Theology (1) Theology (1) Lecture Part VI: Sin Lecture Part VI: Sin

Jintae Kim, PhDAlliance Theological Seminary

Nyack, NY 10960(845) 770-5762

E-mail: Jintae.kim@nyack.eduWebsite: http://all4jesus.net

Chapter 21 Chapter 21 The Nature and Source of Sin The Nature and Source of Sin 죄의죄의 속성과속성과 근원 근원 (187-192)(187-192)

ImportanceImportance(1) Theology It affects and is also affected by many other areas

of doctrine such as theology and soteriology. (2) Ministry It has a marked effect upon one’s view of the

nature of ministry and the style in which one will conduct it.

(3) Problems of society How do we deal with the problems of society?

The Difficulty of Discussing The Difficulty of Discussing Sin Sin

(1) Sin is not a pleasant subject.   It depresses us and can hurt our self-

image.  Therefore, positive thinkers are reluctant to discuss on sin.

생각만 해도 인간의 마음을 불편하게 하고 인간관에 해가 되는 주제라고 생각하기 때문에 긍정적인 사고를 강조하는 사람들은 죄에 대해 언급하기를 싫어한다 .

(2) People tend to blame the social structure or environment concerning the problem of evil rather than sinful nature on human being.

악의 문제에 관한 한 사람들은 그 근본을

인간의 죄성에서 찾기보다는 사회구조나 환경 탓으로 돌리는 경향이 있기 때문이다 .

 

(3) Negation of guilt has been more pervasive since Freud.  Many people are unable to grasp the concept of sin.

죄의식을 떨치고자 하는 시도는 프로이드 이래로 더욱 심해졌다 . 이제는 죄가 무엇인지조차도 파악 못하는 시대가 도래했다 .

Biblical Perspectives on the Biblical Perspectives on the Nature of SinNature of Sin

(1) Sin is an inward inclination.   Sin is not merely wrong acts, but

sinfulness as well (Matt 5:21-22, 27-28). 범죄행위 뿐 아니라 죄성 자체를 말한다 .  (2) Sin is rebelliousness and disobedience (Rom 2:14-15).

(3) Sin entails spiritual disability (Rom 1:21,28-31; 12:2)

 (4) Sin is incomplete fulfilment of God's

standard (1 Sam 15:23; Matt 6:2,5,16).  (5) Sin is displacement of God (Exod 20:3;

Mark 12:30). 하나님을 하나님으로 여기지 않는 것 , 하나님의 자리에 다른 것을 갖다 놓는 것 , 하나님을 알지 못하는 것 .

The Sources of Sin The Sources of Sin

Various ConceptionsThe Biblical Teaching

Various Conceptions on the Various Conceptions on the Source of SinSource of Sin

(1) Animal nature): Frederick R. Tennant Sin is simply persistence of normal instincts and

patterns of behavior from our animal ancestry. Evolution. Deny the original sin.

(2) Anxiety of Finiteness: Reinhold Niebuhr, Albrecht Ritschl,

Soren Kierkegaard

(3) Existential Estrangement: Paul Tillich

(4) Economic Struggle: Marxism, Liberation Theology

  James Cone, Gustavo Gutierrez  Structural contradiction

(5) Individualism and Competitiveness: Harrison S. Elliott (Union Theological

Seminary)

The Biblical Teaching on the The Biblical Teaching on the Source of Sin Source of Sin

(1) Sin is not caused by God (Jam 1:13). Responsibility for sin is placed squarely at the door of the individual (Jam 1:14-15).

(2) Desires Every human has a number of natural desires which,

while good in and of themselves, are potential areas for temptation and sin (1 John 2:16).

God gave the ability to control these desires. Temptation of Jesus – Satan appealed to legitimate

desires, but the suggested time and manner of fulfilment constituted the evil.

Chapter 22 Chapter 22 The Results of Sin The Results of Sin

(193-201) (193-201)

Results Affecting the Relationship Results Affecting the Relationship with Godwith God

(1) Divine disfavor

(2) Guilt It means the objective state of having violated God’s

intention for humankind and thus being liable to punishment.

(3) Punishment

(4) Death: 3 aspects    Physical Death (Gen 3:19) Spiritual Death    Eternal Death

Effects on the SinnerEffects on the Sinner

(1) Enslavement to sin (Rom 6:17) (2) Flight from Reality (Heb 9:27) (3) Denial of sin (Gen 3:12)   (4) Self-deceit (5) Insensitivity to conscience    (6) Self-centeredness    (7) Restlessness

Effects on the Relationship Effects on the Relationship to Other Humansto Other Humans

   (1) Competition    (2) Inability to Empathize    (3) Rejection of Authority    (4) Inability to Love

Chapter 23 Chapter 23 The Magnitude of Sin The Magnitude of Sin

(202-211) (202-211)

The Extent of Sin The Extent of Sin

All humans are sinners.

The OT TeachingThe OT Teaching

Gen 6:5-11 Noah’s generation. Gen 8:21 Even after the flood Ps 14:1-3; Ps 53; 1 Kings 8:46 Isa 53:6

The NT TeachingThe NT Teaching

Rom 3Gal 3:22 1 John 5:19

The Intensiveness of SinThe Intensiveness of Sin

The OT TeachingsThe OT Teachings

(1) The OT for the most part speaks of sins rather than of sinfulness, of sin as an act rather than as a state or disposition. Yet a distinction was drawn between sins on the basis of the motivation involved.

(2) Sin is depicted as a spiritual sickness which afflicts the heart (Jer 17:9; Ezek 11:9; Ps 51)

The NT TeachingsThe NT Teachings The NT is clearer and more emphatic on

these matters. Sin is very much a matter of he inward thoughts and intentions (Matt 5:21-22; 27-28; Luke 6:43-45; Rom 7:5; Eph 4:18-19; 2 Tim 3:2-5; Titus 1:5; Rom 1:18-32).

In every human being there is a strong inclination

toward evil, an inclination with definite effects (Rom 7:5, 23).

Right Understanding on Total Right Understanding on Total DepravityDepravity

What total depravity is notWhat total depravity is not

(1) that the unregenerate person is totally insensitive in matters of conscience, of right and wrong (Rom 2:14-15)

(2) that the sinful person is as sinful as one can possibly be.

(3) that sinner engages in every possible form of sin.

What total depravity isWhat total depravity is

(1) that sin is a matter of the entire person including body, mind, emotions, and will.

(2) that even the unregenerate person’s altruism always contains an element of improper motive.

(3) that sinners are completely unable to extricate themselves from their sinful condition.

Theories of Original SinTheories of Original Sin

PelagianismArminianism

Calvinism

PelagianismPelagianism(1) He was a moralist; his primary concern

was for people to live good and decent lives. Thus, he laid heavy emphasis upon the idea of free will.

(2) The soul, created by God specially for every person, is not tainted by any supposed corruption or guilt.

(3) Man has no congenital spiritual fault, Hence, baptism does not remove sin or guilt in infants, since there is none, although it may remove the sin of adults.  

(4) There is no need for a special working of God’s grace within the heart of each individual. Thus, he denied predestination and election.

(5) Adam’s sin has no direct effect upon his descendents.

ArminianismArminianism(1) Men receive from Adam a

corrupted nature. Thus, all humans are unable, without special divine help, to fulfil God’s spiritual commands, Thus, inability is physical and intellectual, but not volitional.

(2) Whatever culpability and condemnation may have accrued to us through Adam’s sin have been removed through prevenient grace, a universal benefit of the atoning work of Christ.

(3) Therefore, men should choose salvation by their own will.

CalvinismCalvinism

(1) There is a definite connection Adam’s sin and all persons of all times.

(2) Because all men participated in Adam’s sin, they all receive a corrupted nature along with a consequent inherited tendency toward sin. Thus, they are guilty of Adam’s sin.

Connection between Adam’s Connection between Adam’s Sin and HumanitySin and Humanity

(1) Federal Headship(1) Federal Headship

This view is related to the creationist view of the origin of the soul. Human receives his physical nature by inheritance from his parents, but the soul is specially created by God for each individual and united with the body at birth. 

Thus, we were not present psychologically or spiritually in any of our ancestors, including Adam, but, bound by the covenant between God and Adam, we are treated as if we have actually and personally done what he as our representative did.

(2) Natural Headship(2) Natural HeadshipThis approach is related to the traducianist

view of the origin of the soul, according to which we receive our souls by transmission from our parents, just as we do our physical natures. So we were present in germinal or seminal form in our ancestors in a very real sense, we were there in Adam. His action was not merely that of one isolated individual, but of the entire human race.

Biblical and Contemporary Biblical and Contemporary Model – Erickson’s ViewModel – Erickson’s View

The key passage: Rom 5:12-19

Death is the consequence of sin. Death originated in he human race because of Adam’s sin. Death is universal and the cause of this is he universal sin of mankind.

(1) We all were involved in Adam’s sin, and thus receive both the corrupted nature that was his after the fall, and the guilt and condemnation that attach to his sin. 

(2) With this matter of guilt, however, just as with the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, there must be some conscious and voluntary decision on our part.

(3) Thus there is no condemnation until one reaches the age of responsibility. If a child dies before he or she is capable of making genuine moral decisions, there is only innocence, and the child will experience the same type of future existence with the Lord as will those who have reached the age of moral responsibility and had their sins forgiven as a result of accepting the offer of salvation based upon Christ’s atoning death.