Chapter 1 – The Sin Problem

Since the gospel is God’s power to save men from sin, it is important that we begin our study with a brief outline of the sin problem before we turn to its solution which God has prepared for us in Christ.

It is only against the background of man’s total sinfulness and depravity that the gospel of Christ becomes meaningful.  The gospel, when accepted and applied to our lives, may be defined by the formula:  “Not I, but Christ” [Galatians 2:20].  This formula is expressed in the New Testament in various ways [1 Corinthians 15:10; Philippians 3:3, 8-9].

The most difficult part of this formula when it comes to its practical application is the first half, “Not I.”  The reason for this is because we fallen sinful human beings are born ego-centric or self-centered, and naturally want to live indepentant of God [Romans 1:20-23].  A true understanding of the sin problem is the only sure way of destroying all confidence in self and turning to Christ as our only righteousness, hope, and surety.  The following is a brief history and analysis of the sin problem.

1. Origin of Sin

• Ezekiel 28:14-15.  Sin originated in heaven in the mind of Lucifer, the head of the angelic beings.  The Bible does not explain how sin could begin with a perfect being, because sin is unexplainable.  Hence, it is referred to as “the mystery of iniquity.”

• Isaiah 14:12-14.  The essence of Lucifer’s sin was self-exaltation, what the Bible defines as iniquity, which in Hebrew means bent to self [Isaiah 53:6].  Hence, the love of self is the underlying principle of all sin, in complete opposition to the principle of God’s government which is founded upon selfless love or agape [see 1 John 4:7, 8, 16].  Sin therefore may be rightly interpreted as rebellion against God or His agape.  According to 1 Corinthians 13:5, there is no love of self in agape.

• Romans 7:7.  At the heart of every sin is covetousness or self-seeking.  Lust originated with the devil and is not of God [see 1 John 2:15-16].

• John 8:44.  In heaven, Lucifer (who became Satan) coveted the position of Christ and therefore desired to murder Him so that he might get Him out of the way (murder in God’s eyes begins in the mind, see Matthew 5:21-22).

• Revelation 12:7-9.  Sin in the heart of Lucifer led to war in heaven.  Satan and the angels who sided with him were defeated and were cast out of their heavenly home.

2. Development of Sin

While sin originated in the mind of Lucifer in heaven, it was never allowed to develop in heaven.  It was on this earth that Satan and his angels developed sin.  Let us see how this was done:

• Genesis 1:26, 28.  God created this earth for man and, therefore, gave him dominion over it.

• Luke 4:5-6.  By deceiving our first parents (Adam and Eve) and causing them to fall, Satan took possession of this world and made it his own; this is based on the principle recorded in 2 Peter 2:19.  Please note that Jesus did not question Satan’s claim that the world was delivered to him.

• John 14:30.  Since the fall of man, Satan has become the “prince of this world.”

• 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.  Paul refers to Satan as the “god of this world.”

• 1 John 5:19.  The whole world, apart from the Christian, is under the control of Satan, or as the Greek text actually says, “the wicked one.”

• 2 Peter 2:19.  Man defeated by Satan is in bondage (slavery) to him [John 8:34; Romans 6:17].

Using man as his tool, Satan has developed a kingdom (the Bible refers to it as “the kingdom of this world”) that is based entirely on the principle of self and which is in complete opposition and contradiction to the “kingdom of heaven.”  Everything, therefore, that goes to make up this worldly system (kosmos) — nationalism, tribalism, politics, education, commerce, recreation, sports, social clubs, technology, etc. — is founded upon the principle of love of self, even though at times this principle may not be obvious.  According to 1 John 2:16, “all that is in the world” (i.e., without exception) is based or founded upon lust (i.e., love of self).

In the New Testament and especially in the book of Revelation the term “Babylon” is used as a symbol to represent the spiritual kingdom of this world which is under Satan and is in opposition to God’s kingdom and His people [Revelation 14:8, 17:3-6; 18:1-3].  The basis of this symbol is founded in literal Babylon of the Old Testament, the capital of the once-greatest empire this world has ever known [read Daniel 2].  According to Daniel 4:30, the great city of Babylon was built on the principle of self-love and, therefore, represents a fitting symbol of Satan’s kingdom. In contrast, “Jerusalem,” which represents Christ’s kingdom, is from above and is called “the holy city” [Galatians 4:26; Revelation 21:10].

Because Satan is a liar and a deceiver there is much of this world that appears to be good (this is especially designed to be a trap for Christians), but at the end of the world, when Satan will be completely exposed, it will be seen that the whole world (good and bad) worships the dragon “that deceived the whole world” [Revelation 12:9; 13:3-4].  God has allowed Satan to have his own way and develop sin in this world for some 6,000 years.  But the time has come when Satan and his kingdom must be exposed and destroyed forever [2 Peter 3:10-13; Psalm 92:7-9].

But for the fallen human race, held in captivity by Satan, God has made a way of escape [2 Peter 3:9].  This is the Good News of the gospel which He wants all to know and receive.  According to Matthew 25:34, God has prepared the heavenly kingdom for people “since the creation of the world,” while verse 41 indicates that the destroying fires of hell have been prepared only “for the devil and his angels.”  According to John 3:16, “God so loved the world [the human race] that he gave his one and only Son” so that none will perish, but instead all may have eternal life.  Those who respond in faith to God’s love manifested in the gift of His Son will experience the deliverence from the condemnation which is resting on Satan and his kingdom [Romans 8:1; John 5:24].

3. Sin Defined

Before we can proceed to study the gospel it would be well to define sin more fully so that the good news of salvation will be meaningful to us.  The Bible uses some 12 different words to define sin; but putting these together we may categorize sin into three basic concepts.  These three are all expressed in Psalm 51:2-3. They are:  iniquity, sin, and transgression.  We will consider each one of them separately.

INIQUITY

The root meaning of this word is “to be bent.”  As used in Scripture it refers to our spiritual condition.  Note the following texts:

• Psalm 51:5.  David was “shapen in iniquity” from his very birth.  This was his spiritual condition since physically he was handsome [1 Samuel 16:12].  The primary meaning of iniquity is not an act but a condition.  As a result of the fall, man by very nature is spiritually “bent,” so that the driving force of his very nature is love of self. Paul defines it as “the law of sin and death” [Romans 7:23; 8:2].  It is this condition that is the basis of all our sinning, and which makes us slaves to sin [Romans 3:9-12; 7:14].

• Isaiah 53:6.  Two things are revealed in this text.  1. Everyone of us has gone astray, since we have all turned or bent “to his own way.”  2. This own-way-ness (i.e., self-centeredness) is synonymous with iniquity, which was laid upon Christ our sin bearer; and it was this “sin in the flesh” that Christ “condemned” on the cross [Romans 8:2-3].

  Iniquity, therefore, is simply seeking our own way, a condition we are born with and which (without a Saviour) makes it impossible to do genuine righteousness, since the law of God requires even our motives to be pure [Matthew 5:20-22, 27-28].  In contrast to iniquity or self-seeking is agape (divine love) which is of God and which “is not self-seeking” [1 Corinthians 13:5].  Our next study will cover this in greater detail.

• Isaiah 64:6.  Because man by nature is “shapen in iniquity,” all the righteousness produced by him through his own efforts is like filthy rags before God, because it is polluted with self-love.  According to Zech. 3:3, 4, “filthy garments” are equated with iniquity. In contrast to these filthy garments of ours (self-righteousness), the white raiment of Christ (His righteousness) is offered to the Laodicean church so that they may be truly clothed, and “can cover [their] shameful nakedness” before the judgment seat of God [Revelation 3:18; 10:3-4].

• Matthew 7:22-23.  Self-righteous acts camouflaged or disguised in the name of Christ are exposed in the judgment and clearly identified as works of iniquity (i.e., works motivated by self-love).  All Christians must consider this text seriously.  Do our works originate from Christ and, therefore, are motivated by agape, or do we “want to impress people by means of the flesh” [Galatians 6:12]?  Are our works the result of a genuine relationship with Christ (i.e, works of faith) or are we working in His name but we really don’t know Him?  [See also Luke 13:25-28.]

• Philippians 3:3-9.  The converted Paul recognizes the worthlessness of his self-righteousness and willingly exchanges it for the righteousness of Christ which is by faith.

Once we understand the true meaning of iniquity we will realize that nothing good dwells in us [Romans 7:18] and we will begin to “hunger and thirst” after the righteousness of Christ so freely offered to us in the gospel.

SIN

The actual meaning of this word is “missing the mark.”  In Judges 20:16, the Hebrew word sin (translated in the KJV as “not miss”) is used true to its meaning.  Used in a spiritual sense, sin is missing the divine mark or “falling short of the glory of God,” which is His selfless love or agape [Romans 3:23].

Since all men are born spiritually “bent” (shapen in iniquity), it is not difficult to see what Romans 3:10, 12 says:  there are none righteous and no one who does good.  Man’s sinful condition makes it impossible for him to do anything but sin, unless he has a Savior.  That is why the gospel is man’s only hope of salvation.  While man does have a free will to choose between accepting Christ’s righteousness offered in the gospel or rejecting it, he does not have a choice between doing sin or geniune righteousness.  Man is born a slave to sin and no matter how hard he wills or tries, he will fall short of the divine mark [Romans 7:15-24].  For further study read the following texts:  Job 15:14-16; Psalm 14:2-3; Isaiah 1:4-6; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-23.

TRANSGRESSION

This word means a deliberate violation of the law, or willful disobedience.  Transgression pre-supposes that one has the knowledge of the law.  In the spiritual realm, transgression is the violation of the moral law, or ten commandments of God [see 1 John 3:4]. A knowledge of God’s law makes sin to be “transgression.”  Note the following:

• Galatians 3:19.  The law was given to make sin into transgression.

• James 2:9.  The law convinces us we are transgressors.

• Romans 3:20.  Through the law we have the knowledge of sin.

• Romans 5:20.  The law did not solve the sin problem but made it “increase” all the more.

• Romans 7:7-13.  The law exposes our sinful condition and reveals our total bankruptcy with regards to righteousness.

Since sin is a deceiver, it would be impossible for sinful man to fully realize his condition unless God revealed it to him.  This He has done by giving the law.  The law was never given as a means of salvation or to deal with sin.  The law is incapable of producing righteousness in us because of man’s sinful state [Romans 8:3]; the only way that man can be saved is in Christ.  The Scriptures clearly state that “no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law” [Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; 3:21-22; 5:4].  It cannot make man holy and good because he is sold under sin [Romans 7:12, 14].  But God gave the law to sinful man to be “our guardian [or schoolmaster or escort] until Christ [comes] that we might be justified by faith” [Galatians 3:24].

This will be our study in the following chapters.