and any lack of conformity to God’s

will7, whether committed actively or passively8.

1 Isaiah 53:6

21 John 3:4

3 Isaiah 53:6

4 Romans 3:23

5 Romans 1:23-25

6 Deuteronomy 31:20

7 Isaiah 53:6

8 MacArthur
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An extended definition of sin includes: missing the mark9, badness10, rebellion11,

iniquity12, going astray13, wickedness14, wandering15, ungodliness16, crime17, lawlessness18,

transgression19, ignorance20, and a falling away21.

The center of all sin is autonomy, which is the replacing of God with self22. Always

closely associated with sin are its products—pride, selfishness, idolatry, and lack of peace

(shalom)23.

9 Proverbs 19:2

10Mark 7:21

11Isaiah 1:2

121 Samuel 3:13

13Isaiah 53:6

14Isaiah 45:7

15Isaiah 53:6

16Romans 5:6

17James 2:10

181 Timothy 1:9

19Romans 5:14

20Acts 17:23

21Ephesians 2:1

22Isaiah 14:14; Genesis 3:5-6

23MacArthur
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By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through

the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original

innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin

(original sin)24. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors

and are under condemnation (actual sins)25.

Elaboration

• Original Sin: “the sinful state and condition in which men are born.” (Enns)

• Actual Sins: “the individual sins of act in distinction from man’s inherited nature and

inclination.” (Berkhof)

Biblical Foundation

• Romans 3:23

• “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

• Romans 4:15

• “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression”

• Romans 6:23

• “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus

Christ our Lord”

• Romans 7:14

• “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin”

• 1 John 3:4

• “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the

transgression of the law”

• Proverbs 19:2

24Genesis 3:6

25BFM 2000
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• “Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; And he that hasteth

with his feet sinneth”

• Isaiah 53:6

• “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way;

And the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”

• Romans 1:18

• “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and

unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness”

• Romans 1:23-25

• “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to

corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own

hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the

truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the

Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen”

• Deuteronomy 31:20

• “For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their

fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled

themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them,

and provoke me, and break my covenant”

• Mark 7:21

• “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,

fornications, murders”

• Isaiah 1:2

• “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have

nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me”
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• 1 Samuel 3:13

• “For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which

he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them

not”

• Isaiah 45:7

• “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the

LORD do all these things”

• Romans 5:6

• “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the

ungodly”

• James 2:10

• “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is

guilty of all”

• Acts 17:23

• “For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this

inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly

worship, him declare I unto you”

• Ephesians 2:1

• “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins”

• Isaiah 14:14

• “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High”

• Genesis 3:5-6

• “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be

opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman

saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a
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tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat,

and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat”

• Romans 5:14

• “ Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not

sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him

that was to come”

• 1 Timothy 1:9

• “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless

and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for

murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers”

Inadequate Views

• Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism

• Purgatory and Indulgences (Refutation: Ninety-Five Theses)

• Arminianism

Corollaries

• Death (Genesis 2:16-17; Romans 6:23)

• Salvation (Sinners are in need of salvation)

• Spiritual Warfare-World, Flesh, Devil (Enns)

Linkage to Other Doctrines

Most of this section and any quotes are from MacArthur.

• Theology Proper: Sin is against God.

• Anthropology: Human beings are fallen.

• Soteriology: Sinners are in need of salvation.

• Christology: Jesus Christ is the Savior of the sin of the world.

• Angelology/Demonology: Satan and the fallen angels/demons sinned against God.

• Ecclesiology: The “church is the community of people saved from sin in this age”.
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• Eschatology: Christians will be removed from the presence of sin in eternity.

Confessional Texts

• Council of Orange

• Baptist Faith and Message, III Man

• “By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human

race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God,

and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and

an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of

moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation.”

• Second London Confession, VI

• Westminster Confession, VI

• First London Confession, IV-V

• Orthodox Creed, XIV, XV

• Augsburg Confession, II

• Formula of Concord, I

• Council of Trent

Theologians

• Ryrie, Basic Theology, Chapter 34

• “Sin is that which is contrary to a norm, and ultimately it is disobedience to

God”

• “Sin is missing the mark, badness, rebellion, iniquity, going astray, wickedness,

wandering, ungodliness, crime, lawlessness, transgression, ignorance, and a

falling away”

-Macarthur, Biblical Doctrine, Chapter 6

• “Sin is a violation of the Creator-creature relationship”

• “Sin is any lack of conformity to God’s will in attitude, thought, or action,

whether committed actively or passively. The center of all sin is autonomy,

which is the replacing of God with self. Always closely associated with sin are

its products—pride, selfishness, idolatry, and lack of peace (shalom)”

• Enns, Moody Handbook of Theology, Chapter 23

• “Sin is a transgression of the law of God”

• “Sin is a failure to conform to the standard of God”

• “Sin is a principle within man”

• “Sin is rebellion against God”

• “Sin is wrongful acts toward God and man”

• Erickson, Christian Theology, Part 6

• Berkhof, Systematic Theology, Section 2 of Part 2

• Garrett, Systematic Theology, Chapter 34

• Includes “covenant unfaithfulness”

• Grudem, Systematic Theology, Chapter 24

• “Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or

nature”

• “Sin is a failure to conform to God’s moral law not only in action and in

attitude but also in our moral nature”

• Mullins, The Christian Religion in its Doctrinal Expression, Chapter 12