Focus on the Sin Rather Than the Sinner in Spiritual Warfare

In Christian spiritual warfare, the focus is often placed on confronting sin itself rather than merely condemning the sinner. This distinction is rooted in a theological understanding of humanity's fallen nature and the external forces that influence sinful behavior.

The Bible consistently portrays humanity as inherently sinful. Psalm 58:3 states that "all human beings are born sinners," a concept echoed in Psalm 51:5 ^[1]. This innate sinfulness means that individuals are predisposed to sin, though the godly are described as fighting against this nature ^[1]. The Apostle Paul elaborates on this internal struggle in Romans 7:19-23, where he describes the conflict between his desire to do good and the evil he actually does ^[1]. Similarly, Galatians 5:17 speaks of a war between God's Spirit and our sinful nature, indicating that human effort alone cannot overcome sin ^[11].

Sin is not merely a collection of individual acts but a pervasive condition. Proverbs 30:8 refers to "vanity" as encompassing "all sorts of sinful acts" ^[2]. The first sin of Adam and Eve, as described in Genesis 3:13, was not just eating a forbidden fruit but involved self-love, dishonor to God, ingratitude, and disobedience—a preference for the creature over the Creator ^[4]. Deliberate sins are often committed with an "insolent" or "arrogant" attitude, signifying rebellion against God ^[5]. Romans 1:18–3:20 emphasizes the universal sinfulness of both Gentiles and Jews, asserting that all are "under sin’s power" and cannot earn God's favor through their own actions ^[6]. God's anger is presented not as an arbitrary emotional outburst but as a necessary, holy response to sin ^[6].

The New Testament further clarifies the nature of sin and its origin. 1 John 3:8 states that "He that committeth sin is of the devil." Augustine, as cited in Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, explains that one becomes a "child of the devil" not by birth but by imitating the devil, suggesting that sin is a corruption rather than a natural generation from the devil ^[3]. This contrasts with being "born of God" ^[3]. Even after conversion, believers still commit actual sins, and 1 John 1:10 warns against claiming "we have not sinned," which would make God a liar ^[7]. This passage distinguishes between the commission of actual sins and the "sin of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us" ^[7].

In spiritual warfare, the adversary is not primarily "flesh and blood"—that is, other human beings—but spiritual forces. John Gill, commenting on Ephesians 6:12, explains that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood" but against spiritual entities ^[10]. This wrestling is not physical but spiritual, pertaining to the soul ^[10]. This perspective encourages believers to address the underlying spiritual issues and influences that lead to sin, rather than focusing solely on the individual who is struggling.

The emphasis on the sin rather than the sinner aligns with the understanding that individuals are claimed by Christ and ultimately by God (1 Corinthians 3:23, Romans 14:7-9, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 7:23) ^[8]. Redirecting emotions toward the Lord helps prevent excessive self-reflection and fosters a spirit of offering sacrifices in the right spirit (Psalm 4:5, 40:6-8, 51:17) ^[9]. This approach acknowledges the pervasive nature of sin while recognizing the potential for redemption and transformation through divine intervention.

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).”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 4:5: 4:5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit: Redirecting emotions toward the Lord prevents a godly individual from doing too much self-reflection (40:6-8; 51:17).”
Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 6:12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,.... The Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, and some copies, read "you", instead of "we". This is a reason why saints should be strong in the Lord, and why they should put on the whole armour of God, and prepare for battle, since their enemies are such as here described: not "flesh and blood"; frail mortal men, such as were wrestled against in the Olympic games, to which the apostle alludes. For this wrestling, as Philo the Jew says (e), concerning Jacob's wrestling, is not of the body, but of the soul; see Mat 16:17; ”
Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 5:17: 5:17 We cannot simply decide to keep the law and not sin: A war rages between God’s Spirit and our sinful nature (see Rom 7:14-25; 1 Pet 2:11; cp. Gen 4:7). The answer is not human effort at law-keeping, but living by God’s Spirit. When we are resurrected, we will finally be freed from sin (see Rom 8:18-25).”

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