Must I Sin?
A simple "yes" or "no" isn't an adequate answer.
By Randy Blackaby

Every now and then, brethren vigorously disagree about the answer to a question that someone asks during Bible class. One example of such a question is: "Does a man have to sin?" At the heart of the question are some very important issues, and a simple "yes" or "no" won't do.

Within this one short question are at least two different issues. The first involves human volition, or man's free moral agency. God created us in His image, with the ability to make our own decisions. He does not directly control us. We choose whether to do what is right or what is wrong. The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is replete with examples of choices, some right, and some wrong.

Scripture clearly teaches that men choose whether or not to sin.

These passages destroy the idea of John Calvin and many of today's denominationalists that man must sin because he inherits a "fallen nature" from Adam. If a man has no choice but to sin, he would not be accountable for his sin, and a just God would not condemn him for behavior over which he has no control. So, from this viewpoint, our brethren who say "no, we don't have to sin" are correct.

But, let's not end the discussion here. To see the entire picture, we must examine another point of view--God's. He is omniscient, or all knowing; He sees, and even predicts (through prophecy), the future. And, if God predicts something, it will come to pass.

God, with his foreknowledge, has said that all men will sin. Through Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 7:20, God stated this fact: "For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin." This point is also made in Psalms 14:1-3: "The fool has said in his heart, 'there is no God.' They are corrupt. They have done abominable works; there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside. They have together become corrupt; there is none who does good; no, not one."

In Romans 3:10-12, the Apostle Paul quoted these Old Testament verses as he declared the universality of sin. "As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." Paul clearly demonstrated that the Jews and Gentiles have a common problem-the need for a savior.

So, from the standpoint of fulfilling scripture, and because God knows what will happen before it happens, yes, man must sin. His free will is not removed. He (we) chooses to sin. God knew in advance that this would happen.

In 1 John 1:10, we read: "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us." The only way to be right with God is by obtaining His grace or forgiveness. We can't earn righteousness by living perfectly. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men." (Titus 2:11) And Paul declared, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

Some questions simply can't be answered with a "yes" or "no."

For example, "Did Jesus have to die?" We could say "yes" and cite Matthew 16:21, where we read, "From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day."

But we could also say "no" and quote what Jesus said in John 10:17-18: "Therefore, my father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command, I have received from my father." Jesus declared his impending death to be totally voluntary.

In the garden of Gethsemane, as Jesus was being arrested, He told Peter that he could pray to God and have twelve legions of angels summoned to rescue him from death (Matthew 26:53).

Another example is the question, "Can a person save himself?" Brethren can vehemently argue for either side, if a simple "yes" or "no" answer is demanded. When someone answers "yes," he is accused of discounting the atoning blood of Christ. But if the answer is "no," be prepared to deal with passages such as Acts 2:40, where Peter, on the day of Pentecost, urged his listeners to "save yourselves from this perverse generation." And Paul told the Philippians: "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2: 12)

None of this proves that God's word is ambiguous, or that there aren't any right or wrong answers. God's word is clear, and truth is singular. What it does show is that we sometimes ask the wrong questions, or construct questions that fail to seek out the whole truth about a matter.

Lawyers are renowned for such questions. If a lawyer asks a man, "Have you quit beating your wife," how can that man answer accurately? If he answers, "no," it implies that he is still beating her. If he answers "yes," that presupposes that he has beaten her in the past. If he's never beaten his wife, either answer is less than the whole truth.

But let's return to our original question. "Does a man have to sin?" We've seen that he can choose not to sin, and that he has the ability to remain free of sin. God always provides a way of escape. However, God foreknew that each of us would sin. And he made provision for our redemption.

Brother Blackaby has done a masterful job of examining "both sides" of the sin question. Man has always had a choice, and God has been upfront regarding the consequences for making the wrong choice. Yet, knowing that man would make terrible choices, He provided the only remedy-Christ's blood--for the sin problem. We make the mistake of thinking "we will sin" means we should just "go ahead and sin." God told us to avoid, flee, and stay out of sin's path because those who die in sin will be eternally separated from God. The devil wants us to think it's fun and without cost. To whom will you listen? (KMG)


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