Gavin Howe
The concept of sin in Christianity is a complex one, and the question of whether God created the law of sin has been a topic of much debate. According to the Bible, God created the universe in six days, and everything was deemed very good (Genesis 1:31). However, sin entered the world due to an act of rebellion against God, specifically when Adam disobeyed God and ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This act brought sin into the world, and it is defined as any violation of God's laws or standards. While God created all things, including Satan, who tempted Adam and Eve, the existence of sin is attributed to the free will God granted his creations, rather than being something God created or decreed.
| Characteristics | Values | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Definition of sin | "Sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4) | "Sin is any violation of God's laws or standards" (Romans 1:28-32 and Galatians 5:19-21) | "Sin is anything (words, thoughts, actions, and motivations) that falls short of God's glory and perfection" (Romans 3:23) | "Sin leads to bondage and death"Sin is an "active privation" that deprives the acting principle and the action itself of rectitude | |||
| God's role in the creation of sin | God created the universe in six days, and originally, there was no sin (Genesis 1:31)Sin entered the world due to an act of rebellion against God, not because God created itGod wanted humans to have the ability to choose him, which meant allowing the possibility of sinGod created all things, including Satan, who introduced sin to the world | ||||||
| The law and sin | The law exposes our sin and allows us to see ourselves as we truly areThe law turns sin as a power into sin as a transgression, the actual breaking of a specific commandmentThe Mosaic law has a distinct role within the Pentateuch, separate from the Old Testament |
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What You'll Learn
Sin is lawlessness
The concept of sin in Christianity is a complex one, and the question of whether God created sin has been a topic of much debate. According to the Bible, sin is lawlessness, or any violation of God's laws and standards. The Bible also states that sin entered the world through an act of rebellion against God, implying that God did not create sin.
The first book of John, chapter 3, verse 4 states, "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness." This verse draws a direct connection between sin and lawlessness, suggesting that sin is a result of disobeying or breaking God's laws. Romans 3:23 reinforces this idea by saying, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Here, the word "fall short" translates to "lack," emphasizing that sin involves a lack of conformity to God's glory, perfection, and standards.
The entry of sin into the world is attributed to Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Adam's choice to disobey God and eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil brought sin into a world that was originally created "very good" by God. This act of rebellion introduced sin and its consequences into human existence.
It is important to note that while God created all things, including Satan, it does not mean He created sin. The existence of free will allows for the potential to choose sin, but it is not God's intention for His creations to be forced to love and obey Him. God desires for us to choose Him willingly, and the presence of free will allows for the possibility of sin.
The Mosaic law, or the law of Moses, plays a significant role in understanding sin. The law exposes our sinfulness and holds us accountable to God. It provides a clear standard of right and wrong, without which, every word and action would be judged by imperfect human standards. The law turns sin into a transgression, giving it a concrete definition as the breaking of a specific commandment.
In conclusion, the statement "Sin is lawlessness" emphasizes the nature of sin as a violation of God's laws and standards. It entered the world through rebellion, and God, in His desire for us to choose Him willingly, did not create sin but instead provided the freedom for it to exist. The law plays a crucial role in defining and exposing sin, holding us accountable to God's perfect standard.
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God gave the law to expose sin
The law, therefore, increases the accountability of all the world. The whole world is accountable to God. Without the law, sin lies dead, that is, unrecognized and unstirred by the aggravations of commandments. The law brings wrath, but where there is no law, there is no transgression.
The law also reveals the knowledge of sin's power. God's law shows that the power of sin is far greater than the power of God's law. God's law can't provide a remedy or a solution to rescue from sin. It is too weak. God's law gives his people a clear, written statement of God's will. God's law also gave his people many practices, like circumcision, a strict dietary code, and many other holiness practices to distinguish them from the Gentiles.
The purpose of the law is to show us our sinfulness, that we might look to the Savior. We must confess our sins and believe in God’s salvation through Christ. Once we admit that we are sinners and ask for God’s forgiveness, we are saved through Christ.
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Sin is a privation
According to the Bible, sin entered the world through an act of rebellion against God. 1 John 3:4 states that "sin is lawlessness", implying that sin is not a thing in itself, but a lack or absence of something. This interpretation is supported by the privation theory of evil, which proposes that evil is not a substance but rather the absence or lack of good. In other words, sin is a privation, a deprivation of rectitude or the glory of God.
The privation theory of evil, also known as the absence of good, is a theological and philosophical doctrine that has been attributed to Plato and later endorsed by C.S. Lewis, among others. According to this theory, evil is insubstantial and should not be thought of as an entity. Instead, it is the absence or lack ("privation") of good. This view holds that everything that exists is good simply by virtue of its existence and that evil ought to be regarded as nothing or non-existent.
However, critics of the privation theory argue that evil and negative experiences such as pain, hatred, envy, and cruelty do exist and are not merely the absence of their opposites. For instance, philosopher Todd Calder asserts that "we cannot equate the evil of pain with the privation of pleasure or some other feeling". Similarly, Bertrand Russell criticises the doctrine, arguing that "pain and hatred and envy and cruelty are surely things that exist, and are not merely the absence of their opposites".
Despite these objections, the concept of sin as a privation aligns with the Christian understanding of the origin of sin. In the Biblical narrative, Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden introduced sin into the world. God created humans with free will, allowing them to choose to love and obey Him or turn away from Him. Sin, therefore, exists as a consequence of free will.
In conclusion, the idea that "sin is a privation" is supported by both theological doctrines and Biblical narratives. By understanding sin as a lack or deprivation of good or God's glory, we can make sense of the presence of evil in a world created by a benevolent God.
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God created free will, not sin
God could either make sin impossible, or He could make beings free to choose, but He could not logically do both. He didn’t want us to be forced to love Him. There would never be a meaningful experience of His mercy and love, His justice and righteousness. He wanted us to come to Him and choose Him with our own free will.
The law exposes our sin. We see ourselves as we truly are. And having seen the problem, we will then look for the solution—which is that through the death of the Lord Jesus, we may be declared righteous in God's sight through faith in what Jesus has done on our behalf.
Sin entered the cosmos due to an act of rebellion against God, not because God created sin. Adam brought sin into the world when he chose to disobey God and eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
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God is not the author of sin
The concept of God being the author of sin has been a topic of discussion and debate among Christians and theologians. While God is considered the creator and ordainer of all things, many argue that He is not the author or creator of sin. This belief is based on the understanding that sin is not a substance or entity in itself, but rather a lack of conformity to the Divine law or a privation of rectitude. In other words, sin is viewed as the absence of good, with God being the ultimate good.
The Bible describes sin as lawlessness or rebellion against God's laws and standards (1 John 3:4). It entered the world through Adam's act of disobedience when he chose to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16-17, Genesis 3). This introduction of sin was an act of rebellion, but it was not because God created or desired it. Instead, God wanted humanity to have the ability to choose between good and evil, right and wrong, and to love Him willingly.
The presence of free will allows for the possibility of sin. God, as the cause of all things, permits sin but does not commit or approve of it. He allows for the existence of sin to provide the opportunity for meaningful experiences of His mercy, love, justice, and righteousness. However, this does not make Him the author of sin. The concept of authorship implies creation or causation, and attributing sin to God would imply that it arises from His nature, which contradicts His holiness.
While God is not the author of sin, He is the author of our actions. Our actions can be constituted as evil if they proceed from a wrong principle, are directed toward a wrong end, or are done in a wrong manner. However, the sinfulness of our actions arises from our own nature and choices, not from God. God may permit sin and even will for it to exist, but this does not make Him the author of sin.
In conclusion, the idea that "God is not the author of sin" is a deeply held belief in Christian theology. It recognizes that sin exists because of humanity's free will and our ability to choose between good and evil. While God permits sin and ordains all things, He Himself is not the cause or originator of sin.
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Frequently asked questions
No, sin entered the world due to an act of rebellion against God.
Sin is any violation of God's laws or standards. Sin is lawlessness.
The origin of sin is called the "mystery of iniquity" (2 Ths 2:7). Sin is not a "thing" and does not exist like the rest of creation.
God wanted humans to have the ability to choose him. He could have made sin impossible, but not without taking away our free will.
The law exposes our sin. It helps us see ourselves as we truly are, and having seen the problem, we will then look for a solution.
