Effective Expository Preaching Using Stories and Examples
Sin, in a biblical context, refers to actions, thoughts, or states of being that fall short of God's perfect standard and constitute rebellion against Him [5]. The concept of sin is foundational to understanding humanity's relationship with God and the need for redemption.
The Bible presents sin as a universal human condition. Psalm 58:3 states that "All human beings are born sinners," a sentiment echoed in Psalm 51:5 [1]. This inherent sinfulness means that even from birth, humanity possesses a nature inclined toward sin. The apostle Paul elaborates on this in Romans, arguing that both Gentiles and Jews are "under sin’s power" and cannot achieve favor with God through their own actions [6]. This universal sinfulness is not merely a matter of individual acts but a pervasive state that affects all people [6].
Sin is often described as a deviation from God's will. Proverbs 30:8 refers to "vanity" as encompassing "all sorts of sinful acts" [2]. The Genesis account of the Fall illustrates sin as a deliberate act of disobedience and a preference for the creature over the Creator [4]. This initial sin involved "a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters" [4].
The nature of sin can be further understood by distinguishing between the state of sin and the commission of sinful acts. The apostle John addresses this in his first epistle. To say "we have no sin" is to deceive oneself, implying a denial of the corrupt nature that still adheres to humanity [7]. To say "we have not sinned" is to deny the actual commission of sins, even after conversion [7]. John emphasizes that "He that committeth sin is of the devil," contrasting this with those who "doeth righteousness" [3]. Augustine, in his Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, clarifies that while one can be "born of God," the devil does not "beget" anyone; rather, imitation of the devil makes one a "child of the devil" [3]. Bengel adds that from the devil comes "not generation, but corruption" [3].
Deliberate sins are characterized by an "insolent or arrogant attitude" and are seen as acts of rebellion [5]. God's response to sin is not a spontaneous emotional outburst but a "necessary response" from a holy God [6]. The Old Testament frequently depicts God's anger against sin and foretells a decisive outpouring of His wrath [6].
The New Testament further develops the understanding of sin in relation to Christ. Paul teaches that Christ has claimed believers for himself, and in Christ, they are ultimately claimed by God [8]. This highlights the redemptive aspect, where Christ's work addresses the problem of sin. Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Hebrews, emphasizes the importance of applying biblical truths, noting that the superiority of Christ to angels implies the greater excellence of the gospel dispensation compared to the law [9]. This application often involves exhortation and argument, urging believers to live in accordance with God's will [9].
The concept of sin also informs the call to holy living. Matthew Henry notes that the Thessalonians were careful to imitate the apostles' good examples, demonstrating a "holy conversation" suitable to their doctrine [11]. This suggests that understanding sin leads to a desire to avoid it and to live a life that reflects God's righteousness. Even in times of persecution, faithful witnesses attest to the truth of God's word and worship, demonstrating a commitment against sin [10].
Sources
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:23: 3:23 Just as they may now claim everything as their own, so Christ has claimed them for himself (see Rom 14:7-9), and in Christ they are ultimately claimed by God (see 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23).”
- Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 2:1: The apostle proceeds in the plain profitable method of doctrine, reason, and use, through this epistle. Here we have the application of the truths before asserted and proved; this is brought in by the illative particle therefore, with which this chapter begins, and which shows its connection with the former, where the apostle having proved Christ to be superior to the angels by whose ministry the law was given, and therefore that the gospel dispensation must be more excellent than the legal, he now comes to apply this doctrine both by way of exhortation and argume”
- Revelation (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Revelation 11:3: In this time of treading down, God has reserved to himself his faithful witnesses, who will not fail to attest the truth of his word and worship, and the excellency of his ways. Here observe, I. The number of these witnesses: it is but a small number and yet it is sufficient. 1. It is but small. Many will own and acknowledge Christ in times of prosperity who will desert and deny him in times of persecution; one witness, when the cause is upon trial, is worth many at other times. 2. It is a sufficient number; for in the mouth of two witnesses every cause shall ”
- 1 Thessalonians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Thessalonians 1:6: In these words we have the evidence of the apostle's success among the Thessalonians, which was notorious and famous in several places. For, I. They were careful in their holy conversation to imitate the good examples of the apostles and ministers of Christ, Th1 1:6. As the apostle took care to demean himself well, not only for his own credit's sake, but for the benefit of others, by a conversation suitable to his doctrine, that he might not pull down with one hand what he built up with the other, so the Thessalonians, who observed what manner of men they ”