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Transition from Sin to God's Sovereignty in Christian Life

The Christian life involves a fundamental transition from a state dominated by sin to one characterized by God's sovereignty, a shift often described through concepts like conversion, regeneration, and sanctification. This transition is rooted in the understanding of humanity's fallen state and God's redemptive work through Jesus Christ [7, 12].

The Reign of Sin

Christian theology posits that sin is "any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God" [6]. This includes both internal states and outward actions, whether by omission or commission [6]. The Bible describes sin as intrinsically vile and deserving of punishment [6]. The concept of the "Fall of man" in Genesis 2 and 3 explains how humanity's first parents revolted against God, leading to sin and misery for them and their descendants [7]. As a result, all human beings are born sinners [9]. This inherent sinfulness means that "death reigned through the one" (Adam's trespass), subjecting humanity to spiritual, temporal, and eternal death [2, 15]. Paul emphasizes this universal sinfulness, stating that both Gentiles and Jews are "under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own" [12]. Sin is not merely a violation of natural order but an offense against a personal, moral governor [6]. It is often associated with "vanity" or sinful acts [10] and can manifest as deliberate rebellion or insolent arrogance against God [11].

Conversion and Regeneration: The Initial Shift

The transition from the reign of sin to God's sovereignty begins with conversion and regeneration. Conversion is defined as "the turning of a sinner to God" [3]. This involves abandoning former ways and embracing Christian faith, leading to a complete change in life where "old things pass away, and all things become new" [3]. Examples include the conversions of the Philippian jailer, Paul, and Lydia [3].

Regeneration, or the "new birth," is a divine work essential for entering heaven [8]. It is effected by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, often through the instrumentality of God's Word and the resurrection of Christ [8]. This new birth is described as a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17), a "newness of life" (Romans 6:4), and a "spiritual resurrection" [8]. It is a work of God's mercy and for His glory [8]. This initial work implants "new gracious principles" in the soul [4].

Justification and Forgiveness

Central to this transition is justification, which includes the forgiveness of sins [5]. Forgiveness means God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, removing the guilt of sin and the liability to eternal wrath [5]. This act of grace is freely offered to all through the gospel and is a unique prerogative of God [5]. It is "on account of the work of Christ" that sins are pardoned [5]. Through justification, individuals receive an "abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness," enabling them to "reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ" [2, 17]. This contrasts with the reign of death brought by Adam's offense [17].

Sanctification: The Ongoing Process

Following regeneration and justification, sanctification is the ongoing process of bringing the whole person "more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul" [4]. It is the work of the Holy Spirit, carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration [4]. Sanctification extends to the "whole man" (Romans 6:13; Colossians 3:10) and involves more than mere moral reformation; it is a transformation of the entire nature [4].

While believers are united with Christ and ideally separate from sin, they still "fall into sins" [16]. John acknowledges that if believers claim to have no sin, they deceive themselves, and if they say they "have not sinned," they make God a liar [13]. However, abiding in Christ means that "in so far as he abides in Christ, so far is he free from all sin" [16]. The life of sin and the life of God are mutually exclusive [16]. The struggle against sin continues, even for the godly [9].

God's Sovereignty and Reigning Grace

The ultimate goal of this transition is for grace to reign where sin once reigned [1]. As Romans 5:21 states, "that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" [1]. This means that God's grace, through Christ, becomes the dominant power in the believer's life, leading to eternal life [1, 15]. This reign of grace is "as extensively, deeply, and universally" as the reign of sin, filling the whole earth and pervading, purifying, and refining the entire soul [15].

The victory over sin, death, and the grave is given by God "through our Lord Jesus" [18]. Christ has overcome sin, putting it away through His sacrifice [18]. While sin may reign over individuals before conversion and dwell in them afterward, Christ has made an end of it [18]. Through Christ, believers are claimed by God [14]. This transition signifies a shift from being under the dominion of sin to being under the sovereign rule of God, where grace and righteousness prevail.

Sources

  1. Romans “that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. -- Romans 5:21”
  2. Romans “For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. -- Romans 5:17”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Conversion — The turning of a sinner to God (Acts 15:3). In a general sense the heathen are said to be "converted" when they abandon heathenism and embrace the Christian faith; and in a more special sense men are converted when, by the influence of divine grace in their souls, their whole life is changed, old things pass away, and all things become new (Acts 26:18). Thus we speak of the conversion of the Philippian jailer (16:19-34), of Paul (9:1-22), of the Ethiopian treasurer (8:26-40), of Cornelius (10), of Lydia (16:13-15), and others. (See [125]REGENERATION.)”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Forgiveness of sin — One of the constituent parts of justification. In pardoning sin, God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, and that on account of the work of Christ, i.e., he removes the guilt of sin, or the sinner's actual liability to eternal wrath on account of it. All sins are forgiven freely (Acts 5:31; 13:38; 1 John 1:6-9). The sinner is by this act of grace for ever freed from the guilt and penalty of his sins. This is the peculiar prerogative of God (Ps. 130:4; Mark 2:5). It is offered to all in the gospel. (See [219]JUSTIFICATION.)”
  6. 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,”
  7. 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”
  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. 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).”
  10. Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
  11. 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).”
  12. 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”
  13. 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”
  14. 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).”
  15. Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 5:21: That as sin hath reigned unto death - As extensively, as deeply, as universally, as sin, whether implying the act of transgression or the impure principle from which the act proceeds, or both. Hath reigned, subjected the whole earth and all its inhabitants; the whole soul, and all its powers and faculties, unto death, temporal of the body, spiritual of the soul, and eternal of both; even so, as extensively, deeply, and universally might grace reign - filling the whole earth, and pervading, purifying, and refining the whole soul: through righteousness - through this ”
  16. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:6: He reasons from Christ's own entire separation from sin, that those in him must also be separate from it. abideth in him--as the branch in the vine, by vital union living by His life. sinneth not--In so far as he abides in Christ, so far is he free from all sin. The ideal of the Christian. The life of sin and the life of God mutually exclude one another, just as darkness and light. In matter of fact, believers do fall into sins (Jo1 1:8-10; Jo1 2:1-2); but all such sins are alien from the life of God, and need Christ's cleansing blood, without appli”
  17. Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 5:17: For if by--"the" one man's offence death reigned by one--"through the one." much more shall they which receive--"the" abundance of grace and of the gift of--justifying righteousness . . . reign in life by one Jesus Christ--"through the one." We have here the two ideas of Rom 5:15 and Rom 5:16 sublimely combined into one, as if the subject had grown upon the apostle as he advanced in his comparison of the two cases. Here, for the first time in this section, he speaks of that LIFE which springs out of justification, in contrast with the death whi”
  18. 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 15:54: But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory,.... Over sin the sting of death, over the law the strength of sin, and over death and the grave; and which will be the ground and foundation of the above triumphant song in the resurrection morn, as it is now at this present time of praise and thankfulness to God: and it is all through our Lord Jesus; he has got the victory over sin; he has put it away by the sacrifice of himself; he has finished and made an end of it; for though it reigns over his people before conversion, and dwells in them after it, yet in”
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