Articles of Faith What Nazarenes Believe Session 4

Article of Faith 5: Sin, Original and Personal Article of Faith 6: The Atonement

Since the time of Adam and Eve, are people getting less sinful or more sinful? Why, or why not? Why do people sin? How does a person’s sin effect more than just themselves? Can our world ever become less sinful than it is now? What is the world’s remedy for sin? What is God’s remedy for sin?

Genesis 3 Article 5: Sin, Original & Personal We believe that sin came into the world through the disobedience of our first parents, and death by sin. We believe that sin is of two kinds: original sin or depravity, and actual or personal sin. We believe that original sin, or depravity, is that corruption of the nature of all the offspring of Adam by reason of which everyone is very far gone from original righteousness or the pure state of our first parents at the time of their creation, is averse to God, is without spiritual life, and inclined to evil, and that continually. We further believe that original sin continues to exist with the new life of the regenerate, until the heart is fully cleansed by the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

How does original sin affect the world? What are your thoughts and feelings regarding original sin? Do you think it is fair we are still paying for the sin of Adam and Eve? Why, or why not?

Article 5: Sin, Original & Personal We believe that original sin differs from actual sin in that it constitutes an inherited propensity to actual sin for which no one is accountable until its divinely provided remedy is neglected or rejected. We believe that actual or personal sin is a voluntary violation of a known law of God by a morally responsible person. It is therefore not to be confused with involuntary and inescapable shortcomings, infirmities, faults, mistakes, failures, or other deviations from a standard of perfect conduct that are the residual effects of the Fall. However, such innocent effects do not include attitudes or responses contrary to the spirit of Christ, which may properly be called sins of the spirit. We believe that personal sin is primarily and essentially a violation of the law of love; and that in relation to Christ sin may be defined as unbelief.

Matthew 22:36-40 and 1 John 3:4 If someone asked you to define sin, how would you respond? How do we know if a sin is really a sin?

Four elements that are required for an action or thought to be sin: God must exist with His objective standards of right and wrong. God must exist with His objective standards of right and wrong. We must be aware of right and wrong and free to make a personal choice. We must be aware of right and wrong and free to make a personal choice. An option to think or do something wrong must be present. An option to think or do something wrong must be present. A thought or action must be committed.* A thought or action must be committed.* * Frank Moore, Coffee Shop Theology, (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1998), 102.

John 3:14-17 and 1 John 2:1-2 Article 6: The Atonement We believe that Jesus Christ, by His sufferings, by the shedding of His own blood, and by His death on the Cross, made a full atonement for all human sin, and that this Atonement is the only ground of salvation, and that it is sufficient for every individual of Adam’s race. The Atonement is graciously efficacious for the salvation of the irresponsible and for the children in innocency but is efficacious for the salvation of those who reach the age of responsibility only when they repent and believe.

What does the atonement mean to you and your life? What does it say about God and His view of humankind? How can we positively share our belief in the atonement with others?

How can what we learned today help us in the church? How can what we learned in today help us in our relationships with those outside the church? How can what we learned today ultimately help the world in which we live?

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD : "O LORD, save me!" Then I called on the name of the LORD : "O LORD, save me!" The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, -- Psalm 116:1-8a, NIV