The The Universal Universal

Sin ProblemSin Problem

To fully appreciate the incredible good news To fully appreciate the incredible good news of the Gospel, our redemption in Christ, we of the Gospel, our redemption in Christ, we must first come to grips with our sin problem.must first come to grips with our sin problem.This is the starting point to fully understand This is the starting point to fully understand and appreciate the good news of the Gospel.and appreciate the good news of the Gospel.

When Christ came to this world some 2000 When Christ came to this world some 2000 years ago, He came to be “good news of years ago, He came to be “good news of great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10).great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

However, it was the apostle Paul that God set However, it was the apostle Paul that God set aside to explain this incredible good news of aside to explain this incredible good news of salvation, the Gospel—Ephesians 3:8.salvation, the Gospel—Ephesians 3:8.

In expounding the Gospel Paul begins with In expounding the Gospel Paul begins with the universal sin problem. His purpose is to the universal sin problem. His purpose is to destroy all confidence in self, since the destroy all confidence in self, since the formula of the Gospel is formula of the Gospel is “not I but Christ”—“not I but Christ”—Philippians 3:3-9.Philippians 3:3-9.

In his epistle to the Romans, what Martin In his epistle to the Romans, what Martin Luther described as “the clearest gospel of Luther described as “the clearest gospel of all,” Paul spends the first section of this all,” Paul spends the first section of this epistle (Romans 1:18 to 3:20) dealing with epistle (Romans 1:18 to 3:20) dealing with the universal sin problem. Note his the universal sin problem. Note his conclusion—Romans 3:9-20.conclusion—Romans 3:9-20.

The life God created in Adam was in His likeness and The life God created in Adam was in His likeness and image. It was dominated by image. It was dominated by agapeagape love—1 John 4:8; love—1 John 4:8; Genesis 1:26.Genesis 1:26.

But what’s more important, it was also the collective or But what’s more important, it was also the collective or corporate life of the entire human race—Acts17:26.corporate life of the entire human race—Acts17:26.

Therefore, God does not create a new life every time a Therefore, God does not create a new life every time a baby is conceived. Every one baby is conceived. Every one

of us is an extension of Adam’s life.of us is an extension of Adam’s life.

Unfortunately, the life Adam passed on to his Unfortunately, the life Adam passed on to his posterity was after he sinned. It was therefore posterity was after he sinned. It was therefore a ruined life.a ruined life.

Adam’s sin affected his life spiritually in at Adam’s sin affected his life spiritually in at least four ways least four ways (apart from affecting him physically—(apart from affecting him physically—

i.e., he was prone to fatigue, sickness and death).i.e., he was prone to fatigue, sickness and death).

1.1. Since Adam’s sin was turning his back on Since Adam’s sin was turning his back on God God (Genesis 3:19—implied),(Genesis 3:19—implied), the Holy Spirit left the Holy Spirit left him and his life was plunged into spiritual him and his life was plunged into spiritual darkness.darkness.

2.2. His life which was conditionally immortal His life which was conditionally immortal came under the curse of the law and was came under the curse of the law and was condemned to death—Genesis 2:16, 17.condemned to death—Genesis 2:16, 17.

3.3. The very nature of his life changed from The very nature of his life changed from agapeagape love to self, the principle of all sin— love to self, the principle of all sin—Genesis 3:12; Isaiah 53:6; Genesis 3:12; Isaiah 53:6; ((Steps to Christ,Steps to Christ, 17). 17).

4.4. Finally, his life came under the dominion of Finally, his life came under the dominion of Satan, who became the ruler or prince of Satan, who became the ruler or prince of this world—John 12: 31; 14:30.this world—John 12: 31; 14:30.

Since we are all the extension of Adam’s life, Since we are all the extension of Adam’s life, the moment we were born into this world we the moment we were born into this world we received or inherited the above fourfold received or inherited the above fourfold affects of Adam’s ruined life.affects of Adam’s ruined life.

According to the Hebrew Old Testament, According to the Hebrew Old Testament, some twelve different words are used to some twelve different words are used to define sin, while the Greek New Testament define sin, while the Greek New Testament uses five.uses five.

When all these words are put together the When all these words are put together the Bible comes up with eight categories of sin. Bible comes up with eight categories of sin.

1.1. A deliberate act against the law of God (KJV A deliberate act against the law of God (KJV “transgression”). According to the Greek, “transgression”). According to the Greek, “lawlessness,” choosing to live a life of sin—“lawlessness,” choosing to live a life of sin—1 John 3:4.1 John 3:4.

2.2. A mental consent to a temptation, even A mental consent to a temptation, even though the act is not committed. The sin of though the act is not committed. The sin of coveting—Romans 7:7-11.coveting—Romans 7:7-11.

3.3. Neglect of known duties or opportunities—Neglect of known duties or opportunities—James 4:17.James 4:17.

4.4. Doing the wrong thing out of ignorance—Doing the wrong thing out of ignorance—Leviticus 5:17.Leviticus 5:17.

55.. Doing the right thing, such as good works Doing the right thing, such as good works or law keeping, for the wrong motive (fear or law keeping, for the wrong motive (fear of punishment or desire for reward)—of punishment or desire for reward)—Mathew 7:22, 23.Mathew 7:22, 23.

These first five definitions of sin have to These first five definitions of sin have to do with our behavior, whether in thoughts, do with our behavior, whether in thoughts, desires, motives or acts. The next two desires, motives or acts. The next two have to do with our nature.have to do with our nature.

6.6. Our sinful natures which we inherited from Our sinful natures which we inherited from Adam after the Fall—Psalm 51:5; 58:3; Adam after the Fall—Psalm 51:5; 58:3;

(Romans 5:19, 20).(Romans 5:19, 20).

7.7. A law or constant force dominating every A law or constant force dominating every member of our bodies. This is what makes member of our bodies. This is what makes us slaves to sin (“indwelling sin,” according us slaves to sin (“indwelling sin,” according to E.G.W.)—Romans 7:14-24.to E.G.W.)—Romans 7:14-24.

The above seven definitions of sin fall into The above seven definitions of sin fall into three basic categories:three basic categories:

NATURE (the sinful flesh)—Romans 7:18.NATURE (the sinful flesh)—Romans 7:18.

MIND (desires and motives)—Rom. 7:7, 8.MIND (desires and motives)—Rom. 7:7, 8.

PERFORMANCE (sinful acts)—Gal. 5:19-21.PERFORMANCE (sinful acts)—Gal. 5:19-21.

The law of God condemns all three The law of God condemns all three categories of sin or any one of them.categories of sin or any one of them.

Therefore, man’s only hope is in the Therefore, man’s only hope is in the redeeming grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.redeeming grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

8.8. There is however, one sin, the eighth, for There is however, one sin, the eighth, for which Christ did not die. It is the unpardonable which Christ did not die. It is the unpardonable sin or the sin against grace.sin or the sin against grace.

It is the deliberate, persistent and ultimate It is the deliberate, persistent and ultimate rejection of the gift of salvation in Christ: the rejection of the gift of salvation in Christ: the sin of unbelief—John 3:18; 36; Mark 16:15, 16.sin of unbelief—John 3:18; 36; Mark 16:15, 16.

Christ referred to this sin as the sin against Christ referred to this sin as the sin against the Holy Spirit—Matthew 12:30-32.the Holy Spirit—Matthew 12:30-32.

This is because it is the Holy Spirit who This is because it is the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of the Gospel—sin, convicts the world of the Gospel—sin, righteousness and judgment righteousness and judgment (John 16:8-11).(John 16:8-11).

This sin of unbelief, against the Gospel is the This sin of unbelief, against the Gospel is the only reason why anyone will be lost and be only reason why anyone will be lost and be kept out of heaven—kept out of heaven—Hebrews 2:1-4; 10:26-29, 35-39.Hebrews 2:1-4; 10:26-29, 35-39.

Facing the reality of the universal sin problem Facing the reality of the universal sin problem will cause us to lose all confidence in self and will cause us to lose all confidence in self and with grateful hearts accept the supreme gift of with grateful hearts accept the supreme gift of salvation in Christ—Philippians 3:3-10. salvation in Christ—Philippians 3:3-10.

Thus, when the good news of the Gospel is Thus, when the good news of the Gospel is proclaimed into all the world for a witness, in proclaimed into all the world for a witness, in the context of the universal sin problem, it will the context of the universal sin problem, it will become inexcusable for anyone to be lost. The become inexcusable for anyone to be lost. The end will then come—Matthew 24:14.end will then come—Matthew 24:14.

MAY THAT DAY COME MAY THAT DAY COME SOONSOON