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 and acting wickedly 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
      • For 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 hearts and 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 and disgrace
      • Spiritual defilement . . .
      • . . . Spiritual uncleanness
      • Separation from God . . .
      • . . . and spiritual death
      • Captivity to sin . . .
      • . . . involving enslavement to sin
      • Foolishness and spiritual darkness
      • Further intrinsic harmful consequences
      • Note: Sometimes God “gives people over” to sin
   5. Sin Brings God’s Judgment – Ultimately Death
      • When one sins, one becomes guilty
      • God holds one responsible for one’s sin
      • Sin makes one subject to God’s wrath
      • God’s wrath against sinners is manifested in punishment
      • Sin results in physical death – through Adam’s original sin
      • Sin brings the prospect of eternal “death”
      • Note: Sin can lead to consequences that affect others – notably children . . .
      • . . . but it is the one who sins who will die for their sin

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
      • The parts of an offering’s body were burnt or eaten
      • Note: Procedures for the Day of Atonement, involving the high priest entering the Most Holy Place
   3. The Role of the Priests
      • God designated Aaron and his descendants as priests . . .
      • . . . With their appointment, God is said to have made a covenant with the priests
      • The priests were responsible for God’s sanctuary, the offerings and teaching the people . . .
      • . . . The other Levites were given to the priests to assist them
      • The priests made offerings for people when they sinned, to make atonement for them
      • The high priest made atonement for Israel as a whole
      • The offering of incense by the priests
      • Note: Priests and Levites were given parts of the people’s offerings, God being their inheritance
   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 . . .
      • . . .  Other sources of uncleanness
      • Uncleanness would defile God’s dwelling place amidst his people – and so required isolation and cleansing
      • 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 wilderness
      • Israel’s sin and unfaithfulness during the time of the judges
      • Israel’s sinful demand for a king – and the choice of Saul
      • Solomon’s unfaithfulness and the consequent division of the kingdom under his son, Rehoboam . . .
      • . . . 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
      • Note: The people polluted and defiled the land by their sin

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

Pray for persecuted Christians