[Note: This is taken from Faith of God Bible College's Course 6.]
1. HAMARTIOLOGY
The study or doctrine of sin is called hamartiology. Hamartiology comes from the two Greek words hamartia, meaning sin and logos, meaning the study of, doctrine. In this course we will study the doctrine of sin.
Sin is the root of all of man's problems. Sin was authored by the anointed angel Lucifer who sinned and became Satan (the devil). The Scriptural account of Lucifer's being created perfect and later being found with sin in his heart is found in Ezekiel 28:11-19.
The Bible makes it clear that those who sin are servants of sin and its author (John 8:34; Romans 6:16). It also states that
"He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning..." (1 John 3:8); "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin..." (1 John 3:9); and "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not..." (1 John 5:18).
Isaiah 14:12-14
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
As a free moral agent, Lucifer decided to overthrow God's kingdom and be like the most High. He said in his heart five different things, each on the basis of his own will. His rebellion against God and God's law caused his downfall, and God pronounced that he will "be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit" (Isaiah 14:15). So it is the same with all who choose to follow Lucifer in rebellion against God by committing sin, for they will also make their eternal home in hell (Isaiah 66:24; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 7:21-23; 13:37-50; 25:41-46; Revelation 14:9-11; 21:8).
Before the devil sinned there was no sin. Sin came when the devil transgressed the law of God. There was always the possibility of sin on the parts of free moral agents, because there was a law for them to choose to follow or rebel against. If they so desired to act against God's law they could. The angel Lucifer decided to act against God's law and thus became the author of sin. He now propagates sin in man today, trying to cause the saved to transgress God's law and die spiritually and keep the unsaved in sin.
When one commits sin they are showing that they are children of the devil, for the Bible says, "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither him that loveth not his brother" (1 John 3:10). Sin is the lifestyle of the devil and his children, and holiness is the lifestyle of God and His children. You will live one way or the other, but you cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).
2. WHAT IS SIN?
1 John 3:4
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
For the believer today sin is breaking one of God's New Testament commandments (not the ten commandments and the Old Testament laws which were not incorporated into the New Covenant, but which were done away with, see Acts 15:24; Galatians 5:18; Colossians 2:14-17; etc). If there was no law, there would be no sin, because sin is transgressing the law (Romans 4:15). Adam and Eve were only given one command to obey in the garden (Genesis 2:17). They could have done anything they wanted to, with the exception of eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and they would have not sinned.
It is the same with believers today. God has given us specific commands on certain things not to do. If we choose to disobey some of these commands we will die spiritually. The sins that God tells us will damn the soul I will call death-penalty or mortal sins, and God forbids us to commit them.
3. ARE ALL SINS EQUAL?
Jesus plainly taught that there are degree in sin and that some sins are greater than others.
John 19:11
11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
4. 91 DEATH-PENALTY SINS
- Evil Thoughts
- Adultery
- Fornication
- Murder
- Covetousness
- Wickedness
- Deceit
- Lasciviousness
- An Evil Eye
- Blasphemy
- Pride
- Foolishness
- Being Filled With All Ungodliness
- Being Filled With All Unrighteousness
- Uncleanness
- Vile Affections
- Homosexuality
- Maliciousness
- Envy
- Debate (Strife)
- Malignity
- Gossipers
- Backbiters
- Hating God
- Despiteful
- Boasters
- Originators Of Evil Things
- Disobedient To Parents
- Willfully Ignorant
- All Sexual Sin
- Implacable
- Unmerciful
- Idolatry
- Effeminate
- Thieves
- Drunkards
- Revilers (Abusers Of Others)
- Extortioners
- Witchcraft
- Hatred
- Variance (Discord)
- Wrath
- Seditions
- Heresy
- Emulation
- Revelling (Rioting)
- Filthy Communication Out Of Your Mouth
- Lying And Loving Lies
- Walking In The Vanity Of Your Mind
- Darkened Understanding
- Blindness Of Heart
- Being Past Feeling
- Greed
- Deceitful Lusts
- Filthiness
- Foolish Talking
- Jesting (Ungodly Joking)
- Whoremongering
- Walking As A Fool
- Being Unwise
- Being Fearful
- Sorcery
- Being A Unbeliever
- Rebellion
- Stubbornness
- Despise Government and Law
- Speaking Evil Of Rulers
- Speaking Evil Of Things You Don't Know About
- Practicing Sexual Perversion
- Corrupt Yourself
- Error In Religious Lives
- Serving God For Gain
- Ungodly Deeds
- Blasphemy
- Murmerers
- Complainers
- Walking After Their Own Lusts
- Boasting And Bragging
- Mocking The Truth
- Separating From The True And Holy Body Of Christ
- Being Sensual
- Damnable Heresies
- Denying The Lord
- Having Pernicious Ways
- Selling The Gospel
- Being Presumptuous
- Selfwilled
- Eyes Full Of Adultery
- Not Being Able To Cease From Sin
- Forsaking The Right Way
- Alluring The Saved Into Sin
The Scripture references listing these sins are: Mark 7:20-23; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 4:17-32; 5:1-20; Colossians 3:5-10; Jude 8-19; and Revelation 21:8. These sins must and do cease when one is born-again. The moment one commits any one of these sins they die spiritually (are separated from God and His grace). The sins listed above are called death-penalty sins. When committed, these sins incur the death-penalty of spiritual death and if they are not repented of they will damn one's soul to eternal damnation in hell.
5. NON-DEATH-PENALTY SINS?
Non-death-penalty sins are sins that do not damn the soul, rather they reap chastening and the loss of reward at the judgment seat of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so by fire.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
A believer may have committed certain non-death-penalty sins in his life, but he will not be damned to hell, rather he will loose their reward for that work. As we grow in Christ and recognized non-death penalty sins in our lives we must repent of them. Otherwise we are in rebellion by refusing to grow and conform to Christ's image and incur the full punishment of the broken law.
6. EXAMPLES OF NON-DEATH-PENALTY SINS
Five examples of non-death-penalty sins are:
1. Doing good before men to be noticed by them (Matthew 6:1-2)
2. Praying to be noticed by men (Matthew 6:5)
3. Fasting to be noticed by men (Matthew 6:18)
4. Failing to give a cup of cold water (Matthew 10:42; Mark 9:41)
5. Lending in hope to receive something back (Luke 6:35)
Non-death-penalty sins generally have to do with one's motives in doing something. As long as one walks without committing any death-penalty sins the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ cleanses them of all non-death-penalty sins (1 John 1:7). When one commits a death-penalty sin they MUST confess and forsake their sin or they will not be forgiven and upon death will spend eternity in hell (Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 66:24; Matthew 25:41, 46; Mark 9:43-49; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 21:7-8).
7. FREEDOM TO COMMIT NON-DEATH-PENALTY SINS? GOD FORBID!
Now should the fact that some sins do not incur the penalty of spiritual death make one wish to commit these sins? God forbid!! This knowledge is to help believers understand sin and the penalties of sin, but it is not to encourage anyone to sin in the least. The apostle Paul put it this way:
Romans 6:1-2
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
When one is born-again they are made totally free from the old man (what some call a supposed sin nature), the spirit and nature of the devil. While they may commit a non-death-penalty sin and still remain in Christ, a unbeliever could commit a work of righteousness and still would remain in the devil. Non-death-penalty sins do not separate one from being a servant and child of God, but death-penalty sins can and will separate the one who commits such a sin from God's grace.
When one is born-again they are made free from all sin (Galatians 5:24; Romans 6:6-7; 1 Peter 4:1; 1 John 1:9), just as they were originally made in the womb (Eccl. 7:29). They become new creatures in Christ and all of the old sinful habits and lusts are done away with (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:24). While one may have experienced the New Birth and been made free from sin they may have committed certain non-death-penalty sins and still remained in Christ. Non-death-penalty sins can incur the death-penalty if, as one gains more light into God's Will, they refuse to get these sins out of their life (1 John 1:7). Such a one would be damned as a sinner who knows the truth but holds the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).
7. DEGREES OF PENALTIES IN GOD'S GOVERNMENT
Like man's governments, there are different degrees of penalties in God's government. Under man's government, breaking man's law by driving above the speed limit would incur a penalty, but would not incur the death-penalty. So it is with God's government, the penalties for breaking some of God's laws result only in the loss of reward (as seen in the examples above), while breaking other laws of God (the laws that carry a spiritual death-penalty if broken) will result in spiritual death ending in eternal damnation unless it is repented of.
The only way to get free from sin is through salvation. One must die to sin by the being born-again in order to be free from sin (Romans 6:1-7; Galatians 5:24; 1 Peter 4:1). It is totally unscriptural to believe that the power of God will not free you from sin. All true believers should know that God has freed them from sin and should move past committing non-death-penalty sins, and move on to
"...perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).
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