Sin

ARTICLE VII – SIN

The Holy Bible only gives one definition of SIN: 1 John 3:4, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

SIN is the transgression of God’s Law.  We are not SINNERS due to having the nerve to be born, but rather the moment we choose to break God’s Law and SIN. 

The Law of God does not say that it is a SIN to be conceived or to be born into this world, as it is hardly our choice to be born, and why would that be a SIN or against God’s will?  SIN entered the world through Adam’s choice because he was the first in this world to SIN of his own volition. 

No one in this world SINNED before Adam.  DEATH (NOT SIN) passed upon all men because ALL HAVE SINNED (Rom 5:12).  We all die physically due to Adam (even little babies) because we cannot reach the tree of life due to Adam. 

Spiritual death spread to all men because each and every man SINNED himself.  If a man did not SIN, then he would not die spiritually.  The wages of SIN is eternal death (Rom 6:23). 

Physical death is not the result of our SIN because physical death was decreed when Adam SINNED.  If Adam’s SIN automatically and universally causes all mankind to receive condemnation for something they did not do or had any choice in, then Christ’s dying on the cross would also automatically and universally cause all mankind to be saved (Rom 5:18-19).

The truth is, we all are condemned when we choose to commit SIN (Rom 5:12), and we are saved when we obey God.

The context of Romans 5:12-21, is condemnation and justification.  The condemnation is referring to spiritual death, because those who are justified still die physically.  Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life…”  “Death” in this context is spiritual, because the contrast is eternal life. 

To have eternal life does not mean that one will not die physically.  Jesus says in John 11:25, “he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: …” If “death” in Romans 6:23 means physical death, being justified would mean that we would not die physically!

Adam SINNED, and through his SIN:

• SIN had entrance into the world – not as some substance to everyone at birth, but as a choice.
• Because of this entrance of SIN into the world, death came by SIN.  Notice death still comes by SIN, not by birth. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”  Rom 5:12.
• Death passed onto all men for all men (not babies) have SINNED.

Nowhere does the Holy Bible mention a “fallen nature,” or that we SIN because we were born SINNERS.  We die because we choose to SIN; physical death came because of Adam’s SIN and the introduction of SIN.  Spiritual death comes by every individual’s free will choice to SIN.

Romans 5:13-14 makes the point that even while SIN was not imputed because there was no law, death reigned.  SIN is not imputed where there is no law means: without the standard of law, SIN cannot always be rightly identified to impute; not that if you remove law you cannot have SIN imputed to you in the sense that you remain innocent – though you SIN. 

God absolutely imputes SIN where there is no law, the law of Conscience being the standard.  This truth is evident in Scripture as found in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah and the Flood judgments, both of which occurred before the written Law of Moses was given.

Nowhere in the Holy Bible does it say that we are born with a “sinful nature” (not even in Romans chapter 5).  We die physically due to Adam (we can’t reach the tree of life due to him, and the ground is cursed due to him) but we die spiritually when WE SIN. 

SINNING is something we DO, and it cannot be inherited (Eze 18:20).  If we were able to inherit SIN, then also Jesus would have inherited it, because Mary also had male ancestors. 

Some suggest that Jesus was born by a virgin in order to avoid some “sinful nature,” but according to Isaiah the virgin birth was supposed to be a SIGN (Isa 7:14).  Nowhere in the Holy Bible does it say that Jesus was born by a virgin in order to avoid some kind of mysterious gene which could cause us to get sinful bodies.

Psalm 51:5 and Job 15:14, do not teach we are born with a “sinful nature.”  If so, these verses teach Jesus was born with a “sinful nature” as well – for, if it is maintained that Christ was born of a virgin in order to avoid inheriting such an unscriptural constitution from the FATHER’S side, Psalm 51:5 and Job 15:14, cannot be exploited as the proof text, for each of these verses only refer to the MOTHER.

If all people apart from Jesus inherited SIN, this would DIMINISH what Jesus did for us, because He would not have had the same sort of “disability” as some suppose the rest of us to have.  We could then rightfully defend our SIN with, “It is not that strange that Jesus managed to live a life free of SIN unlike us, because He was NOT born with a [supposed] “sinful nature” like the rest of us poor victims.”

Jesus was not given a single advantage over us!  He did not come to this earth as some kind of a superman with immunity to SIN, or with a reduced ability to SIN.  He was tempted like us in all points but chose to not give into SIN: (Heb 4:15).

SINNING is something we DO, and nothing that we can INHERIT, so babies are totally innocent, since they are not aware of the law and unable to break it (Deu 1:39, Isa 7:15-16, Psa 139:14, Rom 9:11, Isa 44:24, Ecc 7:29).

The words “depraved” and “depravity” are not biblical words; neither the words nor the concept, can be found in the Holy Bible.

“Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one” Job 14:4.

No one can bring other than frail and dying offspring from frail and dying parents.  A SINNER invariably does not produce another SINNER, if so then Mary, the mother of our Lord, was also born a SINNER.  So if Job 14:4, really does teach that a SINNER must produce another SINNER, there could be no way of escaping the blasphemous conclusion that Jesus also was born a SINNER according to this false doctrine.

In Adam we do not die until we choose to disobey, and in Christ we do not live until we choose to obey.  Adam’s disobedience doesn’t make every baby born lost any more than Christ’s death and resurrection automatically makes every individual found. 

If all mankind was born separated from God because Adam SINNED and died, then mankind would be spiritually alive (saved) because Jesus obeyed and lives.  But we can’t be saved unless we make a decision and choose to follow Christ.  Likewise, we do not die spiritually until we choose to disobey God.

Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  This sentence must be read in the same way on both sides of the word “BUT.” 

If an individual SINS, the wages of that SIN is spiritual death, BUT for the same individual, he is promised eternal life though Jesus IF he repents and believes and follows Him.  So, IF he SINS, this equals eternal death, and if he faithfully believes, this equals eternal life.

Again, if all die in Adam, then all are saved in Christ.  We cannot make one absolute and the other conditional.  In other words, IF Romans 5 were to say as some believe, SIN (and not death) is passed down from Adam in the unconditional sense, then the same chapter also teaches that the very same entire race of mankind are ALL saved unconditionally, because of what Christ did.  This would teach Universalism!

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Php 4:13. 

Conforming your life to, and living through, Christ gives you strength to overcome SIN.  God does not let us be tempted beyond what we are able to bear (1Co 10:13).  If we walk according to the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal 5:16).

If we abide in Him, we do not SIN (1Jn 3:6).  His commandments are not a burden to keep and obey (1Jn 5:3), and SIN should always be a matter of “IF,” not “WHEN” for the Christian (1Jn 2:1).  God commands us to “go and SIN no more” (Joh 5:14, Joh 8:11), and therefore gives us the ability to do it.

IF a Christian SINS, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ.  And IF we SIN, we must confess and forsake our SINS to get cleansed and forgiven (1Jn 1:9).  If we do not confess and forsake SIN, then we get no cleansing or forgiveness and are in danger of dying in our SINS and going to hell, since we have not “endured until the end” (Mat 24:13).  There is an endurance of the saints. 

“Repent” doesn’t mean just saying “I’m sorry” and continuing to SIN, but it means “to agree with God,” and thus turn away from SIN and walk in the light with Jesus.  Once you die physically your character is set and your blood is dead; the blood sacrifice of Jesus no longer applies, and flesh and blood do not inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50); meaning, your last state of flesh and blood existence denied that sacrifice meant to redeem your eternal soul.

The Holy Bible says that we WERE SINNERS:

“For we ourselves also WERE sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another” Tit 3:3. 

“Among whom also we all had our conversion in times PAST in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and WERE by nature the children of wrath, even as the others” Eph 2:3.

The Holy Bible says that we “WERE yet SINNERS” (Rom 5:8), that we “WERE the servants of SIN” (Rom 6:17, 20), that we “WERE disobedient” (1Pe 3:20), and “such WERE some of you” (1Co 6:11).  

A great moral change occurs when you believe.  Those who are born again used to be SINNERS, but now they are referred to as “saints” all throughout the Holy Bible.  The Holy Bible says that those who exercise saving faith “are sanctified” in this life (Act 20:32; Act 26:18; 1Co 1:2; 1Co 6:11; Heb 2:11; Heb 10:10-14; Jud 1:1).

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” 1Jn 2:3-4.

We are tempted in our flesh, but since Jesus too was tempted, we cannot suggest that flesh in itself is sinful.  The only time in the Holy Bible where we can read about “sinful flesh” is in Romans 8:3, and the reason why it says that Jesus came in the likeness of “sinful flesh” is because it’s our flesh which we could potentially use to SIN. 

Flesh is not sinful in itself, but we can use it to SIN by application.  Christians don’t walk “according” to the flesh but walk “in” the flesh, and we do have options.  Also, Jesus had the option to walk according to His flesh or not, and He chose to NOT walk after His flesh.

God is the author of our flesh (Exo 4:11, Isa 44:2, Jer 1:5), and our flesh is made out of dirt (Gen 2:7, Gen 3:19).  If we give heed to temptation and choose to SIN, then we have “sinful flesh.”

Jesus was made in the likeness of men in the flesh (Php 2:7), and “flesh” is at times synonymous with men (Gen 6:12, Mat 16:17).  Indeed, flesh (what is physical) is necessary for the body to live out the faith the Lord works in (Gal 2:20).

“For as in Adam all die” 1Co 15:22, concerns physical death (three deaths: physical, spiritual, eternal) and the RESURRECTION.  The very same ALL will be made alive in Christ.  We ALL die physically due to Adam, because he brought the very first SIN into this world which resulted in man's inability to reach the tree of life. 

We choose to SIN like Adam (BUT CERTAINLY NOT OF NECESSITY), and we are ALL heading for physical death.  Jesus has the power of the whole Creation, and we will ALL (just and unjust) one day be resurrected and judged before His throne (2Co 5:10, Act 4:2, Act 24:15). 

ALL people will go through physical death due to Adam, and ALL people will have to go through the resurrection and stand before the judgment seat; some to eternal life, and most to eternal damnation.  Only those who have endured to the end and overcome, and do His commandments, through and by living in faith in the light of Jesus by the power of the Holy Ghost, will thereafter inherit the kingdom of God and live eternally with Christ and have access to the tree of life (Rev 2:7, Rev 22:1-2, Rev 2:14-15, 19).

Adam was not created immortal, else there would be no need for him to eat of the tree of life (Gen 3:22).  God created Adam with the idea and hope that he would never be disobedient and SIN.  If Adam would have obeyed at all times, God would have continued to always give him access to the tree of life.

The Holy Bible says that he who SINS shall die, referring to a spiritual death (Joh 8:21, 24).  Because of one man's SIN, ALL die physically, and because of Christ's righteousness, ALL who exercise saving faith WILL NOT die spiritually (Eze 18:21, Rom 8:13).  Those who choose to SIN will die (spiritually) but not the others who repent of their SINS and continue to keep themselves spiritually clean through faith (Jas 1:27, 2Pe 3:11, 1Pe 1:14-16, 1Co 3:16-17, Rom 12:1).

Salvation hinges on living righteous through faith in Christ, we play a part, not as though we can earn salvation by anything we do (OR BELIEVE), and not as though we do not need to be cleansed for our previous SINS by God through the blood of Jesus; but our behavior shows if we are children of God or not (Isa 59:2, 1Jn 2:29, Tit 2:11-14, Act 24:16, Mat 7:16).

It is always evil to SIN, and thus be dead in trespasses and SINS (Eph 2:1-7, Col 2:13).  Satan LIED to Eve and said that SINNING will NOT cause spiritual death, but trespassing God’s moral Law – which is SINNING – WILL separate us from God and cause spiritual death.

We have the opportunity to repent, for once you die physically – your character is sealed.  The blood of Christ only works here, because the Holy Bible is clear that flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom (1Co 15:50).

The Holy Bible does not say we are BORN “dead in trespasses and sins.”  Paul explains that in times PAST we walked in SIN, but he does not expect us to continue.  In order to commit the SINS that Paul lists in Eph 2:1-7, you must at least be an ADULT.  Babies are not aware of the law and they are unable to:

• Have a need or reason to be “quickened”
• Perform TRESPASSES and SINS and through them be dead
• Walk according to the world
• Walk according to Satan (the prince of the power of the air)
• Be disobedient through following Satan
• Walk in the lusts of their flesh
• Fulfill the desires of their flesh
• Fulfill the desires of their mind

We can be labeled either children of God or children of Satan depending on our life styles.  We can also read that the “children of wrath” are also called “children of disobedience” (Eph 5:6, Col 3:6), so it is clear that you must be able to DISOBEY – which is something that babies cannot do.

Ephesians 2 does not suggest we are BORN as children of wrath, but it provides details for how we can BECOME children of wrath by the way we live.  Thanks to the blood of Jesus, and through our own repentance of SINS, we are restored.  “Hath raised us up together,” is a picture of our future with Christ, because Paul continues the sentence with “in the ages to COME.”  Moreover, in Romans 2:14-15, we can read about people who obey the law “by nature,” so apparently we are not born with a supposed “sinful nature.”

• SIN is a reality that enslaves mankind. 
• All SIN is ultimately committed against God. 
• SIN is the base corrupting agent in the world. 
• SIN is a universal problem of mankind. 
• SIN is in the heart (depth of being) (Jer 5:23, Jer 17:9-10).
• SIN is a heart problem (Isa 29:13).
• SIN was here before the Holy Bible was written.
• God is not the author of SIN. There is no evil in God (Job 34:10, Deu 32:4, Psa 92:15, Jas 1:13).

God is not seeking to salvage something unforeseen by SIN.  It is merely for good purposes known only to Him that SIN exists.  He sees that the good will far outweigh the evil in an eternal existence.

God wants beings for His glory that are possessed of that virtue resultant of free choice victory over evil and SIN.  There is an incalculable value of virtuous redeemed beings.  God is not avoiding issues that arise from SIN.  He could have created innocent beings with no capacity to err.  But He desired redeemed souls purchased at an infinite cost.  The expression of such love, and exercise of such sacrifice, is possible only when SIN is present.

We are to acquire divine knowledge.  We learn by experience and revelation.  We must realize the sinfulness of SIN to attain, to any degree, to the knowledge God possesses.  We cannot attain such knowledge unless SIN exists (Gen 3:22).

Our lives offer instruction to angels (Eph 3:10, 1Pe 1:12).  Angels are observing men on earth and learning important facts through the present experience of mankind.  The acquiring of the knowledge of evil through observing mankind’s experience must be denied the angels unless evil is permitted to exist as an active principle in creation.

The presence of SIN allows the demonstration of the Divine hatred of evil.  It is important for God to demonstrate His hatred of evil.  No judgment, wrath, or power (Rom 9:22) in relation to SIN could be disclosed apart from the permitted presence of SIN.

There will be a righteous judgment of all evil.  The principle of evil is to be judged by God, so, it must be brought out into an open demonstration of its actual character.  A demonstration could not be secured with SIN existing as a hypothetical issue.

The presence of SIN allows the manifestation and exercise of Divine grace.  There could be no exercise of Divine grace toward the sinful and undeserving until there were sinful and undeserving beings to begin with.  The angels had only seen God’s wisdom, power, and glory, not His grace.  They had no concept of His goodness.

The first SIN was committed in heaven, therefore it is not an action transferred biologically or spiritually.  The origin of SIN in creation, as we know it from the Holy Bible, comes from Lucifer (Eze 28:12-17, Isa 14:12-14).  Lucifer’s first SIN was that of rebellion against, and total independence of God.

The Origin of SIN in mankind is described in (Genesis 3).  The theory of evolution purports that man began at the bottom of the moral ladder.  The Holy Bible declares that man began at the top, in God’s image, and tumbled to the bottom.

There is no pollution of the stream of our heredity, we know that Adam and Eve had no polluted ancestry, yet they SINNED.  The cause of evil is NOT due to the sinful environment in which we live, because our first parents lived in a condition of perfection, yet they SINNED.

God gave Adam and Eve an opportunity to prove their love by a simple act of obedience, refrain from committing one thing.  NOT SINNING and obeying is what God has always been looking for.  God was not depriving them of anything, they did not need the fruit of the tree, and it was not necessary for their happiness or well-being. 

However, MAN DOES NOT NEED SIN.  It has not added genuine pleasure to his life.  Even those who SIN against others want others to deal honestly with them (the adulterer wants an honest spouse, the murderer wants to live, the liar expects you to tell the truth, the thief wants you to leave his stuff alone).

In the moral economy God was establishing on earth, SIN was a possibility, but NOT A NECESSITY:

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed” Jas 1:14.

The manner in which Satan came was a real trial, but it was not as to overwhelm Adam and Eve.  This is true of all temptation.  A SUCCESSFUL TEMPTATION REQUIRES COOPERATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL TEMPTED.  SINNING is our own responsibility, and we bear the penalty.

The process of the first temptation (Gen 3:1-6):

• Satan cast doubts on God’s Word and His love.  The tempter came to the woman, due to the fact that God gave the command to Adam directly.  Satan’s subtle question, “Yea, hath God said?” calls into question the veracity of God’s Word.  He also suggests God was keeping something back, thus questioning His love.
• Eve tampered with God’s Word.  First, she added “neither shall ye touch it,” she made it appear God was unreasonable.  Second, she altered God’s word, “lest ye die,” suggesting there was only the possibility of death.  Third, she omitted “Thou shalt surely die.”
• Satan contradicted God’s Word (something that is still occurring with those who accept SIN as being impossible to overcome), “Ye shall be as God.”  This made a strong appeal to self-centered ambition and the flesh.  The intriguing possibility of a new experience in knowing both good and now evil, an area which may have been curious.
• Eve succumbed to the temptation, (Gen 3:6).  “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” 1Jn 2:16.  These are the 3 areas of temptation man is subjected to in this world.

All SIN stems from at least one of these areas.  The seed of every SIN among man is seen in this first SIN.  Adam disobeyed, Eve was deceived (2Co 11:3, 1Ti 2:14, Rom 5:12-14).

There was a necessity to God's probation of man in the Garden of Eden.  Character is the sum total of man’s choices.  Man was on probation until it should be shown how he would use his power of freedom of choice.

The results of man’s first SIN can be seen in man’s attitude toward himself.  Adam and Eve immediately became conscious of their own SIN.  God had not even entered the picture, yet man knew he was a SINNER (Gen 3:7).  Man did not need another to tell him; he knew it himself.

They became conscious of 2 things, pollution and guilt.  Pollution led them to cover themselves, and guilt caused them to flee and hide when God approached. 

SIN BEARS ITS STAIN ON THE SOUL, God does not put it there, and it is an inevitable result, including consciousness of guilt, because all SIN is in relation to God.  Adam and Eve vainly sought to cover their SIN immediately.

Prior to SIN man needed no covering for his body.  Whether he was covered with a garment of light, the glory of God, or the spirit dominated the body instead of the body dominating the spirit, whatever their condition was, they were instantly conscious that they lost something.  Sinful man has a tendency to always try and cover up the result of his SIN, with fig leaves of self-righteousness.

The result of man's SIN can be seen in man’s attitude toward God.  Adam and Eve fled from the presence of God (Gen 3:8); there is something about SIN in the heart that forms an antipathy toward God.  The SINNER will flee.

Adam and Eve falsely thought they could hide from God.  It is gracious to realize that though God knew what had happened, He sought the fallen pair. “Where art thou?” Gen 3:9.  God has been taking the initiative in seeking lost Mankind ever since. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” Luk 19:10.

The results of SIN, as seen in man’s attitude toward his fellow man: One result of SIN is its effect on others.  Eve was not content to disobey God alone.  When God confronted her “Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” Gen 3:11, immediately there was an attempt to shift blame (Gen 3:12), instead of admitting guilt.

Not only did Adam blame Eve, but there is the suggestion that he blamed God, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me…”  It is of the nature of SIN that causes man to refuse to take the responsibility on himself.

The definition of SIN, as indicated above; SIN is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, any Law of God given as a rule to the reasonable creature.

The nature of God’s Law: we are under grace and not the CURSE and Penalty of the Law.  God’s Law is a revelation of His nature and will, it is only good.  God’s Law is not arbitrary; God says it is right because it is right.  If this were not so, He would be a despot.  God does expect us to keep His Law.  He knew of our shortcomings thus the statement, ALL HAVE SINNED.

The purpose of God’s Law is to intensify man’s knowledge of SIN. Through God’s published Law man has a clearer knowledge of what SIN is (Rom 3:19-20, Rom 7:7).  Having learned SIN is breaking God’s Law, SIN now takes the character of transgression (Rom 7:13).  Transgression is the “damage” of another (in this case God), which is the basis of any “lawful” law violation.  Supreme love for God, and complimentary love for your neighbor, is the only way to avoid transgression of any lawful law.

The Law was given to reveal the Holiness of God.  “Where fore the Law is Holy, and the commandment holy, and just and good” Rom 7:12.  The Law was given to lead men to Christ (better, to show men their SINS and need for Christ). 

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that beleiveth” Rom 10:4.  The phrase “end of the law” means the “goal,” of the law.  Faith in Christ does not end the “law” (Rom 3:31, Mat 5:17-21). 

“Not under the law” does not mean, “not having to follow God's Law.”  This would contradict a lot of Scripture (Eze18:20, Deu 1:39, Deu 24:16, Psa 5:4-6, Ecc 7:29, Isa 59:2, Rom 2:12-15, Rom 3:31, Rom 7:12, Rom 7:14a; Rom 7:22, Rom 7:25; Rom 8:4,7; Rom 13:8-10; Mat5:17-19, Mat 19:17; Joh 14:15, Joh 15:22, Jam 1, Jam 2, 1Jn 2:1-7, 1Jn 3:4, 1Jn 5:2-3, and 2Jn 4-6).

If you are violating God’s Law you are under the law, not grace (1Ti 9-10).  Grace is there to forgive our trespasses after we repent (confess and forsake sin).

The believer is delivered from the curse and penalty of the Law.  “Wherefore my brethern, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” Rom 7:4, (NOT “free from obeying God's Law”).

Our greatest defense against SIN is to be shocked at it, when this attitude ceases, SIN has accomplished its direst results.  Guilt is just desserts of punishment for self-determined violation of Law or failure to conform to the Law.

This is the result of SIN in relation to God’s wrath:  there are natural results of SIN in the SINNER (guilt, disease), but wrath brings God into the picture.  Every SIN is an offense against God (Psa 7:11, Joh 3:18, 36).

God’s holiness reacts against SIN; the reaction is “the wrath of God” Rom 1:18.  Not only does SIN (as unlikeness to the divine purity), involve pollution; it also, as an antagonism to God’s holy will, involves guilt.

Progress in SIN is marked by a diminished sensitiveness of moral insight and feeling.  There is no proof that the voice of conscience can be completely or finally silenced.  The time for repentance may pass, but not the time for remorse.  Hell will be a cooling flame, compared with the agony of remorse.

The Scripture makes it clear that there are degrees of guilt, and thus degrees of punishment.  This principle is recognized by the variety of sacrifices required by different sins in Leviticus.  The New Testament suggest degrees (Luk 12:47-48, Joh 19:11, Rom 2:6, Heb 2:2-3, Heb 10:28-29).

There are SINS of ignorance and SINS of knowledge.  The greater the knowledge, the greater the guilt, “woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida!…” Luk 10:13-14.  “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” Rom 2:12.

There are SINS of presumption and SINS of infirmity.  The Psalmist prayed to be kept from presumptuous SINS (Psa 19:13).  Peter was determined to be true even if all others denied the Lord; but he found he did not have the strength he thought (Mat 26:35).  David’s SIN against Bathsheba was one of impulse, but against Uriah it was deliberate.

There is a penalty for SIN.  God must deal with SIN.  He is the righteous judge.  Upon the unsaved, the penalty is the pain or loss which is directly inflicted by the Lawgiver in vindication of His justice, which ultimately will be damnation (Psa 9:17, Mat 23:33, 2Pe 2:1-4).  His justice has been outraged by the violation of Law.

There are also natural consequences (sickness, death, mental and spiritual deterioration, and guilt).  There is a difference between chastisement and punishment.  Chastisement is corrective (Heb 12:6), punishment proceeds from justice.  You cannot reform a murder by executing him.

The faithful believer’s punishment is upon Christ, the sinner’s is upon himself.  God does not punish the faithful believer, He chastises him.  His anger is not upon the faithful believer.

Willful SIN is a sign of unbelief, and proof of a lost condition.  We all suffer physical death because of Adam's SIN, we are ALL spiritually dead until born again, and the lost will suffer eternal death for failure to repent and exercise saving faith in Christ for their SINS.