4.5 Sin in the New Testament

See the bottom for previous posts.

4.4 Sin in the New Testament

4.4.1 Defining Sin

• The standard for right is to love God and love neighbor (Matt. 22:37-40; Rom. 13:8-10). 
• Therefore, a sin is contrary either to love of God or neighbor. This constitutes wrongdoing (1 John 5:17) and lawlessness (1 John 3:4)
• In the New Testament, sin is (predominantly) an act of will (Jas 1:13-14).
• Temptation is thus not sin (cf. Jesus; Heb. 4:15).
• Sin is a matter of the heart (volition) far more than the act itself (Mark 7:18-23; Matt. 5:27-28)
• Feelings are not sin, although they can be a source of temptation (cf. Eph. 4:26).
• Sin is thus any act of the will that either is out of faith with God or contrary to love of neighbor/enemy. Cf. Rom. 14:23
• There are sins of commission and sins of omission (cf. Jas. 4:17).
• Sin is not imperfection. Mistakes are not intrinsically sinful (although they can reflect prior choices).
• Unintentional sin should probably remain a category, referring to acts that are unintentionally unloving toward others, including God.

4.4.2 Sin as a Power

• The human body, skin, "flesh" is not intrinsically sinful (contra Gnostics) Cf. Mark 14:13
• Because of Adam, human flesh and the creation are under the power of Sin (Rom. 7:14-18).
• Sin acts are acts of the will. The power of Sin is a power that drives us to sin (sometimes called sin principle or sin nature, although this is really Augustine rather than Paul)
• Romans 6-8 does not teach that sin should reign in a believer's life--more to come, but cf. Rom. 7:5

4.4.3 Sins to Death

• 1 John 5:16-17 (where the Catholic Church gets mortal and venial sins)
• Explain 1 John 1:8-10 and 3:9. "Having" sin is not doing sin but is 1 John's equivalent of "all have sinned." 3:9 should be given the present tense connotation of "be sinning" or "continue to sin."
• The unpardonable sin of Matthew 12:31-32 (since the HS brings repentance, no one who is drawn to repent has committed such a sin).
• Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26; 12:16-17. Parable of the Prodigal Son is the fulcrum text on this question. Schrodinger's backslider

Previous "chapters"
Chapter 1: What is Biblical Theology?
Chapter 2: Theology of God
Chapter 3: Creation and Consummation

4.1-3 Sin and the Fall

4.4 Sin in the Old Testament