THE ORIGIN OF SIN

Lesson 9
Group Question:

•Where did sin originate?

•Is Sin Created? Then who
created it?
INTRODUCTION

The Greek word for sin is hamartia

(ἁμαρτία), while the word logos
(λόγος) signifies word or doctrine.
Thus, Hamartiology is the study or
the doctrine of sin.
A. The Source of Sin

1.The Bible did not create the

problem of sin
• Sin was in the world long before the Bible was
written.
• If the Bible had never been written, or if it
were not true, we would still have the problem
of sin on our hands.
2. God did not create sin
• Just because God is the Creator of all
things, it does not follow that He is
the author of sin.
“. . . Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from
the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity” (Job 34:10).
1.God could not possibly sin, for He is holy.
"And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the
Lord. . ." (Is. 6:3).

2.There is no unrighteousness in Him.

"He is the Rock, his works are perfect: and all his ways are just:
a faithful God who does no wrong and just is he" (Dt. 32:4)
3.He cannot be tempted with evil,
neither does He tempt any man.
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting
me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he
tempt anyone… (James 1:13)
4. He hates sin
"For everyone who does these things, everyone
who acts unjustly is an abomination to the Lord
your God.” (Deut. 25:16)
“…do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do
not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,"
declares the Lord. (Zech 8:17)
BUT…
3. God can permit sin
Although God cannot do and produce sin, He
can and does permit it. In allowing sin to occur,
He accomplishes is own higher purpose.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for

good to accomplish what is now being done, the
saving of many lives. (Gen 50:20)
4. God can produce a greater good by
allowing sin
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we
know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance,
character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint
us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the
Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:3-5)
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you
face trials of many kinds, because you know that
the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you
may be mature and complete, not lacking
anything.
B. THE ORIGIN OF SIN IN Heaven
by Angels

Read:
Ezekiel 28:12-17
Isaiah 14:12-14
Five times Lucifer lifts up his will
against the will of God. It can thus
be seen that the first sin was that of
rebellion against, and total
independence of, God.
a.“I will ascend into heaven” - There are three
heavens: the atmospheric heaven, the stellar or
astronomic heaven, and the highest or third heaven
where God and the saints abide.
b.“I will exalt my throne above the stars of
God” – “The stars of God” refers to the angelic
hosts. Thus is expressed the desire to secure a
rulership over angelic beings.
c.“I will sit also upon the mount of the
congregation, in the sides of the north” -
These words have been taken to express a desire for an
earthly kingdom also. In scriptural symbolism, a
mountain means a kingdom.
d.“I will ascend above the heights of the
clouds” - Divine glory is often symbolized by clouds in
Scripture. Lucifer wanted to possess this glory.
e.“I will be like the most High” - This
is the climax of the other four desires. All
of these statements express independence
of and opposition to God, a willful
ambition against God.
 C. The Origin of Sin on Earth by
Humans
The Origin of Evil: The Six Causes
In order to enhance our understanding of the nature
of human sin, an examination of the six types of
causes will be helpful. First set forth by Aristotle
(384-322 B.C.) and later explained by the scholastics,
the six causes are defined (and illustratively applied
to the process of constructing a house) as follows:

Norman Geisler, Systematic Theology, Vol. III, 83-84.

 The Six Causes
• Efficient Cause -that by which something comes to be (The carpenter)
• Final Cause - That for which something comes to be (The dwelling place in which to live)

• Formal Cause - that of which something comes to be (The house’s form or structure)

• Material Cause - that out of which something comes to be (The building materials)
• Exemplar Cause - that after which something comes to be (The blueprint)
• Instrumental Cause - that through which something comes to be (The tools)
 The Six Causes
• Efficient Cause -the Person (by which sin came to be)
• Final Cause - Pride (that for which sin came to be)

• Formal Cause - Disobedience (that of which sin came to be)

• Material Cause - Eating forbidden fruit (that out of which sin came to be)
• Exemplar Cause - None; it was the first sin (that after which sin came to be)
• Instrumental Cause - Power of Free Choice
(that through which sin came to be)