1 Sin: The Basics

It is the human condition. It causes both physical and spiritual death, unless we find the solution in Christ. That solution is introduced in this post.

Let’s begin.

1.0 Definitions of Sin

1.1 Brief Introduction

In this section I draw from Moody Handbook of Theology, p. 324.

1.2 Transgression of the Law of God.

“Transgression” means to overstep or go beyond the borders–God’s boundaries.

You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? (Rom. 2:23)

[…] because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.(Rom. 4:15)

Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.(Rom. 5:14)

Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. (Gal. 3:19)

And finally,

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3:4)

1.3 Failure to Keep the Standards of God.

As noted above, the Greek term hamartia means to miss the mark or the bullseye. It departs from the way of righteousness.

1.4 Principle within Humans.

The Greek word sarx can mean flesh, but it also can mean the sin nature.

¹⁴We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. […] ²³but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. (Rom. 7:14; 23)

All people have a sin nature:

Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. (Gal. 3:22)

Sin is the power that deceives people and leads people to destruction.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (see Heb. 3:13)

Jesus says sin is a condition or character quality

As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. (John 9:4)

If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. (John 15:24)

Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” (John 19:11)

1.5 Rebellion against the Law of God.

We saw above that a Greek term for sin is anomia, which literally means “lawless.” It is lawless deeds. It is often translated as “wickedness.”

[…] Jesus Christ, ¹⁴who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:14)

⁷and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless ⁸(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) (@ Peter 2:7-8)

1.6 Wrongful Acts against God and People.

Ungodliness means to fail to keep God’s command and ignore God himself

¹⁸The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, (Rom. 1:18)

Unrighteousness fails to live righteously before other people. Here are the mighty Ten Commandments.

²“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

³“You shall have no other gods before me.

⁴“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

⁷“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

⁸“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. ¹¹For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

¹²“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

¹³“You shall not murder.

¹⁴“You shall not commit adultery.

¹⁵“You shall not steal.

¹⁶“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

¹⁷“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exod. 20:2-17)

So sin is breaking the law before God and people.

1.7 Summary

Sin destroys people while they live. It degrades the soul and in some cases the body (e.g. addictions). Great news! Out of his deep love for people, God offers us a solution from this living destruction through his Son Jesus Christ.

2.0 Original Sin

2.1 Key Scriptures

First, let me quote Romans 5:12. Note the last clause: “because all sinned.”:

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— (Rom. 5:12).

Also, Romans 5:15 adds clarity to 5:12. Death through one man and grace (and life) through the one man, Jesus Christ was passed along.

¹⁵But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! (Rom. 5:15)

Death was passed on without our receiving it. We die. So some interpreters say original death, not original sin. In all of Paul’s theology God’s grace is the basis on which we stand to receive salvation by faith:

Side comment: Note the word “many.” It merely means the opposite of “few.” Paul means “everyone” or “all,” as seen in 5:12, above, and 5:18-19, below. In the NT, “many” is often interchangeable” with “all.”

Finally, let me quote Romans 5:18-19. Adam’s trespass “resulted in” condemnation for everyone. One righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.

¹⁸Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. ¹⁹For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. (Rom. 5:18-19)

Key clauses: “resulted in condemnation” and “were made sinners.” So it seems something happened to Adam and then was imputed or passed on (inherited) to all of humanity. “Condemnation” implies guilt, so some interpreters say that guilt was also passed on. Next, in Paul’s larger theology, justification has to be received by faith in Christ. So it is offered to all, but is received only by those who have faith.

I wrote a long paragraph on “made righteous,” but that’s not the point of this post on sin. Let’s move on.

But how was sin passed on? By imputation or inherited?

Let’s explore this question.

2.2 Definition of Original Sin

Here is what it means according to Reformed theologian Louis Berkhof (p. 244):

Sin is rooted in the origins of the human race.
Sin is present in everyone—believer or unbeliever.
From the moment he was born sin is present, so it is not learned or imitated as the child grows up, though a child can practice more and more evil in a bad environment.
It is the inward root of sin
This root, not just committed sins, defiles the human.

Here are the three main theories on what happened to Adam and then the transmission of his trespass to later generations, including us, if his trespass is transmitted (one theory says not transmitted).

3.0 Summary Table of the Three Theories on Sin

3.1 Brief Introduction

Note the differences between inherited and imputed sin in its transmission.

TABLE 1 THREE THEORIES ON SIN
Aspect	Scripture	Transmission	Main Consequence	Remedy
Inherited Sin	Eph. 2:3	Generation to generation	Spiritual death	Redemption and gift of Holy Spirit
Imputed Sin	Rom. 5:12	Direct from Adam to me	Physical death	Imputed righteousness
Personal sins	Rom. 3:23 1 John 1:9	None	Loss of fellowship with God	Forgiveness from God
Adapted from Ryrie, Basic Theology, p. 263. I also borrowed from his chapters on inherited sin (36), imputed sin (37), and personal sin (38).

3.3 Other Interpretations

It should be noted that some theologians today interpret Paul’s theology in Romans 5 differently. They believe we inherit Adam’s death, but not sin and guilt. The death principle causes us to degrade and sin, and we become guilty by our own personal sin. This seems close to Pelagianism, as described in the table and just above. They claim to have scriptural support. Maybe they would add a row in the above table to read: “Inherited Death.”

Another interpretation says that the death that Adam spread to humanity was spiritual or moral only. Death was already present in the world. They reason that all animals existed, and the predators had to eat the prey animals. Adam may have stepped on an insect in the Garden. Therefore Romans 5:12-21 is about humankind and sin and spiritual death, and not the death of nonhuman creatures.

3.4 My Opinion

I have not made up my mind about the two tables, except I reject Pelagianism, but only if he is represented fairly. And I’m not sure imputed sin is the right one, and inherited sin may be better. I like inherited death. Perhaps I should say I believe people are born with a sin nature in need of Christ and his salvation. And for sure Christ’s imputed righteousness to believers is true.

Here is my speculative post about inheriting sin because we have a mammal nature, which we get from our ancestors or the fact of our being human:

Is Our Sin Nature Embedded in Our Mammal Nature?

The thesis of that linked post is supported with lots of Scripture. But it is speculative. If you are easily upset, then don’t click on it.

3.5 Honorable Mention: Irenaeus’s Recapitulation

Irenaeus lived born c. 120/140, Asia Minor—died c. 200/203, probably Lyon. I don’t know where to place his wonderful idea, but since it concerns Adam. let me place it here.

It teaches that Christ restores or reverses everything bad Adam did. This theory goes as far as the cosmos. Adam brought disorder into it, when Genesis 1 was about God bringing chaos into order. Christ will reverse this cosmic wrong. I don’t know if this includes new creation in Revelation 21-22, in Irenaeus’s theology, but I insert it here.

I like the idea that Christ, going through his life, burial, cross, and resurrection and ascension, reverses Adam’s fall. I don’t know much more than this, but you are certainly welcome to pursue this further.

4.0 The Results of Sin

4.1 We Are Responsible.

Ezekiel 18:10-18 says that we ourselves are responsible for our sins, not our fathers. Yes, by virtue of being humans, we inherit our sin nature from our ancestors, but each one is responsible for his evil actions. His father will die for his own sins, and the son will die for his own sins.

4.2 We Are Held Accountable.

Jeremiah 17:10 says that the LORD himself searches the hearts and rewards each one according to their conduct and what their deeds deserve.

¹⁰“I the Lord search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
according to what their deeds deserve.” (Jer. 17:10)

Second Corinthians 5:10 says that we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so we can receive from him what is our due, by the things done while living here in our earthly bodies. Now the believer in Jesus will not be at the judgment of those outside of faith in Christ, with the unbelievers. But both will go through judgment for their works at different judgments. The unproductive believers will have their “wood, straw, and stubble” burn away but admitted into heaven, while the unbelievers will be judged for a different eternal destiny.

¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10)

4.3 We Die Because of Sin.

In Genesis 2:17, in the beginning, Mankind (Adam) was told that if he ate of the knowledge of the tree of good and evil (a symbol of moral law), he would die. He ate, and he died many years later.

¹⁷but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Gen. 2:17)

Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death. We die because we sin, and we sin by virtue of our connection to humankind.

²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 6:23)

James 1:15 presents a progression of sin. We have desires, and some of them are bad. The bad desires give birth to sin and sinful conduct. When sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

¹⁴but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15)

4.4 We Cannot Atone for Our Own Sins.

Psalm 49:7-8 teaches a stark truth. No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him, because human life is so costly that no payment is ever enough; he cannot through a ransom live on forever without seeing decay. Then along came Jesus, the God-Man; he was qualified to pay the ransom.

⁷No one can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for them—
⁸the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough—
⁹so that they should live on forever
and not see decay. (Ps. 49:7-9)

In Matthew 16:26, Jesus says if a man gains the whole world, he risks forfeiting his soul. He cannot give anything in exchange for his own soul.

²⁶What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? (Matt. 16:26)

4.5 Three Effects of Sin

4.5.1 Presence of Sin

Sin lives within us, whether it it is inherited from Adam, imputed to us from Adam (our federal head), or personal (we just sin). It dwells in our flesh.

We can never get raid of it or purge it out of us until we bury our present bodies and receive a new one.

4.5.2 Penalty of Sin

The penalty (wages) of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). We cannot escape our physical death or spiritual death. The penalty is deserved whether we inherited it from Adam, it is imputed to us from Adan (our federal head, or from our personal sin (we just sin).

Only Christ dying as our substitute for us can take away the penalty of sin. We should have been on the cross. But Christ took our place (substitution). He died instead of or or in place of us.

This is why substitutionary atonement is so important.

4.5.3 Power of Sin

This says that sin dominates people. Whether it is addictions or sinful habits or an entire lifestyle, sin overpowers us. We can’t help ourselves.

The solution is to be filled with the Spirit and live in Christ. We are no longer under the law but under grace. Therefore sin is no longer our mister (Rom. 6:14). We don’t have to listen or obey the domination of sin. We can have victory over it.

Now let’s look more deeply into god’s solution, which is his salvation. How do we get it?

5.0 Our Repentance

5.1 We Must and Need to Repent.

Acts 3:19-20 says that when Peter was preaching before the crowd of Jews in Jerusalem, since God worked a miracle through him, he proclaimed that they should repent so that their sins would be blotted out (note the meaning of atonement in the previous point, III). That’s why God sent the Messiah, says Peter.

¹⁹Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ²⁰and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. (Acts 3:19-20)

In Acts 20:21, Paul told the Ephesian elders that that everyone—Jews and Gentiles—must turn to God in repentance and have faith in Jesus Christ. That’s the essential gospel: Repent for the forgiveness of sins and believe in Jesus.

²¹I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (Acts 20:21)

Yes, we should repent, but we also need to repent.

5.2 We Must and Need to Confess Our Sins.

First John 1:9 is powerful:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

In Psalm 32:1-5, a great psalm, the psalmist says it is a blessing when a man’s sins are not counted against him. Before he confessed his sin but kept silent, he was wasting away. When he did confess, he was forgiven.

¹Blessed is the one
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
²Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord does not count against them
    and in whose spirit is no deceit.

³When I kept silent,
    my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
⁴For day and night
    your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
    as in the heat of summer.

⁵Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin. (Ps. 32:1-5)

Proverbs 28:13 reminds us that when we conceal our sins, we don’t prosper, but when we confess and renounce them, we find mercy.

¹³Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (Prov. 28:13)

First John 1:9 teaches us that when we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse of all unrighteousness—all. Some teach that this verse is directed at proto-Gnostics (mystical unbelievers who denied Christ came in the flesh), but this verse is directed at everyone.

⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

5.3 We Must and Need to Turn from Sin.

Psalm 34:14 teaches straightforwardly that we must turn from evil and do good.

¹⁴Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it. (Ps. 34:14)

Isaiah 1:16 says that we must wash ourselves and make ourselves clean. Evil deeds must be removed from God’s sight; the people must stop doing wrong.

¹⁶Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong. (Is. 1:15)

Then the next verse says we are called to do good works:

¹⁷Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow. (Is. 1:17)

Next, 3 John 11 says that we must not imitate what is evil, but what is good.

¹¹Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. (3 John 11)

Repentance means a complete, 180 degrees turnaround, spirit, soul and body.

What Is Repentance?

5.4 We Must and Need to Hate Sin.

Psalm 97:10 says that if we love the Lord, we must hate evil. It’s that simple.

¹⁰Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. (Ps. 97:10)

Amos 5:14-15 says to seek good, not evil, and to hate evil and love good.

¹⁴Seek good, not evil,
    that you may live.
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
    just as you say he is.
¹⁵Hate evil, love good;
    maintain justice in the courts.
Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy
    on the remnant of Joseph. (Amos 5:14-15)

God hates evil (Deut. 12:31; 16:22; Prov. 6:16), because it hurts people. Paul in Romans 12:9, quoting Prov. 6:16, says that we believers must hate what is evil.

⁹Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (Rom. 12:9)

5.5 We Must and Need to Throw off Sin.

Hebrews 12:1 says that everything that hinders us and the sin that entangles us so easily—we must throw it off of us, like dirty clothes. But this does not mean that we are saved after we throw off our sins. This is the sanctification process–or the process of making us holy. Salvation first, sanctification second.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Heb. 12:1)

5.6 We Must and Need to Fight against Sin.

Ephesians 6:12-13 say we are in a fight against spiritual rulers and powers and spiritual forces of wickedness in high places—evil spirit beings that tempt us to sin.

¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Eph. 6:12-13)

Hebrews 12:4 says we have to make every effort to be and live holy. This verse is important because some Bible teachers today say that all we have to do is sit on the deck chairs on a cruise ship and “chill” in our Christian walk. However, our rest in grace does not mean passivity and laziness. We have to fight.

⁴In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Heb. 13:4)

6.0 God’s Forgiveness

6.1 Confess Our Sins and Receive His Forgiveness

David said he would confess his sins, and the Lord would forgive the guilt of his sins (Ps. 32:5).

⁵Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin. (Ps. 32:5)

Most famously, the Suffering Servant would carry or bear the sins of another person, and by this he would make many righteous and receive great honor and reward (Is. 53:12).

Now what are the results of confessing our sins and receiving God’s forgiveness>

And 1 John 1:9 is powerful:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

6.2 Our Sins Disappear from God’s Sight

Isaiah 38:17 records a prayer written by King Hezekiah that says that God has put all the king’s sins behind God’s back. In other words, the sins are hidden or concealed, out of sight.

¹⁷Surely it was for my benefit
    that I suffered such anguish.
In your love you kept me
    from the pit of destruction;
you have put all my sins
    behind your back. (Is. 28:17)

6.3 Our Sins Are Thrown Out

Recall that Micah 7:19 says God hurls our sins and iniquities in the sea. And Psalm 103:8, 11-12, says that our sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west. These passages are so good, let’s quote them again.

Micah 7:18-19)

¹⁸Who is a God like you,
    who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
    of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
    but delight to show mercy.
¹⁹You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. (Mic. 7:18-19)

And here are the verse from Psalm 103.

⁸The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love. […]
¹⁰he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹²as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Ps. 103:8, 10-12)

6.4 They Leave God’s Mind

Isaiah 43:25 says that God blots out our transgressions, for his own sake, and remembers our sins no more.

²⁵“I, even I, am he who blots out
your transgressions, for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more. (Is. 43:25)

Jeremiah 31:34 and Hebrews 8:12 say that God will forgive the people’s wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Jeremiah predicts the New Covenant (vv. 31-36), and the author of Hebrews quotes from it:

³⁴No longer will they teach their neighbor,
    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
    from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
    and will remember their sins no more.” (Jer. 31:34)

¹²For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.” (Heb. 8:12)

6.5 They Pass out of Existence

Recall that Psalm 51:1 says that David prayed God would blot out his transgressions. Verse 2 asks God to wash away all his iniquities and cleanse him from his sin. Verse 7 asks God to use hyssop and more washing, so he will be white as snow. Hyssop was an herb uses for cleansing and purifying (Num. 19:6). And verse 9 ask God to hide his face from David’s iniquities and again to blot out all of his iniquities.

Here is v. 9.

⁹Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity. (Ps. 51:9)

Isaiah 44:22 says that God has swept away offenses like a cloud and our sins like the morning mist.

²²I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.” (Is. 44:22)

In apostolic teaching, this time by Peter to his fellow Jews, Peter tells them to repent and turn to God, so that their sins would be wiped out (Acts 3:19).

¹⁹Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, (Acts 3:19)

Now we receive god’s solution, which is salvation.

7.0 God’s Salvation

7.1 Atoning Death of Christ

Some Christians teach that the atoning death of Christ was needless and even unscriptural (!). All they have to do is ask for forgiveness of their sins. No need for Christ’s blood! However, they overlook the biblical truth that Christ paid for those sins that they so breezily confess, and the only reason they can stand in God’s presence to ask for forgiveness is through Christ’s bloody sacrifice. That is God’s way. But where does this way come from?

In the New Testament Christ fulfilled that sacrificial system. He was our substitute and took our penalty. He absorbed our sins. Our sins are atoned for through him, once and for all, and our consciences have been sprinkled with his blood, and our bodies have been washed with pure water (Heb. 9:11-28; Heb. 10:22)

More Scriptures supporting Christ’s atoning, sacrificial work:

⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸that he lavished on us. (Eph. 1:7-8)

⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

²He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)

²⁹The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

²⁴and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Rom. 3:24-26)

What Is Penal Substitution?

7.2 Old Testament Background

In the Old Testament, animals stood in for the human offering it as a sacrifice (Lev. 1-16). It was the human’s substitute. It took on human sin, or the sin was transferred to the animal. The blood was necessary because life is in it. Then the person walked away forgiven because his sins were atoned and forgiven (“atone” can mean “wipe away” or “blot out).

7.3 Faith in Christ

Scripture is clear about salvation …..

To be saved, all you have to do is to obey the truths in these verses:

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)

¹⁶For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

³¹But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)

¹⁵If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. (1 John 4:15)

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father [God] loves his child, as well. (1 John 5:1)

¹¹And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹²Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:11-13)

⁹If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. […] ¹³for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9-10, 13)

Allow me to combine these verses from different chapters in Acts:

¹⁹Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, […] ³¹They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 3:19, 16:31)

Here are two verses from John’s Gospel that speak of regeneration or being born again. The Spirit must do it.

³Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. […] ⁸The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:3, 8)

Peter says in Acts:

All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes on him receives forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43)

And so to be saved: Just call on his name, and with saving faith believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. Repent of your sins and turn back to God. Profess your saving faith out loud. Declare him Lord, with your mouth. Believe in your heart that God resurrected him (= vindicated his Son’s entire life, ministry, and death). The Spirit causes you to be born again. And then you shall be saved and born of God. Simple. Even a child can do this with his childlike faith.

Here is a time-tested acronym to explain faith:

F-A-I-T-H = Forsaking All, I Trust Him.

I see nothing in those verses about understanding or believing in the complicated theologies to be saved.

To be saved: Just call on his name, and with saving faith believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God.

How do we receive God’s salvation?

8.0 Reflections

8.1 Solution

Let’s look into God’s solution more briefly.

So what is the solution? Can humans approach God their own way, without regard to God’s way of getting clean and the guilt removed? Humans must follow God’s way.

In the Old Covenant, sacrifices were offered, and the animal stood in for (substituted) for the person offering it and paid the penalty for him (Lev. 1-16).

In the New Covenant, Christ stands in for the sinner and takes the penalty. He is our substitute and absorbs our punishment that comes out of God’s justice-wrath-judgment.

So the answer is to repent of your sins, receive God’s forgiveness, and put your full faith and trust in Christ. Pray the prayer, next.

8.2 Pray

If you want salvation by faith alone, through faith alone and in Christ alone, pray this prayer from your heart:

“Father, I confess all my sins to you, because I am sinful by nature and by my actions. I have lied and stolen small or big things or time. I lust and am greedy for other people’s positions and money and sex. I have committed many other sins. But now I surrender them to you. I repent of all of them. I trust that Jesus Christ cleanses me from all unrighteousness. I proclaim him to be the Lord—and my Lord. I believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead. I surrender my entire life to you. Now take it and use it as you please. In Jesus’s name, amen.”

8.3. Results

If you have prayed that prayer sincerely, you are now clean and consecrated to God. You have been transferred from light to darkness. Your old sins and addictions and habits no longer have dominion or power over you (Rom. 6:14). You can begin a new life in Christ. Read the New Testament from beginning to end. Get involved in a Spirit-filled, Bible-teaching church.

The remaining posts throughout Concise Theology expand on this simple solution.

Sec. 5, 1 Hamartiology, Doctrine of Sin: The Basics (longer post)

2 Definitions of Sin

3 Jesus Teaches on Sin

4 Are All Sins Equal?

5 Results of Sin, Our Repentance, and God’s Forgiveness

ARTICLES IN CONCISE THEOLOGY

Introduction to Concise Theology

The Bible: Basics

General and Special Revelations and Moral Law

1 The Trinity: The Basics

2 The Trinity: Questions and Answers