18. Summary of the Doctrine of Sin
18.1 Sin as Universal Condition
The biblical and theological witness affirms the universality of sin: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NRSV). Sin is both a condition inherited from Adam and a continuing reality expressed through individual and social acts. Its universality unites humanity in moral solidarity and dependence upon grace. Augustine (1998) held that sin’s contagion extends through every generation, leaving no faculty of the human person—mind, heart, or will—untouched. Barth (1932) likewise viewed sin as the existential contradiction of human freedom: an ongoing rebellion against divine love.
From creation’s harmony to corruption, the story of sin reveals a paradox: God’s good creation remains marred by its own misuse of freedom. The doctrine of sin, therefore, is not pessimistic anthropology but realistic theology—a recognition of the world’s fallen condition and the divine plan to restore it through redemption.
18.2 Sin as Rebellion against Divine Order
Sin is fundamentally relational, not merely ethical; it is a breach of divine fellowship. Every moral offence is an act of defiance against the Creator’s order. This rebellion manifests vertically (against God), horizontally (against neighbour), and cosmically (against creation). James 2:10–11 underscores the unity of divine law: breaking one commandment constitutes guilt of all, because the same Lawgiver is offended. The moral law thus mirrors divine unity; sin fragments what God made whole.
The biblical response to such rebellion is the call to repentance. Both Testaments declare that forgiveness flows from divine mercy rather than human merit (Psalm 103:10–12; Ephesians 2:8–9). Sin exposes the necessity of grace, and grace reveals the depth of sin’s offence. The cross of Christ stands as the meeting point of both truths—divine justice satisfied and divine love extended (2 Corinthians 5:19–21).
18.3 The Need for Continuous Alignment with God through Grace
Deliverance from sin inaugurates, but does not conclude, the believer’s moral journey. Sanctification requires continuous alignment with divine truth through faith, obedience, and the indwelling Spirit. Paul urges believers to “work out [their] salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), not as self-effort but as cooperation with grace. The forgiven must remain vigilant lest they relapse into disobedience (Galatians 5:1). Hence, Christian ethics is dynamic—a life lived in response to grace rather than in pursuit of merit.
19. Eschatological Resolution
19.1 The Final Eradication of Sin
The doctrine of sin concludes with its eschatological defeat. The New Testament envisions a future where evil is finally judged and eliminated: “Nothing unclean will enter [the New Jerusalem]” (Revelation 21:27). Christ’s second advent will consummate redemption, abolishing sin’s presence as decisively as the first abolished its power. The last enemy, death, will be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26). Thus, the biblical narrative moves from creation marred by sin to creation renewed in righteousness.
19.2 The Renewal of All Things and the Restoration of Creation
In the eschaton, God’s restorative purpose extends beyond humanity to the whole cosmos. Peter anticipates “new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home” (2 Peter 3:13). This renewal fulfils the promise that “the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay” (Romans 8:21). The eradication of sin thus represents the re-establishment of divine order across all realms—spiritual, human, and natural.
The Christian hope, therefore, is not merely escape from sin’s consequences but participation in the restoration of creation’s original harmony. Augustine’s vision of the Civitas Dei (City of God) encapsulates this consummation: a redeemed society living eternally in perfect alignment with God’s will (Augustine, 1998). In this final reality, grace triumphs completely, and the universe once distorted by sin becomes the eternal dwelling of righteousness (Revelation 22:3–5).
References
- Augustine (1998) Confessions, trans. H. Chadwick. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Barth, K. (1932) Church Dogmatics II/1: The Doctrine of God. Edinburgh: T & T Clark.
- The Holy Bible (NRSV, 2011). London: HarperCollins.
Summary Statement
The doctrine of sin reveals the tragic yet redemptive tension at the heart of Christian theology: humanity’s fall and God’s unrelenting grace. Sin, as rebellion against divine order, disrupts every realm of existence, yet grace—manifested through the Mediator—restores what was lost. The Law exposes guilt; conscience confirms it; the Spirit convicts and heals it. The final victory over sin is not human achievement but divine promise: the restoration of all creation under the sovereignty of God in Christ.