STATEMENT OF FAITH

SIN

We believe sin is “lawlessness” (1 Jn 3:4) or transgression against God’s will, either the omitting of God’s command (Mk 12:30) or by doing what it forbids. The transgression can occur in thought or attitude (1 Jn 3:15; Ex 20:17), word (Mt 5:22; Mt 5:28; Gal 5:20), and deed (Ro 1:32). More specifically, sin is a failure to conform to God’s moral law in our moral nature (Eph 2:3). Satan was the originator of sin, as evident in the temptation of Eve as the serpent (Gen 3:1-6; 2 Cor 11:3) and also as he described as a “murderer from the beginning” and is “a liar and the father of lies” (1 Jn 3:8). This implies that from the “beginning” parts of history of the world (Gen 3 and before), the devil’s characteristic had been to originate sin and tempt others to sin. Therefore, sin was present in the angelic world with the fall of Satan through his pride (Is 14:12-15; Jude 6) with also demons (who are fallen angels) who continue to oppose and try to destroy every work of God the temptation of mankind in sin and every kind of evil.

Mankind was created without sin, morally upright and inclined to do good (Eccl 7:29), but sin entered into human experience when Adam and Eve violated the direct command of God not to eat the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:6). And because Adam was the head representative of the whole human race, his sin affects all future generations (Ro 5:12-21). This we believe to be technically known as inherited sin (Ro 5:13-14; Ps 51:5) or “original sin or guilt”, whereby God rightly imputed Adam’s guilt to us. Therefore, no person is free from the involvement of sin (Ro 3:23). We in our nature totally lack spiritual good and are unable to do spiritual good before God (Ro 7:18; Ro 8:8). Whereby every part of our being is affected by sin – intellects, emotions, desires and our hearts (the centre of our desires and decision making processes), our goals and motives, and even our physical bodies (Ti 1:15; Eph 4:18)). Believers are still susceptible to sin and can be tempted to sin (1 Co 10:13), while unbelievers are in a state of bondage and enslavement to sin (Jn 8:34). As mentioned, believers are still susceptible to bondages and brokenness with undealt traumas and sin issues.

All people are sinful before God (Ps 14:3) and are responsible for their sins from conception (Ps 51:5). Sins have consequences regardless of whether they are repented for or not. Some sins have more degree of harm than others, but it is noted that all sins are equally bad all resulting in legally guilty and therefore, the just conclusion of punishment. Some sins may certainly be of greater degree, but only in the measure of harmfulness and also in the “degree of God’s displeasure”.

When a believer sins our legal standing (Ro 8:1) does not change, however our fellowship with God may be disrupted, and our Christian life and growth damaged (Eph 4:30, Mt 6:14-15). Therefore, it does not negate the effects of sin on this side of eternity. We believe also that the effects of sin can affect the believer even through family history and trauma - otherwise known as “generational curses”. In many cases, God may heal and deliver through a divine process of sanctification, but we also find that the effects (addictions, bondages, and strongholds) may linger unless dealt with head on through fasting and prayer (Mk 9:29), power of the Holy Spirit, faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, confession and renouncing of sins and spirits.