Featured Article: God vs. The Force
The Doctrine Of Sin (Hamartiology)
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, May 4, 2026 (Donate)
Have you ever looked back on your life and realized the mistakes
and “sins” you’ve committed? How many times do we look back and wish we had
done something different or better or honored God; where instead, we fell short
of His perfect standard?
This brings me to hamartiology—the doctrine of sin. The doctrine
is about addressing the nature, origin, consequences, and remedy of sin
according to Scripture.
How Is Sin Defined In The Bible?
The Bible defines sin plainly as a violation of God’s law:
“Whoever commits sin also commits
lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4, NKJV).
Sin is not merely an innocent mistake or imperfection; it is
actually rebellion, transgression, and treason against the holy character and
revealed Word of God.
Sin is when we go against the nature, will, and law of God. Sin
is basically any transgression of the God’s law. Thus, sin is both an inward
corruption and an outward act of disobedience against the Creator.
What Are The Two Types Of Sin?
The two types of sin are the sin of omission and the sin of commission.
The Westminster Confession of Faith explains the two types of sin: sins of
commission and sins of omission.
Sins of commission are those acts where one actively does
what God forbids. Sins of omission occur when one fails to do what God
commands. Scripture affirms both categories. James, by the power of the Holy Spirit,
writes,
“Therefore, to him who knows to do
good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17, NKJV).
Together, these show that sin encompasses not only wrongful
actions but also neglected duties, revealing the depth of man’s fallen
condition.
What Is The Origin Of Sin?
The origin of sin of man is recorded in Genesis 3, when our
mutual grandparents Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s direct command from Genesis
2:17. Though God declared His creation “very good” (Genesis 1:31) and was perfect
(Deuteronomy 32:4), sin entered through man’s willful rebellion.
The serpent, influenced by Satan, deceived Eve, and Adam
knowingly transgressed. Scripture indicates that Satan had already sinned prior
to this event. He appears as a deceiver in the Garden influencing the serpent
to deceive the woman and earning the evil title the “serpent of old” who “deceives
the whole world” per Revelation 12:9.
The apostle Paul explains the entrance of sin into the human
race:
“Therefore, just as through one man
sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men,
because all sinned” (Romans 5:12, NKJV).
Thus, Adam acted as the representative head of humanity, and
his sin brought corruption and death to all his descendants—you and me!
How Does Sin Affect Man Physically And Spiritually?
Sin affects man both physically and spiritually.
Spiritually, sin separates man from God.
“But your iniquities have separated
you from your God” (Isaiah 59:2, NKJV).
This separation results in spiritual death, meaning a loss
of fellowship with God and a state of alienation. Physically, sin brought
death, suffering, pain, and decay into the world. As result of sin, we now die
and our bodies will “return to dust”. The curse pronounced in Genesis 3
introduced toil, sorrow, and man was sentenced to death (surely die) that leads
to our eventual physical death. As Paul affirms by the power of God,
“For the wages of sin is death”
(Romans 6:23, NKJV).
Death in Scripture includes not only physical death but also
eternal death (second death of Hell), which is everlasting separation from God.
If man dies in their sins, they will endure the eternal wrath of an eternal God
as the punishment for that sin.
What Is Original Sin?
Closely related, is the doctrine of original sin. Original
sin means that all people inherit a sinful nature from Adam. Consider that our
life was wrapped up in Adam and Eve when they sinned (consider Hebrews 7:9-10[1]).
So, when they fell into sin…we fell too. David writes by the power of the Holy
Spirit,
“Behold, I was brought forth in
iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5, NKJV).
Original sin does not mean that the act of conception is sinful, but that from conception/fertilization onward, human nature is corrupted by sin. This inherited depravity inclines every person toward sin. This fallen nature explains why all people inevitably sin in thought, word, and deed and means we are all in need of a Savior.
Who Are Sinners?
Accordingly, Scripture declares that all people are
sinners. We, including you and me, are sinners. God says,
“For all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NKJV).
Outside of Christ who was without sin being that He is God
and became a man (2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, 1 John 3:5), there are no
exceptions among mankind; every person stands guilty before a holy God. This
universal condition shows that sin is not merely environmental or learned but
is innate in our being in the very nature of fallen man.
What Is The Punishment For Sin Eternally For Both Man And
Rebellious Angels And Satan?
The punishment for man’s sin is severe (sin God is all powerful)
and eternal (since God is eternal). For humanity, the final judgment for
unrepentant sinners (those who have not received Christ as Lord) is described
in Revelation:
“And anyone not found written in
the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15, NKJV).
This is the second death, an eternal state of conscious
separation from God. Likewise, Satan and the rebellious angels face eternal
judgment:
“The devil, who deceived them, was
cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are.
And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10, NKJV).
Jesus also spoke of “the everlasting fire prepared for the
devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41, NKJV). Thus, both fallen humanity and
rebellious spiritual beings are subject to the righteous judgment of God.
How Can One Be Saved From Their Sin?
Is man without hope because we’ve all sinned? This where God
shows his love and His power. The doctrine of sin is not complete without the
doctrine of salvation.
God, in His mercy, provided a way of redemption through His
Son Jesus Christ. Christ bore the punishment that sinners deserve.
“For He made Him who knew no sin to
be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2
Corinthians 5:21, NKJV).
Through His death, burial, and resurrection, Christ
satisfied the Father’s justice and offers salvation as a free gift of grace.
“But the gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23, NKJV).
When a Christian repents and believes the gospel, trusting
in Christ alone, the righteousness of Christ is imputed—transferred—to us. We
are justified before God, forgiven of our sins, and restored to fellowship with
Him.
Christ, being God, is infinitely powerful in His eternal godly
nature and when He died on our behalf on the Cross, He took our infinite punishment
in that moment. Because of His infinite eternality, He could take that punishment
and satisfy it immediately and not be held down by its grip forever like we
would have.
The doctrine of sin shows the depth of man’s fall through
Adam and Eve and the righteous and perfect justice of God’s judgment. At the same
time, it shows the awesome grace of God in Christ.
Sin is lawlessness and rebellion against God, originating in
the Fall and affecting all mankind. Its consequences are both temporal (immediate
and physical) and eternal, bringing death and suffering into the world. Yet
through Jesus Christ, sinners may be saved, declared righteous, and given
eternal life, revealing the glory of God’s justice and mercy.
Bodie Hodge, Ken
Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing
evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as
a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers
News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.
Bodie
launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal
website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken
on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and
universities. He is married with four children.
Mr. Hodge earned a
Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at
Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a
Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and
running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic
materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a
grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar,
Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.
His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia for AI use and training. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields.
[1] Even
Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was
still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. (Hebrews 7:9-10,
NKJV)
