Origin of Sin

The Origin of Sin

Why did God create a being who could sin? Why didn’t God create a perfect being, one who couldn’t sin? Let’s look at history.

In Eze 28:15,16 it says, “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. 16 By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones.”

How can we account for the sin of the devil? Where did his sin originate? Some think that God predestined satan’s sin. But I think it came from himself. If that is true, it would have to meet certain conditions.

1. He would have to be pure and perfect in his original state, fresh from the hand of God.

Eze 28:15 says exactly that. “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created.”

2. He would have to have the perfect environment to encourage holy character.

Eze 28:14 You were the anointed cherub who covers. I established you. You were on the holy mountain of God. You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.

3. He would have to experience no external temptation so no evil influence would pollute him.

Therefore, his position was the best you could expect, to result in holiness. This brings us back to the original question. Where did the devil’s sin originate? We must look at this in two ways. We must separate this concept into two thoughts.

1. The reason for sin.

2. The cause of sin.

For example, the reason for gluttony is the appetite for food.

But between this reason and the sin, we have a free, responsible being under obligation to keep his appetite in the control of his reason.

Therefore, he himself becomes the cause of sinful gluttony.

This is substantiated by James 1:14,15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

1. Lust = desire.

Phi 1:23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire [ejpiqumivan] to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

1 Th 2:17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire [ejpiqumiva].

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusts [ejpiquvmei] against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you may not do the things that you wish.

2. It was his own desire. It wasn’t put there. In man, though stimulated by satan, it’s his own.

3. It is innocent. It occurs before sin. It results in sin. Therefore, this reason for sin can’t be sin.

4. Christ had desires and was tempted to fulfill these desires.

Heb 2:17-18 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

5. No matter how severe the lust (desire) may be, if he resists the inclination and does not consent with his will, there is no sin, only temptation.

Jam 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Therefore, the reason for sin must be innocent, constitutional inclination.

And the cause is executing this inclination independently from God.

For Paul wrote Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

And Isaiah wrote, Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one, to his own way, and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Therefore, we can draw these conclusions.

1. God is good because He chooses to be good. He lives according to His law. He is consistent with His character.

2. God could have prevented evil.

A. God could have created beings incapable of sinning. Or

B. He could have kept them from temptation. Or

C. He could have forcibly prevented them from yielding to temptation.

AA. If A., then He would have created beings incapable of doing good too. A desk holds papers or doesn’t hold papers.

BB. If B., we would never develop good character.

Heb 5:7-9 In the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

CC. If C., this is nonsense. You’re back to A. There is no difference between forced obedience and forced disobedience

3. Therefore, sin first occurred because God made a perfectly able free moral agent in lucifer.

4. And, God could not have given Adam a more perfect will.

5. So, we are completely responsible for every sin we commit.

Sin is the action of turning to our own ways rather than to God’s ways.

Why did sin originate? We cannot find a good reason for it, for there is none. But an occasion, a reason why it was committed, and is committed, I trace to the necessary nature of free agency. In other words, the love of conscious freedom in a free moral agent comes in conflict with the necessary restraints of God’s law.

Remember, Paul wrote Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

And the commandment he is referring to is, “You shall not lust [ou*k e*piqumhvsei"].

The occasion of sin is inseparable from free agency under the restraint of law.

The occasion itself:

1. Is coupled with voluntary action and itself is not immoral or sin.

2. Is not linked with depravity nor does it imply any defect in original constitution.

Remember Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

3. Every being in the universe who sins, whether devil or man, sins solely because he dislikes the restraint of law and shrinks from the self denial necessary for obedience. This is the occasion for sin. The real sin is the disobedience itself: the determination to break the law and have his own way as Isa 53:6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one, to his own way, and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

4. Therefore, all created free moral beings will have the same inclination to throw off the restraint of law.

Scriptures with ejpiqumevw & ejpiquvmia

Rom 7:7-8 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.

Rom 8:3-8 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Rom 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

1 Cor 10:6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

Gal 5:16-17,24 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Gal 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Eph 2:3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Eph 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.

Col 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

1 Th 4:3-5 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God.

1 Ti 3:1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

1 Ti 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

2 Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Tit 2:12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.

Jam 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

1 Pe 1:14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance.

1 Pe 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.

1 Pe 4:1-2 for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

2 Pe 1:4 through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2 Pe 2:10,18 those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 18 for when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.

1 Jo 2:16-17 For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Jude 18 there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.