Month: October 2019

The term “original sin” deals with Adam’s sin of disobedience in eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and its effects upon the rest of the human race. Original sin can be defined as “that sin and its guilt that we all possess in God’s eyes as a direct result of Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden.” The doctrine of original sin focuses particularly on its effects on our nature and our standing before God, even before we are old enough to commit conscious sin. There are three main views that deal with that effect.
Pelagianism: This view says that Adam’s sin had no effect upon the souls of his descendants other than his sinful example influencing those who followed after him to also sin. According to this view, man has the ability to stop sinning if he simply chooses to. This teaching runs contrary to a number of passages that indicate man is hopelessly enslaved by his sins (apart from God’s intervention) and that his good works are “dead” or worthless in meriting God’s favor ( Ephesians 2:1-2 ;
Matthew 15:18-19 ; Romans 7:23 ; Hebrews 6:1 ; 9:14 ).
Arminianism: Arminians believe Adam’s sin has resulted in the rest of mankind inheriting a propensity to sin, commonly referred to as having a “sin nature.” This sin nature causes us to sin in the same way that a cat’s nature causes it to meow—it comes naturally. According to this view, man cannot stop sinning on his own; that is why God gives a universal grace to all to enable us to stop. In Arminianism, this grace is called prevenient grace. According to this view, we are not held accountable for Adam’s sin, just our own. This teaching runs contrary to the fact that all bear the punishment for sin, even though all may not have sinned in a manner similar to Adam (1 Corinthians 15:22 ; Romans 5:12-18 ). Nor is the teaching of prevenient grace explicitly found in Scripture.
Calvinism: The Calvinistic doctrine states that Adam’s sin has resulted not only in our having a sin nature, but also in our incurring guilt before God for which we deserve punishment. Being conceived with original sin upon us (Psalm 51:5 ) results in our inheriting a sin nature so wicked that Jeremiah 17:9 describes the human heart as “deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” Not only was Adam found guilty because he sinned, but his guilt and his punishment (death) belongs to us as well ( Romans 5:12 , 19 ). There are two views as to why Adam’s guilt should be seen by God as also belonging to us. The first view states that the human race was within Adam in seed form; thus when Adam sinned, we sinned in him. This is similar to the biblical teaching that Levi (a descendant of Abraham) paid tithes to Melchizedek in Abraham (Genesis 14:20 ;
Hebrews 7:4-9 ), even though Levi was not born until hundreds of years later. The other main view is that Adam served as our representative and so, when he sinned, we were found guilty as well.
The Calvinistic view sees one as unable to overcome his sin apart from the power of the Holy Spirit, a power possessed only when one turns in reliance upon Christ and His atoning sacrifice for sin upon the cross. The Calvinistic view of original sin is most consistent with biblical teaching. However, how can God hold us accountable for a sin we did not personally commit? There is a plausible interpretation that we become responsible for original sin when we choose to accept, and act according to, our sinful nature. There comes a point in our lives when we become aware of our own sinfulness. At that point we should reject the sinful nature and repent of it. Instead, we all “approve” that sinful nature, in effect saying that it is good. In approving our sinfulness, we are expressing agreement with the actions of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We are therefore guilty of that sin without actually having committed it.

The unforgivable sin or “ blasphemy of the Holy Spirit ” is mentioned in Mark 3:22–30 and Matthew 2:22–32 . Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter” (Mark 3:28 ), but then He gives one exception: “Whoever lasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin” (verse 29).
According to Jesus, the unpardonable or unforgivable sin is unique. It is the one iniquity that will never be forgiven
never” is the meaning of “either in this age or in the age to come” in Matthew 2:32 ). The unforgivable sin is blasphemy
defiant irreverence”) of the Holy Spirit in e context of the Spirit’s work in the world through Christ. In other words, the particular case of blasphemy seen in
matthew 12 and Mark 3 is unique. The guilty party, a group of Pharisees, had witnessed irrefutable evidence that Jesus was working miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit, yet they claimed that He was possessed by the prince of demons, beelzebul ( Matthew 12:24 ; Mark 3:30 ).
The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day committed the unpardonable sin by accusing Jesus Christ (in person, on earth) of being demon-possessed. They had no excuse for such an action. They were not speaking out of ignorance or misunderstanding. The Pharisees knew that Jesus was the Messiah sent by God
to save Israel. They knew the prophecies were being fulfilled. They saw Jesus’ wonderful works, and they heard His clear presentation of truth. Yet they deliberately chose to deny the truth and slander the Holy Spirit. Standing before the Light of eternal Word , bathed in His glory, they defiantly closed their eyes and became wilfully blind. Jesus pronounced that sin
be unforgivable.
The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, specific as it was to the Pharisees’ situation, cannot be duplicated today. Jesus Christ is not on earth, and no one can personally see Jesus perform a miracle and then attribute that power to satan instead of the Spirit. The only unpardonable sin today is that of continued unbelief. There is no pardon for
person who dies in his rejection of Christ. The Holy Spirit is at work in the world, convicting the unsaved of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8 ).
a person resists that conviction and remains unrepentant, then he is choosing hell over heaven. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” ( Hebrews 1:6 ), and the object of faith is Jesus
cts 16:31 ). There is no forgiveness for someone who dies without faith in Christ.
God has provided for our salvation in His Son ( John 3:16 ). Forgiveness is found exclusively in Jesus (John 14:6 ). To reject the only Savior is to be left with no means of salvation; to reject the only pardon is, obviously, unpardonable.
Many people fear they have committed a sin that God will not forgive, and they feel there is no hope for them, no matter what they do. Satan would like nothing more than to keep people laboring under that misconception. God gives encouragement
the sinner who is convicted of his sin:
Come near to God and he will come near
you” (James 4:8 ). “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more” ( Romans 5:20 ). And the testimony of Paul is proof positive that God can and will save anyone who comes to Him in faith ( 1 Timothy 1:12–17 ). If you are suffering under a load of guilt today, rest assured that you have not committed the unpardonable sin. God is waiting with open arms. Jesus’ promise is that “he is able to save completely those who come to
God through him” (Hebrews 7:25 ). Our Lord will never fail. “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation” (Isaiah 12:2 ).

Sin is described in the Bible as transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4 ) and rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 9:7 ; Joshua 1:18 ). Sin had its beginning with Lucifer, probably the most beautiful and powerful of the angels. Not content with his position, he desired to be higher than God, and that was his downfall, the beginning of sin (Isaiah 14:12-15 ). Renamed Satan, he brought sin to the human race in the Garden of Eden, where he tempted Adam and Eve with the same enticement, “you shall be like God.” Genesis 3 describes Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God and against His command. Since that time, sin has been passed down through all the generations of mankind and we, Adam’s descendants, have inherited sin from him.
Romans 5:12 tells us that through Adam sin entered the world, and so death was passed on to all men because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23 ).
Through Adam, the inherent inclination to sin entered the human race, and human beings became sinners by nature. When Adam sinned, his inner nature was transformed by his sin of rebellion, bringing to him spiritual death and depravity which would be passed on to all who came after him. We are sinners not because we sin; rather, we sin because we are sinners. This passed-on depravity is known as inherited sin. Just as we inherit physical characteristics from our parents, we inherit our sinful natures from Adam. King David lamented this condition of fallen human nature in Psalm 51:5 : “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”
Another type of sin is known as
imputed sin . Used in both financial and legal settings, the Greek word translated “imputed” means “to take something that belongs to someone and credit it to another’s account.” Before the Law of Moses was given, sin was not imputed to man, although men were still sinners because of inherited sin. After the Law was given, sins committed in violation of the Law were imputed (accounted) to them ( Romans 5:13 ). Even before transgressions of the law were imputed to men, the ultimate penalty for sin (death) continued to reign (Romans 5:14 ). All humans, from Adam to Moses, were subject to death, not because of their sinful acts against the Mosaic Law (which they did not have), but because of their own inherited sinful nature. After Moses, humans were subject to death both because of inherited sin from Adam and imputed sin from violating the laws of God.
God used the principle of imputation to benefit mankind when He imputed the sin of believers to the account of Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for that sin—death—on the cross. Imputing our sin to Jesus, God treated Him as if He were a sinner, though He was not, and had Him die for the sins of the entire world ( 1 John 2:2 ). It is important to understand that sin was imputed to Him, but He did not inherit it from Adam. He bore the penalty for sin, but He never became a sinner. His pure and perfect nature was untouched by sin. He was treated as though He were guilty of all the sins ever committed by the human race, even though He committed none. In exchange, God imputed the righteousness of Christ to believers and credited our accounts with His righteousness, just as He had credited our sins to Christ’s account (2 Corinthians 5:21 ).
A third type of sin is personal sin, that which is committed every day by every human being. Because we have inherited a sin nature from Adam, we commit individual, personal sins, everything from seemingly innocent untruths to murder. Those who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ must pay the penalty for these personal sins, as well as inherited and imputed sin. However, believers have been freed from the eternal penalty of sin—hell and spiritual death—but now we also have the power to resist sinning. Now we can choose whether or not to commit personal sins because we have the power to resist sin through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, sanctifying and convicting us of our sins when we do commit them ( Romans 8:9-11 ). Once we confess our personal sins to God and ask forgiveness for them, we are restored to perfect fellowship and communion with Him. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” ( 1 John 1:9 ).
We are all three times condemned due to inherited sin, imputed sin, and personal sin. The only just penalty for this sin is death ( Romans 6:23 ), not just physical death but eternal death ( Revelation 20:11-15 ). Thankfully, inherited sin, imputed sin, and personal sin have all been crucified on the cross of Jesus, and now by faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7 ).

What is it about Jesus that provokes such incredible passion in our hearts? Why do we long for Him so much? Why do we hang spellbound on His every word and love even the mention of his precious name? How can it be that this whirlwind romance never ends. It defies the most articulate words to describe and the most logical explanation to justify. Though we have not seen Him, we love Him, and though we do not see Him now, we believe in Him, and greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. We desire Him not so much as one desires a delicious meal, but more like a heroine addict desires a fix…we are undignified, unrestrained and undone by our need for him. We pursue Him relentlessly. We follow Him blindly. We obey Him recklessly. We love Him hopelessly. We need him endlessly. We would pour over Him the most costly bottle of perfume. We would wash His feet with our tears and dry them with our hair. We would waste our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor for his pleasure without a fleeting thought of their preservation. We would suffer the loss of all things, and count them but dung to win Him. It is so unnatural, yet we cannot imagine feeling any other way. It is so unbelievable, yet we don’t understand how anyone could doubt. It is so intangible, yet we feel it with every fiber of our beings. Though Kingdoms have fallen and entire empires have turned to dust somehow He still rules our hearts…the unchallenged King of love. How anyone could resist Him is a mystery and a tragedy, but in the end all will declare with Rome’s dying emperor, “Thou Hast Conquered, O Galilean!”