Doctrine

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Sin

The theological concept of sin encompasses transgression against God’s will, moral failure, and the broken relationship between humanity and the divine. Across the Abrahamic traditions, sin is understood as both individual acts and a deeper condition affecting human nature.

Definition and Nature

What Is Sin?

In Judaism: Sin (chet) means “missing the mark”—failing to fulfill God’s commandments (mitzvot) or live according to the Torah.

In Christianity: Sin is transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4), falling short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), and rebellion against God’s authority.

In Islam: Sin (dhanb, ithm, khati’ah) means disobedience to Allah’s commands, transgression against divine law, and deviation from the straight path.

Sin as Act vs. Condition

Sin as Acts (sins):

Specific violations of divine law
Individual choices to do wrong
Discrete transgressions
Plural: we commit sins

Sin as Condition (sin):

A state of alienation from God
Human tendency toward wrongdoing
Corruption of human nature (especially in Christianity)
Singular: we are in sin or under sin’s power

In Judaism

Biblical Foundations

The First Sin: Adam and Eve disobey God in Eden (Genesis 3):

Introduces death and suffering
Demonstrates human capacity for sin
But does not corrupt all future humans’ nature (no “original sin”)

Types of Sin in Torah:

Chet: Missing the mark, unintentional error
Avon: Iniquity, intentional wrongdoing
Pesha: Rebellion, willful defiance of God

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20):

Defines core moral and religious obligations
Sin is violation of these divine standards
Some sins are against God, others against fellow humans

Rabbinic Understanding

The Two Inclinations:

Yetzer hatov (good inclination)
Yetzer hara (evil inclination)
Everyone has both from birth
Sin results from following the yetzer hara
Free will allows choosing between them

Categories of Sin:

Sins against God (bein adam la-Makom)
Sins against other people (bein adam le-chavero)
Yom Kippur atones for sins against God, but not sins against people until restitution is made

No Original Sin:

Each person is responsible for their own sins
Children are not born sinful
“The parents shall not be put to death for the children, nor shall the children be put to death for the parents. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin” (Deuteronomy 24:16)

Atonement in Judaism

Repentance (Teshuvah): The primary response to sin:

Recognition and confession of sin
Genuine regret and remorse
Restitution where possible
Resolution not to repeat the sin

Temple Sacrifices:

Before 70 CE, animal sacrifices atoned for sin
After Temple’s destruction, prayer, charity, and repentance replace sacrifice
Yom Kippur as annual day of atonement

God’s Mercy: “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7)

In Christianity

Biblical Foundations

Original Sin: Unique to Christianity, the doctrine that Adam’s sin affected all humanity:

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12)
All humans inherit a sinful nature
Tendency toward sin is universal

The Universality of Sin:

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8)
No one is righteous apart from Christ

The Wages of Sin:

“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23)
Sin brings physical and spiritual death
Eternal separation from God is sin’s ultimate consequence

Jesus and Sin:

Jesus was “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15)
Came to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21)
“The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)

Types of Sin

Mortal vs. Venial (Catholic tradition):

Mortal sins: Grave matters committed with full knowledge and consent; result in loss of grace
Venial sins: Less serious offenses; weaken but don’t destroy relationship with God

The Unforgivable Sin: Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32):

Debated meaning: persistent rejection of Christ, attributing God’s work to Satan
Not a specific act but a hardened state of opposition to God

Seven Deadly Sins (traditional): Pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth—root sins that give rise to others

Theological Perspectives

Augustinian View:

Original sin corrupted human nature entirely
We are “totally depraved” (unable to choose good without grace)
Only God’s grace can overcome sin
Inherited guilt from Adam

Pelagian View (condemned as heresy):

Humans can choose good or evil freely
Adam’s sin affected only himself
We sin by choice, not necessity

Eastern Orthodox:

Ancestral sin rather than original sin
We inherit mortality and corruption, not guilt
Still capable of good but weakened by the Fall

Atonement in Christianity

Substitutionary Atonement:

Christ died as substitute for sinners
His death paid the penalty for sin
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24)

Justification by Faith:

Cannot earn forgiveness through works
Faith in Christ brings forgiveness
“For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Sanctification:

Ongoing process of becoming holy
Spirit works to overcome sin’s power
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you” (Colossians 3:5)

Confession and Repentance:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)
Genuine repentance involves turning from sin to God

In Islam

Quranic Teaching

Fitrah (Natural Disposition):

Humans are born pure, with natural inclination toward good
“So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people” (Quran 30:30)
No concept of original sin or inherited guilt

Adam’s Sin:

Adam and Hawwa (Eve) sinned in the garden (Quran 2:35-37)
They repented and Allah forgave them
Their sin affected only themselves, not their descendants
Each person bears their own burden: “And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another” (Quran 17:15)

Types of Sin:

Shirk: Associating partners with Allah (polytheism)—the only unforgivable sin if unrepented
Kaba’ir: Major sins (murder, adultery, theft, false witness, etc.)
Sagha’ir: Minor sins
All sins except shirk can be forgiven through repentance

The Mercy of Allah: “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful’” (Quran 39:53)

Human Responsibility

Free Will and Choice:

Humans have genuine moral responsibility
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear” (Quran 2:286)
Actions are recorded and will be judged
No compulsion in sin

Influences on Sin:

Iblis (Satan) whispers and tempts but cannot force sin
Nafs (lower self/ego) inclines toward base desires
Qarin (companion jinn) suggests evil
But humans have reason and revelation to guide them

Repentance and Forgiveness

Tawbah (Repentance): True repentance requires:

Stopping the sinful behavior
Feeling genuine remorse
Making firm intention not to return to the sin
Making amends if the sin involved wronging others

Allah’s Forgiveness:

Allah is al-Ghafur (the Oft-Forgiving) and al-Rahim (the Most Merciful)
Sincere repentance brings complete forgiveness
Good deeds erase bad deeds
“Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds” (Quran 11:114)

No Intercessor:

No mediator needed between believer and Allah
Direct repentance to Allah
No inherited guilt requiring a savior

Comparisons and Contrasts

Original Sin

Judaism: No; each person responsible for own sins
Christianity: Yes; Adam’s sin corrupted all human nature
Islam: No; fitrah means humans born pure

Salvation from Sin

Judaism: Repentance, good deeds, following Torah
Christianity: Faith in Christ’s atoning death
Islam: Repentance, faith, good works, Allah’s mercy

Human Nature

Judaism: Capable of good or evil; free to choose
Christianity (Protestant): Corrupted by sin; grace needed to choose good
Christianity (Catholic/Orthodox): Wounded but not wholly corrupt
Islam: Naturally inclined to good but capable of sin

Forgiveness

Judaism: Through repentance and atonement
Christianity: Through Christ’s sacrifice, received by faith
Islam: Through sincere repentance directly to Allah

Consequences of Sin

Spiritual Consequences

Separation from God
Guilt and shame
Spiritual death (Christianity)
Loss of peace and purity

Physical Consequences

Death entered the world through sin (Christianity)
Suffering and difficulty in life
Natural consequences of immoral behavior
Corruption of relationships

Eternal Consequences

Judaism: Varies; some believe in Gehenna (temporary purification), world to come
Christianity: Hell (eternal separation from God) for the unrepentant
Islam: Hell (Jahannam) for unforgiven sins; Paradise for the forgiven

The Role of Law

Law Reveals Sin

Judaism: Torah shows God’s will and defines sin
Christianity: Law exposes sin but cannot save from it
Islam: Sharia defines right and wrong, guides conduct

Law as Response to Sin

Defines boundaries
Provides structure for community
Offers path to righteousness
Points to need for divine help

Sin and Spiritual Warfare

Across traditions, sin is connected to spiritual battle:

Satan tempts to sin
Sin gives evil foothold in life
Resistance to sin is spiritual combat
Victory over sin requires divine help
Repentance is weapon against evil

Contemporary Issues

Modern theology grapples with:

Original sin and evolution (how did it arise?)
Collective vs. individual sin (structural evil, systemic injustice)
Psychology and sin (mental illness vs. moral failure)
Cultural relativity (are all moral codes equally valid?)
Hell and proportionality (is eternal punishment just?)

Practical Implications

For believers, the doctrine of sin means:

Humility: Recognizing our own moral failure

Compassion: Not judging others harshly

Repentance: Regular self-examination and confession

Hope: God offers forgiveness and transformation

Ethics: Taking moral responsibility seriously

Dependence: Relying on God’s grace and mercy

Conclusion

Sin is humanity’s fundamental problem across all three Abrahamic faiths. While the traditions differ on sin’s origin (inherited vs. chosen), its remedy (grace vs. works vs. both), and its eternal consequences, they agree on several core truths:

Sin is real and serious
It separates us from God
We are all guilty in some way
God provides a way to overcome it
Repentance and moral transformation are essential
Divine mercy exceeds human sinfulness

Whether through repentance and Torah observance (Judaism), faith in Christ’s atonement (Christianity), or repentance and submission to Allah (Islam), the path forward involves acknowledging sin, turning from it, and relying on divine mercy for forgiveness and renewal.