Great Doctrines of the Bible
Special English Version

Lesson 20
SIN
(WHERE IT CAME FROM – WHAT IS IT LIKE – WHAT ARE ITS RESULTS - WHAT WILL CURE IT?)

INTRODUCTION
According to the writer Mr. Leo Tolstoy, mankind lost the meaning of God more than a hundred years ago. “The mark of our present time is that man has lost the meaning of sin.” The farther a man moves away from God, the less he thinks about his sin. The better we understand how holy God is, the more wicked and hateful our sin looks to us. In the world today people pay no attention to sin. They deny sin or they laugh at sin. Liberal preachers say that people are not born sinful. Psychiatrists (doctors who study the mind) say that there is no sin. In this way they try to make people forget about sin. When people say there is no sin, then they will not feel guilty for doing wrong. Today people say that anything two adults agree to do between them is acceptable. They say if doing something does not hurt anybody, then it is fine to do it. A person should decide according to the situation he finds himself in. The situation decides if something is good or not. The Bible has nothing to do with it.

The reason for this lesson is to call every student back to what the Bible says about sin. We want to see sin as the Holy Spirit sees it. We want to see sin through the eyes of a Holy God. Above all we want to see where sin came from and what sin is like We want to see what the terrible results of sin are and also what the cure for sin is.

IMPORTANCE OF THIS LESSON

• Millions of people are not willing to admit that our world is full of sin. Sin is like a disease that rots. Sin destroys everything it touches. We are seeing more and more crimes that hurt people. People who practice sexual sins walk openly on the streets. They demand their right to do this. People are proud, their desires are never satisfied. People want what other people have. People are dishonest and they lie to each other all the time. Openly sinful sexual sin is accepted as normal human behavior in these days. Many men and women are living together in open adultery. The people do not care that they are disobeying the laws of God.
• The only way to hold back the widespread evil that destroys the world is to preach the Bible message of SIN with great force. We must preach and teach against sin as in the old days. We cannot begin to understand the gospel, the Bible, or Christianity itself until we see clearly why Christ came to the earth.
  John 1:29 – “…The Lamb of God taketh away the sin of the world.”
  Hebrews 9:26 – He appeared once to put away sin.
• Many people think that the word SAVED is not very important. We cannot understand word SAVED until we know what we are saved from!
  Galatians 1:4 –Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins.
  Revelation 1:5 – He is the one who loved us and washed our sins from us by His blood.
• A person must see what sin really is before he can understand why Jesus had to die on the cross.
  2 Corinthians 5:21 – Christ did not know any sin. Nevertheless God caused Him to become sin for us. The result is that we are the righteousness of God in Him.
  Isaiah 53:6 – The Lord put all our guilt on Him.
  I Peter 2:24 – He by Himself offered up our sins in His body on the cross.

Include this form on your page

THE LESSON

I. WHERE DID SIN COME FROM AND HOW DID IT BEGIN?
It is best to state here that God did not create angels or human being as machines that had no will of their own. God would get no glory from a creature who could do nothing but praise, worship or serve Him. So,
at the beginning, Lucifer (Satan) had a will of his own, and he used it to rebel against God. He willed to disobey God and rebel against Him. The result of the disobedience and rebellion was sin.

1. THE WAY SIN BEGAN IN THE UNIVERSE.
   1. Sin began when Satan rebelled against God and wanted to become more powerful than God Himself. He said, “I will be like God” (Isaiah 14:13-14). (Read also Ezekiel 28:12-15.)
   2. Satan became proud because of his power and beauty (Ezekiel 28:17; Isaiah 14:13). He rebelled against the One who made him and said, “I will do what I desire to do.” This is how sin came into the universe.
   3. Jesus talked about Satan and said that he was a murderer from the time he began his rebellion against God. Jesus said that there was no truth in Satan because he did not remain in the truth. He is a liar and the father of lying. Therefore, whenever he speaks what is false, he speaks his own thing (John 8:44).
   4. God will throw Satan into the “bottomless pit” before Christ comes to reign on this earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20:3). At the end of the millennium, Satan will be put in “the lake of fire”. (Revelation 20:10) Satan is not in the bottomless pit now, but today he is working from his own throne in the universe (Revelation 13:2). Satan is called “the ruler of this world” (John 14:30) and “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). In Ephesians 2:2 he is called “ruler of the power of the air.” Satan is God’s great enemy at this time. Satan is also your enemy as a believer. He is the enemy of all righteous people (Matthew 13:25, 28, 39; 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and Acts 13:10).
2. THE WAY THE HUMAN RACE BECAME SINFUL
   1. Satan tempted Eve to eat the fruit God had told Adam and Eve that they should not eat. Satan did this by lying to Eve. He changed the truth of God, and deceived Eve (1Timothy 2:14). When Adam joined Eve in eating the fruit, which God had forbidden, SIN ENTERED THE WORLD. This was an act of rebellion and disobedience against God (Romans 5:12).
      Adam was the representative of the whole human race. He carried responsibility for the whole race, therefore, when Adam became a sinner, the whole human race became sinners. Adam failed and we must all bear the result of that failure.
      1. 1 Corinthians 15:22 – “…as in Adam ALL die.”
      2. Romans 5:12 – “and so death passed upon ALL men for that ALL have sinned”
      3. Romans 3:9-12 – “they are ALL under sin…they are TOGETHER become unprofitable; there is NONE good, no, not one.”
      4. Romans 5:18 – “Therefore, as by the offence (willful sin) of one, judgment came upon ALL men to condemnation.”
   2. In short then, as far as the human race is concerned, sin started in and with Adam. Sin started in Adam’s will. Adam knew that eating the fruit was an act of disobedience and rebellion against God’s Word and command. All human beings are united as one group (race) with one person who was the representative for all. Adam, as the representative, acted in our behalf as head of the human race, therefore the result of Adam’s act comes on all of us. These results include physical and spiritual death (1Corinthians 15:22; Ephesians 2:1). Because of Adam’s sin the whole human race became very wicked (Romans 3:9-18; 5:19) and man lost eternal life with God
      (Ezekiel 18:4).

II. THE MEANING OF SIN

1. Sin is failure to obey any law or to break any law of God (1 John 3:4; Galatians 3:10-12).
2. From ZONDERVAN BIBLE DICTIONARY:
   1. The main Hebrew words for sin are:
      “ resha” – This word means “breaking a law” or “not having respect for a law”.
      “ ra” – This word means having an evil nature.
   2. The primary Greek or New Testament words for sin are:
      “ hamartia” – This word means “missing the mark”.
      “ poneria” – This word means “being evil”.
      “ adikia” – This word means “unrighteousness”.
   3. Here are some notes from the Schofield Reference Bible - Sin is:
      1. Transgression – Breaking the law (Psalm 51:1; Romans 2:23)
      2. Iniquity – An act that is wrong in itself. It is wrong whether it is forbidden or not ( Romans 1:22-23).
      3. Error – Failure to do the right thing (Romans 1:18; 1 John 3:4).
      4. Missing the mark – Failure to meet God’s standards (Romans 3:23).
      5. Trespassing – Putting your own will in the place of God’s authority (Ephesians 2:1).
      6. Lawlessness – A state of spiritual confusion where anything a person does is right (1 Timothy 1:9).
      7. Unbelief – Doubting the truthfulness of God (John 16:9).
   4. A personal definition of sin:
      1. The sins of the unbelievers are acts of rebellion against God. These acts come out of a nature,
         which is spiritually dead.
      2. The sins of believers are acts of disobedience against the will of God. These sins are the result of failing to obey the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16) and failure to die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31). It is also a failure to consider the old man as dead (Romans 6:11).
   5. Biblical definitions of sin:
      1. 1 John 3:4 – “…Sin is the breaking the law of God.” God gave the law (The Ten Commandments) that we will know what sin is (Romans 7:7).
      2. 1 John 5:17 – “All unrighteousness is sin.” If a deed is not absolutely right, it is absolutely wrong. Anything short of God’s righteousness is sin (Romans 3:10-12). Of ourselves, even our righteousnesses are as dirty rags” (Isaiah 64:6).
      3. Romans 14:23 – “…whatsoever is not on the basis of faith is sin.” This verse says, “If it’s doubtful, it’s sinful.” If you cannot do a thing with absolute faith that it is right, then it is wrong.
      4. Proverbs 24:9 – “The things that a foolish person plans to do are sin.” Sin, is not simply what we do, but also what we plan to do. God knows all our thoughts (Psalm 139:2). Our foolish plans are sin in His eyes.
      5. James 4:17 – This verse says that any man who knows that he must do good and he does not do it, he sins. Notice here that sin is not only action, but also failure to act properly.

III. WHAT SIN IS LIKE
There are many words that tell us what sin is, but I think the following three words are sufficient.

1. Sin DEMANDS THINGS.
   Sin is powerful. It is the only thing in the universe that could demand the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and enforce that demand.
   1. Sin demands that people will become its slaves.
      1. John 8:34 – says that anyone who does sin is a slave to sin.
      2. Romans 6:16-17, 19 and 20 – Verse 16 says that you become a slave to sin when you hand yourself over to sin. Verse 17 says that in the past you were the slaves of sin. Verse 19 says that you handed over the parts of your body as slaves to unclean things and as slaves to sin.
      3. Every person who is “without Christ” is a slave of sin. Sin has no mercy. This is true whether a person knows it or not (Ephesians 2:12. When a person is without Christ and he lives without considering God, he is under the control of sin. Sin reigns in his life. Romans 6:17 says that in the past you were the slaves of sin. Romans 6:20 say that when you were the slaves of sin, righteousness was not your master. If you are not a Christian sin demands your time and your wealth. Sin demands your health, and your abilities. Sin demands control of your personality. In the end sin demands even your soul.
2. Sin DESTROYS THINGS
   1. What the Bible says about this:
      1. James 1:15 –When sin is full-grown it gives birth to death. It brings a person’s physical body to ruin. The unbeliever is eternally separated from God as a result of his sin. (Ephesians 2:1-5; Romans 8:6).
      2. Romans 3:15-17 –The feet of unbelievers hurry to shed blood. Ruin and suffering are in their ways. They did not know the way of peace (See Isaiah 59:7-8).
      3. Matthew 7:13 –The wide gate and the broad road lead to ruin. Sin leads to ruin in this life and to ruin after death.
      4. Proverbs 16:18 –If a person is proud he stands in danger that God may destroy him.
   2. Observations from life.
      Sin is a powerful destroyer. It destroys everything it touches. Words cannot be too strong or extreme to describe the destruction caused by sin in this world.
      1. AIDS, the dreaded acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is like a loaded gun that is pointed and ready to shoot at humanity. AIDS is the silent killer that could bring the entire world to the point of ruin. In the world, millions already have the virus and millions will die in this century. This disease is most often sin-related.
      2. Add to AIDS the misery, pain, shame, and death caused by herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, and other such diseases that are caused directly or indirectly by sin.
      3. Today, a great number of marriages end in divorce. Drinking alcohol and sinful living cause the break-up of many homes.
      4. People killing themselves, murders and violent crimes happen in greater numbers than we can guess.
      5. Alcohol is the cause of a great number of accidents on the highways.
      6. Sin blinds men’s minds (Ephesians 4:18). Sin is like a hot iron that burns people’s consciences (1 Timothy 4:2).
      7. Finally, sin brings the soul to ruin and sends a person into eternal hell (Revelation 21:8; Romans 6:23; Matthew 10:28; Mark 8:36).
   3. Sin is DECEITFUL.
      Someone said, “If sin were not deceitful, it would never be enjoyable.”
      Only a person who is blind to the terrible results of sin and the terror of hell can enjoy the pleasures of sin. This enjoyment of sin can only be for a short time. Sin never tastes the same at the end as at the beginning.
      1. James 1:15 – When sin is full grown it gives birth to death.
      2. Sin makes the heart deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9).
      3. Sin deceives and hardens the heart (Hebrews 3:13).
      4. Sin makes people act deceitfully.
         1. Sin deceived Herod Agrippa. Sin caused him to believe that he could accept the worship of man. An angel killed him because he did not give God the glory. Worms in Herod’s body caused him to die (Acts 12:21-23).
         2. Sin deceived Jezebel. She thought she could insult the God of Israel. As a result, the dogs licked up her blood in the streets of Jezreel (2 Kings 9:30-37).
         3. Sin deceived Ananias and Sapphira. They thought they could lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-11).
         4. Voltaire was a French unbeliever who doubted that the Bible was true. He thought the Bible would soon go out of existence. Some people say that he cried on his deathbed, “I wish I had never been born!”
         5. Sin deceived Lord Byron, a British poet. He thought he could live a life full of sinful sex. He thought there were no results to a wicked life. Near the end of his short life he wrote, “The flowers of life are all gone. The worm and the infection and the sorrow are mine alone.”
         6. Galatians 6:7 says, Do not allow sin to deceive you. You cannot mock God. The reason is that whatsoever a person sows he will also reap. Numbers 32:23 says, If you don’t do these things, (the things God has commanded you), then you will be sinning against the Lord. And know for sure that you will be punished for your sin.

IV. WHAT DID GOD DO ABOUT SIN?

1. Remember that God sent Jesus Christ into this world as a sacrifice for sin. While Jesus was in the body He condemned sin (Romans 8:3). God put away sin by sacrificing Himself (Hebrews 9:26) and in that way God saved sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).
2. The question is how did God judge sin? How did God put it away and provide salvation for the sinner? The answer is found in three words – SUBSTITUTION, IMPUTATION, AND RESURRECTION. Put these three words and ideas firmly in your mind.
   1. SUBSTITUTION – This means that Christ died for my sins. Christ died IN MY PLACE. Galatians 2:20 – “…who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
   2. IMPUTATION – This means that my sins were put on His account. It is like putting my debt on some other person’s bill. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that Christ did not know any sin. Nevertheless, God caused that He became sin for us. The result is that we are the righteousness of God in Him.
   3. RESURRECTION – This shows the power of God over sin! As believers, God raised us with Christ and gave us a seat with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). This is where we share the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10). We can consider ourselves to be dead to the power of sin, but alive for God through the power of Christ, who rose from the dead (Romans 6:11). Read Romans 6:1-22.
3. Results of God’s Provision
   1. Through SUBSTITUTION God will not condemn us because of our sin, for Christ was punished in our place. Christ took the guilt for our sin on Himself, therefore God does not consider us guilty any more (Romans 8:1).
   2. Through IMPUTATION God saved us from the CORRUPTION (RUIN) and STAIN of sin. God charged my sins or imputed them to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 2:24). When we put our faith in Him, God imputes the righteousness of Christ to us. (Christ’s righteousness is put on us.) (Romans 4:1-8, 22-25)
   3. Through RESURRECTION God saved us from the CONTROL and GRIP of sin (Romans 6:1-14).
   4. SUMMARY – You and I were guilty sinners and worthy of death (Romans 3:23; 6:23). But God, who is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4), did not desire that we will die for our sins. For this reason God sent Jesus into the world (Hebrews 10:7). Jesus became the sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 10:10, 12). Jesus took our place (Galatians 2:20) and bore our sins (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus put them away from the eyes of a holy God (Hebrews 9:26). When Jesus died, God caused that he was sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He actually became sin in the eyes of God. On the cross Jesus took upon Himself ALL your sins and the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). At the cross God judged your sins. In this way God’s justice was completely satisfied. God can now continue to be just (righteous) and be the One to justify (declare to be right with God) every person who believes on Christ (Romans 3:26). Christ won over sin. God raised Christ from death to make us right with God (Romans 4:25). Through His death and resurrection Christ secured forgiveness and redemption (Ephesians 1:7; Acts 10:43; 1 Peter 1:18). Christ made power available to win over sin in our lives (Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:2-4).

V. HOW YOU CAN WIN OVER SIN

1. If you want God to deliver you from the guilt and condemnation of sin you must:
   1. Identify your sin and admit that you are a sinner (Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:24).
   2. Repent. Change your mind concerning your sin. Turn away from your sin to Christ (Luke 13:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:9).
   3. Receive Christ as your Savior and Lord and say that with your mouth (John 1:12; Romans 10:9-10).
   4. Place your faith completely in Him and in the work He finished on the cross. You must be satisfied with that which satisfied a holy God (Acts 16:31; Romans 4:25). (Read also John 20:31; Romans 5:1; and Philippians 3:9).
2. If you do not want sin to have power over you but you want to win over sin in your life you must:
   1. Consider yourself to be a person who is dead to the power of sin, even though you are alive in the body. Remember that sin crucified you “with Christ” (Galatians 2:20). You died when He died. God crucified your old man with Christ. God buried you with Him, and He raised you with Him to live a new life (Romans 6:1-8). Therefore, CONSIDER THIS TO BE TRUE. Believe it! Practice it! (Read Romans 6:11-13.) Do not let sin rule, instead surrender yourselves unto God, as a person who is alive from the dead. Also surrender every part of your body as a tool of righteousness that God can use.
   2. Learn to live by obeying the Holy Spirit.
      1. Live by obeying the Spirit, and you will not satisfy the strong desires of the sinful nature (Galatians 5:16).
      2. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that causes people to know that Christ is a real person.
      3. The Holy Spirit helps us to live free from the law (the governing principle) that produces sin and death (Romans 8:2-4).
   3. To live in obedience to the Spirit you must:
      1. RECOGNIZE that the Holy Spirit is a person (John 16:13-14).
      2. REALIZE that the Holy Spirit is always present with you (John 14:17).
      3. DEPEND ON THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Depend on Him completely and at all times (Acts 1:8; Zechariah 4:6).
      4. Practice faith in Christ that never changes.
         1. By faith we win over the world (1 John 5:4).
         2. By faith we defeat Satan (Ephesians 6:16).
         3. By faith we know that God’s power guards us (1 Peter 1:5).
         4. By faith we know that Christ is always present with us (Ephesians 3:17).
         5. By faith courage is given us to face the storms of life (Matthew 8:26).
         6. By faith we are free from the worries about material necessities (Matthew 6:30-34).
         7. By faith we are able to live without worry or doubt (Matthew 14:31-33).
      5. Last of all, all of the things above will happen if you will think about the Word of God every day. If you do that you will develop a strong prayer life that will never change. You must try to have fellowship with Christians who are strong for God. You must faithfully witness to lost people about your faith in Christ.

Examination

This is the end of this lesson. In order to proceed with the examination, you must be preregistered* as a student with Rogma International. If you are ready to proceed with the examination, click one of the buttons below:

This version is recommended if you have a reliable internet connection. The exam must be completed during your open session, otherwise you risk losing any answers that you may have already completed.		If you are unable to complete the exam online, we suggest that you download this Adobe Acrobat PDF version of the exam and write your answers in the body of an e-mail message to your assigned grader.

* Although registration is not required, registered students can earn a Certificate of Accomplishment, Certificate of Achievement, or a Diploma. In addition, registered students are assigned a personal grader who will monitor their ongoing progress. If you would like to register first, click below. A student identification number and access codes will be e-mailed to you within a few business days. Click to register.