1. The word “sin” comes from the Old English “synn”, but the concept appears in earlier languages, such as the Hebrew “chatta’ah” and Greek “hamartia”, which means “missing the mark”. This concept refers to failing to meet a moral standard or falling short of God’s expectations.
2. Sin is described as being inherent in human nature, akin to a hereditary condition that spreads and corrupts like a virus. This metaphor illustrates how sin permeates human behavior and relationships.
3. The belief in the universality of sin suggests that every person, regardless of their moral standing, is affected by sin. This includes everyone from newborns to the most morally upright individuals who’ve ever existed.
4. The understanding of sin as including both original and actual sin developed over time in early Christian thought. The concept was refined by theologians and church leaders, rather than being introduced by a single individual in the 2nd century, as is commonly thought.
5. Original sin, also known as ancestral sin, refers to the fallen state of human nature inherited from Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden. According to Christian theology, this sinfulness affects all of us because Adam, as the first human, represents all humans. Thus, everyone is born with an inclination toward sin.
6. Actual sin refers to the specific, wrongful actions that individuals commit, whether intentional or unintentional. These actions are considered violations of God’s law and contribute to one’s moral culpability.
7. Sinners are like someone stuck in a mire. This analogy shows us how individuals cannot free themselves from sin’s power. This is the central reason for our faith as Christians in the work of Jesus Christ: He came to offer salvation and redemption through His death and resurrection.
8. According to biblical theology, the consequence of sin is spiritual death. The Old Testament practices included animal sacrifices as a temporary measure to atone for sins. However, in the New Testament, God sent Jesus Christ as the ultimate and final sacrifice, offering Himself to atone for the sins of humanity once and for all.
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