1. INVESTIGATING THE FALL AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
Hamartiology (from Greek: ἁμαρτία, hamartia, "missing the mark, error" and -λογια, - logia, "study“) THE STUDY OF SIN
INVESTIGATING THE FALL AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

2. Hamartiology - OBJECTIVES
After completing this segment, you will be able to:
1. Articulate the importance of Hamartiology.
2. Describe the basic terminology that relates to the topic under investigation.
3. Compare and contrast the various opinions on the topic of the Hamartiology.
4. Explain what the various sections of the Bible say about the Hamartiology.
5. Correlate the gathered biblical information to create scriptural conclusions. Also, you will use the formulated conclusions to assess the various perspectives and to identify the correct view.
6. Utilize the tool of apologetics to defend the biblical view of the Hamartiology.
7. Apply the acquired truths with the aim of glorifying God.

3. Audacity the Movie

4. THE DOCTRINE OF SIN

5. I. Preliminary Questions

6. Homework Questions
What is the difference between Coram Deo and Coram Mundo?

7. II. Basic Terms Civil Righteousness Coram Deo (before God)
Coram Mundo (before the world)
Ability of Unbelievers

8. Homework Questions
How is the teaching of federal headship similar and different from natural headship?

9. II. Basic Terms 2. Federal Headship A.K.A - Representative headship
Belief - Adam was the covenantal or legal representative of the human race.
Application - When Adam fell into sin, all of humanity fell into sin; the human race inherited Adam’s guilt and depravity.

10. II. Basic Terms 4. Natural Headship A.K.A. - The seminal view
The perspective believes that traducianism is correct.
Traducianism explains both … how the consequences of original sin were passed down from Adam to his posterity … and how all humanity, in seed form, was with Adam when he sinned.

11. Homework Questions
Roman Catholics affirm the reality of the Immaculate Conception. What is this? Do you agree or disagree with this teaching? Explain.

12. II. Basic Terms 3. Immaculate Conception
Not referring to the birth of Jesus
Referring to the birth of Mary
Mary was unaffected by sin during her conception
Saint Anne, Mary’s mom, was supernaturally aided during birth to preserve Mary from the consequences of original sin.
Celebrated on December 8th

13. Homework Questions
How does the teaching of original sin relate to natural headship and federal headship?

14. Clarification
Original Sin – This concept describes the corrupt spiritual nature that is present within in humanity from birth BECAUSE OF Adam’s rebellion against God.
Why are we held accountable for Adam’s sin = FEDERAL HEADSHIP
How is depravity passed down =
NATURAL HEADSHIP

15. II. Basic Terms 5. Original Sin –
This theological concept describes the corrupt spiritual nature that is present within humanity BECAUSE OF Adam’s rebellion against God.
G. K. Chesterton once noted that "Certain new theologians dispute original sin, which is the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved" (Orthodoxy, chap. 2). He saw original sin as the one Christian doctrine that is empirically verifiable and validated by 3500 years of human history.

16. Psalm 51:5 - Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

17. Homework Questions
What is total depravity? What are your personal thoughts on this concept?

18. II. Basic Terms 7. Total Depravity –
This doctrine asserts that every aspect of the human being has been corrupted by sin
Consequently, persons will not come to Jesus apart from divine grace.
However, it must be noted that this teaching does not claim that individuals are as sinful as they could be; it is simply upholding that there is not a part in the human entity that is not radically tarnished, which includes the human mind.

19. Homework Questions
What is prevenient grace? How do Traditional Arminians differ from Wesleyans in their understanding of this?

20. II. Basic Terms 6. Prevenient Grace –
The term describes a perspective on how saving grace works
It is the belief that either when the gospel is proclaimed (Traditional Arminians) or since the cross (Wesleyan Arminians) supernatural help is offered to unbelievers before salvation is experienced.
This grace frees the human will to the extent that humans can freely choose to reject or accept the gospel message.
Saving Grace = Resistible

21. Arminians believe that humans are, in essence, radically depraved; however, God has released a supernatural help (prevenient grace) to all people that frees the will from birth. This grace is resistible.
Natural Humanity (Totally Depravity) vs. Actual Humanity (Totally Depravity with Prevenient Grace)

22. 2 Perspectives on Salvation
Arminian
Calvinism (Infralapsarianism)
1. God Creates mankind
2. Allow the Fall
3. Sent Christ as the redeemer for all people
4. Decision to Redeem any who trust in Christ and condemn any who deny Christ (conditional election)
- The Gospel Call goes forth
- Prevenient grace enables every person to accept or reject the gospel call
- Some freely accept the gospel
- Their decision to accept the gospel makes them part of the elect. Election is not based upon God’s choice; it is conditional on man’s choice
5. Apply salvation to those who believe in Jesus (a.k.a. – the elect)
1. God Creates mankind
2. Allow the Fall
3. Decision to Redeem the elect and “pass over” others
4. Send Christ as the redeemer for the elect (unconditional election)
- Every person deserves punishment
- Total depravity ensures that every human will continuously and freely reject God (compatibilist freedom); prevenient grace is unbiblical; thus, no unsaved person will freely accept the gospel
- It is entirely the work of God that enables certain unbelievers to accept Christ
- Election is not conditional on man’s choice; it is entirely based upon God’s choice
5. Apply salvation to the elect

23. Homework Questions
Who is Pelagius? Whom did he have an argument with? What is Pelagianism? How is Semi-Pelagianism different from Pelagianism? Be specific!

24. III. Various Opinions PELAGIANISM HISTORY BELIEFS Pelagius
*British Monk
*4th Century
*Optimistic View on Human Nature
*Major Disagreement with Augustine
*Ideas condemned at both the Synod of Carthage (418) and the Council of Ephesus (431).
*Other Followers
16th Century Socinians
Modernistic Theologians
Humans are not born with a fallen nature or with depraved inclinations.
Humans are born innocent.
Original sin is a false doctrine.
Evil actions = explained by bad examples.

25. III. Various Opinions SEMI-PELAGIANISM HISTORY BELIEFS
Reaction to Augustine
Revised the thoughts of Pelagius
The dominant teaching of the Roman Catholic Church
Original sin is true.
Humans are born morally sick, not radically corrupt.
Only Jesus and Mary escape this corruption.
Humans are not held accountable for their wounded spiritual condition; they are held accountable for willfully breaking God’s law.

26. Homework Questions
Describe the history of the following terms: Jacobus Arminius, Synod of Dort, Five Articles of Remonstrants, and the Five Articles of Calvinism. How is Arminianism similar to Calvinism (Reformed View)? How is it different?

27. III. Various Opinions ARMINIANISM HISTORY BELIEFS
Jacob Arminius ( )
Studied at Geneva under Beza – A disciple of John Calvin
1603 – Arminius = professor of theology
Revised John Calvin’s Views
1618 – Synod of Dort – Arminianism was condemned
Original Sin is true
Humans are radically depraved
Prevenient grace (universal) offsets radical depravity, enabling the sinner to cooperate with God and accept (or reject) the Gospel.
Conclusion:
Because of prevenient grace, sinners are ….
Technically Dead in Sins
Practically Wounded

28. Homework Questions
What do Neo-Orthodox theologians believe about the Fall and the concept of original sin?

29. III. Various Opinions NEO-ORTHODOX VIEW HISTORY BELIEFS Karl Barth
Neo-Orthodox Movement
Humanity’s alienation from God is real; however, the Fall is not historical.
Karl Barth and Emil Brunner denied the existence of Adam. Genesis is a non-literal story that every person re-enacts because of pride, not because of original sin.
Sin is not primarily connected to history; it is connected to the limitations or finiteness of humanity.

30. Homework Questions
Describe the history and beliefs of the Reformed view.

31. III. Various Opinions REFORMED (Calvinistic) VIEW HISTORY BELIEFS
Augustine
Most Reformers
Adam and Eve were on Probation
Failure in the Garden = Led to Original Sin
*Both Federal and Natural views are held
Prevenient Grace is False
Conclusion: Sinners are ….
Technically Dead in Sins
Practically Dead in Sins
Unbelievers are spiritually dead towards God; thus, salvation is monergistic (God works alone).

32. The TWO Five Point Systems
Brief Survey
In groups of 2-3, look up and document (on 1 sheet of paper) the 5 articles of Remonstrance, a statement made by the followers of Arminius. Then, look up and document the 5 points of Calvinism.
Compare and contrast these two theological systems. Do you tend to be more Arminian or Calvinistic in your theology?

33. IV. Biblical Survey The History of Fall The Effects of the Fall
The Character of Sin
The Prevalence of Sin
The Consequences of Sin

34. The History of Fall RC SPROUL The Narrative
The Historic Nature of the Fall
1. It is more probable than not that Genesis 1-3 is essentially a historic narrative.
2. Later biblical writers attest to the historic realities of:
Adam (Rom 5:14; 1 Cor 15:22; 1st Timothy 2:13-14)
The Serpent (2 Cor 11:3; Rev 12:9)
The Fall (1 Tim 2:14)

35. The Effects of the Fall
Romans 5 – Death through Adam & Life through Christ
ADAM
JESUS (2nd Adam – 1 Cor 15:45)
“just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (12)
“many died by the trespass of the one man” (15)
“The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation” (16)
“one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people” (17)
“by the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners” (19)
“how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!” (15)
“but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification” (16)
“how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”
“through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” (19)
“The aorist [tense] points to one act, the act of Adam; we would expect the present or the imperfect [tense] if the Apostle were thinking of the continuing sins of all people.” Leon Morris

36. The Effects of the Fall
Romans 5 – Death through Adam & Life through Christ

37. The Effects of the Fall
Traducianism – Best Explains how Adam’s Corrupt Spiritual Natural Transfers
Total Propagation of Species from Parents to Children = Implication of Scripture
John 3:6 – “Born of Flesh is Flesh” = reference to spiritual realm
Genesis 2:2-3 – God rested from all of His “creational” works.

38. The Character of Sin
1. Missing the Mark – A decision to make a mistake
Ryder Smith – “The hundreds of examples of the word’s moral use required that the wicked man ‘misses the right mark because he chooses to aim at the wrong one’ – that is, there is no question of an innocent mistake or of the merely negative idea of ‘failure.’”
2. Irreligion – An irreverent or impious posture towards the things of God
3. Transgression – To cross over an established boundary
4. Iniquity – To deviate from the right course

39. The Character of Sin 5. Rebellion – To knowingly disobey
Erickson: “All persons are assumed to be in contact with the truth of God, even the Gentiles, who do not have his special revelation. Failure to believe the message, particularly when openly and specially presented, is disobedience and rebellion. Anyone who disobeys a king is considered an enemy. Likewise the multitudes who disobey God’s Word.”
6. Treachery – A breach of trust … to be unfaithful to covenant expectations
7. Perversion – to bend or to twist
8. Abomination – An act that is reprehensible to God

40. The Prevalence of Sin Sin affects: A person’s relationship with God
A person’s relationship with oneself
A person’s relationship with others
Guilt, Disfavor, Etc.
Enslavement, Self-Denial, Deceit, Self-Centeredness , Etc.
Ungodly Competition, Selfishness, Rejection of Authority, Etc.
John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey
the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.”
Romans 3:10 – “There is none good, no not one.”
Romans 6:17 – “we were once slaves to sin.”
Ephesians 2:1 – “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.”
James 4:1-2 - “What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war”

41. The Prevalence of Sin DL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 OBSTACELS OF LIFE
Pre-Fall Man
Post-Fall Man
Reborn Man
Glorified Man
able to sin
able to not sin
unable to not sin
unable to sin
CAUSATION
Proverbs 4:23 DL
OBSTACELS OF LIFE

42. The Consequence of Sin Spiritual Death (believers and unbelievers)
Genesis 2:16-17: And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Physical Death (believers and unbelievers)
Hebrews 9:27: “It is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
Eternal Death (unbelievers)
Daniel 12:2: And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt

43. V. Systematic Conclusions
God’s initial Image Bearers were very good, both intrinsically and morally.
Adam and Eve transgressed God’s law; the fall is a historic event.
Adam serves as the initial (federal) representative for all humanity. His rebellious failure negatively affected his posterity (original sin).
The depraved spiritual condition that Adam inherited, as a result of the fall, was and continues to be transferred to all persons via traducianism.
The Scriptures go to great lengths to meticulously describe the character of sin. The severity of sin is especially noticed when compared to the holiness of God.
Sin has radically affected every aspect of the human entity (moral, relational, functional, intellectual, spiritual, etc.). In fact, unbelievers are enemies of God and “spiritual dead” in their ability to makes things right with God.
Rebellion or cosmic treason (sin) against God results in temporary and eternal consequences.

44. Homework Questions
Are all sins equal? For this, you must utilize at least 4 Scriptures to support your answer.

45. VI. Apologetics
Question 1: Are All Sins equal? 1. All sins are equally competent in establishing human guilt before a holy God. 2. Some sins carry greater consequences than others. 3. Some sins are intrinsically worse than others.

46. Homework Questions
What happens to babies that die? How does 2 Samuel 12:22 and John 9 help answer this question?

47. VI. Apologetics Election-Based Theory Middle Knowledge Theory
Question 2: What happens to babies that die?
The Bible affirms that all babies are born in a sinful state. Therefore, each baby is in need of a second (spiritual) birth from the initial (physical) birth.
There are examples in Scripture where babies seem to be saved before a profession of faith is made. However, this is not the norm, for "the wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies" (Psalm 58:3).
There is an example in Scripture of a departed baby who seems to abide with God in heaven.
The Scriptures do not answer this question exhaustively; there are three prominent theories.
The Bible seems to suggest that humans are not accountable for sin (even though they are sinners) before they willfully disobey. This mercy does not apply to those who merely have access to General Revelation (Romans 1 – they are “without excuse”); however, it could easily apply to infants or persons with a life-long mental handicap.
Ultimately, Christians should rest in the Lord, who is good and just. He will do what is right.
Election-Based Theory
Middle Knowledge Theory
Age of Accountability

48. Homework Questions
How did evil enter into God’s story? How does Augustine attempt to demonstrate that God is not the author of evil?

49. VI. Apologetics Question 3: Did God create evil?
Logical Argument (1)
God created all holistic things
Evil is not a holistic thing
Conclusion: God did not create evil
Logical Argument (2)
The created holistic things can only be distorted by personal agents
The created holistic things were distorted
God, group 1 angels (unfallen), group 2 angels (fallen), and humans are personal agents
God and the group 1 angels did not distort the holistic things
Conclusion: Group 2 angels and humans distorted the holistic things
VI. Apologetics
Question 3: Did God create evil?
The Bible affirms that God created all things.
The Bible does not identify God as the author of evil.
The Bible identifies Satan as the inventor of certain types of evil (lying); by implication, one could argue that Satan is the originator of all evil, or at least the first expression of evil.
The Bible blames the human populace (via its representative) for the appearances and consequences of both natural evil (disasters, etc.) and moral evil (sin, etc.).
Logically, Augustine argues that evil is not a holistic thing or original essence. Rather, evil is the privation, distortion, or perversion of a holistic thing. This philosophical understanding is consistent with the Hebrew word awah, which means to twist or bend something. For example, Proverbs 12:8 says, “A man is praised according to his wisdom, but men with warped (awah) minds are despised.” The despised men are not different species than the wise men; rather, they are distorted men.

50. Homework Questions
Is Ezekiel 18 incompatible with the teaching of original sin? Give one reason to support your answer.

51. VI. Apologetics
Question 4: Is Ezekiel 18 consistent with the teaching of original sin?
The Bible clearly affirms the doctrine of original sin; Adam’s sin affected his posterity.
The Bible teaches that parental sins can, in some sense, practically influence children.
Ezekiel 18 teaches, in some sense, that children can escape the guilt of their parents.
The law of non-contradiction states that something cannot be (x) and non-(x) at the same time in the same way. The teachings of Ezekiel 18 and original sin are not contradictory.
Necessary Contradictions
Compatible Affirmations
A + B
B + C
B + D A B
C + D + E + F

52. Homework Questions
What does Isaiah 5:20 teach?

53. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
You should seek discernment from the Bible in order to properly distinguish the good from the evil.
Rob Bell on Oprah

54. Homework Questions
What does it mean to fear the Lord? Are there any actions or cultural norms that the teenage culture needs to hate more? Explain.

55. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
2. You should seek God for a righteous indignation or hatred towards evil.

56. Homework Questions
What does 1st Corinthians 10:13 teach about temptation?

57. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
3. You should fight every ungodly temptation before it becomes sin. Piper - Make War

58. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
4. You should reject the current psychological consensus that removes moral accountability. Each individual is accountable for his or her own sins. Sam Harris Interview - Free Will (57-59:50).

59. Homework Questions
What Scriptures teach that humans, apart from Christ, are radically depraved? How can these passages be utilized when witnessing to unbelievers?

60. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
5. You should use the biblical teaching on sin to persuade others of their need for Jesus. Ray Comfort - Street Evangelism

61. Homework Questions
How does gospel reflection help Christians to mature spiritually and live missionally (2nd Peter 1)?

62. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
6. You should contemplate God’s holiness, your sins, and the redemptive works of Jesus in order to grow spiritually and to be driven missionally. Gospel-Centrality for the Believer