Sin
Statement of Belief
We believe that all of humanity has fallen short of God’s glory and is in need of salvation; hence the reason Jesus came to earth.
Romans 3:23 — Romans 6:23 — Romans 5:8 — John 14:6 — 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 1)
Additional Information
Sin, according to biblical understanding, is more than merely a violation of divine commandments; it represents a profound breach in the relationship between humanity and God. This breach, the concept of 'sin', has permeated every aspect of our human existence.
In line with Romans 3:23, which states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” we assert that sin is not an isolated act or sequence of acts committed by a select few. It is a universal condition, a malady that indicates our collective inability to reflect the glory of God — the sublime manifestation of His divine nature and perfection.
As Romans 6:23 affirms, “For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This means that the consequence of sin is so severe that it leads to spiritual death — a state of everlasting separation from God. The 'payoff' of sin is not merely physical death, but a life lived in spiritual alienation from our Creator. Yet, there is a beacon of hope, as God's grace offers the gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:8 reveals, “But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We understand that God's response to human sinfulness was to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on our behalf. God's love is most vividly displayed against the backdrop of our sin, showing the unmerited favor and profound love that God has for humanity, even at our worst.
John 14:6 says, “Jesus replied, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” This verse emphasizes that salvation cannot be achieved through human effort or moral deeds but is a divine gift bestowed upon us by God through Jesus Christ. Jesus stands as the exclusive path towards the Father, the source of all truth, and the bestower of life in all its fullness.
Finally, we find comfort and hope in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?… Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” These verses depict the transformative power of God's grace. They remind us of our sinful past and its consequences, but they also proclaim the cleansing, sanctifying, and justifying work of Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God that transforms us from sinners to saints.
Hence, through this belief about sin, we acknowledge our universal need for redemption because of our inherent imperfection. We celebrate God's boundless love demonstrated in the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who through His death and resurrection, has reconciled us to God, granting us the hope of eternal life. This belief inspires us to lead lives characterized by humility, gratitude, repentance, and an earnest pursuit of God's righteousness.