BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF SIN, PART 1.

The Scriptures are the ones that provide the best understanding of the nature of sin. From the first few chapters of the book of Genesis, more specifically Genesis 3, Eve is shown to fall for the lies of the serpent (Satan) who tells her she can be like God in knowing good and evil if she will just eat of the fruit he is offering her! And she does and then she invites Adam to do the same; and so comes the fall of man! They both took an evil action that was in opposition to what was in order with God!

According to Millard J. Erickson, ‘’sin is any evil action or evil motive that is in opposition to God. Simply stated, sin is failure to let God be God and placing something or someone in God’s rightful place of supremacy.” 1 And Dr. Raymond L. Gannon says in his lecture notes: “ When man sinned, he proved to be a keen disappointment to God: 1.Engaging in sin immediately marred the nature of man. He could never be innocent but now grossly misrepresented the nature and likeness of God; and, 2.No longer functioning according to God’s purpose, man was no longer worthy of blessing, but a curse. A curse was placed upon man, his descendants, and the universe over which man had been given dominion.” 2 So from here comes the need for man’s redemption and God already sets in motion the coming forth of the Redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ! (Genesis 3: 15).

According to Dr. Jack W. Hayford, “God promised a Redeemer because He loves man and He has a high destiny for us all. When Man sinned, God could have obliterated His original creation of humankind in the Garden of Eden and started over. But because of the uniquely purposed destiny He has in mind for our race, He instituted the processes of redemption.” 3 God loves man very much and it was His purpose to be in relationship with him. He showed His great love and mercy by sending His Son so that man would not perish and go to hell but that those accountable as sinners would be forgiven by a sinless Redeemer, God Himself, Jesus Christ!

NOTES

1Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology,(Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006),579.
2Raymond L. Gannon, Lecture Notes: “Messianic Believer’s Discipleship”,(Van Nuys: The King’s University, 2010),1.
3Jack W. Hayford, Grounds for Living, (Tonbridge: Sovereign World, 2001), 21.