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The Nature of Sin and Human Rebellion Against God

Sin is defined as "any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God" [1]. This includes not only outward actions but also the inward state and habits of the soul, encompassing both omissions and commissions [1]. The Bible consistently portrays sin as an offense against a personal God, a moral governor who enforces his law with penalties [1]. The individual who sins is typically aware that their sin is inherently vile and deserving of punishment [1].

The concept of sin is deeply intertwined with human rebellion against God. The prophet Samuel declared, "For rebellion is [as] the sin of divination, And selfwill is [as] iniquity and idolatry" (1 Samuel 15:23, Darby) [4]. This highlights the severe nature of rebellion, equating it with practices explicitly forbidden by God. The book of Job also speaks of adding "rebellion vnto his sinne" and multiplying "his wordes against God" (Job 34:37, Geneva1599) [2]. Rebellion against God is forbidden and provokes God's wrath [3]. It is exhibited in various forms, including unbelief, rejecting God's government, revolting from Him, despising His law and counsels, distrusting His power, murmuring against Him, refusing to listen, and departing from Him [3]. The carnal mind, which is inherently hostile to God, is described as "enmity against God" because it opposes God's holy law and is a "principle of rebellion" [11].

The origin of sin in humanity is traced back to the "Fall of man," a term referring to the revolt of the first parents from God, which resulted in sin and misery for them and their descendants [6]. This event, recorded in Genesis 2 and 3, is understood as a literal historical fact that underpins much of revealed truth [6]. The disobedience of Adam, influenced by the devil's temptation, led to humanity's fallen state [7, 9]. As a consequence, all human beings are born in sin and are considered "children of wrath" [7, 10, 16]. The human heart is described as evil, blind, corrupt, perverse, and depraved in mind, lacking understanding [7].

The devil is identified as the author of the Fall, having sinned against God and been cast out of heaven [9]. He tempted Christ and continues to oppose God's work, hinder the gospel, and work lying wonders [9]. Those who commit sin are said to be "of the devil" [12]. However, as Augustine noted, the devil does not "beget" children in the same way God does; rather, individuals become children of the devil by imitating him through corruption, not by proper birth [12].

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth [5, 14]. This divine anger is not an arbitrary emotional outburst but a necessary response from a holy God to sin [14]. Unconverted people are naturally under the control of their sinful nature's passionate desires and inclinations, making them subject to God's anger [16]. God hates sin [16].

Sin is not merely a violation of a natural law but an offense against a personal lawgiver [1]. It is intrinsically vile and polluting, and it justly deserves punishment [1]. Deliberate sins are committed with an insolent or arrogant attitude, with rebellion being considered a "great sin" [13]. Even after conversion, believers may still commit actual sins, and the "corrupt old nature" can still adhere to them [15]. The universal sinfulness of humanity, encompassing both Gentiles and Jews, means that no one can find favor with God through their own actions [14]. This pervasive corruption of human nature necessitates a "new birth," which is effected by God through Christ and the Holy Spirit, often through the word of God and the ministry of the gospel [8]. This new birth is described as a new creation and newness of life [8].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sin — Is "any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God" (1 John 3:4; Rom. 4:15), in the inward state and habit of the soul, as well as in the outward conduct of the life, whether by omission or commission (Rom. 6:12-17; 7:5-24). It is "not a mere violation of the law of our constitution, nor of the system of things, but an offence against a personal lawgiver and moral governor who vindicates his law with penalties. The soul that sins is always conscious that his sin is (1) intrinsically vile and polluting, and (2) that it justly deserves punishment,”
  2. Job “Job 34:37 (Geneva1599) — For he addeth rebellion vnto his sinne: he clappeth his handes among vs, and multiplieth his wordes against God.”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Rebellion Against God — Forbidden -- Nu 14:9; Jos 22:19. Provokes God -- Nu 16:30; Ne 9:26. Provokes Christ -- Ex 23:20,21; 1Co 10:9. Vexes the Holy Spirit -- Isa 63:10. Exhibited in Unbelief. -- De 9:23; Ps 106:24,25. Rejecting his government. -- 1Sa 8:7; 15:23. Revolting from him. -- Isa 1:5; 31:6. Despising his law. -- Ne 9:26. Despising his counsels. -- Ps 107:11. Distrusting his power. -- Eze 17:15. Murmuring against him. -- Nu 20:3,10. Refusing to hearken to him. -- De 9:23; Eze 20:8; Zec 7:11. Departing from him. -- Isa 59:13. Rebellion against governors appoi”
  4. I Samuel “I Samuel 15:23 (Darby) — For rebellion is [as] the sin of divination, And selfwill is [as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, He hath also rejected thee from being king.”
  5. Romans “Romans 1:18 (Geneva1599) — For the wrath of God is reueiled from heauen against all vngodlinesse, and vnrighteousnesse of men, which withhold the trueth in vnrighteousnesse.”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Fall of man — An expression probably borrowed from the Apocryphal Book of Wisdom, to express the fact of the revolt of our first parents from God, and the consequent sin and misery in which they and all their posterity were involved. The history of the Fall is recorded in Gen. 2 and 3. That history is to be literally interpreted. It records facts which underlie the whole system of revealed truth. It is referred to by our Lord and his apostles not only as being true, but as furnishing the ground of all God's subsequent dispensations and dealings with the children of m”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fall of Man, The — By the disobedience of Adam -- Ge 3:6,11,12; Ro 5:12,15,19. Through temptation of the devil -- Ge 3:1-5; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14. Man in consequence of Made in the image of Adam. -- Ge 5:3; 1Co 15:48,49. Born in sin. -- Job 15:14; 25:4; Ps 51:5; Isa 48:8; Joh 3:6. A child of wrath. -- Eph 2:3. Evil in heart. -- Ge 6:5; 8:21; Jer 16:12; Mt 15:19. Blinded in heart. -- Eph 4:18. Corrupt and perverse in his ways. -- Ge 6:12; Ps 10:5; Ro 3:12-16. Depraved in mind. -- Ro 8:5-7; Eph 4:17; Col 1:21; Tit 1:15. Without understanding. -- Ps 14:2,3; Ro 3:11; 1:31. ”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: New Birth, The — The corruption of human nature requires -- Joh 3:6; Ro 8:7,8. None can enter heaven without -- Joh 3:3. Effected by God. -- Joh 1:13; 1Pe 1:3. Christ. -- 1Jo 2:29. The Holy Spirit. -- Joh 3:6; Tit 3:5. Through the instrumentality of The word of God. -- Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23. The resurrection of Christ. -- 1Pe 1:3. The ministry of the gospel. -- 1Co 4:15. Is of the will of God -- Jas 1:18. Is of the mercy of God -- Tit 3:5. Is for the glory of God -- Isa 43:7. Described as A new creation. -- 2Co 5:17; Ga 6:15; Eph 2:10. Newness of life. -- Ro 6:4. A spir”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Devil, The — Sinned against God -- 2Pe 2:4; 1Jo 3:8. Cast out of heaven -- Lu 10:18. Cast down to hell -- 2Pe 2:4; Jude 1:6. The author of the fall -- Ge 3:1,6,14,24. Tempted Christ -- Mt 4:3-10. Perverts the Scripture -- Mt 4:6; Ps 91:11,12. Opposes God's work -- Zec 3:1; 1Th 2:18. Hinders the gospel -- Mt 13:19; 2Co 4:4. Works lying wonders -- 2Th 2:9; Re 16:14. Assumes the form of an angel of light -- 2Co 11:14. The wicked Are the children of. -- Mt 13:38; Ac 13:10; 1Jo 3:10. Turn aside after. -- 1Ti 5:15. Do the lusts of. -- Joh 8:44. Possessed by. -- Lu 22:3; Ac”
  10. 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).”
  11. Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God - Because it is a carnal mind, and relishes earthly and sinful things, and lives in opposition to the pure and holy law of God: therefore, it is enmity against God; it is irreconcilable and implacable hatred. It is not subject to the law of God - It will come under no obedience; for it is sin, and the very principle of rebellion; and therefore it cannot be subject, nor subjected; for it is essential to sin to show itself in rebellion; and when it ceases to rebel, it ceases to be sin. From this we learn that the design of ”
  12. 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”
  13. 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).”
  14. 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”
  15. 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”
  16. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:3: 2:3 Unconverted people are naturally under the control of the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature (see Rom 3:9-20, 23). Because of their sin, they are subject to God’s anger, because God hates sin (see Eph 5:6; Rom 1:18; 2:5, 8; 3:5, 19; 4:15; 5:9; 9:22; 12:19; 13:4-5; Col 3:6; 1 Thes 1:10; 2:16; 5:9).”
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