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34. What kinds of sin are there?

  1. Inherited sin, that is, the innate depravity of human nature, the desire for evil.
    • Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)
    • The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth. (Genesis 8:21)
  2. Personal Sin. We become guilty of sin:
    • through thoughts, wishes and desires;
    • through words;
    • through deeds.
      • For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. (Matthew 15:19)
      • I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36)
      • This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)
  3. Sin of omission. Through knowing to do good, but not doing it,
    • Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17).
  4. Sin due to weakness. The person is overtaken by a fault.
    • Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. (Galatians 6:1)
    • Example: Peter’s denial (Matthew 26:69 ff.)
  5. Sin due to evil. This sin is voluntarily and consciously committed, despite knowing that it is an evil thing to do.
    • Example: Judas’ betrayal of Jesus: (Matthew 26:14-16; 47-50)