Doctrine of Sin
By Jerry Batson, Th.D.
Special to The Alabama Baptist
Previously, we have looked at sin’s consequences generally; namely, that sin left to itself leads to enslavement and eventually to death. However, the presence of sin in the life of a believer has its own unique consequences. The position of a Christian in relation to God is one of security.
Although we do sin, we do not cease to be children of God when we do. Our relationship with God as His forgiven and adopted children is not severed because of sin. However, aspects of our Christian lives are affected.
For one thing, our fellowship with God within that secure relationship suffers. Like Adam and Eve who sought to avoid God after their disobedience, we tend to keep our distance from Him when our lives are clogged with unconfessed sin. We do not readily come before God in prayer. We discover the truthfulness of Isaiah 59:2, that sin tends to hide God’s face and separate us from enjoying times of communion with Him in prayer. Neither do we enjoy times of praise and worship when our spirits are burdened with the guilt of sins not confessed and cleansed.
Fruitfulness in ministry
In addition to its effect on our fellowship with God, sin in the lives of believers diminishes our fruitfulness in ministry. 1 Peter 2:11 uses military imagery to make the point that fleshly lusts or sinful desires wage war against our souls. To act upon sinful desires is like giving food and shelter to enemy soldiers so that they might be victorious in the warfare against our souls. The result for Christians is the loss of spiritual authority and strength and the lessening of effectiveness in service to the Lord.
Since God desires and seeks fellowship with us as His children, as well as desiring effectiveness in service for Him and richness in our prayer life, He disciplines us when sin is allowed to intrude into our relationship with Him. So ideally when Christians sin we are prompt to recognize that fact and quick to confess our sins so fellowship with God is not disrupted or diminished. Even when fellowship is hindered, however, and God is displeased He does not stop loving us. In the absence of quick and complete confession of sin, God’s love for His children prompts Him to discipline us.
‘For our profit’
The Bible reminds us in Hebrews 12:6 that the Lord disciplines those whom He loves. It further assures us that God disciplines us “for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness” (Heb. 12:10). It was in this same vein that the glorified Christ issued a reminder to the church at Laodicea, declaring, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent” (Rev. 3:19).
Whatever form divine discipline may take, it is not pleasant, as Hebrews 12:11 declares:
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” On the positive side, divine discipline is one of the evidences of being a genuine child of God. “If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons” (Heb. 12:8).
EDITOR’S NOTE — Jerry Batson is a retired Alabama Baptist pastor who also has served as associate dean of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University and professor of several schools of religion during his career.
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