The Ultimate Focus in the Fight Against Sin Theologically
The theological fight against sin focuses on understanding its pervasive nature, its origin, and the means by which it is overcome through Christ. Sin is not merely a collection of individual wrongdoings but a fundamental condition affecting humanity [1, 6].
The Bible presents sin as originating from a deliberate act of disobedience and rebellion against God. The first sin, committed by Adam and Eve, involved a preference for the creature over the Creator, marked by self-love, dishonor to God, and ingratitude [4]. This initial act introduced a sinful nature that is inherited by all human beings [1]. As a result, all are born sinners [1], and this inherent corruption is described as "vanity" or "all sorts of sinful acts" [2]. Even after regeneration, the "corrupt old nature" can still adhere to believers, leading to the commission of actual sins [7].
Sin is characterized by various aspects:
- Rebellion and Insolence: Deliberate sins are often committed with an insolent or arrogant attitude, signifying rebellion against God [5].
- Disobedience: Sin is fundamentally a transgression of God's commands [4].
- Corruption: Sin is associated with corruption, leading to a "living death" where the sinner experiences the loathsomeness of sin clinging to them [11].
- Enmity with God: Sin places humanity in opposition to God, incurring His wrath [6]. God's anger is not an arbitrary emotional outburst but a necessary response from a holy God to sin [6].
The New Testament further clarifies the nature of sin and its relationship to the devil. John states that "He that committeth sin is of the devil" [3]. Augustine, as cited by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, explains that while the devil does not "beget" children in the same way God does, those who imitate the devil become his children through their actions [3]. Bengel adds that from the devil comes corruption, not generation [3]. This highlights that persistent sin aligns an individual with the devil's nature and purposes.
The universal nature of sin is a foundational theological concept. Paul emphasizes that both Gentiles and Jews are "equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own" [6]. This universal sinfulness underscores the necessity of divine intervention for salvation.
The ultimate focus in the fight against sin is the victory achieved through Jesus Christ. The death and resurrection of Christ are central to overcoming sin and its consequences [10].
- Defeat of Sin's Power: Christ's work "ends the dominating power of sin and death" [10]. This means that while sin may still be present, its ultimate dominion over believers is broken.
- Resurrection and Victory over Death: Resurrection defeats death, which is identified as the "ultimate enemy" [9]. Death is a direct consequence and "wages of sin" [12]. Through Christ, believers are enabled to "transcend sin here and now" by the power of the Spirit [9].
- Abolition of Eternal Death: While corporeal death remains an enemy for all, Christ has abolished eternal death for His people, ensuring it will have no power over them [12].
- Claimed by God: In Christ, believers are claimed by God, signifying a transfer of ownership and allegiance from sin to God [8].
The struggle against sin for believers is an ongoing process. While the wicked "indulge their sinful nature," the godly "fight against it" [1]. This fight is described in passages like Romans 7:19-23 and James 4:1-10, indicating an internal conflict and a call to resist sinful desires [1]. However, the ultimate victory is not achieved through human effort alone but through Christ's decisive work. The power of the Spirit enables believers to overcome sin in their present lives [9].
The theological understanding of sin emphasizes its profound impact on humanity and the radical solution provided by God in Christ. It moves beyond a mere list of wrong actions to address the corrupted nature of humanity and the comprehensive redemption offered through the cross and resurrection.
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).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:54: 15:54 “Death is swallowed up in victory”: Resurrection defeats the ultimate enemy, death, just as the power of the Spirit enables believers to transcend sin here and now (see Rom 8:2, 11).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:57: 15:57 The death and resurrection of Christ ends the dominating power of sin and death (see Rom 6:14; 8:2; 10:4).”
- Zechariah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Zechariah 14:12: Punishment on the foe, the last Antichristian confederacy (Isa 59:18; Isa 66:24; Eze. 38:1-39:29; Rev 19:17-21). A living death: the corruption (Gal 6:8) of death combined in ghastly union with the conscious sensibility of life. Sin will be felt by the sinner in all its loathsomeness, inseparably clinging to him as a festering, putrid body.”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 15:25: The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. Not eternal death; for though that is abolished by Christ with respect to his own people, who shall never be hurt by it, and over whom it shall have no power; yet the wicked will always be subject to it, and under the dominion of it: but a corporeal one is here meant; which is an enemy, the fruit, effect, and wages of sin; the penalty and curse of the law; is contrary to human nature, and destructive of the work of God's hands: it is, indeed, through the blood, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ, become the ”