Sin is often caricatured in our culture and Christians are sometimes depicted as self-righteous, judgemental figures, eager to point out the sins of others. This conjures up images of austere Puritans standing outside theatres with their placards, or Ned Flanders casting judgement over the fence. Indeed, Christians can sometimes fall into the trap of being overzealous or self-righteous (evidences of sinful pride in the heart). However, sin is such a fundamental issue that it cannot be ignored in whatever form.
Tracing Sin’s Origin
At its core, sin is disobedience to God. This concept of disobedience can be traced back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were given a clear command by God: “ . . . of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat” (Genesis 2:17). They chose to disobey- not only illustrating the nature of sin but also introducing sin into God's perfect creation.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, explains how sin came into the world; "by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners" (Romans 5:19). Adam's choice to disobey God did not just affect him but the whole human race. From that moment onwards, the relationship between God and all humanity was broken, and the consequences of sin reverberated throughout the world (Romans 5:12).
As the first man, Adam's disobedience meant that every human being born after him would be subject to sin and death. Moreover, sin's curse extends beyond people. Even creation, under Adam's jurisdiction, was subjected to the consequences of sin (Romans 8:20). The ground now brings forth thorns and thistles, and humankind must labour with sweat and toil for survival (Genesis 3:17-19).
This doctrine is often referred to as "original sin," a term used to describe the Bible's view of human history. Man, created by God and placed in a perfect environment, was innocent of sin, yet he chose to disobey God. Since then, humanity has continued to move further away from God, experiencing lives of futility, suffering, and death – all consequences of sin (Romans 1:28). This biblical worldview, which asserts that humans are inherently sinful, stands in stark contrast to the secular worldview prevalent in our culture today.
The Fallacy of Humanistic Teaching
Secular humanism teaches that man is essentially good. This optimistic view is rooted in naturalist philosophers like David Hume and forms the basis of much modern psychology. Educational policies, for example, often emphasise maintaining and encouraging the innocence of childhood, believing that a person's environment, not their nature, leads to bad choices. The secular solution to humanity's problems is to improve education, create better economic opportunities, and reduce poverty; assuming that these measures will lead to better decisions and a flourishing society.
However, history and experience show that no amount of education or social improvement can address the core problem of the human heart. The Bible tells us that, "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). Even our best efforts are worthless, “ all our righteous acts, are like filthy rags" before God (Isaiah 64:6 NIV). The real issue is not external factors (which generally exacerbate the situation) but the internal, innate spiritual condition of humanity.
Biblical Principles Proven by Practice
The Bible teaches that every person is born under sin. The psalmist David, captures this in Psalm 51:5 (NIV): "Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." David was not referring to any specific wrongdoing at his birth but to the universal truth that, by virtue of being human, he was born under the curse of sin. As descendants of Adam, all men and women inherit a sinful nature, which inclines their hearts away from God (Romans 7:17). The prophet Jeremiah describes the human heart as "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). Even when we know something is wrong or destructive, there is a force within pulling us toward it – toward sin and, ultimately, death (James 1:14-16).
A powerful example of this is found in the story of Samson. He knew that revealing the secret of his strength to Delilah would spell disaster, yet Samson gave in to his heart’s desires (Judges 16:16-17). Although he had previously resisted, his sinful nature eventually led him to make the fateful decision to reveal his strength, resulting in his capture and humiliation by the Philistines (Judges 16:21). Samson’s tragic downfall serves as a vivid reminder of the power of sin and the weakness of the human heart.
Our only Hope is Christ
Sin, therefore, is not based on a relative idea of what is harmful or beneficial behaviour; rather, it is disobedience to the God of heaven, who alone has the absolute authority to define what is morally right and wrong. The good news is that God has provided a solution to the problem of sin. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God addressed the root cause of sin. By recognising our sin and placing our faith in Christ, we can be restored to a right relationship with God. This is humanity’s only hope.
