Part 1: The Problem of Sin – Humanity’s Separation from God
Sin, at its core, is the great divider. It is the force that fractures humanity’s relationship with a holy God. To understand the problem of sin is to confront the stark reality of our fallen state and the desperate need for restoration. The narrative of sin begins not in the wilderness of rebellion but in the perfection of God’s nature.
God is sovereign, righteous, just, loving, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, unchanging, and true. His essence is holiness itself, unblemished and unmatched. In Him, there is no shadow of turning, no deviation from perfect goodness. Yet, when humanity stands before this holy God, a barrier exists—a chasm formed by sin.
God’s Divine Plan and the Barrier of Sin
Before time began, in the eternal counsel of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a divine plan was conceived. This plan was not an afterthought but a foreordained solution to a foreseen problem. God, in His omniscience, knew that sin would intrude upon His creation. Romans 3:23 makes it painfully clear: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
What is sin? It is not merely the breaking of moral laws; it is the failure to meet the standard of God’s perfect righteousness. Sin is not an external stain that can be scrubbed away by human effort; it is an internal corruption that distorts the very image of God in us. And because God’s justice demands that sin be addressed, humanity is left with a problem it cannot solve.
The Father, in His sovereignty, authored a plan rooted in grace. Grace, by its very nature, is unmerited favor—a gift that humanity does not deserve and cannot earn. This plan hinges not on human merit but on divine mercy.
Three Categories of Sin
To grasp the depth of humanity’s problem, we must understand the threefold nature of sin:
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Imputed Sin: This is the guilt inherited from Adam’s original rebellion. Romans 5:12 explains, “Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Adam’s disobedience imputed sin to all humanity, binding us to a legacy of separation from God.
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Inherent Sin: Beyond imputed guilt lies the sinful nature—the propensity to sin inherited from Adam. This sinful nature is the internal bent toward rebellion, a spiritual disease that infects every human heart.
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Personal Sin: These are the individual acts of transgression that flow from our sinful nature. They are the outward manifestations of the inner corruption that separates us from God.