The outline for the following study titled “The Fact Of Sin”
is taken in its entirety from “Landmarks Of Baptist
Doctrine”; Book III, pages 425-430, by Pastor Robert J.
Sargent; Bible Baptist Publications; 1219 North Harns Road;
Oak Harbor, Washington 98277. We have used their Bible
Institute material for decades now and highly recommend it
for training men for the ministry. It also makes for
outstanding Sunday School material. I have expanded upon
this outline by adding the Scriptures to it.
The study of the doctrine of sin is termed “harmartiology”
in theology.
Understanding the Biblical doctrine of sin is of the utmost
importance because a correct understanding of sin is
necessary to the right understanding of salvation. Current popular trends in
evangelism do not preach God̓s view of sin, but present it
as “human weakness,” merely a “lack of fulfillment” or the
like — turning the plan of salvation into a self-improvement
program, or simply the attainment of a better life-style.
I. THE FACT OF SIN DENIED
There are a number of erroneous theories concerning sin:
A. The Materialist Theory: “All material substance is evil.
The body is material, therefore necessarily and helplessly
evil.” This view follows the Platonic line, and actually
blames God for sin. It is important to understand that the
Biblical use of the term “the flesh” in relation to sin
(e.g. Romans 7:18) is referring to the old Adamic sin
nature, not the literal substance of the human body.
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18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,)
dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with
me; but how to perform that which is good I find
not. Romans 7:18
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B. The Evolutionist Theory: “Sin is the natural outgrowth of
man̓s progress, the backward pull of outworn good.” Sin is
‘good in the making.̓
C. The Flippant Theory: This theory holds that sin is a
joke, a matter so trivial as to be humorous.
D. The Disease Theory: “Sin is a weakness in man, an
incurable sickness of the blood for which man is not held
accountable.”
E. The Christian Science Theory: “Sin is the absence of
good. Sin is a figment of man̓s imagination, his failure to
exercise the power of mind over matter.”
F. The Accident Theory: “Sin is accidental, and therefore
carries no guilt.”
G. The Demonic Theory: Present day so-called ‘deliverance
ministries̓ see (for example) lust as a result of the “demon
of lust” which must be cast out. Each one of these theories
has a common denominator — they seek to remove any blame or
guilt from the sinner. This very same thing was evident in
the Garden of Eden — Adam blamed the “woman whom thou [GOD]
gavest (Genesis 3:12) the woman blamed the serpent (Genesis
3:13.)
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12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to
be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is
this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The
serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Genesis 3:12–13
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Modern psychiatry also looks for a reason apart from sin.
Parents, society, or the environment are often blamed, and
the criminal exonerated.
II. THE FACT OF SIN DEMONSTRATED
A. Declared By The Bible:
Romans 3:10,23; Romans 5:12, and so forth:
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:10
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and
death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all
have sinned: Romans 5:12
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The fact of sin is one of the great themes of the Word of
God.
The Word of God declares sin to be:
1. Lying At The Door: Genesis 4:7:
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7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if
thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee
shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. Genesis
4:7
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2. Grievous: Genesis 18:20:
20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah
is great, and because their sin is very grievous; Genesis
18:20
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3. Impossible To Hide: Numbers 32:23, Proverbs 28:13a,
Ezekiel 21:24:
23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against
the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. Numbers
32:23
13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso
confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs
28:13
24 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have made
your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions
are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do
appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye
shall be taken with the hand. Ezekiel 21:24
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4. The Cause Of Turmoil: Psalm 38:3:
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3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger;
Neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
Psalm 38:3
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5. A Binding Cord: Proverbs 5:22:
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22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, And he
shall be holden with the cords of his sins. Proverbs 5:22 |
6. The Cause Of Destruction:
Proverbs 13:6:
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6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: But
wickedness overthroweth the sinner. Proverbs 13:6
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7. The Great Corrupter:
Isaiah 1:5- 6:
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5 Why should ye be stricken any more? Ye will revolt more
and more: The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no
soundness in it; But wounds, and bruises, and putrifying
sores: They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither
mollified with ointment. Isaiah 1:5–6
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8. The Cause Of Woe: Isaiah 30:1:
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1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, That take
counsel, but not of me; And that cover with a covering, but
not of my spirit, That they may add sin to sin: Isaiah 30:1
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9. The Cause Of Spiritual Death: Isaiah 59:2:
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2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your
God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will
not hear. Isaiah 59:2
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10. The Remover Of Blessings: Jeremiah 5:25:
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25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your
sins have withholden good things from you. Jeremiah 5:25
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11. Graven Upon The Heart: Jeremiah 17:1:
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1 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with
the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their
heart, and upon the horns of your altars; Jeremiah 17:1
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12. The Cause Of Sickness And Desolation: Micah 6:13:
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13 Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, In
making thee desolate because of thy sins. Micah 6:13
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B. Proclaimed By Creation:
Compare Romans 8:21-22 to Genesis 3:17:
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from
the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation
groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Romans
8:21–22
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto
the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which
I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed
is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it
all the days of thy life; Genesis 3:17
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With the rose is the thorn.
C. Confessed By Men: When men have seen their true condition
before a thrice holy God, they have said, “I am...
1. Not Worthy: Genesis 32:10:
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10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of
all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for
with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become
two bands. Genesis 32:10
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2. Vile: Job 40:4:
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4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay
mine hand upon my mouth. Job 40:4
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3. Poor And Needy: Psalm 40:17:
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17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me:
Thou art my help and my deliverer; Make no tarrying, O my
God. Psalm 40:17
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4. Undone: Isaiah 6:5:
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5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a
man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of
unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of
hosts. Isaiah 6:5
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5. A Sinful Man: Luke 5:8:
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8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees,
saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. Luke
5:8
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6. No More Worthy: Luke 15:19:
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as
one of thy hired servants. Luke 15:19
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7. Carnal: Romans 7:14:
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14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal,
sold under sin. Romans 7:14
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8. Chief Of Sinners: I Timothy 1:15:
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15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of
whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:15 |
D. Proven By Experience:
There is a universal confession by men: “I have sinned!” —
Job 33:27-28:
Job 33:27-28
27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and
perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28
He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his
life shall see the light.
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For example, this statement has been made:
1. By Pharaoh: Exodus 9:27; Exodus 10:16:
27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and
said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is
righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Exodus 9:27
16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he
said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against
you. Exodus 10:16
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2. By Balaam: Numbers 22:34:
34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have
sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against
me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back
again. Numbers 22:34
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3. By Achan: Joshua 7:20:
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20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned
against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I
done: Joshua 7:20
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4. By David: II Samuel 19:20:
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20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore,
behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of
Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. 2 Samuel 19:20
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5. By Nehemiah: Nehemiah 1:6:
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6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that
thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray
before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel
thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of
Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my
father’s house have sinned. Nehemiah 1:6
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6. By Job: Job 7:20:
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20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou
preserver of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark against
thee, So that I am a burden to myself? Job 7:20
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7. By Micah: Micah 7:9:
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9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have
sinned against him, Until he plead my cause, and execute
judgment for me: He will bring me forth to the light, and I
shall behold his righteousness. Micah 7:9
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8. By Judas: Matthew 27:4:
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4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent
blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
Matthew 27:4
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9. By The Prodigal Son: Luke 15:21:
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21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against
heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called
thy son. Luke 15:21
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E. Acknowledged By Christians:
I John 1:8-10; Romans 7:15-25:
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not
sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1
John 1:8–10
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that
do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that
which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that
dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my
flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with
me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For
the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would
not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no
more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find
then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with
me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the
law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of
sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who
shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God
through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I
myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of
sin. Romans 7:15–25
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F. Defined By The Law:
Romans 3:19-20:
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19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it
saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be
stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be
justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of
sin. Romans 3:19–20
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The “Law” is like a speed limit sign. A driver may be
traveling down a highway at a rapid rate and know he is
speeding—but when he sees a speed limit sign, he knows by
just how much he is speeding. See: Romans 5:13, 20:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not
imputed when there is no law. Romans 5:13
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound.
But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Romans
5:20
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III. THE FACT OF SIN DELINEATED
Sin is universal.
A. All Men In All Ages Are Sinners:
Genesis 6:12; Psalm 14:3; 53:2, 3; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10,
23:
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was
corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
Genesis 6:12
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become
filthy: There is none that doeth good, no, not one. Psalm
14:3
2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To
see if there were any that did understand, that did seek
God. 3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether
become filthy; There is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Psalm 53:2–3
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every
one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the
iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:10
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23
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B. There Are No Exceptions:
1 Kings 8:46; Isaiah 64:6; James 3:2; 1 John 1:8-10:
46 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that
sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them
to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the
land of the enemy, far or near; 1 Kings 8:46
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a
leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Isaiah 64:6
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in
word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the
whole body. James 3:2
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not
sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1
John 1:8–10
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C. There Are No Age Limits.
1. Children: Psalm 51:5; Psalm 58:3:
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother
conceive me. Psalm 51:5
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: They go astray as
soon as they be born, speaking lies. Psalm 58:3
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2. The Aged: I Samuel 2:22-30:
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22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did
unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that
assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear
of your evil dealings by all this people. 24 Nay, my sons;
for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord’s
people to transgress. 25 If one man sin against another, the
judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord,
who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened
not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would
slay them. 26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in
favour both with the Lord, and also with men. 27 And there
came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith
the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father,
when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? 28 And did I
choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest,
to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod
before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all
the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 29
Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering,
which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy
sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of
all the offerings of Israel my people? 30 Wherefore the Lord
God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the
house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now
the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I
will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly
esteemed. 1 Samuel 2:22–30
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We would all do well if we commited Romans 3:23 to memory:
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23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23 |
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