Hamartiology: The Doctrine of Sin Explained
Talking about sin these days seems old-fashioned and out of touch. Who really wants to think about sin or being sinful? Yet, God reminded Cain who killed his brother Abel:
“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” - Genesis 4:7
Hamartiology is the study of sin and deals with how sin originated, how it affects humanity, and how it was and will ultimately be defeated. Generally speaking, sin is rebellion against God. It is the “missing of the mark” of God’s law and standards.
The Bible uses metaphors for sin such as becoming unclean, crossing a line, breaking a rule, getting lost, being diseased, and deadness. This is an essential doctrine for people to understand especially when it comes to receiving salvation. Before one receives salvation from Jesus, one has to know from what he/she is being saved.
The Gospel is only good news if we realize how bad the bad news actually is!
The marks and effects of sin are evident all around and within humans. All one has to do is turn on the television and watch the news. Wars, murders, violence, rape, and natural disaster fill the airwaves each day. Closer still, look inside of the human soul to know of one’s own brokenness, anxiety, worry, fear, and shame. All of these experiences point to the devastation of sin among and within the human heart.
But how did it all start? The Bible speaks of all humans being born into sin. King David, in Psalm 51, speaks of being sinful even at the moment of conception. Additionally, Paul, in Romans 5 notes:
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” - Romans 5:12
Adam and Eve were the first humans who fell into sin by eating the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3. Doing so meant that they would die physically and spiritually - becoming separated from their loving and holy God for the wages, or the result of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)
Not only are human beings born into sin, but all humans continue in their own cycle of sinfulness. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” While all sin leads to death, the scriptures also acknowledge different levels and degrees of sinfulness. Stephen Wellum of the Gospel Coalition notes, “Scripture teaches that there are different degrees of punishment, tied to a person’s knowledge of God’s revelation that are more “serious” than those who have acted in ignorance, and thus demand greater punishment.” (Matthew 11:21-24; Luke 12:47-48; John 19:11)
Make no mistake about it, because of God’s own holiness and righteousness, he must confront and punish sin. To not do so would be unjust for Himself and the creation and creatures whom He loves.
“He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” - 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
That’s bad news for sinners! In fact, it’s the very worst of news (being punished and eternally separated from a loving, holy God). Yet God was not content to leave humans in their sin. God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to live the obedient life that God required and die a sinner’s death that all humans deserve. He became sin in our place.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21
Anyone who repents from their sin and trusts in Jesus’s death and resurrection over sin and evil can be totally forgiven and set free! This good news is available to anyone and everyone who trusts in Him. Jesus gave the decisive blow to sin.
While sin has been defeated on the cross of Jesus Christ, its pervasive presence remains. John Piper remarks:
“This does not mean we should become complacent about sin. It means we must fight it daily. We are commanded to constantly kill the sin that remains in our lives: “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live… Put to death therefore what is earthly in you” (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5). This is not optional. This is mortal combat: Sin dies or we die. Not that we ever become perfect in this age, but we go on killing sins as they attack us from day to day. We do not settle in with sin. We fight and we kill.”
I’m reminded of a bumper sticker I used to see every Sunday on my way to church several years ago. It read, “Life is short, death is sure. Sin the curse, Christ the cure!”
One day sin will be vanquished forever. Death, sadness, pain, and sin will be no more. I invite you to hold firm to these promises from God.
“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” - Revelation 22:3-4
