Is Condemnation Considered a Sin Biblically
Condemnation, in a biblical sense, refers to the sentence of God against sin [1]. It is not itself a sin, but rather the consequence or judgment that results from sin. The Bible consistently links condemnation to actions and states of being that are contrary to God's law and will [1, 2].
Sin is broadly defined as the transgression of God's law [5]. This includes not only overt acts but also omissions of known good (James 4:17), thoughts of foolishness (Proverbs 24:9), and anything not done in faith (Romans 14:23) [5]. All unrighteousness is considered sin [6]. The New Testament teaches that unbelief is a sin [7], stemming from an evil heart, hardness of heart, and a disinclination to truth [7].
Condemnation is presented as a universal consequence of sin. The offense of Adam brought condemnation upon all humanity (Romans 5:12, 16, 18) [1]. Augustine elaborates on this, stating that original sin, derived from Adam, is capable of drawing individuals into condemnation if not remitted [9, 12, 14, 15]. one tradition argues that the condemnation of carnal generation stems from the transgression of original sin [11].
Various actions and attitudes increase condemnation, such as impenitence, unbelief, pride, oppression, and hypocrisy [1]. The conscience itself testifies to the justice of condemnation, as does the law [1]. Charles Hodge notes that the Bible declares all humanity to be under condemnation, guilty before God, a verdict confirmed by universal consciousness of guilt [10].
The concept of punishment is intrinsically linked to condemnation. Thomas Aquinas states that punishment is due for sin, as it restores the equality of justice by causing the sinner to suffer something contrary to their will [8]. Punishment is not primarily for reformation or deterrence, but because crime itself demands it, maintaining the eternal distinction between right and wrong [3].
However, the Bible also offers a path to deliverance from condemnation through Christ [1]. Those who are in Christ Jesus are delivered from condemnation (John 3:18, 5:24; Romans 8:1, 33-34) [1]. Confession of sin, accompanied by submission to punishment, prayer for forgiveness, self-abasement, godly sorrow, and forsaking sin, is presented as a means to receive pardon [4]. Tertullian notes that a petition for pardon is a full confession, demonstrating guilt and penitence acceptable to God [13].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Condemnation — The sentence of God against sin -- Mt 25:41. Universal, caused by the offence of Adam -- Ro 5:12,16,18. Inseparable consequence of sin -- Pr 12:2; Ro 6:23. Increased by Impenitence. -- Mt 11:20-24. Unbelief. -- Joh 3:18,19. Pride. -- 1Ti 3:6. Oppression. -- Jas 5:1-5. Hypocrisy. -- Mt 23:14. Conscience testifies to the justice of -- Job 9:20; Ro 2:1; Tit 3:11. The law testifies to the justice of -- Ro 3:19. According to men's deserts -- Mt 12:37; 2Co 11:15. Saints are delivered from, by Christ -- Joh 3:18; 5:24; Ro 8:1,33,34. Of the wicked, an example ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Damnation — In Rom. 13:2, means "condemnation," which comes on those who withstand God's ordinance of magistracy. This sentence of condemnation comes not from the magistrate, but from God, whose authority is thus resisted. In 1 Cor. 11:29 (R.V., "judgment") this word means condemnation, in the sense of exposure to severe temporal judgements from God, as the following verse explains. In Rom. 14:23 the word "damned" means "condemned" by one's own conscience, as well as by the Word of God. The apostle shows here that many things which are lawful are not expedient; and t”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Punishment — The New Testament lays down the general principles of good government, but contains no code of laws for the punishment of offenders. Punishment proceeds on the principle that there is an eternal distinction between right and wrong, and that this distinction must be maintained for its own sake. It is not primarily intended for the reformation of criminals, nor for the purpose of deterring others from sin. These results may be gained, but crime in itself demands punishment. (See [513]MURDER; [514]THEFT.) Endless, of the impenitent and unbelieving. The reje”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confession of Sin — God requires -- Le 5:5; Ho 5:15. God regards -- Job 33:27,28; Da 9:20-23. Exhortation to -- Jos 7:19; Jer 3:13; Jas 5:16. Promises to -- Le 26:40-42; Pr 28:13. Should be accompanied with Submission to punishment. -- Le 26:41; Ne 9:33; Ezr 9:13. Prayer for forgiveness. -- 2Sa 24:10; Ps 25:11; 51:1; Jer 14:7-9,20. Self-abasement. -- Isa 64:5,6; Jer 3:25. Godly sorrow. -- Ps 38:18; La 1:20. Forsaking sin. -- Pr 28:13. Restitution. -- Nu 5:6,7. Should be full and unreserved -- Ps 32:5; 51:3; 106:6. Followed by pardon -- Ps 32:5; 1Jo 1:9. Illustrated -”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sin — Is the transgression of the law -- 1Jo 3:4. Is of the devil -- 1Jo 3:8; Joh 8:44. All unrighteousness is -- 1Jo 5:17. Omission of what we know to be good is -- Jas 4:17. Whatever is not of faith is -- Ro 14:23. The thought of foolishness is -- Pr 24:9. All the imaginations of the unrenewed heart are -- Ge 6:5; 8:21. Described as Coming from the heart. -- Mt 15:19. The fruit of lust. -- Jas 1:15. The sting of death. -- 1Co 15:56. Rebellion against God. -- De 9:7; Jos 1:18. Works of darkness. -- Eph 5:11. Dead works. -- Heb 6:1; 9:14. The abominable thing that Go”
- I John “I John 5:17 (BBE) — All evil-doing is sin: but death is not the punishment for every sort of sin.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Unbelief — Is sin -- Joh 16:9. Defilement inseparable from -- Tit 1:15. All, by nature, concluded in -- Ro 11:32. Proceeds from An evil heart. -- Heb 3:12. Slowness of heart. -- Lu 24:25. Hardness of heart. -- Mr 16:14; Ac 19:9. Disinclination to the truth. -- Joh 8:45,46. Judicial blindness. -- Joh 12:39,40. Not being Christ's sheep. -- Joh 10:26. The devil blinding the mind. -- 2Co 4:4. The devil taking away the word out of the heart. -- Lu 8:12. Seeking honour from men. -- Joh 5:44. Impugns the veracity of God -- 1Jo 5:10. Exhibited in Rejecting Christ. -- Joh 16:”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Vengeance, Art. 4: Article: Whether vengeance should be taken on those who have sinned involuntarily? I answer that, Punishment may be considered in two ways. First, under the aspect of punishment, and in this way punishment is not due save for sin, because by means of punishment the equality of justice is restored, in so far as he who by sinning has exceeded in following his own will suffers something that is contrary to this will. Wherefore, since every sin is voluntary, not excluding original sin, as stated abo”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 16 [XIII.]--DIFFICULTY IN THE OPINION WHICH MAINTAINS THAT SOULS ARE NOT BY PROPAGATION. (part 1): This means, then, of settling the point whereby the soul was sent into the flesh until what time it should be delivered from the flesh,--seeing that the soul of an infant, which has not grown old enough for the will to become free, is the case supposed,--makes no discovery of the reason why condemnation should overtake it without the reception of baptism, except the reason of original sin. Owing to this sin, we do not deny that the soul is righteousl”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 13: being will suffer more than he deserves, or more than his own conscience shall recognize as just. C. All Men under Condemnation . 3. But the Bible tells us, that judged according to their works and according to the light which they have severally enjoyed, all men will be condemned. There is none righteous; no, not one. The whole world is guilty before God. This verdict is confirmed by every man’s conscience. The consciousness of guilt and of moral pollution is absolutely universal. Here it is that natural theology utterly fails. It cannot”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 15.--CARNAL GENERATION CONDEMNED ON: ACCOUNT OF ORIGINAL SIN. He sets forth that this absolute weakness, or rather condemnation, of carnal generation is from the transgression of original sin, when, treating of his own sins, he shows, as it were, their causes, and says that "man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of wrath." Of what wrath, but of that in which all are, as the apostle says, "by nature," that is, by origin, "children of wrath,"[7] inasmuch as they are children of the concupiscence of the flesh and of t”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 16 [XIII.]--HOW DEATH IS BY ONE AND LIFE BY ONE.: And from this we gather that we have derived from Adam, in whom we all have sinned, not all our actual sins, but only original sin; whereas from Christ, in whom we are all justified, we obtain the remission not merely of that original sin, but of the rest of our sins also, which we have added. Hence it runs: "Not as by the one that sinned, so also is the free gift." For the judgment, certainly, from one sin, if it is not remitted--and that the original sin--is capable of drawing us into condemnatio”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. VII.--THE SIXTH CLAUSE.: It was suitable that, after contemplating the liberality of God,[21] we should likewise address His clemency. For what will aliments[22] 684 profit us, if we are really consigned to them, as it were a bull destined for a victim?[1] The Lord knew Himself to be the only guiltless One, and so He teaches that we beg "to have our debts remitted us." A petition for pardon is a full confession; because he who begs for pardon fully admits his guilt. Thus, too, penitence is demonstrated acceptable to God who desires it rather than the death of the ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. 50.--CHRIST TOOK AWAY NOT ONLY THE ONE ORIGINAL SIN, BUT ALL THE OTHER SINS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO IT.: With this difference: the first man brought one sin into the world, but this man took away not only that one sin, but all that He found added to it. Hence the apostle says: 254 "And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification."(1) For it is evident that the one sin which we bring with us by nature would, even if it stood alone, brin”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 15 [XII.]--THE ONE SIN COMMON TO ALL MEN. (part 1): But observe more attentively what he says, that "through the offence of one, many are dead." For why should it be on account of the sin of one, and not rather on account of their own sins, if this passage is to be understood of imitation, and not of propagation? (5) But mark what follows: "And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift; for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the grace is of many offences unto justification." (6) Now let them tell us, where there is room in these w”