Geisler, Norman

Systematic Theology,
Vol. 3
TH 513 Systematic Theology II
TH 513 Systematic Theology II
Dr. Mark E. Hardgrove
Systematic Theology II,
Vol. 3
Chapter Three

“The Origin of Sin”

pp. 80-99
God’s Permission of Sin

Atheism affirms evil but denies God.

Pantheism affirms God but denies evil.
Theism affirms both God and evil.
Herein lies the dilemma for theists.
God’s Permission of Evil
Geisler’s answer the to theists’
dilemma:

God cannot produce sin

God cannot promote sin
God can permit sin
God can produce a greater good by
allowing sin.
The Origin of Sin on Earth by
Humans
Aristotle's “six types of causes” :
1.Efficient Cause—that by which something
comes to be(the carpenter)
2.Final Cause—that for which something comes
to be (the dwelling in which to live)
3.Formal Cause—that of which something
comes to be (the house’s form or structure)
4.Material Cause—that out of which something
comes to be (the building materials)
5.Exemplar Cause—that after which something
comes to be (the blueprint)
6.Instrumental Cause—that through which
something comes to be (the tools)
The Origin of Sin on Earth by
Humans
Application of “six types of causes” to the cause
of sin:
1.Efficient Cause—Person (that by which sin came to
be)
2.Final Cause—Pride (that for which sin came to be)
3.Formal Cause—Disobedience (that of which sin
came to be)
4.Material Cause—Eating forbidden fruit (that out
of which sin came to be)
5.Exemplar Cause—None; it was the first human sin
(that after which sin came to be)
6.Instrumental Cause—Power of free choice (that
through which sin came to be)
 The Nature of Free Will
Three basic logical possibilities regarding
the nature of free choice:
1.Determinism: the view that all human
actions are caused by another, not by one’s
self. Hard determinism does not allow for
any free choice at all. Soft determinism
posits free choice but sees it as completely
controlled by God’s sovereign power.
2.Indeterminism: is the position that human
actions are not caused by anything. They
are simply indeterminate
3.Self-determinism: is the doctrine that
human free actions are self-caused, that is,
caused by one’s self.
 Origin of Earthly Evil
Through Human Free Will
Adam exercised free will, self-
determinism, in disobeying God.
Adam’s freedom involved a choice
between good and evil, he had the
power to obey or disobey.
Adam’s choice for evil could have been
avoided, evil was not inevitable for
Adam. If it had been inevitable, then
he could not have been held
accountable for his actions.
The Nature of God’s Free
Will
The original humans were free to sin or
not to sin. God is free, and yet God
cannot sin, He cannot even be
tempted to sin (Ja. 1:13)
In heaven free choice becomes what it is
for God: the self-determined ability to
choose only good.
Heaven is not the destruction of true
freedom, but the fulfillment of it.
Systematic Theology II, Vol. 3
Chapter Four

“The Nature of Sin”

pp. 100-121
 Biblical Basis for
the Nature of Human
Sinfulness
Two basic kinds of sin:
1.Sins of Commission: doing
what we should not.
2.Sins of Omission: not doing
what we should do.
 Biblical Basis for
the Nature of Human
Sinfulness
Seven Detestable sins (Prov. 6:16-19):

• Proverbs 6:16-19 (New International Version)

•  16 There are six things the LORD hates,
       seven that are detestable to him:
•  17 haughty eyes,
       a lying tongue,
       hands that shed innocent blood,
•  18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
       feet that are quick to rush into evil,
•  19 a false witness who pours out lies
       and a man who stirs up dissension among
brothers.
 The Chief Names
for Sin
Sin: The Hebrew world often translated “sin” is
chata, meaning “to miss,” “to forfeit,” or “to lack.”
The basic Greeek word for sin is harmartia, which
means “to miss the mark,” “to err,” “to sin.”
Trespass: The Hebrew root word is maal, which
means “to cover up,” “to act covertly, that is,
treacherously, or grievously.” Trespass is
paraptoma which means “to slip,” “to lapse,” “to
fall,” “to stumble aside,” “to offend,” or “to sin.”
 The Chief Names
for Sin
Iniquity: The Hebrew is avon, which means
“perversity,” “fault,” “iniquity.” The
Greek word is adikia, meaning “morally
wrong,” “unjust,” “unrighteous.”
Evil: The Hebrew root word is ra, which
means “bad,” “harmful,” “wrong,” even
“calamity.” The Greek words for evil are
poneros, meaning “evil in effect.”
Wickedness: The Hebrew rasha, which
means “morally bad” or “ungodly.”
The Nature of Sin in
Relation to God
Sin as Unbelief: “Without faith it is
impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6).
Sin as Rebellion: “Rebellion [is as] the sin of
witchcraft . . .” (1 Sam. 15:23)
Sin as Transgression: (Rom. 5:17; 1 John
3:4; Ps. 51:4)
Sin as Pride: At the root of all sin is pride (1
Tim. 3:6)
 Degrees of Sin
Contrary to widely held opinion, not all
sins are considered (by God) to be equal.
Jesus said there were “weightier matters of the
law” (Matt. 23:23, KJV), such as for example,
mercy and justice over tithing. (Matt. 22:38;
John 19:11). The more severe eternal
punishment for some is due to the heaviness of
the sins they have committed (Rev. 20:12; cf.
also, 1 John 5:16; 1 Cor. 11:29-30; Matt. 12:32)
 Theological Basis for the
Nature of Human
Sinfulness
From a theological standpoint, sin is anything that falls
short of God’s perfect moral nature.
1.God is Holy
2.Sin is being Unholy
3.God is Just (Righteousness)
4.Sin is Unrighteousness (Injustice)
5.God is Perfect
6.Sin is Moral Imperfection
7.God is Jealous
8.Sin is the Absence of Godly Jealousy and the
Presence of Ungodly Jealousy (Envy)
9.God is Love
10.Sin is being Unloving
11.God is Truth
12.Sin is being Untruthful