Is "any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God" (1 John 3:4; Rom. 4:15), in the inward state and habit of the soul, as well as in the outward conduct of the life, whether by omission or commission (Rom. 6:12-17; 7:5-24). It is "not a mere violation of the law of our constitution, nor of the system of things, but an offence against a personal lawgiver and moral governor who vindicates his law with penalties. The soul that sins is always conscious that his sin is (1) intrinsically vile and polluting, and (2) that it justly deserves punishment, and calls down the righteous wrath of God. Hence sin carries with it two inalienable characters, (1) ill-desert, guilt (reatus); and (2) pollution (macula).", Hodge's Outlines. The moral character of a man's actions is determined by the moral state of his heart. The disposition to sin, or the habit of the soul that leads to the sinful act, is itself also sin (Rom. 6:12-17; Gal. 5:17; James 1:14, 15). The origin of sin is a mystery, and must for ever remain such to us. It is plain that for some reason God has permitted sin to enter this world, and that is all we know. His permitting it, however, in no way makes God the author of sin. Adam's sin (Gen. 3:1-6) consisted in his yielding to the assaults of temptation and eating the forbidden fruit. It involved in it, (1) the sin of unbelief, virtually making God a liar; and (2) the guilt of disobedience to a positive command. By this sin he became an apostate from God, a rebel in arms against his Creator. He lost the favour of God and communion with him; his whole nature became depraved, and he incurred the penalty involved in the covenant of works. Original sin. "Our first parents being the root of all mankind, the guilt of their sin was imputed, and the same death in sin and corrupted nature were conveyed to all their posterity, descending from them by ordinary generation." Adam was constituted by God the federal head and representative of all his posterity, as he was also their natural head, and therefore when he fell they fell with him (Rom. 5:12-21; 1 Cor. 15:22-45). His probation was their probation, and his fall their fall. Because of Adam's first sin all his posterity came into the world in a state of sin and condemnation, i.e., (1) a state of moral corruption, and (2) of guilt, as having judicially imputed to them the guilt of Adam's first sin. "Original sin" is frequently and properly used to denote only the moral corruption of their whole nature inherited by all men from Adam. This inherited moral corruption consists in, (1) the loss of original righteousness; and (2) the presence of a constant proneness to evil, which is the root and origin of all actual sin. It is called "sin" (Rom. 6:12, 14, 17; 7:5-17), the "flesh" (Gal. 5:17, 24), "lust" (James 1:14, 15), the "body of sin" (Rom. 6:6), "ignorance," "blindness of heart," "alienation from the life of God" (Eph. 4:18, 19). It influences and depraves the whole man, and its tendency is still downward to deeper and deeper corruption, there remaining no recuperative element in the soul. It is a total depravity, and it is also universally inherited by all the natural descendants of Adam (Rom. 3:10-23; 5:12-21; 8:7). Pelagians deny original sin, and regard man as by nature morally and spiritually well; semi-Pelagians regard him as morally sick; Augustinians, or, as they are also called, Calvinists, regard man as described above, spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1; 1 John 3:14). The doctrine of original sin is proved, (1.) From the fact of the universal sinfulness of men. "There is no man that sinneth not" (1 Kings 8:46; Isa. 53:6; Ps. 130:3; Rom. 3:19, 22, 23; Gal. 3:22). (2.) From the total depravity of man. All men are declared to be destitute of any principle of spiritual life; man's apostasy from God is total and complete (Job 15:14-16; Gen. 6:5, 6). (3.) From its early manifestation (Ps. 58:3; Prov. 22:15). (4.) It is proved also from the necessity, absolutely and universally, of regeneration (John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17). (5.) From the universality of death (Rom. 5:12-20). Various kinds of sin are mentioned, (1.) "Presumptuous sins," or as literally rendered, "sins with an uplifted hand", i.e., defiant acts of sin, in contrast with "errors" or "inadvertencies" (Ps. 19:13). (2.) "Secret", i.e., hidden sins (19:12); sins which escape the notice of the soul. (3.) "Sin against the Holy Ghost" (q.v.), or a "sin unto death" (Matt. 12:31, 32; 1 John 5:16), which amounts to a wilful rejection of grace. Sin, a city in Egypt, called by the Greeks Pelusium, which means, as does also the Hebrew name, "clayey" or "muddy," so called from the abundance of clay found there. It is called by Ezekel (Ezek. 30:15) "the strength of Egypt, "thus denoting its importance as a fortified city. It has been identified with the modern Tineh, "a miry place," where its ruins are to be found. Of its boasted magnificence only four red granite columns remain, and some few fragments of others. bush a city of Egypt, mentioned only by Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 30:15,16) The name is Hebrew, or at least Semitic, perhaps signifying clay . It is identified in the Vulgate with Pelusium, "the clayey or muddy" town. Its antiquity may perhaps be inferred from the mention of "the wilderness of Sin" in the journeys of the Israelites. (Exodus 16:1; Numbers 33:11) Ezekiel speaks of Sin as "Sin the strongholds of Egypt." (Ezekiel 30:15) This place was held by Egypt from that time until the period of the Romans. Herodotus relates that Sennacherib advanced against Pelusium, and that near Pelusium Cambyses defeated Psammenitus. In like manner the decisive battle in which Ochus defeated the last native king, Nectanebes, was fought near this city. Is the transgression of the law -- 1Jo 3:4. Is of the devil -- 1Jo 3:8; Joh 8:44. All unrighteousness is -- 1Jo 5:17. Omission of what we know to be good is -- Jas 4:17. Whatever is not of faith is -- Ro 14:23. The thought of foolishness is -- Pr 24:9. All the imaginations of the unrenewed heart are -- Ge 6:5; 8:21. Described as Coming from the heart. -- Mt 15:19. The fruit of lust. -- Jas 1:15. The sting of death. -- 1Co 15:56. Rebellion against God. -- De 9:7; Jos 1:18. Works of darkness. -- Eph 5:11. Dead works. -- Heb 6:1; 9:14. The abominable thing that God hates. -- Pr 15:9; Jer 44:4,11. Reproaching the Lord. -- Nu 15:30; Ps 74:18. Defiling. -- Pr 30:12; Isa 59:3. Deceitful. -- Heb 3:13. Disgraceful. -- Pr 14:34. Often very great. -- Ex 32:20; 1Sa 2:17. Often mighty. -- Am 5:12. Often manifold. -- Am 5:12. Often presumptuous. -- Ps 19:13. Sometimes open and manifest. -- 1Ti 5:24. Sometimes secret. -- Ps 90:8; 1Ti 5:24. Besetting. -- Heb 12:1. Like scarlet and crimson. -- Isa 1:18. Reaching to heaven. -- Re 18:5. Entered into the world by Adam -- Ge 3:6,7; Ro 5:12. All men are conceived and born in -- Ge 5:3; Job 15:14; 25:4; Ps 51:5. All men are shapen in -- Ps 51:5. Scripture concludes all under -- Ga 3:22. No man is without -- 1Ki 8:46; Ec 7:20. Christ alone was without -- 2Co 5:21; Heb 4:15; 7:26; 1Jo 3:5. God Abominates. -- De 25:16; Pr 6:16-19. Marks. -- Job 10:14. Remembers. -- Re 18:5. Is provoked to jealousy by. -- 1Ki 14:22. Is provoked to anger by. -- 1Ki 16:2. Alone can forgive. -- Ex 34:7; Da 9:9; Mic 7:18; Mr 2:7. Recompenses. -- Jer 16:18; Re 18:6. Punishes. -- Isa 13:11; Am 3:2. The Law Is transgressed by every. -- Jas 2:10,11; 1Jo 3:4. Gives knowledge of. -- Ro 3:20; 7:7. Shows exceeding sinfulness of. -- Ro 7:13. Made to restrain. -- 1Ti 1:9,10. By its strictness stirs up. -- Ro 7:5,8,11. Is the strength of. -- 1Co 15:56. Curses those guilty of. -- Ga 3:10. No man can cleanse himself from -- Job 9:30,31; Pr 20:9; Jer 2:22. No man can atone for -- Mic 6:7. God has opened a fountain for -- Zec 13:1. Christ was manifested to take away -- Joh 1:29; 1Jo 3:5. Christ's blood redeems from -- Eph 1:7. Christ's blood cleanses from -- 1Jo 1:7. Saints Made free from. -- Ro 6:18. Dead to. -- Ro 6:2,11; 1Pe 2:24. Profess to have ceased from. -- 1Pe 4:1. Cannot live in. -- 1Jo 3:9; 5:18. Resolve against. -- Job 34:32. Ashamed of having committed. -- Ro 6:21. Abhor themselves on account of. -- Job 42:6; Eze 20:43. Have yet the remains of, in them. -- Ro 7:17,23; Ga 5:17. The fear of God restrains -- Ex 20:20; Ps 4:4; Pr 16:6. The word of God keeps from -- Ps 17:4; 119:11. The Holy Spirit convinces of -- Joh 16:8,9. If we say that we have no, we make God a liar -- 1Jo 1:10. Confusion of face belongs to those guilty of -- Da 9:7,8. Should be Confessed. -- Job 33:27; Pr 28:13. Mourned over. -- Ps 38:18; Jer 3:21. Hated. -- Ps 97:10; Pr 8:13; Am 5:15. Abhorred. -- Ro 12:9. Put away. -- Job 11:14. Departed from. -- Ps 34:14; 2Ti 2:19. Avoided even in appearance. -- 1Th 5:22. Guarded against. -- Ps 4:4; 39:1. Striven against. -- Heb 12:4. Mortified. -- Ro 8:13; Col 3:5. Wholly destroyed. -- Ro 6:6. Specially strive against besetting -- Heb 12:1. Aggravated by neglecting advantages -- Lu 12:47; Joh 15:22. Guilt of concerning -- Job 31:33; Pr 28:13. We should pray to God To search for, in our hearts. -- Ps 139:23,24. To make us know our. -- Job 13:23. To forgive our. -- Ex 34:9; Lu 11:4. To keep us from. -- Ps 19:13. To deliver us from. -- Mt 6:13. To cleanse us from. -- Ps 51:2. Prayer hindered by -- Ps 66:18; Isa 59:2. Blessings withheld on account of -- Jer 5:25. The wicked Servants to. -- Joh 8:34; Ro 6:16. Dead in. -- Eph 2:1. Guilty of, in everything they do. -- Pr 21:4; Eze 21:24. Plead necessity for. -- 1Sa 13:11,12. Excuse. -- Ge 3:12,13; 1Sa 15:13-15. Encourage themselves in. -- Ps 64:5. Defy God in committing. -- Isa 5:18,19. Boast of. -- Isa 3:9. Make a mock at. -- Pr 14:9. Expect impunity in. -- Ps 10:11; 50:21; 94:7. Cannot cease from. -- 2Pe 2:14. Heap up. -- Ps 78:17; Isa 30:1. Encouraged in, by prosperity. -- Job 21:7-15; Pr 10:16. Led by despair to continue in. -- Jer 2:25; 18:12. Try to conceal, from God. -- Ge 3:8,10; Job 31:33. Throw the blame of, on God. -- Ge 3:12; Jer 7:10. Throw the blame of, on others. -- Ge 3:12,13; Ex 32:22-24. Tempt others to. -- Ge 3:6; 1Ki 16:2; 21:25; Pr 1:10-14. Delight in those who commit. -- Ps 10:3; Ho 7:3; Ro 1:32. Shall bear the shame of. -- Eze 16:52. Shall find out the wicked -- Nu 32:23. Ministers should warn the wicked to forsake -- Eze 33:9; Da 4:27. Leads to Shame. -- Ro 6:21. Disquiet. -- Ps 38:3. Disease. -- Job 20:11. The ground was cursed on account of -- Ge 3:17,18. Toil and sorrow originated in -- Ge 3:16,17,19; Job 14:1. Excludes from heaven -- 1Co 6:9,10; Ga 5:19-21; Eph 5:5; Re 21:27. When finished brings forth death -- Jas 1:15. Death, the wages of -- Ro 6:23. Death, the punishment of -- Ge 2:17; Eze 18:4.
Sin