Chapter 9

The Problem of Sin

Sections

1. General
   1. What Sin Is
      • Sin is breaking God’s law
      • Even unintentionally breaking God’s law is sin
      • Doing evil is sin
      • All wrongdoing is sin
      • Not doing what we should do is sin
   2. Sin Is against God
      • Sin is action against God
      • Even acting wrongfully against other people is sinning against God
      • Sin is rebellion against God
      • Fo sin involves: turning away from God and his commands; . . .
      • . . . and going our own way
      • Sin is hated by God
      • God can be grieved by sin
   3. Sin Is Universal
      • All people have sinned
      • No one is righteous before God
      • People have a sinful nature . . .
      • . . . People have minds inclined towards evil
      • People are led into sin by their sinful nature . . .
      • . . . People are led into sin by their corrupt hearts and minds
      • Note: God is aware of all sins . . .
      • . . . and God remembers sin
   4. Sin’s Intrinsic Ill Effects
      • Shame
      • Spiritual defilement . . .
      • . . . Spiritual uncleanness
      • Separation from God . . .
      • . . . and spiritual death
      • Enslavement to sin
      • Foolishness and spiritual darkness
   5. Sin Brings God’s Judgment – Ultimately Death
      • When one sins, one becomes guilty
      • Sin makes one subject to God’s anger
      • God’s anger against sinners is manifested in judgment
      • Sin results in physical death
      • Sin brings the prospect of eternal “death”

2. The Law’s Provision for Israel’s Sin
   1. Offerings for Atonement for Sinners
      • The law made provision for the offering of a life of an animal, to make atonement for one who had sinned
      • The major offerings for making atonement: The burnt offering; . . .
      • . . . the sin offering; . . .
      • . . . and the guilt offering
      • Atonement was also made annually for all of the people
   2. Aspects of Making Offerings for Sin
      • All offerings were only to be made at the place God chose for his presence amongst his people
      • Animals brought as offerings were to be without any blemish
      • The sinner laid hands on the offering, identifying the animal with themself
      • The blood of the offerings for sin featured in making atonement . . .
      • . . . for the life of a creature is in its blood – and as such blood is not to be eaten
   3. The Role of the Priests
      • God designated Aaron and his descendants as priests
      • The priests were responsible for God’s sanctuary, the offerings and teaching the people
      • The offering of incense by the priests
      • The priests made offerings for people when they sinned, to make atonement for them
      • The high priest made atonement for Israel as a whole
   4. Ceremonial Cleanness
      • Because God is holy, his people must be holy – which included avoiding uncleanness
      • Uncleanness largely came through contact with things that were unclean
      • Creatures were designated as either clean or unclean for eating
      • Uncleanness would defile God’s dwelling place amidst his people – and so required isolation
      • While a person was unclean they could not participate in worship practices
      • Cleansing typically involved washing and a purification period
      • Uncleanness often required offerings for atonement
      • Note: Spiritual purity is paralleled with cleanness, and sin with uncleanness
   5. Epilogue: Israel’s Persistence in Sin
      • Israel’s sin and rebellion in the desert
      • Israel’s sin and unfaithfulness during the time of the judges
      • Solomon’s unfaithfulness and the consequent division of the kingdom . . .
      • . . . Jeroboam’s subsequent archetypical apostasy in the northern kingdom
      • Some kings in Judah did lead the people in godly ways . . .
      • . . . but ultimately both kingdoms of Israel failed to keep God’s laws and broke his covenant

 ➜Major headings in: 9. The Problem of Sin (and all of Unit B)

Pray for persecuted Christians