Is sin genetic?

Permalink Reply by Vincent Hayden on September 29, 2011 at 12:57pm

Sin is an old Greek archery term meaning to miss the target, in other words, the aim is off.

I use an analogy, satellite dish antenna. It has to be aimed at the right spot to pick up the signal - it also has to track (follow) the source. The first humans aimed in another direction which not only lost the good signal, it picked up a bad one.

Human have minds (computers) which control our aim, the bad signal contains static (confusion) as well as a virus which works against getting the aim back on target, as well as deceptive signals which make it appear that one is on track.

Christ (the true signal) is the anti-virus (the truth shall set us free) and corrects the aim if we focus on HIm and allow HIm access into our hearts (central processing units)... the true signal becomes clearer. This is a life time project as there are still false signals and a lot of static.

As far as condemnation- if a person is diagnosed with a terminal virus and refuses the treatment, doesn't even believe there is the virus or the treatment, are they condemned? Well, kinda looks like that.

In witnessing I prefer to think of Christ as one who is leading us away from the road where the bridge is out, rather that the one who threatens to push us over the edge.

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on September 29, 2011 at 1:34pm

Vincent,

I like your analogy:

As far as condemnation- if a person is diagnosed with a terminal virus and refuses the treatment, doesn't even believe there is the virus or the treatment, are they condemned? Well, kinda looks like that.

In witnessing I prefer to think of Christ as one who is leading us away from the road where the bridge is out, rather that the one who threatens to push us over the edge.

Lord Bless,

LT

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Permalink Reply by Vincent Hayden on September 29, 2011 at 4:52pm

Thank you very much.

Blessings from the one who was, and is, and is to come.

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Permalink Reply by Vincent Hayden on September 29, 2011 at 5:10pm

Additionally, those who live in the virus spread it other computers.

And God did not create the universe outside of himself, out of nothing - everything was made from His essence, so it was good. He himself is invisible so it would've appeared to come out of nothing. But the way I see it is that we are like cells in the body of God. If some cells in our body decide they want to do their own thing, not perform their design function, what do we call that? Disease. What do we do with cancer? Cut it, like a branch, burn it. I think it causes actual pain for God - he doesn't want it around. Maybe the sufferings Jesus endured were to illustrate this. But he's the cure... if I had a terminal illness I think that I would not be so resistant to treatment, unless the illness deluded me into thinking it didn't exist.

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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on September 29, 2011 at 6:51pm

God is self existant and self sustained. He is out side His own creation, yet sustains it. Illustrations help, but they fall short of describing the indescribable God we serve.

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Permalink Reply by Bible-Talk on October 9, 2011 at 1:00pm

Thanks for the reply David. I truly appreciate your desire to share.

I must say though that I have reservations about babies/little children being sinners. Psalm 51:5 is seen by many scholars and commentators as being a personal lament rather than a statement from/of God - David suggests that he was sinful at birth; similarly in Psalm 58:3 he says that "they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies" - babies speaking?

In Romans 3, Paul says something which to me is interesting - in verse 20: "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."

It revives the issues of what sin is and when we are aware of it, ie "become conscious of our sin"? Can a child who is only 3 months old understand any law? I do not think that infants are malicious - for me that is too strong a word; they have the potential to (perhaps) become that later in life having inherited a sinful nature. If folly in a child was sin then not even the rod of discipline could drive it far away - only cleansing by the blood of Christ takes away sin.

I am currently of the view that we are all born with a sinful nature but in infants/little children the sinful nature is latent until the time when it is aroused and activated by the commission of sin : "When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:13-15.

I see sin(s) as an ACT/ACTS of the sinful nature (Gal.5:19-21) and not as inheritance/possession of it. Inheriting a sinful nature does not make us sinners - committing an act/acts of the sinful nature makes us sinners.

Interesting stuff - I need to study more on this. Thanks David for your contributions - I admire the amount of time and effort you put into doing Gods work.

With much love in Him,

Desmond

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Is sin genetic?

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